this place is like if anthropologie and street markets had a baby... such a beautiful selection of…read morecurated goods from across the world, at such an honestly reasonable price (think $30 for large bowls, silverware for less than $10) and the employee kept the shop open for us late. not only that, she had knowledge about the sourcing and uses of every piece we asked about (and they can source upon request)! i also love that they host crafty events for the community. please, take your business here before turning yet again to crate or another big corporation which will charge you twice as much!

What a magical and soothing store. Specializing in marble and other material objects. Also in…read morerotation random other object that will surprise you every visit. Super nice owners and very knowledgeable/ helpful. What a fun experience finding this store.

I love this store! I started shopping here just before they moved to their Bucktown location. They…read morehave the most AMAZING furniture (love my Eames replica chair!), wonderful kitchen utensils and serveware, nice coffee table and art books, not to mention wall art, mirrors, and very hip clothing. This is seriously one of my favorite places in the Chicago area. Make it a weekend destination! They've also always been very cool about me bringing my daughter since she was little.

Supporting local designers is always fun, especially when the designers are as talented as Kelly…read moreand Elizabeth! A few weeks ago I noticed a few racks of Eskell dresses/skirts at a Beta Boutique sample sale and I was hooked! Elegant, feminine, and unique pretty much sums up Eskell. Today I paid Eskell a visit and found more of their gorgeous clothing, as well as clothing from a few other designers and a few racks of cool vintage clothing. Everything is reasonably priced and even more so when it's all marked down like it was today. And Kelly (one of the designers/owners) was a doll! If Kelly and Elizabeth continue to design clothing this adorable I'll for sure be making this one of my frequent shopping destinations. Nice work gals!

This place is such a hidden gem! I stumbled upon this shop while checking out a boutique I frequent…read morenext door. Not only does this place have beautiful plants, they also have unique accessories from overseas. The staff were kind and helpful as well. I can't wait to return!

What a beautiful shop in the bustling and very walkable part of Chicago! You will find your plants,…read moreflowers, self-care essentials, jewelry, stylish clothes for kids and grown-ups, and more! 100% recommend this Latina women owned business for all your shopping needs!

This establishment is a great place to pick up something unique for yourself or someone you need to…read moreimpress with a thoughtful, witty, or intelligent gift. They have a great selection of unique greeting cards and Chicago related items for the home. They have inclusive branded merchandise for everyone. The store is smaller but, if you take the time to read and look at everything you may be there a while and totally enjoy it.

Fun shop to visit for any gift needs! They have art and…read morecards designed by local artists as well as items like candles, mugs, jewelry, baby clothes, and more. It's great to have a store like this in the neighborhood. The folks there are always welcoming and helpful. The interior does look a little dark from the outside, so it may not be clear whether they're open or not, so they have a big sign in front when they are.

What a cute boutique . Love everything about it. If you are looking for a place to shop for unique…read moreitems. This might just be the place for you . Staff were friendly and helpful, Mike was very attentive .

I have been waiting for someone to take over this space for so long. Once I saw it was a plant +…read morehome decor store I was beyond thrilled. I was blown away by how GORGEOUS they have created this space. Mike is such an incredible host for the space and was very warm. I wish I could have purchased everything from the store. This place is my Pinterest (lookalike) heaven. It is absolutely the BEST home decor and plant store I've ever seen. WILDERHOUSE is so aesthetically pleasing and well thought out from the store layout, details, and I'm sorry but Mike can you decorate my home in the future? LOVE WILDERHOUSE!

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!

Described on their website as "An Art Deco and Art Nouveau Concept Store," so if you are…read morecultivating an historical vibe, this is the shop to check out for decor and gifts! Lots of flappers will be found, as well as cocktail accoutrements, trinket trays, jewelry, stationery, and bath products.

Gorgeous selection of truly unique items. This is my go-to store for glassware and special gifts…read more Don't listen to the negative reviews, the prices are worth it -- you're paying for the work of someone finding and curating these items which you may otherwise not find yourself. That's invaluable!

Delightful little Chicago-centric boutique! This small business sells works by local Chicago…read moreartists that touch Chicago hearts. Many of the little trinkets make references to the many things we love about Chicago. It's a great place to buy gifts for friends. There's a pretty wide range of prices for items but I feel that everything is fairly priced, especially given that they're not mass produced! The cashier was super sweet and accommodating and offered to wrap up the items I had planned of gifting to friends. They prefer cash and charge a 3% service fee on cards.

Okay this place is incredible. A tiny nook that is FILLED with awesome, eclectic trinkets, home…read moregoods, and decor. It was insane. Every inch of this place has unique gifts. Some of it edgy, some of it traditional, some of it is just completely off the rails. I loved it all. The workers are just amazing people. Every person that walked through the door was asked how they were doing with sincerity by the owner. I stocked up on some decals and patches by local artists. The prices were good. I loved this place. I am always on the hunt for shops that showcase the uniqueness and products of local creators. This place has it all for everybody! Will definitely be a must hit any time im in chicago moving forward