Bargains beckon on North Clark Street shopping mecca

Posted January 15, 2009 10:00 pm

By Teresa Schmedding

Hats - fuzzy, fancy and frilly - fill Mee Too at 4543 N. Clark. Teresa Schmedding | Staff Photographer

• Thanks to sisters Jane Brencic of Brookfield and Barb Schmecht of Woodridge for suggesting this Day Trip. If you have a story suggestion, e-mail Teresa Schmedding at tschmedding@dailyherald.com.

I was born without the shopping gene and somehow, my DNA coding skipped over the purse gene as well. So, when someone suggested a day trip to Chicago's Asian shopping mecca on North Clark Street where bargains are rumored to be abound, I grudgingly agreed to torture myself for hours looking at fru-fru stuff I'd never buy - all in the interest of being a good journalist.

As I whizzed down North Clark Street and hit the 4500 block, where this mecca was rumored to exist, I kept right on driving wondering where in the heck this place could be. After all, this looked like an drab urban street on a gray winter day.

But we journalists don't give up after just one drive-by, so I parked and hit the ground with my notebook, camera and $40 to blow, and bravely opened the first door I came to.

My eyes went into immediate purse shock at Pe-Co Trading Company (4500 N. Clark). Every nook and cranny of this warehouse-style shop is crammed with purses. Big purses. Little purses. Fluffy ones. Glittery ones. Ones that could house a small family and others that might only fit your ATM card.

The prices were amazing - most averaging $10 to $20.

Maybe instead of the purse gene, I got a double dose of the shoe gene. Because somehow in the maze of purse heaven, I found a display of ultrahip boots that cost about $25 and shoes that cost around $10. Plus earrings (averaging $3) and piles of scarves for $10.

Was this it? Was Pe-Co the mecca? As I forged ahead, making my way up and down both sides of the street, I learned it was not. There are roughly 15 stores along 4500 N. Clark and the nondescript storefronts hide oceans of merchandise (hats, jewelry, scarves, gloves, perfume, purses, etc.) inside.

Some of the stores pile merchandise to the ceiling, which means you'll need patience as you hunt for great buys. Others are as suave and stylish as anything you'd find on the Gold Coast, but still with amazing prices.

Some of the stores are for wholesale only, but most will work deals with individual shoppers. Just check with the clerk or look closely at the signs on the doors.

Here's a look at some of the stores I hit:

Rachel Lee Collections Company of 4500 N. Clark has an abundance without being overwhelming. Purses are well-organized and fabulously priced (average is $20) along with jewelry that runs the gamut from jeweled crosses as big as your palm to dainty antique earrings (all under $10).

So Good at 4545 N. Clark is packed to the rim with some of the coolest and unique jewelry I've seen. Their $15 cashmere scarves are soft enough to make the grouchiest shopper purr. They also have interesting bracelets inscribed with different Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer mixed in with snazzy bookmarks and purse hooks (if you don't have a purse hook, get one rather than set your purse on a germy restaurant floor). Plus ties, upon ties, upon ties.

Mee Too at 4543 N. Clark is a hat-lovers dream (average price is $25). It also has a wide array of jewelry, but also offers some extremely unique pieces. I developed a love-hate relationship with the jeweled spider-brooches. They are amazing and very artistic - but it's still a spider, so no way could I wear that. I also found myself strangely tempted to drop $4 on a pair of rhinestone earrings that spelled out "sexy" - a sure sign of bargain shopping madness.

Number 1 at 4550 N. Clark has shelves of perfume that the Jolly Green Giant would have trouble reaching. In this shop, it's all about bargaining and buying - the more you buy, the better price you can bargain for. Bottles of Bvlgari that normally sell for $90 go for $65. Bottles of Juicy Couture go for $65 (normally $85). Coveted Dolce and Gabbana perfume normally goes for $80. You get only $5 knocked off when you buy one bottle, but $10 off if you start stocking up. Sounds like a good deal, but I had only $40 to spend for the day so I had to leave the sweet smells behind.

Clark Fashion Depot at 4527 N. Clark, is a double-wide store with cool $3 "Obama 44th president of the United States" skull caps, a large collection of pashminas ($5.50 for embroidered; $10 for silk, knit and wool ones) and another staggering collection of jewelry.

Nabi (which means butterfly in Korean) at 4531 N. Clark, is the best-smelling shop on the block. It is elegant and sophisticated with select (yet still bargain-priced) merchandise. These amazing silver rope bracelets for just $10 were still calling my name as I fled out the door, sticking to my vow to not spend more than $40.

I came away from the 4500 block of North Clark Street with $40 less in my pocket, some nifty earrings, gloves, a swanky bracelet and, yes, a new purse.

It seems I do have the gene, it just took this amazing strip of shops with great bargains to bring it to life. I already know next weekend I'm going back to Pe-Co to get that cool striped laptop carrying case with matching portfolio and pocketbook. Somebody stop me if I start buying tiaras.

While you're there

Places to eat

Anna Maria's Pasteria, 4440 N. Clark, (773) 506-2662, annamariapasteria.com: Founded by sisters Anna and Maria in 1989, this elegant Italian restaurant offers entrees that range from $10 to $20. The well-mannered and well-trained waitstaff complement the stylish interior - and both are more relaxing and friendly than intimidating. It's a great place to relax with a glass of wine over a leisurely dinner after a day of hectic shopping. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Mondays.

Thai on Clark, 4161 N. Clark, (773) 275-2620: A great neighborhood place for Thai and Japanese food at reasonable prices. (It's BYOB, but Ryan's Liquors just a few doors down has a nice wine selection.) Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

El Ranchito, 4651 N. Clark St., (773) 296-9709: Whatever you're craving, El Ranchito has it from standard Mexican fare to American standards like chicken wings. The food is simple at very reasonable prices. Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily.

Carol's Pub, 4659 N. Clark, (773) 334-2402: Carol's is a neighborhood staple, just the place to hit when you want very basic pub fare, country/rockabilly music and dart boards in a dark, stark bar. The crowd is an eclectic mix of old-timers, yuppies and GenXers. If you're with a man who doesn't like shopping on your day trip, you can park him at Carol's for a few hours when he gets restless. Hours: 9 to 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 to 4 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and Sunday; and 11 to 5 a.m. Saturday.

The 4500 block of North Clark Street is lined with shops packed with bargain-priced merchandise.

Rachel Lee Collections Company at 4500 N. Clark helped me tap into my purse gene with their rows of sophisticated and fun purses.

So Good at 4545 N. Clark is filled to the ceiling with jewelry of every size, shape and style.

Teresa's haul Purse: $19 at Rachel Lee Collections Company, 4500 N. Clark. Bracelet: $3.25 at Rachel Lee. Earrings: $3.75 for multicolored stones; $3 for silver hoops at So Good, 4545 N. Clark. Gloves: $5 at So Good. Total spent: $34 (seriously ... for a purse, two pairs of earrings, a bracelet and gloves!)

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