Ohhhh, my first neighborhood scout post in Chicago, how exciting! 🙂

Since moving to Chicago, Mitch and I have had a tough time mentally overcoming all of the life changes since the dust has settled. After a cry (or 100) and pep talks to each other, we had back-to-back busy weekends, a crazy week, and an empty weekend before I left for a work trip. So, we took advantage of this blip of a peaceful weekend together and decided to explore. Mitch did some researchin’ and then we headed out about 25 minutes north of our area to the Andersonville neighborhood.

Local Andersonville, Chicago Shops

This Swedish rooted and LGBTQ proud area is quaint and almost makes you forget you’re even in a big city. The main strip of Clark Street was hopping! Check out the great local shopping we discovered (and we’ll have to go back because there were many more we didn’t get to check out)!

Roost

For the treasure hunter

If it weren’t for Mitch finding this place and finding pictures of it before showing up, I’d probably not have gone in here on my own. The name, “Roost” sounded country-like to me, which isn’t completely off from what it is, and the items in the window looked more “antique-y” than what I was in the mood for.

However, contrary to my initial belief, this place was such a little gem! As the name implies, were still lots of little roosters floating around, but this mix of antiques, vintage pieces and newer curated items was so fun to sift through.

To some, and typically me, it may look like shelves of random old stuff, but in reality, there’s tons of great finds. We found three or four different pieces we wanted to go with our home decor. That is saying something because our home is a mid-century modern, minimal and clean look, so for us finding more than just one rogue candle or something (which did happen!), there was so much more.

The place is pretty small, so it’s easy to pop in when you’re walking around. I highly recommend making the stop. I will caution you though, if you’re on a timeline, the place may be small, but you will be sucked in. 😉

Martha Mae: Art Supplies and Beautiful Things

For the artist

All you need to know is the name of the place (see above) and you are probably already sold. This gorgeous shop is the motherland for all types of artists (or wanna be artists like myself). Everything is so light, airy and perfectly placed. Fun shapes, colors, metallics and simple functionality keep your eyes moving smoothly from shelf to shelf.

I will say though, the outside walking by didn’t really catch my eye, but what did was the sign in the window that said “beautiful things” and the nice display right next to it. Mitch blinked and I was inside already.

Even though most of the products that were artist-focused (tubes of paint, for example) didn’t really apply to me, I was still captivated by the beauty and styling of each display.

Now, don’t be discouraged of checking this place out if you can’t draw a stick figure and you have no idea what acrylic paints are. You’ll also find pencils and writing utensils, notebooks, notepads and lots of other fun and aesthetically-pleasing desk + office supplies.

All of these clean lines, neutrals and simplicity is what sucked both myself and Mitch in for far too long, so I hope it does the same for you.

Cowboys & Astronauts

For the men

You read that right – cowboys. and. astronauts. I have no idea what the thought behind the name is, but I love it and think it’s so fun! This shop is perfect for the dapper, active or outdoorsman…but not too rugged, if ya know what I mean.

This first thing I thought to myself when we stepped into the front door was, “Holy crap! They have a real astronaut in here!” I mean, it’s not a real astronaut, but it’s pretty legit looking. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the cowboy. 😉

Inside you’ll find a wide range of quality goods for men, all carefully selected to play to the man’s man. From natural apothecary goods, activewear, books and accessories, there’s a little something for every style. Everything has a very Earth-toned colors and themes, the whole place smells fantastic, and there’s so many little “nuggets” upon each shelf to go through.

If you’re looking for a gift for any guy in your life, this is a spot for you! When going for a guy you may not know as well, this would be an instant win because there’s so many different items to choose from. And if you have the slightest tidbit of what they like (whiskey, comics, fashion, etc.), well, chances are this place has it.

As for us, we found some really great, and decently priced, glass whiskey decanters. I may or may not be making my way back out here for a gift or two from Mitch, but only time will tell. 😉

Foyer

For the plant lover

Do you like greenery, plants and all things with dirt + soil? Then come to Foyer. This tiny little shop is jam packed with plants from floor to ceiling. The gal working the counter seemed super knowledgable and could help point you in the right direction for you plant baby needs.

Every inch of each shelf and corner is covered in plants, and it’s amazing! The different shades of vibrant greens, layers of shapes, and textures of the leaves against the rough and crooked natural brick wall really just captures the beauty of the plants.

I wanted every single air plant + container I could find in the store, but Mitch insisted we, “didn’t need all of them”…we’ll see about that. 😉

Mixed in were some light selections of candles, art and desk goods rounding out the experience to make it feel just that much more homey.

Norcross and Scott Home

For the interior designer

This store may be a quick little square to walk around, but it is filled with so much flair! If celebrating your home and interior design, then N&SH is your spot.

What I thought was unique was that not just the art + decor on the walls were for sale, but the furniture, too. I’m not in the market for furniture, but I think it’s rare to find a small, local shop like this that has some furniture for sale. And of course, things are stylized perfectly to help it come to life in your mind!

I think the other thing that made this place stand out in my mind was that I could feel as if it was a teeny tiny, more attractive and well-curated Nebraska Furniture Mart (a huge furniture depot we had back in Kansas City). At first glance, you think it’s just some cool art to place around your home, but in reality all the furniture, lighting and fixtures are all available for your home – how cool is that?!

Dig into each little cube of items and you’ll be sure to find something that suits your style.

Andersonville Galleria

For the craft fair lover

If you enjoy a good craft fair or show, then you need to check out Andersonville Galleria. It features two floors (plus two mezzanines) of wall-to-wall booths filled with various local artists. Different styles, collections and goods range from booth-to-booth.

This is a great place to go see a wide range of artists that are within the city. If you don’t frequent fairs or you’re looking to find creative pieces of work from those who may not host a booth at fairs, then this is the perfect spot. It’s really a great connection point for artists and people to find more than what they may typically be exposed to.

I have such a soft spot for places of business that bolster the local creative community and the Andersonville Galleria does just that. By opening its doors to numerous artists and makers that may otherwise not have a “storefront,” the artists are able to get their work in front of those who walk in.

Naturally, there were tons of things that caught my eye, but we only walked away with two pieces…for now. We did take home a stack full of business cards though to look up the artists for a later date. Almost every booth was equipped with a little shelf of business cards or an info card about the maker and their work. If you want a different piece or are looking into them later, this is a great experience.

If you’re in the Andersonville area, or even if you aren’t, this place is definitely worth the trip. And, of course, the rest of the shops mentioned in this post are worth it, too! With all of these storefronts (and more!) being on the main drag of N. Clark St., you’ll have a great, fun-filled afternoon.

Let me know what your fave places are in Andersonville – I’d love to check them out next time I visit. View more Neighborhood Scouts or Travel Spots to see which other areas you should explore!