Best place to stay for thrift shopping /kids shoaround thank

Question

Hi...i am coming for conference post thanksgiving and I am looking for suggestions to stay . For my conference i will be at magnificent mile but i am looking to do some thrift shopping and want suggestions so that I can cover places where there are most thrift shops. I am looking for kids toys and some small to medium sized home decor and home utilities stuff. If there are good places with ecomonical stuff, i dont have mind.

Answer

If you’re visiting Chicago for a conference near the Magnificent Mile but want to focus on thrift shopping, you’ll want to balance convenience with access to neighborhoods that have clusters of thrift stores and vintage shops. Staying somewhere near downtown or slightly north of the Loop is ideal, as you’ll be close to your conference but also within reasonable driving or transit distance of the best thrifting areas.

Best neighborhoods to consider:

Lincoln Park: About 15–20 minutes north of the Magnificent Mile. This area has a number of small thrift and consignment shops, including options for kids’ toys, home decor, and clothing. Lincoln Park also has nice cafes and a walkable feel.
Lakeview/Wrigleyville: Slightly further north, you’ll find several thrift stores, including vintage and secondhand shops. Lakeview is a fun area for walking around, and you can find economical home goods as well.
West Loop: Known for trendy boutiques and some secondhand furniture and decor shops. It’s closer to downtown, making it easy to get back to the Magnificent Mile quickly after shopping trips.

Thrift shopping areas worth targeting:

Lincoln Park thrift corridor: Check out Savers, Buffalo Exchange, and smaller consignment stores. Some of these offer kids’ items, toys, and home goods.
Wicker Park / Bucktown: About 20–25 minutes from downtown. These neighborhoods are packed with vintage shops and thrift stores. You can find home decor, children’s items, and small furniture here. Popular spots include Kuma’s Corner for eclectic finds and The Brown Elephant for secondhand goods with a charity focus.
West Loop/Grand Avenue: Offers a mix of boutique resale shops and antique stores where you can pick up small home utilities or decor items. This area is closer to downtown and convenient for quick trips.

Hotel suggestions for proximity and convenience:

Stay near the Magnificent Mile (River North or Streeterville) for maximum convenience for your conference. You’ll have easy access to taxis or rideshares to reach Lincoln Park or Wicker Park.
If you want to be closer to thrifting neighborhoods, consider a hotel in Lincoln Park or Lakeview. You’ll be slightly further from the Magnificent Mile (15–25 min transit/drive) but much closer to the thrifting areas.
West Loop hotels offer a nice compromise—close enough to downtown, yet near some of the vintage and thrift spots for decor and home goods.

Tips:

Public transit (CTA buses and trains) can get you quickly to most neighborhoods, but rideshares may be more convenient if you plan to carry purchases back to the hotel.
Bring a small tote or foldable shopping bag to carry thrift finds; some smaller shops don’t offer free bags.
Plan a few neighborhoods per day: one day Lincoln Park/Lakeview and another day Wicker Park/Bucktown for the best coverage without exhausting yourself.

In short, for thrift shopping while keeping your conference location convenient, staying near River North or Streeterville is ideal, but if you want to be closer to thrifting action, Lincoln Park or West Loop provide easy access to the best shops for kids’ toys, home decor, and small household items.