Want to support Block Club’s gift guides and our other local journalism? Subscribe here or click here to gift a subscription. If you do it today, you’ll get a free 16-by-20-inch Chicago neighborhood print of your choice!
EDGEWATER — Few areas of the city make it easier to shop local for the holidays than the Far North Side.
With a plethora of neighborhood stores to support, Block Club is highlighting some of the area’s new businesses plus local makers whose goods are available in neighborhood gift shops.
That includes a new home goods store in Edgewater with a robust online shop, a recently expanded witchcraft shop and two Andersonville ventures started by neighbors whose products are featured along Clark Street.
Here’s where you can shop:
Uptown
Hearthstone & Terrace, 1329 W. Wilson Ave. Website.
This combination home goods and botanical shop opened in the heart of the pandemic, leaning on its outdoor retail space to get by. It has survived those times and turned into a well-curated and stately store with plenty of eye-popping offerings.
The midcentury, modular book shelf ($2,000, currently sold out) could do for someone who likes finer things in life — and the Peruvian cactus ($150) and angular “pitcher vase” ($50) make great gifts for loved ones.
Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 773-944-0467.
Good Shephard Enterprise African Store, 5108 N. Broadway
On top of being known for its African cuisine, Uptown is a destination for African gift stores. The true gem is Good Shephard Enterprise African Store on Broadway just north of Argyle Street.
Owned by a husband-and-wife from Ghana, the shop stocks imported jewelry, cooking goods and home decor, including traditional African masks (start at $30). The drums made in Ethiopia ($70) double as musical instruments and art pieces.
Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 773-878-1433.
“Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win” by former Uptown Ald. Helen Shiller
Uptown is on the cusp of selecting a new alderperson. Gear up for the coming political battle by reading longtime Uptown Ald. Helen Shiller’s new autobiography, “Daring To Struggle, Daring To Win.” Published this fall by Chicago-based Haymarket Books, the book’s subtitle is “five decades of resistance in Chicago’s Uptown community.” It highlights Shiller’s work alongside the Black Panther Party and political coalitions, including Harold Washington’s.
Available at Haymarket Books ($17.46 at time of publishing) or at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St. ($24.95).
Andersonville
The Twentieth, at local stores and online. Website.
One of Andersonville’s newest businesses is The Twentieth, an art deco-themed gift shop. Started by Andersonville-based art historian Emma Lewis, the business features dazzling and colorful prints of turn-of-the-century Parisian magazine illustrations (starting at $45), hardcover notebooks ($18) and art deco coaster sets ($12). There’s a Chicago-themed and holiday line, too, and some of products are stocked in stores, including the Andersonville Galleria.
Casa dell’Unknown, at local stores and online. Website.
Andersonville’s Dominic Ferraro has been making candles and other home fragrances from his basement studio since 2020. The result are euphoric-smelling candles in thoughtful packaging.
The “Pace” candle and “Vacanza” candles will elevate your house’s vibe ($48 each).
Casa dell’Unknown is available in Andersonville stores including Foursided, Ándale Market, Milk Handmade and Winifred Grace.
Five Elements Home, 5239 N. Clark St. Website.
If your day of holiday shopping needs some zen, stop in Five Elements Home. Opened in 2016, the store feels like an oasis on busy Clark Street, and its thoughtfully laid-out products will elevate your mood and home’s appearance.
You’ll find plenty of elevated Asian home goods at Five Elements Home. Products that make perfect gifts include the Japanese card game Hanafuda, with elaborate, hand-painted playing cards (decks start at $25), washi paper incense and adorable zodiac figurines ($19).
Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. 773-293-6872.
Edgewater
Marais Home & Garden, 1206 W. Victoria St. Website.
The newest entry on this list is Marais Home & Garden, which opened this year at Broadway and Victoria Avenue. The home and decor store stocks a smart selection of gifts with an expertly curated and robust online store.
Check out the tattoo sleeve baking gloves ($33) and the shop’s toy section, including animal finger puppets made in a family-owned, fair-trade-certified workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal ($10 each).
Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 312-409-1675.
Andy’s Arts, Antiques & Oddities, 1253 W. Devon Ave. Website.
Andy’s is known primarily as an antiques store, but the shop also has plenty of locally made products that make for fantastic gifts.
Be sure to check out the local artisans corner in the Devon Avenue store, which stocks homemade notebooks, wallets made from neckties and reclaimed wood frames. My favorites were the pens and mechanical pencils made from locally sourced wood by Chicago-based Wolf And Stag Wood And Iron ($50) and spooky, ceramic shotglasses by a local artisan ($40).
Open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and noon-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 773-654-3975.
Rogers Park
Horseplay by Charmers, 7358 N. Greenview Ave. Facebook.
This business comes from the owners of nearby Charmers Cafe and is a gift shop befitting Rogers Park. It’s stocked with fun and quirky gifts that will be the talk of your white elephant party.
You might get a chuckle out of a toy gun that shoots dog treats ($10) or Freudian Slippers ($29), which include a plush version of everyone’s favorite psychoanalyst. A more practical gift is the combination watering can and spray bottle ($18) for the plant mom and dad on your list.
Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 773-856-0185.
Malliway Bros., 1407 W. Morse Ave. Website.
Rogers Park’s foremost witchcraft store moved into a bigger location last year. The store has the perfect ambiance to match its retail selection, as the shop is stocked with books of potions and spells, tarot cards, charms and incense.
The sculptures of deities, including Hecate and Frigga ($47), are striking. There are more normie gifts, too, including a mini cast-iron cauldron ($19) and colorful gemstones ($23). Malliway also offers classes on witchcraft and fortune reading, among others.
Open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. 773-754-7546.