Vintage Garage: Not Your Average Garage Sale

By Lauren Wulf

5051 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
www.vintagegaragechicago.com
Admission: $3
Hours: 9a.m.-4p.m.
Upcoming shows: July 15, August 19, September 16, & October 21

Rain or shine can't stop the newest addition to the vintage scene in Chicago. This covered show is conveniently protected from the elements in a parking garage in Uptown. Genius! Here's my scoop from the season opener this past June.

About The Garage

Gone are the days when rain clouds ruin your afternoon of vintage treasure hunting. This clever market calls a parking garage between Foster and Argyle in Uptown home. Skip the heat and ducking for cover. No matter what the weather, this show will go on. This six-month market runs May through October on the third Sunday of every month. Having an outdoor market that isn't affected by the weather is what makes this show unique among the many that take place in the summer.

Treasure Hunt

With space for over 100 dealers, you can expect the market to grow bigger and better every Sunday. For a vendor, having the ability to park and set up shop quickly makes this an attractive market. The more dealers means all the more finds for shoppers.

Upholstered furniture, vintage jewelry, art and unique period pieces are just a few of the many gems I found at the season opener. Though I couldn't walk home with everything, the drive-in feature could be a dangerous one next time. Luckily, most vendors offer home delivery for larger furniture pieces and also sell on Etsy if you can't wait for the next market.

There's An App For That

If you're looking for everything vintage in Chicago, the producers of the Garage want you to know, there's an app for that. Vintage Promotions, LLC has provided a free app to download from the Vintage Garage website.

The cross-platform app provides information on the show as well as information on vintage shopping in the Uptown area. The app also boasts links to social media, as well as a photo and video stream from the market.

Upcoming Dates

The Vintage Garage runs May through October on the third Sunday of every month. Upcoming 2012 Shows: July 15, August 19, September 16 and October 21.

Lauren Wulf, CBS Chicago

Lauren Wulf writes about living in Chicago on a budget on her website, A Poor Girl's Guide Chicago.