Located just a few blocks west of the Magnificent Mile, River North is home to food, fun, and furnishings.
Nestled between popular restaurants and a growing residential area of lofts and condos, local shoppers will find a remarkable selection of art galleries, home furnishings, interior design resources and specialty stores.
River North is anchored by the Merchandise Mart, the block-long behemoth that is home to design showrooms for the wholesale trade.
On the first floor of the Mart, retail customers can find inspiration for creating dream kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry or flooring options by browsing Luxe Home, a collection of design boutiques open to the public.
Just steps from the Mart, you’ll find numerous higher-end home furnishings stores and fine antique shops. The growing presence of contemporary furnishings includes Design Studio, with four floors of furnishings, Orange Skin, Artemide, and Lightology. If more traditional finds are on your list, stop into J. Robert Scott, Kreiss and Sawbridge Studios. Looking for Asian inspired? Try one of the newer River North entrants Bizen Home, Chen & Chen, and PA Larkin.
Ready for a taste of luxury when you fall asleep. Cuddle into a Hastens Bed, the Swedish manufacturer of hand-crafted, naturally designed luxurious mattresses. Or stop by Arrelle Fine Linens, a tiny shop filled with European fine linens and the softest cashmere throws.
Collectors of fine antiques have their share of local stores to see. The Antiquarians Building, with over 20 dealers, and Jay Roberts Antique Warehouse, for European antiques, are just down the street along Kinzie and Hubbard.
This area has an abundant concentration of art galleries, especially around Superior, Huron, Wells and Franklin Streets. Check with individual galleries for new openings, but expect to find everything from prints and sculptures to photography and crafts. The selections are enormous - from classic to contemporary, the masters to the emerging, by artists local and international. Take a look at Roy Boyd Gallery which showcases contemporary artwork, in its white-walled open space.
Chic boutiques and a wide assortment of specialty stores also call River North home.
The fashion-conscious should check out Clever Alice for clothing and accessories from Casting, Dagmar and Chicago designer Veronica Martin Riley. For the bride-to-be, White Chicago is a must-see destination for designer bridal gowns, including Monique Lhuillier at resale prices.
Overall, you can’t miss River North for an international wealth of goods, services and expertise. This area abounds with one-of-a-kind finds.
2006
Store openings: Architectural Stone & Tile, Bizen Home, Chen & Chen, Joliet Cabinetry, Jonathan Adler, Kohler, PA Larkin
Store closings:
What you’ll find here:
Art Galleries: Carl Hammer Gallery, Catherine Edelman Gallery, Robert Henry Adams Fine Art, Roy Boyd Gallery
Antiques: Antiquarians Building, Jay Roberts Antique Warehouse, Thomas Jolly Antiques
Clothing & Accessories: BIS Designs, Clever Alice, Designer Resale of Chicago, Girbaud Boutique, House of Brides, Jenny Yoo, White Chicago
Grocery, Gourmet & Specialty Foods: Binny’s Wine & Spirits, Galleria Market
Home Improvement: Ace Hardware, Clark & Barlow Hardware, Luxe Home at Merchandise Mart
Home Furnishings: Architectural Stone & Tile, Arrelle Fine Linens, Bizen Home, Chen & Chen, Design Studio, Hastens Beds, J. Robert Scott, Joliet Cabinetry, Jonathan Adler,Kohler, Kreiss, Le Magasin, Lightology, Mig & Tig, Montauk, Orange Skin, PA Larkin, Roche Bobois, Sawbridge Studios
Specialty Stores: Fletcher Jones Infiniti, Office Depot, Pearl Art & Craft, Pet Stuff, Petco, Wear Eyewear
Sporting Goods: Kozy’s Cyclery, Sports Authority
Themed Gift Shops: Blue Chicago, Hard Rock Cafe Gift Shop, Rainforest Café Gift Shop
Neighborhood Association: www.rivernorthassociation.com
Nearby Shopping Destinations: Gold Coast, The Loop, Magnificent Mile, Oak Street, South Loop/U of I Campus, Streeterville, West Loop
For more information, visit Chicago Traveler to see a River North Neighborhood Guide.
Photos courtesy of Roy Boyd Gallery and Natalia Tupikow Photography for White Chicago.
SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer - E. Engquist.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by SeeMoreShopping. Publ. 10/06.
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