The magic of Haystack Vintage
A vintage shop with artistic displays that could vie with the coolest of boutiques, Haystack debuted without fanfare in Lakeview in late July. Local apartment-dwellers are already storming the place for its affordable chairs and dressers, but the always-changing inventory covers everything from retro collectibles to bikes to clothing, thanks to an always-on-the-hunt staff and a variety of suppliers and consigners.
Characteristically colorful mid-20th-century relics such as a mint green Zenith TV, a turquoise sewing machine and a mustard-yellow fondue pot feature on jam-packed tables, while for-sale antique armoires, trunks and suitcases also serve to display finds such as ladylike gloves, floral neckties and funky lamps. Mixed in among vintage wares you’ll find a few new treats, mostly by local artists found on indie online marketplace Etsy, such as clever graphic tees by Isotope, crocheted jewelry by Kate Pryor and retro-inspired sustainably made undies by Under The Root. Display cases near the rear of the store show off new and vintage jewelry, plus an adorably diverse collection of salt and pepper shakers in shapes such as hamburgers, flamingos and ice cream sundaes.
The people behind Haystack are even more interesting than its contents. Local entrepreneur Philip Tadros, who also owns coffee shops Dollop and Noble Tree, partnered with employees John Mokate and Erin Liston to tread into the vintage resale biz. Tadros loves nothing more than to take over businesses or start up new ones; his first was Don’s Coffee Club in Rogers Park at age 19. It was while running Evanston Wireless years ago that he met and befriended 70-something twins with an outstanding collection of vintage wares, which served as the core stock for Haystack’s opening. Local artist Brian Heiser is behind the shop’s brilliant displays, which include floating juxtaposed picture frames, dangling paper cut-outs and a dozen books with pages folded intricately folded into sculptural designs,