Oak Park has some great restaurants and well-known chain stores, but it also has a huge variety of independent shops. Below, I’ve highlighted some of the best from here in town, as well as a handful from nearby Forest Park. I’ve also created a Pinterest board with their locations marked (though there were a few that I was unable to add to the map). This isn’t an exhaustive list of stores, but it does include all of my favorites!
Home
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Update Interiors
Furniture and amazing lighting, along with smaller decorative details for your home. -
Refind Home
Mid-century vintage finds, plus new eco-friendly and indie goods. -
Moss
A great selection of flowers, plus interesting gifts and home decor. -
Yearbook
A careful selection of vintage and new goods with a masculine, old collegiate feel. -
CarefulPeach
A French-inspired boutique with beautiful items for tabletop, bath, and kitchen.
Women’s Clothing & Accessories
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Gem
A mix of edgy modern and pretty vintage-inspired jewelry. -
Nora’s Shoe Shop
Awesome shoes from harder to find brands. -
Lively Running
Running shoes for women (they’ll help you choose the right pair), and cute workout clothes. -
Muse
Feminine tops and dresses in a range of prices.
For Kids
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Pumpkin Moon
Kooky toys kids will love, and a geek’s paradise too. -
The Magic Tree Bookstore
A great children’s bookstore. -
Sugarcup Trading
New and gently used stylish kids’ clothes. -
Gepetto’s Toy Box
Wooden toys, dress-up clothes, and imaginative play, plus all the Legos, Playmobil, puzzles, games, and craft kits you could ask for.
Books
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The Book Table
An indie bookstore for a town that loves its books. -
The Magic Tree Bookstore
A great children’s bookstore.
Shannon
November 18, 2014 at 8:15 amThat navy blue wall color in Update Interiors is beyond gorgeous! I wish we had more independent shops where I live!!
Caroline
November 18, 2014 at 8:38 amThank you so much for this list just in time for the holidays! I live in Oak Park but somehow have never been to many of these places so I can’t wait to visit them, maybe when the cold snap breaks!
Laura @ Rather Square
November 18, 2014 at 9:34 amNice list! I love Gepetto’s and the Book Table. There are a few places you’ve listed that I haven’t been to yet, so I’ll have to check those out. Oak Park has so many great local shops to support.
Laura
November 18, 2014 at 9:48 amNow you’re making me want to take a jaunt to Oak Park – I need to pick up yarn at Knot Just Knits anyway… ;)
Stephy
November 18, 2014 at 9:58 amThank you for this! I live in the OP and I have never seen those home stores (except for Yearbook). Excited to check out CarefulPeach!
sandi m
November 18, 2014 at 11:00 amI have been to all of them … and there’s so many more …
Barbara A. Dolan
November 18, 2014 at 11:22 amDoes registering for Derby Lite classes count as independent shopping? We are an Oak Park business, after all. ;o)
Mary
November 18, 2014 at 3:49 pmScratch ‘n Sniff is awesome as well! It’s full of quirky cute things, as well as sweet treats for pets :)
judy
November 18, 2014 at 4:51 pmNicole-do you happen to know what the dark blue paint is behind the gold starburst mirror I am looking for a shade like that but boy are there some weird shades of what is supposed to be Navy when I get home with the chips. They all seem to turn drab and depressing
Beth Peluse
November 18, 2014 at 6:12 pmLove love love Muse and ComfortPeach! And always have to stop off at the Marion Street Cheese Market for some tasty wine and cheese!
Katie
November 18, 2014 at 11:16 pmOh my gosh I’m so excited about this list! Loving the suggestions from the comments section too. I moved to Oak Park this summer and have driven past a few of these shops, some today actually. I can’t wait to pop in and check them all out!
Sarah
November 19, 2014 at 9:58 amDon’t forget about Oak Park Vintage Market!
Antonia
November 19, 2014 at 1:51 pmThanks for making my holiday shopping easier! I’ve only lived in Oak Park for a year and there are some gems in here I hadn’t heard of.
Alma K
November 19, 2014 at 3:21 pmGreat list. May I add Jayne for its Anthropologie-like style (at less than Anthro prices) and the Old School Records for the vinyl geek in your life?
laura k
November 20, 2014 at 7:36 amNicole, thank you for the nod to all these great local shops in oak park! we are lucky to live in a community with such a diverse array of creative local and independent shopping options–
M
November 20, 2014 at 10:30 amI love this feature! So happy to see such a great piece on all the local “gems”! If I had to narrow it down to only one favorite, I could not. Yearbook, Moss, and Refined Home are great Forest Park “gems”.
We are very lucky to have so many great shops in close proximity. I agree with Alma K, ” Jayne” is a great one to add to the list! Not only do they have such a cute selection with an Anthropologie feel, but their staff and customer service is top notch!
Again, many thanks for supporting local!
Here’s a something I came across that I found interesting on shopping local:
“If each of us spent $100 a year more on local businesses instead of chain stores, it would put an extra $3 million a year into our economy, not only that but it would create thousands more jobs every year.
#supportlocalbusinesses
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