Around Town: Your digital shopping experience comes to life on Armitage Avenue

Often overlooked by larger shopping destinations like New York City and Los Angeles, Chicago’s booming retail scene remains to be one of the biggest hidden gems of our great city. And to be fair, I much prefer it that way, shopping is a more intimate experience. There is less congestion for local shoppers, craftsmanship and quality prevail over trends and local entrepreneurs can spend their time building relationships with their neighborhood clients. Many of Chicago’s neighborhoods have a strong retail scene, but lately all eyes are on the strip of eCommerce turned Guide-shop on Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park. Bonobos opened their Lincoln Park Guideshop in 2012 shortly thereafter they were joined by some of the biggest names in eCommerce retailing, Warby Parker and The Tie Bar. This September, Chicago based Interior Define opened their doors expanding the strips offering with their selection of custom made furniture. In their own way, each of these stores offers a highly customizable concept that is allowing them to get to know their customers on a deeper level. Days of basic brick and mortar or purely eCommerce shops are trending downwards as consumers have more options than ever on where to shop and who to buy from. Innovation in customer experience is key and this strip is knocking it out of the park.

Grace Marsh, Senior Publicist

Image via Choose Chicago