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15 best vintage furniture stores in Chicago

Here’s where you can find one-of-a-kind art, retro antiques, and midcentury modern furniture.

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There’s something especially satisfying about a good vintage find. It’s passed the test of time! There’s joy in discovery! And, you can likely find something unusual. Whether you’re looking for a good piece of midcentury modern furniture, rare deadstock glassware, Persian rugs, or a vintage Malm fireplace, we’ve gathered up a few of our favorite stores to help you on your pursuit.

On a budget? Brown Elephant has a resale shop inside an old historic theater (plus, all the proceeds benefit LGBTQ health services at Howard Brown Health). If you’re on the hunt for something a bit more curated, try An Orange Moon which specializes in midcentury modern and American art. For those who love to dig through odds and ends, the chaos of the Broadway Antique Market won’t disappoint. There are also a few stores for design fanatics looking to shop a few curated selections like Modern Drama and Dial M for Modern.

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Broadway Antique Market

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Extra large, bright red signage announces this massive two-floor shop on Broadway. An emporium featuring vintage furniture, dishes, kitchenware, table top decor, rugs, vinyl records, and jewelry. This shop has been around for 30 years, it’s one of the city’s oldest antique stores.

Vern + Vera

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Love the idea of a one-of-a-kind vintage aesthetic but not sure where to start? In addition to having an excellent selection of furniture, lighting, and home decor, Vern + Vera also offers interior design services. In the 1,300-square-foot showroom, there are pieces primarily from the 60s to 80s with an eye towards sculptural, clean-lined modernism.

The Brown Elephant

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The Brown Elephant has three locations in Chicago, but the shop on Clark Street is housed in a historic theater. Visitors enter through a long wide hallway where the shops most attractive pieces of furniture and decor are display. Then, behold: A grand room with a barrel-ceiling contains a collection of sofas, cabinets, dining table sets, and lamps all for an affordable price. Another reason to shop here? All the proceeds go toward supporting Howard Brown Health, an LGBTQ-focused clinic.

Modern Drama

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Modern Drama has a meticulous collection of midcentury and 20th century designs. They’ve got a huge online presence and a showroom in New York City—but the operation is based in Chicago. Most of the high-end furniture goes through a careful restoration, too. So if you’re looking for something from a specific designer or time period, this is the place to check out first.

View this post on Instagram

Milo Baughman chrome base rocking chaise

A post shared by MODERN DRAMA (@moderndrama20) on

The Lazy Dog Antique Store

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If you want to hunt through a varied collection of antiques, fine art, furniture, and other oddities—then set out to Lazy Dog. The shop features a handful of styles such as Art Deco home decor, Art Moderne appliances, midcentury modern furniture, and Asian ceramics. Not only is a great place to get one-of-a-kind piece for your home, but you’ll be able to admire retro advertisements, books, clocks, and collectibles.

Dial M For Modern

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This shop has a ton of inventory spread out across its first floor and basement, but each little nook has an artfully crafted vignette making it quite easy to imagine that teak credenza in your own living room. There’s lots of American and Danish design here, but also quirky handmade stools, 70s fiber art, and ceramics.

Three Stars Resale Shop

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Here you’ll be able to find items like kilim rugs, lucite bar carts, and rosewood furniture. Score deals on quality vintage pieces, but also keep your eye out for a few quirky items and high-end designer finds. In the past, the shop has featured both a retro slot machine and a Herman Miller top roll desk.

An Orange Moon

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Owned by Ty and Lynne McDaniel, this shop’s collection of fine art and midcentury modern furniture is truly remarkable. Through estate sales and high-brow connections the couple finds items like beautiful Norwegian rosewood cabinets, Hans Wergner chairs, and 1950s lamps designed by Gerald Thurston.

Velvet Goldmine

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Every week you’ll find something new: Tabletop brass birds, retro German ceramics, a Malm fireplace, vintage gold-foiled barware, and furniture with 70s vibes. There’s a collection of midcentury modern clocks that run all the way up the wall and usually a handful of vintage globes.

Witt-Century Modern

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Perhaps you’re looking for a rosewood credenza, teak planter, or a leather lounger? This little shop on Milwaukee is packed with Scandinavian furniture, funky oil paintings, retro mirrors, wooden bar carts, and vintage chemistry glassware. There’s something for everyone here, plus the shop has free delivery within a two-mile zone.

Circa Modern

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Throughout the store, there are colorful little vignettes of unusual vintage finds. Unusual lighting, Windsor chairs, shag rugs, steel coffee tables, and modernist sculptures. There are new items that come in every week and if you’re interested in seeing something specific it’s best to call the shop to make sure its at the Ashland storefront and not the studio.

Vintage Quest

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Find sofas, rugs, lamps, and coffee tables here, but know that the most coveted items go quick (follow their Instagram to see the latest, and get a leg up on other shoppers). Old file cabinets and dressers in the store are filled vintage photographs, architectural drawings, maps, and cards—so if you enjoy the search this place is for you.

Randolph Street Market

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This massive flea market pops up every month in the West Loop. Tons of vintage vendors and antique dealers come to sell items like gold-framed mirrors, artsy glass vases, seasonal decor, barware, and furniture. This is a ticketed event, but you’ll be able to shop with a drink in hand and grab lunch all within the market.

View this post on Instagram

NEED. EVERYTHING.

A post shared by Taylor Gallagher (@taylorgallagher_) on

Treasures Depot

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Attention deal hunters: This one’s for you. The Treasures Depot feels a bit like the Salvation Army, but here you might be able to score a pair of Scandinavian chairs and Italian kitchenware. Shoppers will have to dig through the hodgepodge of kitchen appliances, dishware, home decor, and furniture to find something special. Regulars say you’ll likely be able to get a deal on furniture if you negotiate, too.

Architectural Anarchy

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This 3,000-square-foot showroom contains a lot of unusual antiques: brass and lucite nesting tables, totem poles, a pair of Art Deco brass dogs, and a canvas sculpture of a gramophone. It’s open only by appointment, but there are also several online sites (Decaso and Chairish) to shop the goods.

Broadway Antique Market

Extra large, bright red signage announces this massive two-floor shop on Broadway. An emporium featuring vintage furniture, dishes, kitchenware, table top decor, rugs, vinyl records, and jewelry. This shop has been around for 30 years, it’s one of the city’s oldest antique stores.

Vern + Vera

Love the idea of a one-of-a-kind vintage aesthetic but not sure where to start? In addition to having an excellent selection of furniture, lighting, and home decor, Vern + Vera also offers interior design services. In the 1,300-square-foot showroom, there are pieces primarily from the 60s to 80s with an eye towards sculptural, clean-lined modernism.

The Brown Elephant

The Brown Elephant has three locations in Chicago, but the shop on Clark Street is housed in a historic theater. Visitors enter through a long wide hallway where the shops most attractive pieces of furniture and decor are display. Then, behold: A grand room with a barrel-ceiling contains a collection of sofas, cabinets, dining table sets, and lamps all for an affordable price. Another reason to shop here? All the proceeds go toward supporting Howard Brown Health, an LGBTQ-focused clinic.

Modern Drama

Modern Drama has a meticulous collection of midcentury and 20th century designs. They’ve got a huge online presence and a showroom in New York City—but the operation is based in Chicago. Most of the high-end furniture goes through a careful restoration, too. So if you’re looking for something from a specific designer or time period, this is the place to check out first.

View this post on Instagram

Milo Baughman chrome base rocking chaise

A post shared by MODERN DRAMA (@moderndrama20) on

The Lazy Dog Antique Store

If you want to hunt through a varied collection of antiques, fine art, furniture, and other oddities—then set out to Lazy Dog. The shop features a handful of styles such as Art Deco home decor, Art Moderne appliances, midcentury modern furniture, and Asian ceramics. Not only is a great place to get one-of-a-kind piece for your home, but you’ll be able to admire retro advertisements, books, clocks, and collectibles.

Dial M For Modern

This shop has a ton of inventory spread out across its first floor and basement, but each little nook has an artfully crafted vignette making it quite easy to imagine that teak credenza in your own living room. There’s lots of American and Danish design here, but also quirky handmade stools, 70s fiber art, and ceramics.

Three Stars Resale Shop

Here you’ll be able to find items like kilim rugs, lucite bar carts, and rosewood furniture. Score deals on quality vintage pieces, but also keep your eye out for a few quirky items and high-end designer finds. In the past, the shop has featured both a retro slot machine and a Herman Miller top roll desk.

An Orange Moon

Owned by Ty and Lynne McDaniel, this shop’s collection of fine art and midcentury modern furniture is truly remarkable. Through estate sales and high-brow connections the couple finds items like beautiful Norwegian rosewood cabinets, Hans Wergner chairs, and 1950s lamps designed by Gerald Thurston.

Velvet Goldmine

Every week you’ll find something new: Tabletop brass birds, retro German ceramics, a Malm fireplace, vintage gold-foiled barware, and furniture with 70s vibes. There’s a collection of midcentury modern clocks that run all the way up the wall and usually a handful of vintage globes.

Witt-Century Modern

Perhaps you’re looking for a rosewood credenza, teak planter, or a leather lounger? This little shop on Milwaukee is packed with Scandinavian furniture, funky oil paintings, retro mirrors, wooden bar carts, and vintage chemistry glassware. There’s something for everyone here, plus the shop has free delivery within a two-mile zone.

Circa Modern

Throughout the store, there are colorful little vignettes of unusual vintage finds. Unusual lighting, Windsor chairs, shag rugs, steel coffee tables, and modernist sculptures. There are new items that come in every week and if you’re interested in seeing something specific it’s best to call the shop to make sure its at the Ashland storefront and not the studio.

Vintage Quest

Find sofas, rugs, lamps, and coffee tables here, but know that the most coveted items go quick (follow their Instagram to see the latest, and get a leg up on other shoppers). Old file cabinets and dressers in the store are filled vintage photographs, architectural drawings, maps, and cards—so if you enjoy the search this place is for you.

Randolph Street Market

This massive flea market pops up every month in the West Loop. Tons of vintage vendors and antique dealers come to sell items like gold-framed mirrors, artsy glass vases, seasonal decor, barware, and furniture. This is a ticketed event, but you’ll be able to shop with a drink in hand and grab lunch all within the market.

View this post on Instagram

NEED. EVERYTHING.

A post shared by Taylor Gallagher (@taylorgallagher_) on

Treasures Depot

Attention deal hunters: This one’s for you. The Treasures Depot feels a bit like the Salvation Army, but here you might be able to score a pair of Scandinavian chairs and Italian kitchenware. Shoppers will have to dig through the hodgepodge of kitchen appliances, dishware, home decor, and furniture to find something special. Regulars say you’ll likely be able to get a deal on furniture if you negotiate, too.

Architectural Anarchy

This 3,000-square-foot showroom contains a lot of unusual antiques: brass and lucite nesting tables, totem poles, a pair of Art Deco brass dogs, and a canvas sculpture of a gramophone. It’s open only by appointment, but there are also several online sites (Decaso and Chairish) to shop the goods.