Top Gift Shops In Chicago

Gifts are difficult. Some people have very specific tastes while others want anything "Chicago" branded at all from your trip. Some people have everything, which makes it even more difficult. However, there's more to bringing home something special for friends and family than the run-of-the-mill tourist shop. Some tourist stores have a much wider selection than others, while other places exist to sell Chicago souvenirs than aren't even gift shops at all. Here are some of the top gift shops in Chicago which run the gamut of gift giving.

Art Institute Of Chicago Museum Shop
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
www.artinstituteshop.org

It might simply be best to skip the "traditional" Chicago tourist gift shops altogether. The Art Institute of Chicago Museum Shop is located in the Art Institute building right on Michigan Avenue, so it is in the heart of the tourist shop area. The Museum Shop offers a variety of items from Chicago souvenirs, to Art Institute specific gifts and a plethora of art piece gifts. What is better than to give a gift that has a bit of personality of its own?

Grandstand
600 W. 35th St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 927-1984
www.grandstandsox.com

A must-see for any sports fan, Grandstand is the quintessential Chicago sports store. Located just blocks from U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, Grandstand features a plethora of Sox gear, but does not forget the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks and yes, even the Cubs. Grandstand sells everything Chicago sports related to bring home to friends, family and relatives after a Chicago vacation. Grandstand carries much more sports gear than the average Chicago gift store since it's their specialty!

Accent Chicago has what any good gift shop should have, and more. It's located in the Water Tower Place, so most tourists visit Accent's doors anyways. However, if Water Tower Place isn't on your itinerary for your Chicago trip, it should be, so you can visit. Chicago might as well patent it's name since we could afford to make quite a bit just on royalties from Accent. Accent Chicago sells all things Chicago from mugs, shirts and magnets.

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Wrigleyville Sports is to the Cubs as Grandstand is to the Sox. Hosting a sales floor of Cubs memorabilia, Wrigleyville is a must-see Chicago destination to pick something up for any Cubs fan back home. The gifts available range from affordable vanity baseballs and magnets to customizable Cubs jerseys. Some say Wrigleyville Sports is a hit and others say is a grand slam.

Chicagoins rightfully so have an obsession with Garrett popcorn. Whether it be traditional buttered popcorn to the unbelievably addictive Chicago mix, most tourists aim to stop at Garrett to try it themselves. However, Garrett has some impressive keepsake tins ranging from a small snack sampling size to a multi-gallon bin. This way, visitors can bring gourmet popcorn back to the whole family. Not all gifts are meant to be enjoyed just visually, Garrett Popcorn makes gifts delicious, too.

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Robert Mathius is a Chicago suburb native who currently lives in Tinley Park. He has a passion for the automotive industry in addition to journalism and works to blend his two passions in his writing. Additional automotive reporting by Robert can be found on Examiner.com.