This walkable stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street, lined with bright lights and manicured gardens, is one of the most well-known shopping destinations in the world.
Home to three four-star hotels, smart bars, and notable food choices from fast to phenomenal, this stretch of real estate has it all. But, it's the fabulous concentration of both upscale and affordable shopping that makes this mile magnificent.
And for those just sightseeing? The lively crowd of tourists, locals, the colorful, and the famous is a show in itself.
A Shopper’s Paradise
Four major shopping centers (900 N. Michigan, Chicago Place, Water Tower Place, and Westfield North Bridge) embrace a wide choice of stores, from department to designer, everyday to esoteric.
The nameplates of stand-alone stores up and down the Avenue include six major department stores (Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks), famous designer boutiques (Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton), popular home furnishings stores (Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma), prestigious jewelers (Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany) and world-renowned retailers selling everything from clothing and accessories to health and beauty products, sporting apparel and electronics.
Don't miss traveling west of Michigan Avenue, along Rush, Wabash, State, Dearborn and Clark Streets. Still considered part of the Magnificent Mile, you won't want to miss locally owned Hubbard State Cigar Shop, Jazz Record Mart, Pistachios, and P.O.S.H.
And when you're just looking, Magnificent Mile window shopping is one of the city's best free outdoor entertainments.
2006-2007
Store openings: CO Bigelow, Garmin, Home Element, Linens N Things, Nokia, Otabo, Premiere Collections Gallery, Silk Trading Co., Soma by Chico’s, Trader Joe's, White House/Black Market
Store closings: Chalet Wine & Cheese Shop, Equinox, Lord & Taylor
What you’ll find here:
Accessories: Otabo, Nine West
Art Galleries: Premiere Collections Gallery
Clothing & Accessories: Abercrombie & Fitch, Aldo, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Chico’s, Coach, Express, Express Men, Gap, Guess, H&M, Kenneth Cole, Levi’s, Soma by Chico’s, Talbots, Victoria’s Secret, White House/Black Market
Department Stores: Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks
Department Stores (Discount): Filene’s Basement, Marshall’s
Designer Boutiques: Anne Fontaine, Bottega Veneta, BOSS Hugo Boss, Burberry, Chanel, Cole Haan, Dennis Basso, Ermenegildo Zegna, Escada, Fratelli Rosetti, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Marlowe, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John
Fine Jewelers: Bulgari, Cartier, Georg Jensen, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels
Grocery, Gourmet & Specialty Foods: Ethel's Chocolate Lounge, Garrett Popcorn, Jewel, L’Appetito Italian Foods, Ta-Ze Olives, Teavana, teuscher Chocolates, Trader Joe's, Vosges Haut Chocolat, Whole Foods
Health & Beauty: Body Shop (The), CO Bigelow, H20 Plus, L’Occitane, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret Beauty
Home Furnishings: Bed Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale's Home Furnishings, Crate & Barrel, Design Within Reach, Home Element, Jonathan Adler, P.O.S.H., Material Possessions, Pottery Barn, Room & Board, Silk Trading Co.,Thomas Moser, Williams-Sonoma
Kids: American Girl Place, Disney Store, Lego Store, Sanrio (Hello Kitty)
Specialty Stores: Apple Store, Borders, Bose, Harley Davidson, Hubbard State Cigar Shop, Jazz Record Mart, NASCAR the Official Store, Niketown, Nokia, The Sharper Image, Virgin Megastore
Neighborhood Association: www.themagnificentmile.com
Other Nearby Shopping Destinations: Gold Coast, The Loop, Oak Street, River North, South Loop/U of I Campus, Streeterville, West Loop
For more information, visit Chicago Traveler to see a Magnificent Mile Neighborhood Guide.
Photos courtesy of American Girl Place, Water Tower Place and Westfield North Bridge.
SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer - E. Engquist.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by SeeMoreShopping. Publ. 10/06.
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