Wicker Park & Bucktown

The story

Wicker Park is anchored by the six-corner crossing of Milwaukee, North and Damen, at the Damen Blue Line stop. From there, N Milwaukee Ave runs southeast toward Division and Ashland in a long diagonal of record stores, bookshops, resale and fashion. It suits crate diggers, readers and anyone who likes to browse on foot off the Blue Line.

The end near the six corners leans toward books and clothes: Barnes & Noble, Myopic Books, Urban Outfitters, two Free People shops and three resale stores. The records are farther down Milwaukee, at Reckless Records and then Shuga Records near the south end, with Dusty Groove just off the strip on Ashland.

A Little History

Brothers Charles and Joel Wicker bought 80 acres along Milwaukee Avenue in 1870, and the neighborhood takes its name from the small park they left. After the 1871 fire, well-off families built brick and stone mansions here, and Hoyne Street became known as Beer Baron Row. Artists followed the cheap rents in the 1980s; the Around the Coyote arts festival started in 1989.

What to Expect

At the six corners, Barnes & Noble (1601 N Milwaukee Ave) fills the former Noel State Bank building and has toys, games and a vinyl section. Myopic Books (1564) has three floors of used books. Heading down Milwaukee, FP Movement (1538) sells Free People's activewear, Urban Outfitters (1521) has clothing, home décor and vinyl, and the main Free People store is at 1464. Resale clusters on the same stretch: Crossroads Trading (1519), Buffalo Exchange (1478) and Ragstock (1459), which keeps more than 10,000 vintage and used pieces with new arrivals daily.

Farther down, Reckless Records (1379) sells new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Near the south end, Secret Agent Supply Co. (1276) is a small bookshop, and Shuga Records (1272) is a large, well-organized record store with new and used vinyl across genres. Off Milwaukee, Quimby's Bookstore (1854 W North Ave) stocks zines, small-press comics and offbeat magazines. Dusty Groove (1120 N Ashland Ave, one block south of Division) is for jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, Brazilian and Latin records.

Best Time to Visit

Dusty Groove opens first, at 9am every day. Quimby's waits until noon, and Secret Agent Supply Co. opens only Wednesday to Sunday, noon–6pm. Myopic Books stays open until 9pm every day, so it works as the last stop after dinner. On the last Sundays of August, September and October, Milwaukee Ave between North/Damen and Ashland goes car-free and businesses set up on the sidewalk. The next one is Oct 25, 2026, which is also the last Sunday of the season for the Wicker Park Farmers Market (8am–2pm at 1425 N Damen Ave). Take the Blue Line those days, since the #56 bus is rerouted.

If You Only Have an Hour

Start at Myopic Books (1564 N Milwaukee Ave) by the Damen stop. Walk down Milwaukee past Urban Outfitters (1521) to Buffalo Exchange (1478) and Ragstock (1459), then keep going to Reckless Records (1379).

Where to Eat

Mindy's Bakery (1623 N Milwaukee Ave) does takeout breads and pastries from the Mindy's Hot Chocolate team; get the mortadella and giardiniera turnover. Paulie Gee's (1566 N Damen Ave) sells New York-style pizza as whole pies or slices, and Dove's Luncheonette (1545 N Damen Ave) is a counter-seat Tex-Mex diner that suits a solo lunch. Tortello (1746 W Division St) serves handmade pasta at the counter. For dinner, Taxim (1558 N Milwaukee Ave) is upscale Greek, and Club Lucky (1824 W Wabansia Ave) is a 1940s-style supper club that suits groups.