The first iteration of SecondhandSleuth.com featured reviews of various Chicago and suburban resale shops. There was even a Flash-animated map, which dates it to roughly 25 years ago, and many of those shops are now closed. I’m working on some ideas for how to execute an updated shopping guide, but for now it will be a list of my favorite shops including resale, music, games and gardening.
Here are the places I have been most recently:
- Aster Gardens, Lemont · kissmyaster.com · Many vintage touches, fun classes and events
- Back in the Game, Cicero · bitgvideogames.com · Video games and consoles 80s to present
- Brown Elephant, Chicago and Oak Park · howardbrown.org/get-involved/brown-elephant · One that was on my original list, and still awesome for furniture and housewares, although the Ashland and Evanston locations are now gone
- The Economy Shop, Oak Park · economyshop.org · Founded in 1919 and supported by local charities, great used book, toy and craft rooms in the basement, clothes for all ages throughout, my favorite housewares and purses on second floor
- Oak Park Records · facebook.com/179Rockshop · Couch for mom to sit and browse the bargain bin while teen shops for CDs and vinyl
- Seguin Garden & Gifts · seguingardens.com · Nice local garden center with classes every Saturday, employs and supports adults with developmental disabilities
- Val’s Halla Records · valshallarecords.com · Shop with over 50 years history in Oak Park, another local favorite for CDs and vinyl