I went on Monday, drove 40 minutes to it, I got there at 4 and they were closing because the close…read moreat 4 pm on Mondays but no where in the website does it say they close at 4 pm. In maps it says 7 pm. At the door it also says they close at 7 pm. Just here in yelp which not everyone uses. Just disappointed that I drove all the way for nothing. At least 3 more people tried to go in there while I wrote this review

Stopped in on a cold weekday. Nice and welcoming vibes by the friendly barista. Ordered a cold brew…read moreand chocolate croissant. The cold brew is from metric coffee which you can't go wrong with and the pastry is from a local spot called publican. Decent amount of seating. All in all, nice little cozy coffee spot to get work done or just hang out and enjoy a quick brekky.

Shopping time again! And of course let me drop here my review for this boutique that I went too…read moreseveral hours ago. So, I'll start with the interior, it was nice, nothing special but not bad also. But unlike from the shops that I went to before, I can say that it is already common and they are comparable to others. But it's still good. Then for the staffs, well, they are nice, accommodating and friendly. They are assisting when I have questions or if I want to look for something around the shop. And of course, for the products, I can say that they have good quality, it was my first purchase from their shop and I am quietly satisfied from what I bought. So, I got 2 shirts for myself and 1 shirt for my brother. The texture and fabric look comfortable to wear, so thumbs up for that. I also like the shorts in their boutique but I have limited budget that time so, yeah maybe next time.

This boutique has everything you could possibly want (literally head-to-toe shopping) and is so…read morebeyond curated well, it's my go-to boutique that myself (and my clients) looove. While some pieces can be pricey, they've got such a great range (which is why I love it so much). What I love most? (Also dangerous, HA) is that they've always got new merchandise coming in so you'll be seeing new goods all.the.time. OH! and the shoes/jewelry section is seriously amazing (again, great price range here). I could go on and on but mostly..shop here! Seriously, it's my #1 stop in Chicago.

Really great vibes inside: the coffeeshop and bookstore combo is the ultimate cozy pairing!…read more Didn't have too much time to browse at the bookstore, but I ordered a seasonal strawberry matcha latte and an americano from the cafe. The americano was nothing special but refreshing on a summer day. The seasonal strawberry matcha was a bit disappointing, due to the lack of matcha flavor (the color was not very vibrant, and the matcha powder itself was likely not super high quality or oxidized) and sweetness. However, I tried the strawberry corn cookie, and it was one of the most delicious cookies I've had. Corn in dessert has been one of my favorites, and the texture of the corn with the strawberry icing to make a sweet and slightly tart summer treat was incredible! Everyone working there was super kind, and if I had more time to hang around, I would definitely bring a laptop and work here.

On our way to class recently, we stopped by The Understudy Coffee and Books for the first time to…read morecheck it out. The coffee shop was bustling and almost full around 12:30 pm. We were lucky to grab the last small round table for two.  The pastry case was only 40% stocked at this point. We were happy that they still had our favorites -- 2 almond croissants ($14 for 2) and a cappuccino ($5 + $0.50 Oat Milk) to go.  The cashier was very friendly, patient, and welcoming. The decor of the store is modern and charming.  There were a variety of seating options, and many customers were working on their laptops while enjoying their drinks, giving the café a cozy yet lively atmosphere. The bookstore occupies about half of the space and features an impressive collection of books focused on drama and theatre.  If you are interested in theatre, this thoughtfully curated bookstore is for you. We noticed a sign indicating that The Understudy partners with Defloured Bakery, which also partners with a long list of businesses, including another coffee shop in the neighborhood that we frequent a lot. We have enjoyed almond croissants and other baked goods at that café very often, they were just as delicious and large, since they were sourced from the same bakery. However, The Understudy charged $7 for an almond croissant, while the other café charged only $4.50 for the exact same pastry. That's a significant price difference. The cappuccino was another slight disappointment. It was only lukewarm rather than hot, although I am not sure whether the oat milk substitution may have affected the temperature. Judging by how popular The Understudy was during our visit, it's clear that many people appreciate its ambiance, curated bookstore, and friendly service. If those qualities are important to you, you may find the higher prices well worth it.

What a lovely shop, with an even lovelier proprietor! I've been visiting metta baby down the street…read morefor the last few weeks, and when I've passed Virtu it piqued my interest. Today I was at metta baby for a CPR refresher so I finally had the opportunity to head down the block and check it out. The owner had opened it a few minutes early because when I got there at 10:58 (they open at 11) there were already a few people in and she joked that perhaps she should open at 10. She was super friendly with everyone in the store and very helpful. There were a couple folks with whom she was talking about the being a business owner (they were also business owners), and the business climate in Bucktown. She was joking around with some other customers about some funny cards that she carries. When I was looking at the various jewelry cases she has throughout the store, she let me know right away that if I wanted to see anything to let her know, and she told me about some of the designers that she had in her shop. I really enjoyed talking with her, and I'm almost ashamed I didn't get her name. Her passion for her business and local businesses in general, as well as her dedication to truly providing fantastic and thoughtful service to her customers was palpable. Virtu's proprietor is the epitome of why I LOVE to shop local; oftentimes people at mass merchandisers, whilst hard working and helpful, don't have the same sort of pride, flexibility, and ethos of care that a local business owner does. I visited a couple days before Halloween, and she mentioned that after the holiday she'd start putting out the Christmas merchandise which is already waiting to make its debut. I think she also mentioned that she has extended hours during the holiday season. I'm excited to stop in once she's in the holiday swing to see what I can find here for friends, loved ones (and who knows, maybe even myself), and maybe even something special for my little one's first Christmas.

I wrote a review several years ago in which I praised Julie's ability to pick out jewelry…read more(specifically earrings) that look good on me. I have bought at least three pairs of earrings from Julie which I never would have picked up to try on myself -- I needed her eye to help me (1) find them and (2) realize that I wanted something like them in my jewelry wardrobe. The way this usually plays out is: I come in to the store and find a few things in the cases to try on; I am drawn to the way earrings look hanging on a stand or propped up on those little pieces of wood or leather that all jewelry stores use, but it's very hard correctly connect all the dots from "I like the way that looks in the case" to "that would look good on me." Earrings genuinely do not look the same once you pick them up and put them in your ears, and I've made the mistake more than once of buying earrings that looked great in my jewelry box, but not as great on. (But I have not done this at Virtu, because I think Julie would stop me). So first I try the things on that I pick out, and then Julie usually slides on over with, "...but would you consider these?" And she does it in a really friendly way that is not pushy or a high-pressure sales tactic, it is more "I think this shape/color/contrast would look good in your particular ears." And she is right with astounding frequency, including sometimes with pieces I would never have looked twice at in the case. It is a genuine skill and I find it impressive. For this reason I unfortunately have to limit the number of times I visit per year because I am so likely to buy things!

This shop has so much cute chicago apparel and giftable items! They even have their own custom hat…read moremaking bar with adorable patches you can choose from. Most of their items are under $100 so it's affordable. I love browsing their section of homegoods because they're so niche and hard to find in regular stores. The staff is very friendly and accomodating.

Kind of in love with this adorable shop. I'm happy, but also scared for my bank account, that a…read morelocation recently opened in my neck of the woods! Alice & Wonder's tagline is "pretty fun things" and that's exactly what they have to offer! Lots of clothing, home goods and decor, accessories, and so much more! The design of A&W is so. stinking. cute. You can tell they really put a lot of pride into the light, airy aesthetic of the store and it reflects the products they sell perfectly. Overall, it does have a higher price tag, but I think the quality is there. I especially love their more local lines, like Sweet Home Chicago, which is filled with the CUTEST Chicago tees and sweatshirts you'll find in the city! I also adore their Little Wonder line (moment of silence that name), which is clothing for newborns, toddlers, and kids. I got a friend a cute set for her baby and just picked up a shirt that says "I still live with my parents" that will fit a 3-6 month old. A&W also started a beanie line called 'mad hatter' which has beanies in every color under the sun that are super soft and thick to keep your ears warm during the Chicago winter. Alice & Wonder has an online store and ships across the country if you don't live in Chicago but want to check it out. This will without a doubt be my go to shop for any thoughtful holiday or birthday gifts from here on out!

Very, very good coffee and a large selection as well…read more The decor and video games added a cool element - especially the retro Nintendo. Staff was friendly as well!

This was an awesome cafe with the best retro vibes! They had a stacked menu of specialty drinks…read morewhich I am always eager to try. I went with the caramel apple latte and it was delicious. The crem de blue latte didn't really have a strong blueberry taste to it but it was still enjoyable! Overall a solid spot that I love in West Town!

Andale Market is an excellent addition to our neighborhood. We enjoy going here just to browse…read moretheir unique selection and pick up a few things for fun. We particularly like the bread from Publican Quality, the variety of cheeses and in general the local foods they have for sale. Service is always super helpful and friendly. Do support local shops like this one as they bring so much value and variety to the local area.

Cute little shop while we were walking around. We were able to stop in, get a few snacks, and take…read morea break from the heat. We were impressed by how clean and friendly it was in there as well!

Cloud & Bunny is a wonderful neighborhood toy and clothing consignment shop. I stopped by today and…read morepicked up the most adorable birthday gifts for a couple of toddlers! They have a great selection of unique toys and gifts, and they are bursting at the seams with second-hand clothing and shoes. The owner, Maya, was there and it was so great chatting with her and learning more about the shop. I ended up getting a toddler gardening set and tea set, plus some wind-up furry chicks and bunnies. Maya wrapped up both gifts for me in a lovely butterfly wrapping paper and did a better job than I could have ever done. I can't wait to come back and browse the toddler boy selection!

It's a cute store. It first caught my eye a few years ago because of the beautiful mural by Ryan…read moreTova Katz, perhaps my favorite muralist. I didn't realize it was a consignment store and probably wouldn't have stopped in had I known that, but I'm glad I did. I bought a cute little rain slicker for my daughter and I almost can't wait until spring so she can wear it. There's a lot of clothing and she has them sorted well so it's easy to find the sizes you're looking for. In the back, she even has a dollhouse which I think isn't for sale, but is for kids to play with. Maybe I'm wrong about that, though! There's lots of toys and tchotchkes here too. I bought some little bath bombs that look like donuts because I think my kiddo will be amazed when they start to fizz. I also picked up some crayons and a couple other things. There's no parking lot but you may find parking along Montrose or Ashland. The entrance is a little funny; it opens at street level but there's a steep ramp down to the store, which is below grade. I assume that like many shops at this level it had steps to get down and as a children's store, a ramp definitely would be in order to accommodate strollers. But it is indeed a bit steep so be mindful of that.