Vintage Shopping in Chicago's Edgewater Neighborhood A Visit to 3 of the Best Vintage Shops on the North Side

I've lived in or near Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood for the past ten years and I love seeing how it is evolving. And yet as much as the neighborhood changes, it remains a great place to scoop up some vintage finds. With three antique and resale shops within a three block stretch, you could spend a day getting lost in the goods of yesteryear.

While the antique markets are mainstays of the neighborhood (I've decorated more than one apartment with pieces from two of these three stores over the years) there are a number of new businesses in the neighborhood as well. There's the new Ann Sather and M. Henrietta on nearby Granville and the Lickety Split ice cream shop on the corner of Glenlake. The nasty old Walgreen's on Broadway at Glenlake was finally torn down and a shiny new store was erected in its place. Plus, I hear a new drive thru Starbucks made entirely from shipping containers is opening at the corner of Broadway and Devon. Oh, Edgewater, how you keep growing!

So here's my advice. Pick a Saturday afternoon in the near future. Grab some breakfast at Ann Sather or M. Henrietta. Once you're hopped up on coffee and bacon, walk the Broadway strip to do some vintage shopping at these three amazing stores.

Broadway Antique Market, 6130 North Broadway
If you're a fan of mid-century design, you're going to love Broadway Antique Market. Downstairs you'll find glass cases full of small accessories and oddities, along with some furniture and clothing. This is the place to look for cigarette cases and cufflinks. Upstairs, you'll find a few rooms with bigger furniture pieces - think dining rooms sets and funky 1960's sofas. The pieces at BAM are almost always in excellent condition so this is a good place to shop if you like your vintage furniture pristine.

Edgewater Antique Mall, 6314 North Broadway
With over 45 dealers selling at Edgewater Antique Mall, you'll find an interesting mix of vintage pieces. From large Art Deco pieces to smaller, mid-century accessories, the store carried a varied blend of merchandise. Like BAM, the pieces at Edgewater Antique Mall or typically in great condition.

Green Element Resale, 6241 North Broadway
Unlike the other two stores, Green Element is a true resale shop. This is the kind of store where you have to hunt for treasures. It's also the kind of store where you can scoop up an overlook piece that can be the base for a future DIY project. The store carries a mix of clothing and home goods, along with books, records and all sorts of little odds and ends.


Image: Jason Loper