The Ultimate Shopping & Gift Guide for Oak Park, IL
- Updated: 04/08/2024
- Janice
My husband and I recently had an old friend in town for a visit. He is a Bay Area resident and had half a day to spare after a work conference to see us and explore our hometown area of Oak Park, Illinois.
After spending just a few hours in our community, he could not stop talking about how impressed he was with the architecture, the food, and the high quality of shops in Oak Park.
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His wandering, along with my husband, took them through the heart of Oak Park, down Forest Avenue to see the Frank Lloyd Wright and other architecturally significant homes, then over to the nearby Unity Temple, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
They continued their stroll to include Downtown Oak Park and Madison Avenue in Forest Park for shopping. Our friend bought wine for his wife at CarefulPeach, toys for the kids at Pumpkin Moon, and rare teas from Todd & Holland—even managing to fit in a post-brunch ice cream snack at The Brown Cow. Given more time and a later departing plane, he would have enjoyed even more dining, shopping, and exploring.
So, whether I look through the eyes of a visitor or recognize it on my own, the small and vibrant community I live in has a lot to offer. Which is why I crafted this shopping and gift guide—to help promote our valued and distinctive small businesses, making it easier for visitors to find them and for locals to know about and support them.
Oak Park, IL Overview: 5+ Neighborhoods to Know
If you are familiar with Oak Park, Illinois, it might be for its Prairie-style architecture and two famous residents—architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and renowned author, Ernest Hemingway. At just eight miles west of downtown Chicago and accessible via public transportation, visiting this village makes for an easy day trip or an accessible base for Chicago travelers.
To further sweeten its appeal, Oak Park is blessed with a wealth of small independent stores and restaurants that enrich the fabric of the community and elevate its visitor experience.
In this article, I share overviews of several neighborhood districts in Oak Park that offer the highest concentrations of walkable shops, sites, and eateries. Additionally, I cover one area not in Oak Park, though adjacent to it—Madison Street in Forest Park for its excellent cluster of shops to stroll and places to eat along its core thoroughfare.
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
And if you like to use Google Maps, view my “Oak Park, IL: Indie Shopping Guide,” which lists all stores I mention in these districts.
Downtown Oak Park & the Pleasant District Shops
The areas known as Downtown Oak Park and the Pleasant District, as shown below, are large and distinct enough to stand alone, though the reality is that they are connected. And you can easily walk between each in minutes. Downtown Oak Park runs along Lake and Marion Streets and encompasses larger well-known chains such as Old Navy and Target and many favorite small independent stores.
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 and next to Downtown Oak Park and along Marion Street.
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.
I share the best boutiques and shops perfect for browsing or buying in the list below or the map above.
Holiday & Sunday Parking Tips: If you are visiting the Downtown Oak Park area during the holidays, know that metered and garage parking (in Holley Court & Lake Forest garages) is free for two hours starting the Friday after Thanksgiving and on all Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Downtown Oak Park metered parking and garage parking are 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 carefully curated by Francophile and artist owner Karen Morava. It is the perfect place to shop for a gift for someone you love—or even better yet, 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 website for an new gift guide each year.
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 gifts. And then stop by its grown-up sister boutique, 16 Suitcases, to shop for on-point and well-priced apparel and accessories for women. Shop in person or online.
On the Sugarcup website, shop its adorable kidswear or its extensive selection of toys & 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 the gift collection for holiday gift ideas.
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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 that carries up-to-date and infinitely wearable items has an outpost in the heart of downtown Oak Park.
Check out their selection of sweaters—my personal favorite—as well as affordable accessories and an excellent selection of high-quality footwear. Or, for the holidays, shop their well-priced gift selections.
Einnim Candle Bar & Apothecary
Address:1020 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL, 60301
Website: https://www.einnim.com/
A relative newcomer to the Oak Park shopping scene, this clever candle bar and apothecary opened in 2021, and it 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 club.
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, “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 beyond-good bite-size gourmet sweets. For the holidays, shop their gifts, where you will find seasonal cookies, hot cocoa, candles, and more.
Other Shops to Visit While in the Area
The Book Table at 1045 Lake Street. This “fiercely independent” bookshop is perhaps the true heart and soul—or at least thinking conscience—of Oak Park. Visit this double-wide store packed with the latest literature to find your next read. Shop in person, or view their full inventory of books on their website, which they can order from their distributor.
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 singular gift items. Plus, discover an excellent selection of giftable toys and books for kids. Shop in person or online.
Scratch & Sniff at 120 North Marion Street. This store is the grown-up sibling shop to heaven-for-kids, Pumpkin Moon. It is the place for adults who have aged out of the gag gifts and got 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. And 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 or online.
Stogie Life Cigar Shop at 1016 North Boulevard. Live the cigar life and shop its best products here. Shop in person or 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 shop or dine at Downtown Oak Park businesses and collectively spend $500+ across different establishments—keep your receipts. You will want to take advantage of the annual Downtown Oak Park “Shoppers Rewards Program“ and submit receipts to receive complimentary $50 gift certificates. See the rules, dates of this annual promotion, participating businesses, and how to redeem on the Downtown Oak Park website.
Oak Park, IL: Hemingway District Shops
A few walkable blocks east of Downtown Oak Park, find the Hemingway District shops and restaurants 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 lays claim most to this hometown literary great. And it is also the headquarters for excellent shopping and dining. I share several sure-to-please area shops, many of which offer online shopping 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 walk the walk of giving back and have been heavily involved in local business leadership, charitable giving, and launching social running clubs and activities. And 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 kid store to place immediately across the street from a world-class toy boutique like Geppetto’s, you would envision new-on-the-scene Candycopia. Brimming with bulk candy and single-item goodness, stop here for delicious sweets.
For the holidays, check out its gift selection, or my favorite, send a loved one their 10-piece chocolate flight of small-batch and hand-crafted bars from artisanal chocolatiers around the US. Or 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/
Go here to splurge on contemporary to luxe apparel or accessory items, often from small independent European designers. These items will make you feel and look fabulous and will undoubtedly become the treasured piece 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 that snap up the prettiest things as soon as they come in.
Other Shops to Visit While 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 at 135 North Oak Park Avenue. At this shop, satisfy your need for fine jewelry from independent designers perfect for layering, self-indulging, and gift-giving. Shop in person or online.
Gem Home at 115 North Oak Park Avenue (within the brick courtyard). This shop is the sister store to Gem A Jewelry Boutique, and it recently opened. Go here to appreciate and explore its elevated boho-chic aesthetic of vintage and new home decor 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 in person or online.
Oak Park Arts District Shops
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.
If you need a quick snack pick-me-up while visiting Harrison Street, check out my two favorite stops, community-fixture, art-adorned Buzz Cafe, and community innovator offering pie slices, pocket pies, and more, Happy Apple Pie shop.
Oak Park, IL: The North Avenue Business District
Along the busy four-lane corridor of North Avenue are a few more Oak Park shops that you will want 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 hundreds if not 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, well, love.
Expect personalized from the owners and musician staff at this family-owned store. If they do not have what you want, they can order it within days. I have been a customer here for years, benefitting greatly from their recommendations and repair service and their wide selection of supplies. If you need to buy a gift for a musician, either young or old, stop in for ideas, suggestions, and likely the perfect pick for your needs.
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.
Cigar Oasis
Address: 6557 W North Avenue, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Website: https://www.cigaroasisop.com/home
Shop from a large selection of cigars. Or drop in to relax in their supremely comfy leather lounge seating, complete with a fireplace. You can even enjoy a cappuccino while you indulge in your favorite smoke. For locals, know you can rent out their comfortable digs for events.
More Oak Park, IL Shops Not Linked to a District
A few notable shops in Oak Park and neighboring River Forest do not fall within strict shopping district boundaries. Here are several that stand out on their own. And for those visiting the area via car, 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
And since you are in the area—and if you have a comic book or toy collectible lover in your life of any age, please do this loved one a favor and swing around the corner to check out floor-to-ceiling packed One Stop Comics.
At One Stop, your graphic art-loving crew will find plenty to love. 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, especially for a clueless parent (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/
Be sure to 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 have also run group trips to Italy.
Check out their extensive collection of gifts organized by event and price. See a sampling of just a few of the speciality items they carry for the holidays above. 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, within limited hours, or by appointment.
River Forest Chocolates
Address: 7769 Lake Street, River Forest, IL, 60305
Heavily residential 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 their truffles, hand-dipped pretzel sticks (my family’s favorite), and their many milk and dark chocolate delights. Shop in person, and a limited selection available for in-store pickup only on their website.
Next Door Forest Park, IL Shopping Scene: The Top Shops
Stroll down Madison Street in downtown Forest Park, a neighboring community just west and south of Oak Park, and you will realize you need to clear far more time off your calendar for shopping.
Come here to enjoy the rich collection of eateries, independent shops, and antique establishments this stretch of street, from Harlem Avenue—west to Des Plaines—offers. Sharing just a few of the top shopping picks in the list, and even more recommendations in 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.
Todd & Holland Tea Merchants at 7311 Madison Street. Find an impressive collection of loose-leaf standard and highly specialty teas at this sophisticated shop that also offers gift packs, tea mugs, and accessories perfect for tea lovers. 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.
Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore at 7419 Madison Street. Discover an independent bookstore specializing in biographies, historical novels, and mysteries. Shop in person. The bookstore offers only limited online shopping.
Where to Find Oak Park Souvenirs Online
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
If you are traveling to the Oak Park area, consider including a visit to the Unity Temple, part of the Frank Lloyd Wright UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about it in, “Exploring the Unity Temple: A UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
Or view my Oak Park book list on indie bookseller, Bookshop.org, to learn more about this community and its two most famous residents. Find biographies, histories, and fiction set in place in “Oak Park, IL Books to Read: History, Hemingway, & Frank Lloyd Wright,” shown below.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
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, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me.
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