Location: South Side
Top Things to do in South Side
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The 10 Best Gift & Specialty Shops in South Side, Illinois (IL)
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. Powell's Books Chicago
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By dustythoughts - Manchester, United States
This wonderful used bookstore near the University of Chicago campus is a longstanding neighborhood staple, with a plethora of thought-provoking books jammed into a glorious jumble. It's a great place to get lost in a good book and enjoy a wide variety of tomes that'll challenge and provoke you. I love coming here whenever I'm in town. This store isn't as big as the main store in Portland (Oregon, not Maine), but they still have a good variety of books in a relatively small space. They're not currently permitting in-person shopping due to the pandemic, but they do accept online orders.
2. Seminary Co-op Bookstore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Widely regarded as one of the best academic bookstores in the world, the Co-op houses an extensive collection of scholarly titles with a focus on the humanities and social sciences.
3. 57th Street Books
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
57th Street Books houses a substantial selection of general interest titles, including kids’ books, popular fiction, cookbooks, science fiction, mysteries, and graphic novels.
Reviewed By 847leahv - Chicago, United States
57th Street Books is a stunning small maze of books that is my local, indie bookstore and one of the best. Celebrating its 35th year, this Hyde Park institution can't be missed and should be a destination for any book lovers visiting Chicago. Owned and run by fantastic people who put on incredible events and center the community and city. The shelves are newly reorganized, and the store is open, cozy, and wonderful. A romantic and lovely spot for all bookworms and book lovers.
4. International Buddhism Friendship Association
5. Aji Ichiban
6. The Silver Room
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By thekdreport - Chicago, United States
This store is the pinnacle of what it means to buy black. This place feels like Juneteenth. Everyone including the workers are polite and friendly. Given the current racial tension, this place makes me feel so happy. Magnets of Aretha Franklin, candles of James Baldwin, and possibly Jay Z. Books by Sister soldier to Cicely Tyson. Incense from all over that smell amazing beautiful jewelry and just a place to celebrate our culture. I cannot wait until the silver room block party. I take everyone who visit Chicago to this place. Business blessings, ????KD.
7. Hardscrabble Gifts, LLC
Hardscrabble is the premier boutique gift shop located in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood on the South Side, offering affordable accessories, art, decor, souvenirs, custom t-shirts & gifts for all occasions many can be personalized. Specialties include locally-made art handmade items related to Chicago, it's people, history and of course the Chicago Flag. Near White Sox Park, Chinatown, Zhou B.
8. Absolutely Anything Essential Gift Shop
The Absolutely Anything Essential Gift Shop of Chicago is an eccentric retail incubator gift shop with global and local brands under one roof located in the heart of the historic Bronzeville community of Chicago and just a short five minute drive south of Chicago's McCormick Place. Specializing in essential lines of bath and body products as well as home fragrance and decor accents. A perfect local shopping destination for tourists and locals alike who enjoy supporting small business owners. We also facilitate crafting, health, wellness and entrepreneurship classes. And offer wholesale and private label products to those in the cosmetic and hospitality industries.
9. Reggae Smoke Shop
We provide specialty items, collectibles, natural beauty products, cbd products, natural incenses and a variety of sages nested in an aura of Caribbean lifestyle with Reggae music and its history in the Chicago community. You'll love our Reggae Gallery of Jamaica's renown contributors to its culture, such as Bob Marley, Tzaddi Wadadah I (co-owner), Peter Tosh, True Democracy and Burning Spear.
10. Chinatown Square
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Chinatown Square is a two-story outdoor shopping mall located in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, a mile south of Chicago's Loop and north of Chinatown's main street, the Wentworth Avenue District. Located at 2133 South China Place or 2100 South Wentworth Avenue, it covers 45 acres with restaurants, retail space, boutiques, gift and specialty shops, banks, clinics, beauty shops and offices. It is the largest Chinese mall in the United States east of San Francisco and west of New York City. Opened in 1993, Chinatown Square is bordered by Archer Avenue to the south, Princeton Avenue to the west, Wentworth Avenue to the east and China Place to the north. One of Chinatown's most significant landmarks, the Pin Tom Memorial Park, is located to the north of Chinatown Square on the banks of the South Branch of the Chicago River. In the heart of Chinatown Square is the Pan Asian Cultural Center and 12 beautiful, bronze zodiac figures. In addition, the "Chinese in America" mural is located here. It describes the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States as well as Chinese cultural beliefs. It contains 100,000 individually cut pieces of hand-painted glass from China made specifically for this mural. Chinatown Square is a popular destination for tourists who are eager to enjoy such Chinese cuisine as Cantonese, Szechuan, Dim Sum, Thai, Pan Fusion, Asian Fusion and Shanghainese. Stop at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings, Shanghai Inn, Chi Cafe, Minhin Cuisine, Min Min Asian Cafe, or St. Anna Bakery & Cafe.
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