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.
19 comments
M
I 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
laura k
Nicole, 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–
Alma K
Great 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?
Antonia
Thanks 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.
Sarah
Don’t forget about Oak Park Vintage Market!
Katie
Oh 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!
Beth Peluse
Love love love Muse and ComfortPeach! And always have to stop off at the Marion Street Cheese Market for some tasty wine and cheese!
judy
Nicole-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
Mary
Scratch ‘n Sniff is awesome as well! It’s full of quirky cute things, as well as sweet treats for pets :)
Barbara A. Dolan
Does registering for Derby Lite classes count as independent shopping? We are an Oak Park business, after all. ;o)
sandi m
I have been to all of them … and there’s so many more …
Stephy
Thank you for this! I live in the OP and I have never seen those home stores (except for Yearbook). Excited to check out CarefulPeach!
Laura
Now you’re making me want to take a jaunt to Oak Park – I need to pick up yarn at Knot Just Knits anyway… ;)
Laura @ Rather Square
Nice 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.
Caroline
Thank 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!
Shannon
That navy blue wall color in Update Interiors is beyond gorgeous! I wish we had more independent shops where I live!!
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