While the Windy City may be known for its awe-inspiring museums, thriving music scene and world-class sports teams, these Chicago innovations demonstrate that the city has so much more to offer.
When shopping in Chicago, many people immediately head to the Magnificent Mile to visit the hundreds of name-brand boutiques lining Michigan Avenue. However, those looking for one-of-a-kind goods can also head to neighborhoods like Bucktown and Logan Square to find off-beat outlets such as RSVP Gallery and Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles. Additionally, the Chicago French Market is a great spot for those looking to pick up gourmet food stuffs and other pantry staples.
Beyond being a shopaholic's paradise, Chicago is also great for those who enjoy craft beer and spirits. For beer-lovers, spots such as Hopewell Brewing Co. and Emporium Arcade Bar are premier destinations for uncovering some of the best local brews. For something on the stronger side, KOVAL Distillery is known for producing some of the city's finest craft spirits.
Overall, these Chicago innovations reveal a side of the city that attendees to Trend Hunter's Chicago innovation conference will not want to miss.
Top 15 Chicago Innovations
From Exclusive Menswear Boutiques to Old-School Donut Shops:
Katherine Pendrill — Jan 18, 2017 — World
15
Industrial Antique Stores
Chicago's 'Salvage One' Doubles as an Antique Store and Event Venue
14
Chef-Curated Urban Gardens
'The Bayless Gardens' Grows Fresh Produce for Rick Bayless' Restaurants
13
Exclusive Menswear Boutiques
Chicago's 'RSVP Gallery' Blends High-fashion with Streetwear
12
Rustic American Gastropubs
Chicago's 'Girl & the Goat' Elevates Classic Midwestern Fare
11
Diverse Indoor Food Markets
The 'Chicago French Market' Features Food from Around the World
10
Contemporary Brewpub Interiors
Chicago's 'Hopewell Brewing Co.' is a Light and Airy Space
9
Outsider Art Exhibitions
This Chicago Gallery Celebrates Intuitive and Outsider Art
8
Booze-Slinging Arcades
Chicago's 'Emporium Arcade Bar' Combines Craft Beer with Old-school Games
7
Old-School Donut Shops
Chicago's 'Firecakes Donuts' Serves Up Delicious Donuts for Takeout
6
Nostalgia-Inducing Record Shops
Chicago's 'Bric-a-Brac' is a Record Collector's Dream Destination
5
Vibrant Italian Food Stores
Eataly Offers a Unique Shopping Experience for Lovers of Italian Food
4
Urban Whiskey Distilleries
Chicago's 'KOVAL Distillery' is Paving the Way for Craft Distillers
3
Farmhouse-Style Restaurant Menus
The Publican Serves Up Farmhouse Fare in a Beer Hall-Style Space
2
Futuristic Illumination Installations
The Luminous Field by Luftwerk Takes on a Sci-Fi Inspiration
1
Scratch-Off Advertisements
These Ads Promote an Exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
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Experience-Focused Workplace Furniture Showroooms
Allsteel's Experience Center Breaks the Mold
Innovation-Focused Furniture Design Collectives
Haworth Launches DesignLab to Push Innovation
Luxury Ready-to-Wear Brands
KZ_K Studio Has a Unique Approach to Fashion, Inspired by Architecture
Branded Interactive Parks
Birkenstock's Birkenfields Invited New Yorkers to Slow Down
Commemorative Sneaker Shops
The '85 Shop by eBay Shares a Collection of Original Air Jordan 1s
Vintage-Inspired Elevated Accessories
Every Other Thursday Unveils a Range of Accessories
Vegan Haircare Pop-Ups
DESIGNME Unveils the First Ever Canadian Pop-Up in Toronto
Contemporary Engaging Stores
New Balance Opens Unique Retail Concept Store on in Boston
Luxury Resort Wear
Wheat Aims to Elevate Hotel Boutiques with Luxury Resort Wear
Community-Driven Retail Stores
Stone Island's Munich Store Emphasizes the Importance of Community
Chic Activewear Lookbooks
OTTI Debuts Its Second Collection for 2022/2023 and It is Eye-Catching
Augmented Reality Travel Murals
Tripadvisor's City Murals Entice People to Sunny San Diego
Virtually Outfitted Landmarks
JD Sports Dressed Big Ben in a Nuptse 1996 Jacket by The North Face
Chic Ballroom Interiors
The Ballroom Bowl Has Made Its Mark in Toronto's Entertainment Landscape
Chic Circular Fashion
Broke in Chic Offers Timeless Elegance and Sustainable Fashion
Playful Graphic Streetwear Collections
DIVINITIES and BoTT Return with a New Stylish Drop
Vibrant City-Honoring Sneaker Packs
size? and adidas Originals Launch a London Pack
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
DIY Fandom Initiatives
Scotiabank's Make it Merch Launch Promotes Inclusivity & Sustainability
Premium Athleticwear Pop-Ups
Reigning Champ Announces Pop-Up in Toronto’s Yorkdale Centre
Circular Shopping Experiences
The Stock Market by Selfridges is a Sustainable Shopping Experience
Futuristic Whisky Bottles
Johnnie Walker's NFC-Enabled Bottles Visualize the Year 2220
Authentic Streetwear Stores
eBay's Canal Street Wear Features On-Site Authentication
Immersive Jewelry Exhibitions
The TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany Wonder Exhibition in Tokyo is Engaging
Architect-Honoring Artful Footwear
KITH's Broadacre City Collection Celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright
Whimsical Pop-Up Cognac Bars
Yinka Ilori Designed an Eye-Catching Pop-Up at Selfridges
Digital Streetwear Collaborations
The Fabricant x Highsnobiety Dropped During Paris Fashion Week
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Winter-Ready Minimal Apparel
Axel Arigato Presents a Look at its New Winter Apparel Designs
Sustainable Fashion Stores
Cos Unveils Two Stores in Stockholm and Mexico City
Versatile Luxury Outwear
For 2023, Mackage Boasts a Slick and Performance-Driven Capsule
Solution-Based Menswear
BRIC Boasts Elevated Essentials That are Fitted Perfectly
Inspiring Multi-Shop Pop-Ups
Pinterest's Possibility Place Immerses Guests in Inspiration
AI-Created Neighborhood Cocktails
Absolut and Ogilvy Canada Made AI-Generated Cocktails
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Toronto Cannabis Workshops
The Cannabinista Hosted an Infused Mocktail Workshop in Toronto
Timeless Jacket Designs
Blackstock & Weber Join Schott Nyc for a Spring/Summer 2024 Release
Sculptural Luxury Fashion Stores
Burberry's New Store in Milan is Situated at Via Sant' Andrea 2
E-retailer Fashion Pop-ups
The SHEIN Pop-up Shop Experience Opens March 23 at the Eaton Centre
Circular Fashion Pop-Ups
The Coachtopia Pop-Up Brings Luxury Circular Fashion to Gen Z
Elevated Condiment Pop-Ups
Ennismore & the Kraft Heinz Company are Sharing a Taste of Heinz 57
Hip Hop Fashion Exhibitions
MFIT Presents Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Influencer-Crafted Gin Cocktails
These Tanqueray Gin Holiday Drinks Celebrate Canadian Traditions
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Augmented Outerwear Mirrors
Ugg's Flagship Highlights Cold Weather Apparel with a Zero10 Mirror
Modern Private Event Venues
Toronto's Third Place Emerges as a Prime Venue for Events in 2024/2025
Adaptive Modern Limited Outerwear
Ten c Presents its New Range of Apparel for the Season
Expert-Paired Prague Food Tours
Prague Foodie's Team of Experts Spotlight Local Food & Attractions
Street Art-Style Cookies
Cookie Plug Combines Graffiti, Street Art & Hip-Hop Culture
Autumn eCommerce Fashion Pop-Ups
This SHEIN Pop-Up Will Celebrate the Arrival of Fall Fashions
Talent-Focused Creative Capsules
Swarovski Debuts a Collaboration with Dover Street Market Paris
Edgy Leather Fashion Collections
KULAKOVSKY Specializes in Handcrafted Leather Goods
Community Commerce Pop-Ups
TikTok Shop UK Opened a Pop-Up on London's Oxford Street
Workplace-Integrated Store Locations
IKEA Hosts Hej!Workshop Coworking Space in its Store
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
Sustainably-Focused Experimental Fashion
Noki & the NESTT Showcase an Upcycled Fashion Collection
Sophisticated Technical Fall Fashion
Kaptain Sunshine Presents its New Range for the FW23 Season
Sporty Upcycled Vintage Collections
Nike Relaunches the Re-Creation Program in London and Paris
NYC-Themed Baby Gift Sets
The Big Apple Baby Gift Set by Estella Features Clothes, Toys and More
Cozy Reimagined Shoes
Birkenstock’s New Collection with Vince Skelley Explores Mid-Century Design
Japan-Expansive Physical Fashion Stores
Studio Nicholson Gets a New Store in Tokyo
Eco Tech Accessory Pop-Ups
The CASETiFY Style Lab Highlights the Work of Gen Z Fashion Students
Futuristic Phone Accessories Stores
CASETiFY Taps Andre Fu for Its Retail Location in Osaka, Japan
Cutting-Edge Design Programming
Triennale Milano Offers an Array of Events for Milan Design Week
Affordable Gen Z Apparel
Foundry by Cover Story Clothing Enters the Fashion Scene Through AJIO
Stackable Bottled Cocktails
BLOC's Experimental Cocktails are Packaged in a Convenient Size
Coffee-Focused Apparel Collections
Only NY Taps Blank Street Coffee for an Apparel Release
Modern Consignment Programs
GotStyle Recently Launched a New Consignment Program
Chain Restaurant Food Festivals
Chain is the Worlds First Gourmet Chain Food Festival
Fan-Made Merch Stores
The Wonder Shop Shares a Mix of Creator-Made Goods and Recipes
Bookstore Wine Shops
New York's Bibliotheque Offers Rare Books and Great Wine
Mall-Based Indoor Adventure Parks
Elev8 Fun is Coming to Miami International Mall
Beer Brand-Supported Fashion Shows
Fashion Art Toronto Has Partnered with Kronenbourg 1664
Radial Modern Barbershops
Gin Design Group Creates a Design-Forward Layout for This Barbershop
Stylish Windproof Fashion Capsules
Haven's GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER Range is Chic
Footwear Heritage-Honoring Fashion
Clints Celebrates its Footwear Archives in its Latest Capsule
London-Inspired Sporty Campaigns
Nike Presents the Pulse of London Campaign Honoring the City
Library Literature Merchandise
Toronto Public Library Debuts Chic Merchandise Including Shirts
Accessible Home Decor
FOX HOME Makes Its Official Debut in Canada with Toronto Flagship Store
Virtual Luxury Archives
The Manolo Blahnik Archives Provides a Look at Exquisite Craftsmanship
Split Logo Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Unveils the New Chicago Split Iteration of the Dunk Lows
Immersive Art-Technology Installations
WNDR Museum Boston Will Feature 20 Exhibitions
Miami-Themed Anniversary Celebrations
Alchemysts Inc. Recently Marked Its Five-Year Milestone
Adventure Travel Pop-Up Stores
Craghoppers Has Unveiled a Boutique Store in Kildare Village
Spray Can Fragrances
Step Aboard's Chicago Perfumes Pay Homage to Works of Art
Vibrant Fashion Boutique Restorations
Gucci Renovated Its Boutique at 63 Wooster Street
AI-Generated Shopping Campaigns
Sandton City's Latest Campaign Integrates Smart Technology
Champagne-Paired Burger Tours
14 NYC Restaurants are Exploring Burger & Veuve Clicquot Pairings
Aluminum-Wrapped Sportswear Store
Oshinowo Studio Designs the New adidas Store in Lagos
Communal Social Health Clubs
STUDIO K Designs the BIÂN to Celebrate Third Anniversary
One-Stop-Shop Bridal Boutiques
LoversLand Has Everything Wedding-Related in One Marketplace
New Yorker-Inspired Fashion Capsules
Rhuigi and Puma Pay Homage to Real New Yorkers
Inflated Dynamic Design Exhibitions
Vienna Design Week Hosts the Series Exhibition this Year
Bag-Inspired Large-Scale Installations
IKEA's Iconic FRAKTA Bag Takes the Spotlight in Chicago
Third-Party Artisanal Marketplaces
Michaels Launches the MarkerPlace Alternative Marketplace
Hockey Culture-Inspired Collections
Better™ Gift Shop Pays Homage to Hockey Culture and Toronto
Elevated Lightweight Apparel Capsules
Converse Japan Drops the New Chuck Taylor Clothing Range
Food Court Footwear Shops
Skechers' Food Spot Drives Foot Traffic to the Footwear Store
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Donut-Themed Fashion Collections
HUMAN MADE and Krispy Kreme Launch a Foodie-Themed Capsule
Anniversary-Honoring Graphic T-Shirts
Places+Faces Launch Collaboration Tees for 10 Years
Apothecary-Style Supplement Stores
The New GNC Flagship Boasts a Warm, Open, Inviting Atmosphere
Checkout-Free Grocery Stores
ALDI Launches the Innovative 'ALDIgo' Checkout-Free Grocery Store
NYC-Based Apparel Stores
Aviator Nation Launches its First Pop-Up Shop in New York City
Humorous Slogan Graphic T-Shirts
Navinder Nangla Joins Converse on the City Tees Initative
Conversation-Encouraging Retail Spaces
PlayLab Inc Creates a Flagship Store for MadHappy
Locally Focused Visionary Tableware
IKEA's Design Lab Presents the New Products of Place Campaign
NYC Fall-Ready Militaristic Streetwear
maharishi Presents the Art of the Invisible Warrior
Fine-Dining Bakery Bistros
Bistro Greggs Offers an Elevated Experience from the Bakery Chain
Repurposed Textile Factory Stores
Kooo Architects Converts an Old Factory to a Store for Freitag
Vibrant Dynamic Spring Fashion
Mackintosh Unveils an Expansive Capsule for the SS23 Season
Artfully Glamorous Cocktail Bars
Moët Hennessy Launches a New Cocktail Bar in Paris
Individualism-Focused Apparel Capsules
Gap Debuts a Collection with The Brooklyn Circus
Luxurious Retail Boutiques
Salvatore Ferragamo Inaugurates Its Newly Redesigned Boutique
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Cinco de Mayo Nacho Platters
Old Chicago Pizza's Cinco Beer Tour Features New Nachos Grande
Hand-Crafted Leather Wallets
The Chicago#5 Wallet is Compact and Elegant with an Essential Design
Basketball Team-Inspired Sneakers
Klarna Reveals Exclusive Sneaker for the Chicago Bulls
Park-Inspired Outdoor Fashion Capsules
Parks Project Sets out to Preserve National Parks
Seasonal Dynamic Outerwear Capsule
Kestin Presents a Look at its New Collection for FW23
Authentic Scottish Delis
The Shoap is London's First-Ever Scottish Deli
Evolutionary Menswear Fashion Shows
S.S. Daley Unveils a New Capsule During Pitto Uomo 105
Vibrant Playful Boutique Hotels
The YOWIE Hotel is Launched by Shannon Maldonado in Philadelphia
London Creative Loafer Campaigns
G.H. Bass Taps Creatives for the Stepping Out Campaign
Basketball Legend-Honoring Sneakers
Extra Butter Presents the New Air Jordan 2 OG Chicago Sneakers
Online Tuxedo Showrooms
Generation Tux Launches a New Physical Showroom in Ohio
Luxe Outerwear Show Events
Moncler Genius Presents its Impressive Art of Genius Live Show
Youthful Vintage-Inspired Hotels
Standard International is Set to Launch New Hotel Brand
Revamped Modern Phone Booths
100architects Brings Digital Touches to the Classic Phone Booth
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Sight-Seeing Hot Tubs
Chicago Electric Boat Company Added 6-Person Floating Hot Tubs to Its Fleet
Italian Design Brand Expansions
Arper Opens a New Showroom in Chicago’s Vibrant Fulton Market
Martini-Inspired Candies
The Sugarfina x Chopin Collection Shares Cocktail-Themed Sweets
Sustainably Transformed Tech Headquarters
Google's New Chicago Office Will Be More Ec-Friendly
Curated Vintage Decor Retailers
Vintage Beyond is Toronto's Newest Preloved Design Destination
Summer-Ready Boutique Shops
Urban Outfitters Unveils a New Dress Boutique Pop Up Opening in April
Pre-Loved Clothing Markets
Charity Super.Mkt Will Take Over Fenwick's on Bond Street
Locally Focused Footwear Stores
The Athlete's Foot Opened a Neighborhood Concept Store in Atlanta
Unique Urban Event Hires
London is Renting Tube Stations, Cable Cars, and Piers for Private Hire