This place is fantastic and the owner is such a fun and witty guy to chat with. I can always find so many cool, one of a kind items here for my home and all at reasonable prices. It's nice not to have generic pottery barn or CB items like all the Joneses do. Over the last few years I've been able to find cute knick-knacks for the house, tables, and an antique Eastlake piece that I'm using as a bar. This place is a gem and everyone should visit. Places like this are why I prefer to shop local. read more

Praha - Antiques Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have you ever walked into someone's home and thought to yourself, "Hmmm... Pottery Barn catalog," or ditto, Crate and Barrel? I'm not dissing those stores, no, no, no. I love them! They stock the staples of good design. On the other side of the ledger there are antique stores, where there are always surprises, one-of-a-kinds and the smell of old wood. What's not to like? And then there's PRAHA: A rich collection of new and old, unusual pieces of decorative and architectural elements from Europe and the US, from dovetailed wooden boxes to large furniture pieces, linens and treasures of all types, jams, jellies and dip mixes, antique Shanghai Ladies posters, cottage style furnishings, lamps, trunks, European and domestic enamelware... on and on it goes... For me, PRAHA is like the proverbial candy store, and was elevated to Favorite Store status the first time I stepped inside. Much of the store's allure is the result of many shopping expeditions to Praha (Prague), where the owners purchased furniture and treasures as old as the hills, then shipped via crate back to the US. They trek to the best flea markets in the US. They keep their radar humming 24/7; a find is a find, no matter where it's discovered. But it's not just the merchandise. It's Todd and David, shopkeepers and proprietors. They love their store. They insist on expert craftsmanship in the new items they choose to sell, and enjoy musing on the secret history of their antiques. In chatting with Todd (for almost 2 hours on my first visit!) I discovered we share a love of old enamelware, antique tins, small boxes and interesting little containers. (Talk about a candy store!) Some acquisitions never make it to sale. One such item is an old coffee tin that Todd chose to keep for his own kitchen. It's not on display; it is used to store coffee, like it has been forever. He remarked how he always thinks about its mysterious history, the stories that could be told about the family in Praha who used it for generations. "Just think of it!" he said! There are stores filled with merchandise, clerks, and cashiers. And then there is PRAHA, filled with fabulous treasures, not the least of which are its shopkeepers, Todd and David. Czech it out! read more

Praha - Praha: Czech it out! - Antiques Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We are obsessed with Praha. The store is chock full of vintage finds. Todd and David have created an oasis for treasure hunters seeking the perfect vintage piece. Everything is carefully placed with matching accessories. The lamps are exquisite. We found a mid-century modern bureau and vintage chair plus a globe and vintage resin orange ashtray. LOVE this store. read more

Praha makes me squeal with excitement. Squeal. Audibly. On every visit I find something I MUST. HAVE. NOW. Like wrap-it-up-I'll-carry-it-home-on-my-back-like-a-Sherpa-it-must-come-home-with-me-to-live-forever-or-I-will-die!!!! This is beyond mere "wanting". What has me so lusty? Todd and David, the fantastic, wonderful owners (more on them later), take trips around the world - predominantly Europe, "Praha" is "Prague" in Czech - and bring back fabulous pieces: chairs, art, street signs, accent tables, vintage knick-knacks, lamps, books, and other pieces of wonder. Ohhhh my. Each piece is unique, each piece would look lovely in my home. Wandering through the store is an ever-changing adventure. Back to Todd and David. Have you ever had a conversation with a store-owner and then wanted to take them out to coffee and be best friends forevermore? Todd and David could meet me for coffee daily. They are gems. Todd and I discussed travel (both for work and for fun) and I learned about his history with selecting and importing from near and far. This guy knows his stuff. Best part? I'll be outfitting my home in Todd-and-David treasures without ending up in the red. Prices = Very reasonable. read more

I just finished reviewing one of the most expensive vintage stores in America that's located in Des Moines.... giving it 2 stars for it's ridiculousness... and I immediately remembered that I needed to review the complete opposite. This place is extravagant. It's like walking into an incredible showroom of antiques that you start to question are antiques because of how great of a condition they are in and the incredibly reasonable price range that they are at. It's almost like the owners here know they are making a killing with decent prices in a great space so they don't feel the need to hose their customers. A great example of how reasonable pricing was was a really cool vintage globe that they had for sale for $95. Right down the street, there was the same globe in no where near the same condition at another vintage store for $200. Praha almost forgets that it could charge a higher premium for things because they are in a trendy neighborhood in Chicago... but that's ok. Good karma will bless them for their pricing. The woman who was working here when I visited was super nice and loved her job... just a great person who was bright and cheery and great to speak with... And if anyone of you reading this is a regular vintage/thrift shopper... you'll note that Praha doesn't have "THAT SMELL" that every other store has... Vintage stores around the country should wish to be more like Praha... they've perfected the genre. read more

The thing about Praha is this: nothing is too clean or too dirty. Everything here has a well-worn quality that's a necessary and endearing trait to thrift-shop and flea-market aficionados. You may not find that pristine turn-of-the-century antique piece here, but you will find a carefully curated vintage collection at prices that are comparable to the aforementioned Salvation Army, if not cheaper. What also sets this place apart from the myriad of antique shops on Lincoln is that--unlike the reviewer below--the owners get the whole bohemian-thrifter-small apartment vibe. They stock and sell pieces that most of us will actually use (not just prop in some corner to impress nobody we care about) at prices most of us can afford, and are totally in line with the small-scale, mercurial nature of the urban vintage collector. Let's face it, collecting vintage and antique items may be an investment, but most of us are decorating crappy Chicago apartments and will be turning these pieces over to some other lucky person within a few years. Their stock turnover reflects this practical sensibility. It changes frequently, so it's always worth it to stop by at least once a month to check out the newest acquisitions. As for customer service: Fuhgetabout the one (one!) unhappy-camper reviewer and his nasty, pointedly personal review below and pay attention to the other five-star ratings on here specifically noting the excellent customer service and the kindness with which they greet customers. read more

So glad we discovered this store when we went into Chicago. It's a gem! Filled with vintage and mid-century furniture and accessories, all beautifully displayed and great prices, too. One of the owners was there and was super friendly and accommodating. Wish we lived closer so we could browse and buy more often! read more

One of my favorite stores, hands down. The owners are truly delightful and I just had a conversation with one of them about our mutual love for lamps. Every time I go in there, I get lustful about one of their lamps, or bookcase, or knickknack. It's a bit of a problem. But the pieces are so unique and the prices are so good -- definitely a fair price for even some of their largest pieces. I highly recommend Praha to anyone looking for a unique item for you or for a gift. (FYI: They move into their new store on Belmont & Leavitt at the end of March.) read more

I was looking for furniture places. This one had good reviews, so I put it in my tour schedule. Its more bric-a-brac than furniture. Lots of soaps and jams and stuff. It's fine for what it is, just not what I'm looking for. Staff was very nice though. read more

I've been looking for the perfect table/desk for our office area for months. Then it dawned on me, who needs an office? Let's have a BAR! Praha had the perfect bar for me: a small 50s metal cabinet with a gold sparkly counter top... for $55! What a deal. (And since that was a steal, I splurged on a reprint of a 1960s French school-room wall map.) Praha's mix of antiques, salvaged and new goods is unique and the (mostly) low prices are refreshing. read more

Hello 1940's amazing paintings of Roosters! Yes, you're coming home with me and will live on my kitchen wall. I LOVE this store - its a trek for me but totally worth it. Its surprisingly affordable for lots of fun new and vintage stuff, and the customer service is simply wonderful! read more

Fabulous store with an amazing collection of beautiful, timeless things. Well curated so that everything is very high quality and very affordable. Perfect place for a memorable wedding, Xmas and birthday gifts. The owners are friendly and cute as can be. A Lakeview institution. read more

This was a really sweet place. I head to boutiques, antique shops, thrift stores, craft fairs.... I'm a fan of finding unique something or others to add a touch to my home or for sake of giving a really unique gift. This is certainly a place to check out :) Often with many shops I find myself walking in, walking in a big semi-circle and within a few minutes I'm right back out the store. Some places are just like big garage sales happening in a store, which is the kind of place I very rarely find anything special or of great quality. I spent a good hour here with a friend picking up all sorts of items to see what they do (really cool desk calendar that you spin the numbers and months, a mother of pearl handle magnifying glass, and an old candy machine in really good shape as examples. As well, mixed in with the old was a fraction of new items still keeping in touch with the antique/vintage motif (like some soaps and some paper weights). I wound up purchasing this really crazy little story book that I recited out loud to my friend in the store. Upon checking out the gentleman that rung us up talked to us about the author and how his wife published the rest of his books after he died, etc... Point is the shop keeper was informed, friendly and exactly what you would want from an antique visit. I will definitely be heading back here from time to time as the inventory changes, it's a sweet little spot for sure. read more

Absolutely fantastic shop with a great selection of furniture and home decor. I agree with other reviews: the overall style of the furniture is similar to Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn, but you'll find very unique pieces at almost the same cost (if not less). The merchandise has a pleasantly colorful, European-cottage feel. My one complaint is that I was interested in a bed, and they only had one available, but this is not unusual for antiques stores. Their selection on curio cabinets, hoosiers and other sturdy, storage-handy furniture would look lovely in bedrooms, living rooms or even kitchens. Most impressive, I think, is the small collection of Czech antiques found here, which are sure to become instant favorites in your home. I particularly love the streets signs the owners purchased in the Czech Republic, which were truly amazing pieces of art. I'm craving one for my dining room wall! read more

So, I'd bought a table in here a few days ago, but had to leave to get later since hubby and I were on our way to get groceries at Trader Joes and were walking the 2.5 miles back to our apartment. Anywho, we came back to Praha today to pick it up and, of course, to browse more. I spotted a gorgeous chair, very reasonably priced, that I had to get (and did). On top of the amazing merchandise, I have to say that the customer service here is unbeatable! Todd and David are both so personable and helpful. They saw that we'd walked over and offered to give us a ride back to our apartment so we wouldn't have to take a cab (which we gladly accepted). Great experience. Great prices. I'll definitely be back. read more

Could this store be any cuter?!? No, it could not. I want to move into Praha and make myself at home, because that's how you feel the moment you walk through the door. First off, the name hooked me. I went to Prague last year and fell madly in love with it. Anything that reminds me of it will get my attention. This place is full (as in it's hard to walk around there is so much stuff) with every kind of home decor you can think of, and then some. I'm not sure if everything is vintage, but it certainly feels like it. There are large pieces furniture like a red armour I'm dying to own, framed pictures, lanterns, lamps, trays, baskets, and on and on. They also had lots of great random little things like gourmet marinades/sauces, hand soaps, and mixes for dips and soups. This is the perfect place to come if you are looking for something unique for your apartment (aka non-IKEA). In addition to the lovely inventory, the staff was super nice. They were helpful to each customer in the store. You could tell that they were there if you needed them, but they weren't going to follow you around pretending to know "just what you need!" The prices vary depending on the item, for example a wooden chair was $125, and then stained glass candle holders were around $8 a piece. I will definitely be hitting this place up for housewarming gifts, there are so many original items that I can't wait to go back and shop. read more

If you like antique furniture and accessories from around the globe Praha is the place to be. One big advantage is you might never find any thing similar so you definitely know that it's a unique piece. read more

I fell in love with Praha yesterday! I never stepped in, because to be honest, the storefront never intrigued me. But yesterday my friend and I went for a hunt for some antique finds. Praha has the perfect eclectic mix of different styles from different places and decades. There are some truly great things to find for very reasonable prices. I could have stayed there for hours. Before going to Anthropologie and finding home decor that is mass produced, unoriginal, and overpriced, please check here first. Oh, and the shop-owner was super friendly too. what to look for: -architectural layouts/blueprints that are large scale and really original -all sorts of antique/ aged crates, wood and wire -cute gifts and even some nice new items mixed in like soap and candles - old, sturdy furniture pieces read more

This place is amazing! If I lived in Chicago my apartment would be completely furnished with their stuff. They have some unique and quirky items that you will not find anywhere else. The best part is that their pricing is reasonable, this is something that is often difficult to find with cool and eccentric furnishing. I highly recommend just to check it out. read more

Praha - Antiques Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Six month later - our apartment is almost fully furnished. Most of of our furniture came from Praha and I am so happy with it! I get compliments on our interior all the time! We bought everything from dining room chairs to sidetables and even our liquor cabinet in this store. For me Praha is still the best place to go for affordable antiques and vintage furniture! read more

I came here with a good friend of mine a few weeks ago, and had a very pleasant experience. The store is very well kept and managed, and features a wide variety of new and old items - books, knicknacks, bags, paint, and more. It was refreshing to go through, as many antique stores seem to offer the same things, and that was definitely not the case here. My friend bought an original print poster From here, and I bought a book on knights, and a magnifying glass paper weight (?) . We found the service very friendly, and the prices to be very reasonable. We will definitely be back again sometime in the future. read more

I Love Praha! Great shop for unique, beautiful, cool antique & antique-looking finds - at reasonable prices (**THAT's the key!). Nice, friendly owners/staff too - chatty and friendly with no sales pressure. I've purchased some amazing bookends here that I adore (bronze lions and golden dogs) - lions for myself, dogs as gifts for others. They have lots of other nice large and small furniture pieces (dresses, hutches, mirrors, etc. to little trinkets, decor, cards & candles) and many other home items that I would love to buy. read more

I loved the stock they have, but the woman that was behind the counter couldn't hear anything unless I was right in front of her. When she did answer a question it was one I didn't ask her. I really wanted 2 lamps, but without info on them, I just left. I will try going back maybe a different person will be there. Unless she's the owner ? read more

Awesome selection and prices are super fair. The staff is really great, we had a few questions and the guy spent lots of time helping us out. The delivery fee was also very low, couldn't be happier with the experience! read more

Took Yelp's advice and ventured to Praha's new location on the first day they were open there (thanks for the quick address update!!). I immediately fell in love with the eclectic merchandise and truly enjoy taking the time to look at everything in the store. After a second visit I purchased an awesome media cabinet that I have just loved! I really appreciated the owners 1) helping me carry the piece to my car and 2) giving me a background on the item I was buying! Also, if you're a fan of this place, you should like them on Facebook. They post pictures of new items they get in (and when the items have sold and I can stop lusting). Great for checking out the store online in between visits! read more

Absolutely love this place. Great antique furniture and home decorations. It is a bargain hunt (some items are way beyond my price range) but it's so worth it when you find THE chair for a deal! CUSTOMER SERVICE here is AWESOME. Todd and David are SO nice and will engage you in a 20 minute conversation--not to coerce you into buying furniture, but because they genuinely want to! I'm a huge fan of this place, and would recommend it to anyone, hands down. =D Oh and they offer shipping services which is nice. Their curbside drop off is only $10 which is VERY reasonable compared to shipping a generic Ikea desk which everyone and their mom's mom has for $100. :) read more

Vintage/antique/junk* stores are like candy malt kitten shoppes to me, and I fell in love with Praha several years ago when they were located near Trader Joes (I purchased a bookcase, and (I believe it was David?) delivered it to me for a measly $10). Just recently visited their new location, and they are still one of the very best places to buy unique, quirky items full of character, and at a bizarrely reasonable cost. This is the kind of store where you fall in love with several items, and then you fall in love with the owners - who have no compunctions with pulling up a chair and chatting with you for a good hour about everything from the Quad Cities (where both Todd and my husband are from) to key lime pie martinis. In fact, I think the boys should open up a bar adjacent to the store so discerning shoppers can enjoy a Pims cup or a Tom Collins after making their final purchases. If I weren't moving across the country, I would have bought a gorgeous dark wood dresser for $300, or that kitsch kitchen table with the metal counter, or that rustic coffee table in the front window, or...you know. All of it. Check out the photograph of the lovely kitchen scale I bought - something that won't disrupt the natural order of packed belongings, as I promise I'm trying to get rid of things rather than accumulate them, really. Ahem. So go here, bring your wallet - but no need to stop at the bank, or fill out a second mortgage - and make sure you allocate a little time for shooting the breeze with the owners while you're there. *Difficult to categorise this place, really - more like a beautifully preserved nuclear family time capsule with an abundance of charm and taste than anything else. read more

Praha - Gorgeous - GORGEOUS - old kitchen scales, made in Chicago. Thank you, Todd. x - Antiques Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow. I had been by this place a few times but had no clue what it was until I moved into my new place last summer. Moving from an apartment to a house kind of sucks, because you are burdened with a cavernous empty space and nothing but bachelor-pad accoutrements to attempt to fill it. My co-worker suggested praha for a man of my tastes and I was BLOWN AWAY. the unassuming storefront hides a delicious morass of crazy stuff, mostly in the vein of shabby/retro/vintage/whatever-you-want-to-call it; in other words, right up my alley. Super eclectic mix of farmhousey-looking stuff, euro-type retro-modern pieces, and super-quirky weirdo furniture, all of it unique and timeless (or let's face it, it wouldn't be there). I scored some cool pieces, including a light fixture that EVERYONE who enters my house immediately wants to buy off me. Additionally, there is pretty interesting selection of vintage knick-knacks, curios, and other assorted paraphernalia to stick on the mantelpiece/end table/whatever of your choosing. The thing I love about this place is that nothing you get there will ever be a "me-too" piece, ie the same target dresser that all my friends have (a distinctive advantage when trying to sophistication on a 20-something's budget). The owners & staff have an incredible eye for picking out cool stuff so you can save the hair-tearing out at the flea market or thrift store. If only I had unlimited disposable income...fortunately, even my limited income goes a long way at this joint. And now I have a new hobby of bringing my friends here and watching jaws hit the floor. read more

Love Todd & David - and I love the store. It's such a charming, homey space. They have so much cute, unique, old stuff at reasonable prices. I bought a lovely side table and some other odds and ends that really brightened my home up. They also stock some delicious local candles. And my favorite is the recycled paint they sell. It's well priced and really easy to paint furniture with. I did a hutch in the "storm cloud" color. I'll update and post a pic when I can. Thank you guys! Will be back when I get the itch for something new and cute. read more

I love Praha! I work right down the street and the owners are just a joy to talk to about business and trends. They always have the nicest curated items and I have found some great things! Totally stop worthy on antique row! read more

Love this place! i went in yesterday and they have a ton of great stuff. I ended up getting a trunk that I am using as an end table for $60 bucks. The prices are extremelly reasonable and quality is fantastic. I cant wait to come back and pick up some lamps and a couple other things to spruce up the apt. oooh and they have a flat $10 delivery fee, so you have no excuse not to buy as much as possible :) read more

If you are looking for stylish, used and/or new, very cool vintage, reasonably priced furniture and other home decorating/furnishings, you will not find a better place. My husband and I are new to Chicago from out-of-state; for the past 1.5 months, we have hit at least 15 antique/salvage/refurbished/vintage furniture stores (all in the West and North/West neighborhodds) looking for exactly what Praha provided. All of these other places we have come across definitely have beautiful, cool, trendy furniture that I would love to have....if we made twice the amount of our current income, which is totally ridiculous. The best part about Praha are the owners, who are amazingly nice, down-to-earth, and truly "get" the average person who appreciates great finds. I wish I could become their bestie for the sole reason that they are hilarious and super easy to talk to. I am looking forward to heading back there very soon. I love helping out the small business owner and this has been my fave place to do that so far in Chicago. read more

I visited Praha for the first time yesterday and I will definitely be back! I've been on an antique/vintage furniture shopping binge for the past two weeks and Praha is one of the best places I've been to! They have a wide variety and every product has charm to it. It's not just old junk like some antique places. One of the owners (I forgot to ask his name - rude of me!) was not only helpful in regards to questions about their inventory, but he was telling me a lot about the new 'hood I'll be moving to. I will return soon purchase bigger furniture items as well as smaller pieces to decorate. I was happy to hear that they offer cheap delivery or drop-off service and they will hold some pieces for me for no extra charge! Overall, a great find! read more

Todd is a complete joy! I popped in to look for a gift for a friend and left with my thoughts on a dining room table! They will be going on a buying trip and I was able to learn more about the items they pick up and when to check out the store when they come back! If you love to travel, be sure to chat with Todd! I can't wait to go back in!!! read more

Bought a vintage radio in their store. It was a truly wonderful experience! The owners had over the top customer service and let me sit and play with the different radios until I had decided on one. Absolutely no pressure to buy something else, just friendly conversation. I would highly recommend this store, their prices are reasonable and they have great stuff! read more

They have a lot of interesting items and furniture here. Everything was fairly reasonably priced and the staff was very personable.

I moved back to my neighborhood, Roscoe Village, last October. I was thrilled to see an 'antique' store within walking distance. Years ago Belmont Avenue was considered 'antique row' and you could spend hours browsing through treasures! Well, you can spend easily an hour in Praha looking at the vintage items. Todd and Dave have stories about the different items they have for sale in the store. I've found bar stools, a great painting that I enjoy looking at every day. At Christmas I was able to get a 3' turquoise blue / silver Christmas tree that fit perfectly in my living room. I'm hopeful that the store survives these tough times and that I get to continue to decorate my condo with their beautiful and fun items! See you soon!! read more

Pam J's review hit the nail on the head. This store is your house as you want it to be if you like the Crate and Barrel/Pottery Barn/Room and Board style but also like individuality and money left in your account after a shoping trip! Praha is well worth the trip and is close to the bars and restaurants of Lincoln Square. There are also a number of antique shops close to Praha - interesting stuff, but for great value stick with Praha. Praha has been a source of inspiration, lamps, aniversary gifts, furniture, decorating items, wonderful jams/chutneys and even the odd item of jewelry. Todd and David have an eye for great pieces be they new, vintage, from Chicago or from Eastern Europe. They also have new stuff all the time so a visit is always worth while - check it out and have fun too! read more

Lots of cool, old shit. Love this place. This is true. I have never gone in here and not walked out with a fabulous find (well I don't walk out without paying for it)! I have bought gifts for my friends and sisters here. I've brought stuff for our homes and everything I've brought I've received compliments about how cool, unusual, or funky it is. Great store. It's always changing. read more

New furniture is so expensive! If I could completely furnish my apartment with hand-me-down furniture from my family I would. I love furniture with a history and the pieces I've acquired from my mother are wonderful. But the hand-me-down furniture has run out! That's where Praha comes in. Unique and affordable furniture and accessories that can fit into a number of different styles. The store is thoughtfully arranged with an abundance of merchandise. I purchased a sofa table (which I will use as a desk) last weekend. I plan to be back for future furniture needs. I can also see this a great place to find unique gifts. read more