Sometimes souvenirs are an afterthought when traveling because there really isn’t anything neat out there to buy. Chicago is not one of those cities with nothing to buy, so be certain to plan some time to go souvenir hunting. To save you some time looking, here’s my short list of best souvenir shops in Chicago.
The City of Chicago store. Located at 78 E Washington St in the Chicago Cultural Center, this shop has almost every type of souvenir imaginable, including special City of Chicago merchandise.
Where the Buffalo Roam. This shop is at 28 S Michigan, and it’s a spot to find t-shirts and small items. They have other items as well such as mini “cows on parade”, so keep your eyes out.
The Art Institute of Chicago store. While not specifically a Chicago-only souvenir shop, it has many items that say “Chicago.”Look for books, postcards, jewelry, and art pieces that make great Chicago memorabilia. I would suggest looking here for Frank Lloyd Wright items.
Chicago Architecture Foundation Store. This shop is the place to stop if you’re looking for items for children or for unique coffee table books. I like this shop because it has model kits of famous Chicago landmarks. Also, it has some great gift wrap you can buy by the sheet. This store is located at 224 S Michigan Ave.
Tribune Store. Located inside the Tribune Tower at 435 N Michigan Ave, this store has Chicago souvenirs as well as newspaper and Chicago Cubs items. I find the commemorative newspapers make great gift items.
Garrett’s Popcorn Shop. Garrett’s popcorn is food that is synonymous with Chicago. The lines can get very long at the store at 4 E Madison, so allow at least a half hour to make a purchase. I recommend the caramel corn-cheese corn mix. You can also order Garrett’s online to save the hassle of traveling back to Chicago for the inevitable refill!
Hancock Observatory Shop. This shop is located right of the observation deck of the Hancock observatory. It contains the basic Chicago trinkets as well as observatory-specific finds.
Horsch Gallery. This gallery, located on 30 S. Michigan, is the place to get both postcards and larger art prints. This is probably the best place to get a picture of the Chicago skyline. Large art prints run at least $100 and framing is also available at the gallery.
Accent Chicago Water Tower. The Accent Chicago store is a really expansive souvenir shop where you can find anything Chicago. This store makes the list because of its wide selection and its lack of junk items. Find this store at 835 N Michigan Ave.
Museum of Science and Industry. My final pick is not so much a Chicago souvenir shop as it is a stop full of neat ideas. It has mostly science kits and gifts, but you can find some uniquely Chicago items as well. Don’t miss it after visiting the Museum of Science and Industry.
