Claires Boutiques sells jewelry, clothing and accessories such as hair wraps, sandals and sunglasses. It offers in-store ear piercings to customers 18 years or older, or to those with a parent.
The store can be hard to find as it's sandwiched between TGI Friday's and ForEyes. The entrance along Harlem is pemanently closed so customers must enter from the west-side parking lot.
Harrison Jewelers has acquired a steady and loyal clientele since opening in 1940. The company has been in Oak Park since 1970, after moving from Harrison and Kedzie in Chicago. The owner, Jack Klein, has over thirty-five years of experience in the jewelry business. The company's strives to manufacture jewelry the old-fashioned way, with full service and custom designs. Harrison can replicate any design given a description, drawing or photograph.
As the name suggests, this store is full of everything Irish including clothing, jewelry, books, music, home decorations and inspirational items — pretty much everything but a pint of Guinness or the Blarney Stone itself. Many of the items are handmade by artists in Ireland.
Owner Anne August, who hails from the Emerald Isle, opened this store in 1991 and travels back to Ireland herself to find new artists and goods. The store also has an online business, and bridal registries recieve a 20 percent discount.
In addition to metered street parking, there is a city-owned parking garage just west of the store and the first hour is free.
A pawn shop among several others along North Avenue, A 1 Jewelers has several cases of items. You can buy and sell things as varied as watches, diamonds, tools, DVD players, guitars, coats and tires. If your unworn and unused items are just collecting dust, bring them here and see if you can turn them into cash.
Picazzo Fine Jewelry & Repair is a jewelry and watch retail and repair shop. Call for more information.
Art Gecko is an art gallery that showcases mixed media pieces created from re-used and recycled materials. Artist and owner Lisa Nordstrom is a "gatherer"--she gathers all types of discarded materials to use to create interesting art pieces. The gallery features contemporary folk art, found object art, found object jewelry and crafts made from vintage and re-used materials.
Trends is a clothing and consignment boutique specializing in high-end fashion. The shop stocks women's clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories. Trends accepts consignment clothing, bags and jewelry and asks that items are presented in clean, like-new condition, pressed and on a hanger. Customers can call the number listed for details on consignment services.
Careful Peach Boutique has been in Oak Park since 2004, offering a wide range of quality products. The owner, Karen Morava, is conscientous about researching merchandise before bringing it into the store. She takes pride in selling well-made but functional items. "I believe in using beautiful things every day," Morava said. "Everyone deserves to have pretty things, especially if they are everyday things." Many products are environmentally sensitive, and all products are fair-living made.
