Shopping the Magnificent Mile
A place to see and be seen, the Magnificent Mile attracts tourists and locals who have some spare cash to burn, and is widely accepted to be Chicago's largest and most popular shopping district. Situated on Michigan Avenue, between the Chicago River and Oak Street, the stretch is exactly one-mile long, and you won't have any problem locating your favorite retailers here. From high-end stores to independently-owned boutiques, the Magnificent Mile is truly a shopper's paradise, and a magnificent place for holiday gifters to congregate each November and December. With three major shopping malls and more than 400 storefronts all located within the mile, there's no better place to shop in the Chicago-area, and arguably, in the entire Midwest.
You may think that the Magnificent Mile is catered to the rich and famous, but that's not the case. While the shopping district features higher-end shops like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani boutiques, there are plenty of places to shop on every budget. From The Gap, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor to Payless Shoe Store, Forever 21 and Walgreens, as well as the world's most renowned chain retailers including Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales, it's all right here on Michigan Ave.
The close proximity of all the stores on the Magnificent Mile makes shopping easy and convenient, especially during the cold, windy winters that Chicago is known for, but it's the gigantic, compact shopping malls that see the most foot traffic during the holiday shopping season.
At the center of the Mag Mile is Water Tower Place (located at 845 N. Michigan Ave.). Named after the nearby Chicago Water Tower, one of the remaining buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, this eight-level atrium mall is home to Macy's, American Girl Place, and hundreds of your favorite stores including Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, and Betsey Johnson. The urban shopping mall, located in a 74-story skyscraper, also holds an impressive food court that is there to refuel you in the middle of your fantastic shopping expedition. Out of town shopping guests can take advantage of Water Tower Place's Premier Perks benefits, featuring special offers from over 60 stores and restaurants in the mall. Just stop by the information desk and ask for your Premier Perks during your next visit.
High fashion fans tend to gravitate toward the Shops at North Bridge (located at 520 N. Michigan Ave.). This four-level shopping plaza stretches over six blocks of Michigan Ave. and is home to Nordstrom, Sephora, Kenneth Cole and The LEGO Store, among others. The mall offers more than 20 different dining options, appropriate for business lunches and casual dinners. Don't forget to ask the Concierge for a Shopping and Dining Visitor Rewards Book with discounts redeemable at over 40 of the restaurants and stores of North Bridge.
Don't let the name fool you, The 900 Shops, named after its location at 900 N. Michigan Ave., can be found on the north end of the Magnificent Mile, and features 70 shops from the likes of Bloomingdales, Gucci, Williams-Sonoma and Coach. The ritzy mall offers an Exclusively 900 card, available at the Concierge Desk, providing discounts and a free gift with a $100 purchase.
Don't forget to check out the little gems in between the famous shopping malls of the Magnificent Mile. Places like Mary Mary (located at 706 N. Dearborn St.) offer unique gift ideas such as handmade scarves, purses and wallets. And Primitive (located at 130 N. Jefferson St.) is a great place to find collectible artwork from across the world.
Now that you're ready to get your shopping on, it's time for you to find out what makes the Michigan Avenue so Magnificent!