New Retail Chicago
Area Retail
While you’re in town for GlobalShop later this month, check out some of the newer retail stores.
Story from Shop! Retail Environments Magazine - May/June 2019
McDonald’s, which is headquartered in the Windy City, opened a flagship there in August 2018. Inspired by the brand’s commitment to sustainability, the 19,000-sq.-ft. restaurant has abundant green spaces and energy-saving features. Solar panels and a vegetated roof are among the strategies for which the chain hopes to achieve LEED status. The "Experience of the Future" includes self-order kiosks, table service, mobile order and payment, and delivery. The new store is located on the site of the brand’s former "rock ‘n roll" store at 600 N. Clark St.
REI relocated its Lincoln Park store to larger digs on the river. CallisonRTKL teamed with REI Co-op and R2 Companies on the 40,000-sq.-ft. store, which opened in April at 905 West Eastman St.
Also recently relocated is Chanel, which opened a 10,000-sq.-ft., two-story store in January at 65 East Oak St.
E-commerce giant Amazon opened four automated checkout stores in Chicago from September through February. Amazon Go stores can be found at 113 S. Franklin St., 144 S. Clark St., 500 W. Madison St., and the newest, 111 E. Wacker Dr. at the Illinois Center.
Clicks-to-bricks eyeglass retailer Warby Parker opened a Lakeview store—its fourth in Chicagoland—in November 2018. Featuring custom work by local artist Nate Otto, the new store is at 3432 N. Southport Ave.
Another e-commerce brand, The Groomsman Suit, made its brick-and-mortar debut in Chicago in October 2018. The 2,200-sq.-ft. showroom caters to the wedding community at 1820 W. Webster Ave.
Following suit is digital native brand Away. The luggage brand made its presence in the area permanent a few months ago after a successful popup at O’Hare. The new 1,200-sq.-ft. store is at 1121 N. State St.
Also on State St. is the largest store in the world for women’s fashion retailer New York & Company. Opened in August 2018, the two-level, 18,000-sq.-ft. store embodies the brand’s "Fit for Everyone" slogan with a size range of XXS to XXL, including petite, average, tall, and curvy fits. The company’s recently acquired plus-size brand, Fashion to Figure, is housed in the shared space at 107 S. State St.
Starbucks opened its first Princi outside of Seattle in Chicago’s Fulton Market in September 2018. The brand’s bread wall sits in the center of a wrap-around counter, with exposed brick and wooden rafters complementing the historic building at 1000 W. Randolph St.
H&M fashion brand COS opened its largest store in North America about a year ago. With custom terrazzo flooring, clean lines, and modern furniture, it embodies the brand’s minimalist aesthetic on three selling floors comprising 5,700 sq. ft. at 46 E. Oak St.
Summer 2018 also saw the debut of a 2,000-sq.-ft. Chicago Sports & Novelty store designed by 555 International. Simple fixtures and large-scale sculptural features promote six professional teams in the 2,000-sq.-ft. space at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
Another Chicago homegrown retailer, apparel brand Notre, reopened its flagship store in the West Loop in February after a renovation. The expanded store now occupies 4,500 sq. ft. in the former tin pan factory. A series of low-ceiling rooms display merchandise in the 113-year-old building at 118 N. Peoria St.
And in nearby Oak Brook, auto retail innovator Carvana unveiled a new "car vending machine" in April. New design elements enable customers to view purchased vehicle being vended from a variety of new angles at 720 Enterprise Drive, Oak Brook.
Keep up to date with the latest news in the May/June 2019 Retail Environments Magazine. Retail Environments is the official magazine of Shop!
