Browsing the local shops when you visit a new city can be exciting and a good way to get an understanding of a new place. It’s also a great way to find something to bring back home to commemorate your trip or to give your loved ones to show them you were thinking about them while you were away. Or perhaps you’re a local looking for a gift to give to someone who doesn’t live in Chicago but still loves the Windy City. Let our team at American Auto Insurance help you find the perfect gift with our compiled list of the five best places to get souvenirs when visiting Chicago.
Dollar Land
One of the largest and cheapest Chicago souvenir shops is Dollar Land, which opened in 1993. This store has lots of goodies with Chicago emblems and decorations, such as magnets, hats, and mugs. If you’re working with a tighter budget but you want to get something nice for yourself or others, this is the place to get all your Windy City souvenirs. The store has several affordable gifts for children and adults.
Additionally, if you’re curious about the shop’s inventory and prices, you can use the store’s website to get a quote. The shop is located near Lincoln Park and other fun tourist attractions, like Wrigley Field. The iconic baseball field is about a 25-minute drive from Dollar Land.
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 4743 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago
Hazel
Hazel is both an in-person and an online boutique where you can shop for souvenirs and gifts. Originally, the store began as a greeting card and paper company. Over the years, this charming boutique has transformed into a larger, elevated one-stop gift shop. It has a large selection of gifts, which makes this a great store for holiday, birthday, or “just because” shopping. You can get complimentary gift wrapping here when you purchase gifts, so you don’t have to worry about packaging it yourself. The store works with independent designers for some of its merchandise.
The Chicago gifts you can purchase at Hazel include:
- Bar keys.
- Glassware.
- Coasters.
- Themed towels.
- Puzzles.
- Board and card games.
Some other non-Chicago-themed gifts you can get here include:
- Greeting cards.
- Handcrafted jewelry.
- Baby gifts.
- Flowers.
- Wallets.
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 1835 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago
Art Effect
If you’re looking for a tiny treasure in the big city, check out Art Effect. It’s a smaller gift shop in Chicago, but it has interesting souvenirs, both Chicago-themed and not. You can pick up chic gifts for the trendy person in your life by getting them fashionable sweaters, funky and modern jewelry, and other popular accessories like winter hats. The store has a fun, modern vibe with exposed bricks on the wall, different colored tables, and elegant white farmhouse-style dressing rooms.
For Chicago-themed gifts, you can get Lincoln Park merchandise. These items include mugs, socks, and vintage magnets that can make a cool gift for the vintage collector in your life. You can also purchase various other items that make great gifts or personal souvenirs, such as:
- Pocket flasks.
- Baby clothes.
- Glassware.
- Poster kits.
You can also use the store’s website to purchase your gifts and pick them up in store or get them shipped directly to your house.
Hours: Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Address: 934 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago
Neighborly
Neighborly is a quaint, one-of-a-kind gift shop that supports Midwest creators and ethical products. Some of the product options are home goods, Chicago gifts, and handmade artwork. Depending on the season, you can get themed gifts such as fall, Halloween, and holiday decorations. As part of its neighbor-like character, this store carries products made in the United States that are ethical, sustainable, handmade, and eco-friendly. The shop’s interior is a charming atmosphere with white walls, wood floors, and organized shelves.
The shop offers some zero-waste products, such as:
- Tote bags.
- Coffee filters.
- Shampoo and conditioner bars.
- Reusable cotton pads.
- Cleaners.
- Reusable bottles.
For Chicago-themed gifts, you can choose from:
- Artwork.
- Glassware.
- Notebooks.
- Ornaments.
- Postcards.
- Stickers.
- Books.
- State necklaces.
Hours: Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 4710 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Humboldt House
Humboldt House is a bright, colorful gift shop with plenty of souvenirs to choose from and designs from local artists. A few categories of things available at this store include bathroom accessories, kitchenware, greeting cards, and home furniture. It’s a local and women-owned store where you can find thoughtful and unique gifts to treat yourself to or get for others, especially for the holidays. The shop also has themed products for the fall and holidays.
Some Chicago-themed gifts you can pick up here include:
- Ornaments.
- Pencils.
- Pins.
- Tote bags.
- Stickers.
- Beanies.
- Tea towels.
Hours: Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 1045 N. California Ave., Chicago
Now you have our team’s five best places to get souvenirs when visiting Chicago. What did you think of our list? Did we miss your favorite local gift shop to buy gifts for your loved ones who love the Windy City? Contact us, and tell us about it. We value our customer’s opinions and want to hear about your favorite stores in our great city.
Do you or someone you know need affordable insurance quickly, like liability insurance? Here at American Auto Insurance, we can help you find what you’re looking for to suit your needs, like an SR22 as part of your auto insurance documents. We care about our clients and want to help you get the best deals, so you can feel confident working with us. Call us at 773-286-3500 for a quote.
