Oak Park, IL: Best Shops & Gifts
- Updated: 11/14/2024
- Janice
Oak Park, Illinois, is more than just a charming suburb of Chicago known for its leafy streets and impeccably maintained Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. It’s a destination in its own right for anyone who loves to shop local, support small businesses, and discover distinctive items to buy. Whether visiting for the day or exploring as a local, this guide highlights the best indie boutiques, specialty shops, and gift spots that Oak Park offers.
From artisan goods to fashion-forward clothing and distinctive home accents, you will surely find something to remind you to skip shopping at home in your pajamas and head out the door and into the real-life allure of Oak Park’s best streets.
Table Of Contents
Neighborhood Overview
If you are familiar with Oak Park, it might be because of its prairie-style architecture and two famous residents—architect Frank Lloyd Wright and renowned author Ernest Hemingway. Just nine miles west of downtown Chicago and accessible via public transportation, this village makes for an easy day trip or an accessible base for Chicago travelers.
To further sweeten its appeal, Oak Park has a wealth of small independent stores and restaurants that enrich the community and visitor experience. In this article, find overviews of the main Oak Park neighborhood districts offering the highest concentrations of walkable shops, sites, and eateries. Also, I cover nearby Madison Street in next-door Forest Park for its excellent cluster of shops to stroll and places to eat.
These shopping areas include:
- Downtown Oak Park & the Pleasant District
- The Hemingway District
- Oak Park Arts District
- The North Avenue Business District
- More shops not linked to a district
- Madison Street in neighboring Forest Park
If you like to use Google Maps, reference this custom list and map to see all the stores in this article.
Who I Am & Why Did I Create this Guide?
I am a travel blogger and writer who lives in the area (learn more about me here). Much of my business is online—either through the content I create on this blog, my social channels, or through transactions on my online stores.
I created this list for two reasons. First, out of guilt. I want to be a net positive in the community I live in. Instead of filtering funds away from Main Street to big online retailers, I wanted to find a way to help. So, using my skills, I created this hyperlocal guide about the best shopping and gift options in my hometown. Ideally, this drop in the bucket helps.
The second was seeing my hometown through someone else’s eyes. When an old friend from the Bay Area visited Chicago for a conference, he had only half a day to explore. My husband took him on a quick tour of Oak Park, including Forest Avenue’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright homes and Unity Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, he took him out to lunch and to hit some stores for souvenirs for his family.
In just a few hours, he picked up wine for his wife at CarefulPeach, toys for his twins at Pumpkin Moon, and rare teas from Todd & Holland—all while sneaking in a sweet treat at The Brown Cow (both in next-door Forest Park). We couldn’t get him to stop talking about how much he loved the neighborhoods, the shops, the distinctness of the architecture, and the wide variety of food on offer.
So, whether I see it through the eyes of a friend or recognize it myself, the small and vibrant community I live in is a gem. I crafted this guide to promote our remarkable small businesses, making it easier for all comers to find and support them. Dig in to learning about all the neighborhoods below.
Downtown Oak Park & the Pleasant District
Downtown Oak Park and the Pleasant District, shown below, are connected. You can easily walk between each. Downtown Oak Park runs along Lake and Marion Streets and encompasses larger, well-known chains such as Old Navy and Target as well as many small indie shops.
The Pleasant District, named for the nearby architecturally significant Prairie-style Pleasant Home which offers open-to-the-public tours and hosts events, sits just south of Downtown Oak Park and along Marion Street. I share the best boutiques and shops perfect for browsing or buying in the list and map below.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Holiday & Sunday parking tips: Visiting Downtown Oak Park during the holidays? Know metered and garage parking (in Holley Court & Lake Forest garages) is free for two hours the Friday after Thanksgiving and on Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Downtown Oak Park metered and garage parking is always free all day on Sundays. See the parking map, garage locations, and more information here.
CarefulPeach Boutique
Address: 1024 North Boulevard, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://carefulpeach.com/
Find American and European home, kitchen, personal care, jewelry, and gourmet snack products with a French flair curated by Francophile and artist owner Karen Morava. It is the perfect place to find a gift for someone you love—or even better—for yourself. Shop its irresistible collection of jewelry at a variety of price points. I have wanted several pieces on its site and display cases over the years. For the holidays, be sure to check out their online gift guide.
Sugarcup Trading & 16 Suitcases
Address: 110 North Marion Street (Sugarcup Trading) & 108 North Marion Street (16 Suitcases), Oak Park, IL, 60301
Websites: https://www.sugarcuptrading.com/ & https://www.16suitcases.com/
Shop Sugarcup Trading for whimsical childrenswear and clever toys. Then, stop by its grown-up sister boutique, 16 Suitcases, for on-point and well-priced apparel and accessories for women. Shop in person or online. On the Sugarcup website, shop for adorable kidswear or its extensive selection of toys and gifts. On the 16 Suitcases website, shop its jewelry or dresses—we have bought more than a few of these over the years—or check out its holiday gift collection.
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Jayne
Address: 122 North Marion Street, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://shopjayne.com/
With five stores in Chicago and nearby Wisconsin, this small Midwest boutique chain for women carries up-to-date and infinitely wearable items. Its outpost is in the heart of downtown Oak Park. Check out their selection of sweaters, affordable accessories, and an excellent selection of high-quality footwear. For the holidays, shop their well-priced gift options.
Einnim Candle Bar & Apothecary
Address:1020 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://www.einnim.com/
This clever candle bar and apothecary sells both products and experiences. Shop its eclectic collection of high-quality candles, home goods, and apothecary items. Or book a session to custom blend your own candle. This activity is great to do with a group or to give as a gift to any candle enthusiast. Or, for the queen of candle-lover gifts—check out the candle-of-the-month subscriptions.
Blackout Baking Co.
Address: 210 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Website: https://blackoutbakingco.com/
Although this is less of a shop and more of a cafe, I have included this delicious stop for its ingenious cookie-making kits with, and I quote from their website, “the best DAMN buttercream frosting you have ever had” and for its cookie-of-the-month gift subscription. Plus, it makes for a nice place to take a shopping break to enjoy a coffee with its bite-size gourmet sweets. For the holidays, shop their gifts, where you will find seasonal cookies, hot cocoa, chocolate, and more.
Other Shops to Visit While in the Area
Paper Source at 1109 Lake Street. This outlet is one of the 100+ stores that make up this national artisanal paper products chain headquartered in Chicago. It is a great place to pop in to get cards and gift items. Plus, discover an excellent selection of giftable toys and books for kids. Shop in person or online.
Scratch & Sniff is at 120 North Marion Street. This store is the grown-up sibling shop to Pumpkin Moon, heaven for kids. It is the place for adults who have aged out of gag gifts and are into gadgets, puzzles, and goodies for their pups. Shop in person only.
Ten Thousand Villages at 121 North Marion Street. This shop is an outpost of the fair-trade retailer championing a global maker-to-market movement and selling hand-crafted items. And it happens to be my mom’s favorite shop when she comes to town. Shop in person or online.
Fitzgerald’s Fine Stationery at 111 North Marion Street. In addition to custom invitations, this store sells cards and high-end home goods. Shop in person or online.
Pumpkin Moon at 1028 North Boulevard. This colorful store is the place to take every kid, tween, teen, and kid at heart. It is filled floor to ceiling with gag gifts, tchotchkes, and collectibles. And it is the first and best place my family always goes to buy something satisfyingly stupid and sure to be loved—like a rubber chicken for a 50th birthday present. Shop in person only.
Beer Shop at 1026 North Boulevard. Go here to take an on-tap or bottled brew break while shopping. Or pick up a four-pack of specialty microbrews, a gift any host or hostess will love. Last time I checked, Beer Shop sold t-shirts in the style of the Chicago flag, substituting the stars for beer bottles, making it the perfect gift for any guy or gal who loves the Second City and its first-rate beverages. Shop in person. Limited selection online.
Oak Park Jewelers at 101 South Marion. Visit this family-owned store for fine jewelry, custom rings, wedding rings, and engagement bands. Shop in person or online.
Anfora Wine Merchants at 128 South Marion Street, shop for hostess gifts or pick up a perfect bottle for any meal. Anfora also offers a wine-of the-month club, though only for residents, as the product requires in-person pickup. Shop in person only.
Via Clay, at 208 South Marion Street. This first-class community pottery studio offers one-time sessions, ongoing class series, and gift cards for the “clay curious.”
Holiday Awards Alert: During the holiday season, if you spent $500+ at Downtown Oak Park businesses, keep your receipts. You will want to take advantage of this annual shoppers reward program to receive complimentary $50 gift certificates. Learn more about it here.
Hemingway District
A few walkable blocks east of Downtown Oak Park, the Hemingway District shops and restaurants are clustered along Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street. Named for being on the same street as the Hemingway Birthplace and Museum, this is the part of Oak Park that most claims this literary great. It is also a wonderful spot for excellent shopping and dining. I share several sure-to-please options, many of which offer online shopping. See them in the list and map below.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Lively Athletics
Address: 109 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://livelyathletics.com/
This fun-to-shop store is a community fixture and the sister-owned headquarters for active ladies—or ladies who like to look stylishly active. The owners here are committed to giving back and have been heavily involved in local business leadership, charitable giving, and launching social running clubs and activities. Their loyal shoppers are appreciative of their efforts.
Shop its intentional selection of flattering boutique activewear, footwear, affordable jewelry, and gift items that will appeal to any Anthropologie enthusiast, either in person or online. For the holidays, check out their Gifts & Home selections. Or, perfect for travelers, check out their collection of traveler gifts.
Geppetto’s Toy Box
Address: 730 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://geppettostoybox.com/
This European-style toy shop with high-quality wooden playthings and educational games that are as fun as they are enduring is the place to shop for kids and families in Oak Park. When our kids were younger, we bought birthday party and holiday gifts here and would stop by to browse for fun whenever in the area. Shop in person, online, or via their concierge service. For the holidays, check their Treasured Gifts collections or encourage someone you love (and want to shop for) to create a wish list on their website.
Candycopia
Address: 717 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
Website: https://www.candycopia.com/
If you could dream up the most complementary store to place across the street from a toy boutique like Geppetto’s, you would envision kid-friendly and adult-connoisseur-heaven Candycopia. Brimming with bulk candy and single-item goodness, stop here for delicious sweets.
For the holidays, check out its gift selection. Or this grouping of sweets as-seen-on TikTok. And my personal favorite, this 10-piece chocolate flight of small-batch and hand-crafted bars from artisanal chocolatiers around the US. Also, check out their monthly subscriptions—ideal gifts for friends and family with a serious sweet tooth.
Olive & Well
Address: 133 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://www.oliveandwell.com/
Shop and sample gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars, as well as artisanal pasta and spices, at this highly curated establishment. The store also offers pre-packaged and mix-and-match gift boxes of individual bottles of oils and vinegars. The owner is passionate and knowledgeable and will assist you with care if you need it. The gift boxes—with names like “Memories of Italy” or “Some Like It Hot” make for excellent host and hostess gifts or a perfect holiday present for any food lover or cook. Shop online or in person.
Manouche
Address: 146 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://manoucheshop.com/
Come here to splurge on contemporary and luxe apparel or accessories, often from small, independent European designers. These items will make you feel and look fabulous and will undoubtedly become the treasured pieces you will enjoy wearing and receiving compliments about for years.
Owner Kim Shimkus is a genius at suggesting unexpected pieces that magically work and have hidden and flattering design features that are hard to spot from the hanger. Shop in person or online. For the holidays, consider shopping its accessories—though do not wait to buy—Manouche typically carries only one of each item and has a loyal base of shoppers who snap up the prettiest things as soon as they come in.
Other shops to check out in the area:
Selleria Veneta at 139 North Oak Park Avenue. Shop here for ethically sourced Italian leather handbags and accessories crafted by artisans. Discover the bag you did not even know you were dreaming of. Shop in person or online.
Gem A Jewelry Boutique & Gem Home at 115 North Oak Park Avenue (within the brick courtyard). At this shop, satisfy your need for fine jewelry from independent designers perfect for layering, self-indulging, and gift-giving. Additionally, go here to explore its boho-chic and vintage Gem Home goods at a variety of price points. Shop in person or online.
Spilt Milk at 811 South Boulevard. If you are coming from shopping the stores listed above on Lake Street, continue south, head under the train tracks, and hang a hard right for the best-baked goods you will ever eat at sister-owned and Oak Park-loved Spilt Milk. Their scones are insanely good, the biscuits are to die for, and the pies—are made in heaven. Though, you are not headed here just for a snack but to shop their high-end artisanal pantry items and kitchen supplies—while, of course, you also enjoy a cappuccino and an oversize cookie. Shop in person or online.
R Titus Designs at 143 South Oak Park Avenue. Browse the elegant home goods and quirky accessories perfect for gift-giving at this vintage home decor shop and interior design studio. Shop limited hours in person or online.
Oak Park Arts District
Discover an eclectic mix of shops, businesses, restaurants, and cafes that cluster in South Oak Park on Harrison Street, ranging from Ridgeland Avenue to Austin Avenue, and is known as the Oak Park Arts District. Come for the food, stay for the shopping. I share top area shops in the list and the map below.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Elevate Creative
Address: 321 Harrison Street, Oak Park, IL, 60304
Website: http://www.elevate-oakpark.com/ or here for online shopping
This unique hair studio proudly carries a wide selection of eco-friendly hair, skin, bath and body products, home goods, and great gift items at attractive prices. Shop in person or online. For holiday shopping, Elevate’s helpful owner, Gail Coughlin, predicts her Kitsch heatless curlers and Laniege Sleeping Lip Masks will be top sellers. Plus, she thinks her clients will love the Bath Bomb Advent Calendars and other top gifts shown above. Click on the images above to shop for the item. If sold out, browse her online store for terrific alternatives.
Val’s Halla Records
Address: 239 Harrison Street, Oak Park, IL 60304
Website: https://valshallarecords.com/
Step into a music lover’s paradise steeped in local history since it opened in 1972, where you can embrace vinyl, browse CDs and cassettes, and since 2020, shop its online store. For the holidays, check out their online collection of gift recommendations, which include turntables, collectibles, store swag, mystery vinyl packs, and much more.
Dima Jewelry
Address: 41 Harrison Street, Oak Park, IL, 60305
Website: https://www.dima-jewelry.com/
Shop the handmade collection of Dima Jewelry’s fashion and fine jewelry. Or opt for some sparkle with more staying power by selecting from her permanent jewelry collection. Shop in person, check her Facebook page for open hours, or shop online.
Other Shops to Visit While in the Area
Dye Hard Yarns at 210 Harrison, Unit A. A small boutique yarn shop and dye studio that offers in-person and online shopping, classes, and community events. A perfect pit stop for any knitter.
Bead In Hand at 145 Harrison, Suite G. This community beading store sells a wide selection of beads and supplies and offers repairs and classes. Shop in person only.
You are in luck if you need a quick snack pick-me-up while visiting Harrison Street. My favorite snack joints include Publican Quality Bread, Buzz Cafe by Kribi Coffee, and Happy Apple Pie Shop
North Avenue Business District
Along the busy four-lane corridor of North Avenue, not known for its walkability, are two more Oak Park shops to put on your radar.
Austin Music Center
Address: 6815 W. North Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60302
In addition to being a community fixture and renting out thousands of musical instruments to aspiring young musicians at area schools, Austin Music Center sells a large inventory of instruments and accessories any music lover would love. Get personalized service from the owners and musician staff at this family-owned store. If they do not have what you want, they can order it. I have been a customer here for years, benefitting greatly from their recommendations, repair service, and wide selection of supplies. If you need to buy a gift for a young or old musician, stop in for ideas or suggestions.
Barnard's Cyclery
Address: 6109 W. North Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Website: http://barnardscyclery.com/
Shop Oak Park history while you pick out your new two-wheeler or select some must-have cycle gear. Barnard’s Schwinn is a full-service shop packed with the best in bikes and all the fun accessories that come with them, and it has been in operation since 1911. Find gifts any age cycling enthusiast would love at all price points.
Other Shops (Not in a District)
A few notable shops in Oak Park and neighboring River Forest do not fall within a shopping district. Here are several that stand out. All have adjacent or nearby metered street or lot parking, making for easy drop-ins.
One Stop Comics
Address: 111 South Ridgeland, Oak Park, IL, 60302
If you know a comic book or toy collectible lover, do them a favor and swing by to check out floor-to-ceiling packed One Stop Comics. At One Stop, your graphic art-loving crew will find plenty to get excited about. And if you catch a glimpse of the store staff barely visible behind the stacks of towering books at the front, know they are incredibly helpful in locating the perfect edition or genre. This assistance is particularly appreciated by clueless parents (aka me) searching for the ideal gift. Shop in person or online.
Grandmaster Games
Address: 436 S Ridgeland, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Website: https://www.grandmastergames.net/
Grandmaster Games is a locally-owned hobby store ideal for your gamer or game-lover. Stop in to shop the latest in sophisticated board games, Pokémon, and more.
Sugar Beet Co-op
Address: 812 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Website: https://www.sugarbeet.coop/
Although this establishment is more of a grocery, stop by while you are shopping to grab a smoothie or a quick caffeine hit while you browse their collection of very giftable host and hostess food items. In addition, select from their small-batch local purveyors of snacks and sweets that you will not find elsewhere—like River Forest-based Jilly’s Jerky.
Alioto's Gift Shop
Address: 1118 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302
Website: https://www.aliotosgiftshop.com/
Visit this long-open community fixture, selling a dreamscape array of ideal gift items and housewares that range from everyday casual to elegant occasions. Find anything from fine china to jewelry to supple leather imported handbags specially curated by the mother-and-daughter store owners who also run trips to Italy. Check out their extensive collection of gifts. Shop in person, create a registry, or shop online.
While on Chicago Avenue visiting Alioto’s, pop into next-door MOOD | The Shoppe, a boutique home store curated by interior design experts. Shop in person.
River Forest Chocolates
Address: 7769 Lake Street, River Forest, IL, 60305
Neighboring River Forest boasts an irresistible sweets shop that demands a drive down Lake Street to indulge in its in-house chocolate confections. Since 2010, River Forest Chocolates has been satisfying locals with a sweet tooth with its truffles, hand-dipped pretzel sticks (my family’s favorite), and many milk and dark chocolate delights. Shop in person and a limited selection is available for in-store pickup only on its website.
Next-Door Madison Street (Forest Park)
Stroll down Madison Street in downtown Forest Park, an adjacent community just west and south of Oak Park, and realize you will need more time for shopping. Come to enjoy the rich collection of eateries, independent shops, and antique establishments on this stretch of street, from Harlem Avenue to Des Plaines. I share a few top shopping picks below and more on the map.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Todd & Holland Tea Merchants at 7311 Madison Street. This sophisticated shop offers an impressive collection of loose-leaf standard and highly specialty teas, as well as gift packs, tea mugs, and accessories perfect for tea lovers. You can shop in person or online.
Forest Park Emporium at 7345 Madison Street. Wander around this collective of full-service dealers specializing in “antiques and collectibles from the Stone Age to the Space Age.” A visit here works well with an ice cream stop next door at The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor & Creamery.
Moss Modern Flowers at 7405 Madison Street. This shop offers modern and uniquely sophisticated floral arrangements and a limited number of textured and exceptional handwrought home goods. Shop in person only.
Notable Oak Park Souvenirs
If you are looking for the perfect Oak Park souvenir, consider checking out one of these WPA-style posters from local graphic designer and comic-book writer, Raf Nieves. He offers several prints for Chicago’s western burbs, including three for Oak Park. Shop online only.
Related Reading
Planning a visit to the Oak Park area? Consider stopping at the Unity Temple, part of the Frank Lloyd Wright UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about it here or below.
Additionally, check out my curated Oak Park, IL, reading list, to learn more about this community and its two most famous residents. You’ll find biographies, histories, and fiction set in the area.
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About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter for travel recs and how-to’s. Or follow her on social media (@gatherandgotravel).
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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