Must-see shopping in The Great Lakes

  • Black Mall

    Chicago

    Walk around the big, open room where some 50 different African American vendors sell their jewelry, head wraps, dolls, T-shirts, purses, spice mixes,…

  • Strange Cargo

    Chicago

    This retro store stocks hipster wear, platform shoes, wigs and a mind-blowing array of kitschy T-shirts. Staff will iron on decals of Harry Caray, Mike…

  • CLE Clothing Co

    Cleveland

    The nifty gifty store next to the Cleveland Visitors Center sells mostly fun T-shirts with city themes (ie Burning River Surf Club, the Lake Erie Monster)…

  • Mildblend Supply Co

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Stacks and racks of premium denim fill this roomy shop, which feels a bit like a country store, albeit one stocked with leather boots, fashionable women's…

  • Buffalo Exchange

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    You can buy, sell or trade your duds at this well-regarded secondhand clothing shop for men and women. Part of a national chain, the Wicker Park outpost…

  • Cherry Republic

    Gold Coast

    It's touristy but a hoot to see all the products: cherry ketchup, cherry-dusted tortillas, cherry butter, cherry wine – you get the point. Most of it…

  • EK Housewares & Souvenirs

    Chicago

    EK takes up a few storefronts with its miles of aisles of dishwares, incense, T-shirts, stuffed animals, bamboo plants, stationery, coin purses and Hello…

  • Unabridged Bookstore

    Chicago

    This indie shop is known for its stellar gay and lesbian section (including gay fiction, gay parenting and queer spirituality), as well as travel, sci-fi…

  • Book Cellar

    Chicago

    The independent Book Cellar is an integral part of the Lincoln Square neighborhood. Local book groups hold their meetings here, and authors do readings…

  • Barneys New York

    Chicago

    Barneys provides the quintessential Gold Coast shopping experience, with six floors sparkling with mega-high-end designer goods. Up in the penthouse is…

  • Red Balloon Co

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    When hip west-side twenty-somethings decide to get steady jobs and start having kids, this is where they outfit the li’l pups. Adorable clothes, classic…

  • Steel Petal Press

    Chicago

    Pop in to peruse humorous, often naughty, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, bookmarks, coffee cups, magnets, coasters and posters. The cards are printed by…

  • Usinger's Famous Sausage

    Milwaukee

    This downtown meat counter, housed in Usinger's original sausage-making plant, is the ideal spot to pick up some of the smoked meats, brats and Polish…

  • Apple Store

    Chicago

    Here's another Apple branch to help with all of your iPhone, iPad and other iNeeds. It's fronted by a plaza with a fountain, and tables and chairs where…

  • Pilsen Outpost

    Chicago

    This compact artist-run gallery and shop sells distinctive silk-screened T-shirts, zines, cards, posters and small paintings on canvas. Everything is…

  • Brown Elephant Resale Shop

    Chicago

    Proceeds benefit the Howard Brown Health Center, which specializes in health care for the LGBT communities. The shop has a consistently good selection of…

  • New Day

    Indianapolis

    Purchase a bottle of mead made by a couple of enthusiastic former beekeepers at this store. Sip the honeyed wares in the tasting room before making your…

  • Bauer’s Market

    Minnesota

    Hardy Bauer’s Market is open year-round selling local produce as well as garden supplies and gifts – say, a fish-toting gnome or giant mushroom – many…

  • Roth Cheese

    Wisconsin

    Follow your nose to Roth, a store and factory where you can watch cheesemakers in action from the observation deck (weekday mornings only) and delve into…

  • City Lit Books

    Chicago

    City Lit is a modern, generalist bookstore that often hosts readings by local authors. It's a good place to browse if you're waiting for a table at one of…

  • West Side Market

    Cleveland

    The European-style market overflows with greengrocers and their fruit and vegetable pyramids, as well as purveyors of Hungarian sausage, Italian cannoli…

  • Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

    Wisconsin

    This creamery is the cheese-curd maker for A&W and Dairy Queen, and a prime place to savor the squeaky goodness hot off the press (11am is prime time).

  • Drier's Meat Market

    Gold Coast

    Drier's butcher shop has been around since Civil War days. It's filled with antique grinders and cleavers, as well as the famous smoked meats.

  • New Buffalo Farmers Market

    Gold Coast

    Have a look around the town's popular market brimming with veggies, cheeses, breads, antiques, arts and crafts, food trucks and live music.

  • Paul's Book Store

    Wisconsin

    Atmospheric used book store close to the university and well worth a stop to have a browse.

  • Maxwell Street Market

    Chicago

    Every Sunday hundreds of vendors set up stalls that sell everything from Jesus statues to 10 packs of tube socks to power tools. The market has become a…

  • 400 West Rich

    Ohio

    More than 100 artists, designers and performers have studios at this cavernous, revamped warehouse. It hosts a cool craft market from noon to 4pm the last…

  • Bookends & Beginnings

    Illinois

    Its hidden alley location gives this Evanston bookshop a magical feel, and inside the wonders continue: a deceptively tiny storefront unexpectedly expands…

  • Lori’s

    Chicago

    Lori’s caters to shoe junkies, who tear through boxes and tissue paper to get at Franco Sarto, Fabio Rusconi and other European brands. The general frenzy…

  • Andersonville Antiques

    Chicago

    This place is a shopping double act. Upstairs is a sedate collection of antique furniture, old wooden chests, elegant housewares like cut-crystal…

  • Fulton Street Farmers Market

    Michigan

    Vendors have been hawking gorgeous fruit, veggies, baked goods, herbs and flowers here since 1922. There's a vaulted roof over the top, but the market is…

  • Ragstock

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Ragstock is a giant shop for new and used clothing where you can find all sorts of idiosyncratic outfits. There are plenty of Halloween costumes, as well…

  • Alamo Shoes

    Chicago

    This throwback to the 1960s focuses on hip, comfortable shoes for men, women and children. Brands include Dansko, Ecco, Naot, Birkenstock, Merrell, Keen…

  • Sandmeyer's Bookstore

    Chicago

    It's not big, it's not flashy and it doesn't host many author events. Instead this small, general-interest Printer's Row shop, owned by the same couple…

  • Block 37

    Chicago

    This shopping center features retailers such as the Disney Store, Anthropologie, Zara, L'Occitane en Provence and even an outpost of the Magnolia Bakery,…

  • Whistle Stop Grocery

    Gold Coast

    There's perhaps no better place in Harbor Country to stock a lakeside picnic than at this bakery, deli and gourmet grocery in one. Pick up some chicken…

  • Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery

    Michigan

    Robinette's is a popular place to buy fresh-made donuts and cider, and maybe a carton of apples or cherries while you're at it. In late summer and autumn,…

  • Holmes County Flea Market

    Ohio

    The largest flea market in Amish Country, this indoor hall has more than 60 vendors selling clothing, jewelry, tools, jigsaw puzzles, cosmetics,…

  • Zara

    Chicago

    New products arrive weekly and inventory changes biweekly at Spanish fashion house Zara. It’s sort of Gap meets H&M, with youthful, off-the-runway styles…

    • placement: fullWidth
    • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
    • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
    • targeting:
      {
        "position": "superzone"
      }