Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) will host the annual Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale on July 26-28 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily (hours vary by business).
More than 40 participating businesses ranging from 4800 to 5800 N. Clark Street and the adjacent side streets will expand their storefronts to line the sidewalks with summer sales, bargain antiques, one-of-a-kind merchandise, fashion apparel, furniture, books and more.
“While Andersonville offers a special shopping experience year-round, the Summer Sidewalk Sale is the perfect opportunity to visit, walk and shop our neighborhood, comprised of one-of-a-kind brick & mortar stores, cafés and more,” said Sara Dinges, ACC Executive Director. “With live music and unique merchandise lining Clark Street, we guarantee you’ll enjoy an experience that can’t be matched online or through one-click shopping.”
ACC will headquarter during the event outside at the intersection of Summerdale and Clark in front of the US Bank, 5340 N Clark, on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Shoppers who check in at the ACC tent with a receipt of purchase totaling $40 or more from a participating Sidewalk Sale business during the event dates, will get a free drink ticket to a participating coffee shop or restaurant while supplies last.
Again, this year buskers will perform throughout the district, entertaining shoppers and families while they explore the one-mile district. Visitors should also look for sidewalk chalk markers to indicate participating locations along the route. Additionally, ACC will program a kids’ activity area featuring music and entertainment on Sunday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Balmoral near deFloured Bakery.
The sale will welcome the first-time participation of new retail businesses that have opened in the last year including Buffalo Exchange, Graham Crackers Comics, Kriser’s Natural Pet, Rattleback Records, Orangetheory Fitness Andersonville, Pearle Vision, RAYGUN, Uncharted Books, and Whole Body Kinetics.
“RAYGUN’s Sidewalk Sale will offer one-of-a-kind tester tees for $9, limited runs of discontinued designs for $7, plus whatever other fun stuff we can dig up!” said Chicago manager Claire Anderson. In addition, Rattleback Records plans to feature discounts on LPs, CDs, DVDs, and books: “We had a blast during the winter Insidewalk Sale, and we look forward to participating during the beautiful July weather,” says owners Paul Ruffino.
New this year, First Slice Pie Café will host a summer Empty Bowls event in conjunction with the Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale. Stop in for ice cream served in one-of-a-kind artist-crafted bowls for sale for $25 each from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. both Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. Proceeds will support First Slice’s Outreach Program, which provides 750 meals each week to folks who struggle with hunger and homelessness.
“For this special Summer Edition of Empty ( Ice Cream! ) Bowls, First Slice will have bowls made by students and teachers at Lillstreet Arts Center available on a first-come, first-served basis,” said First Slice Executive Director Ann-Louise Haak. “Fill your bowl with ice cream, and keep it as a reminder of all our neighbors in need that you help us feed!”
The Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale also coincides with Women and Children First’s used book sale, July 27-28, with proceeds benefiting the Women’s Voices Fund, a program designed to foster the feminist programming and events that take place year round, including children’s events designed to encourage the love of novels at a young age.
“Our Annual Used Book Sale is a win-win for everyone,” said Women and Children First co-owner Sarah Hollenbeck. “Customers donate their well-loved books for others to discover anew and we replenish our Women’s Voices Fund.”
Alamo Shoes plans to kick off the Summer Sidewalk Sale a day early on Thursday, July 25 with “super bowl” sized sales.
This year’s participating businesses include:
Aeropay | popping up on Clark
AKIRA | 5228 N Clark
Alamo Shoes | 5321 N Clark
Andersonville Antiques | 5245 N Clark
Andersonville Cryotherapy | 5052 N Clark
Andersonville Galleria | 5247 N Clark
Big City Optical | 5653 N Clark
Brimfield | 5219 N Clark
Buffalo Exchange | 5252 N Clark
Cassona | 5241 N Clark
Chicago Dance Supply | 5301 N Clark
Chicatolia | 5209 N Clark
Chiro One Wellness Center | popping up on Clark
Cowboys and Astronauts | 1478 W Summerdale
Crossroads Trading Co | 5127 N Clark
Dearborn Denim | 5202 N Clark
Earthmounds | Clark & Summerdale
First Slice Pie Cafe | 5357 N Ashland
Foursided | 5061 N Clark
Foyer Shop | 1480 W Berwyn
Graham Crackers Comics | 5028 N. Clark
Gus Giordano Dance School | 5230 N Clark
Iloilo Custom Framing | 1478 W Berwyn
Jameson Loves Danger | 5208 N Clark
JC Licht | 5424 N Clark
Jerry’s Sandwiches | 5419 N Clark
Kriser’s Natural Pet | 5353 N Clark
Lakeshore Dental Studio | 5505 N Clark
Mercantile M | 5409 1/2 N Clark
Milk Handmade | 5137 N Clark
Natalie Santoro | 5239 N Clark
Rattleback Records | 5405 N Clark
Orangetheory Fitness | 5014 N Clark
Pearle Vision | 4814 N Clark
Quidel | popping up on Clark
RAYGUN | 5207 N Clark
Revolution Counseling & Wellness | popping up on Clark
Robert Jeffrey Andersonville | 5142 N Clark
Scout | 5221 N Clark
STOUT @ In Fine Spirits | 5418 N Clark
Strange Cargo Tees | 5216 N Clark
StellaLily | popping up on Clark
Swedish American Museum | 5211 N Clark
The Coffee Studio | 5628 N Clark
Toys Et Cetera | 5311 N Clark
Transit Tees | 5226 N Clark
Uncharted Books | 5140 N Clark
Whole Body Kinetics | 5301 N Clark
Women and Children First | 5233 N Clark
Additional information on participating vendors for this year’s Andersonville Summer Sidewalk sale will continue to be updated on the event’s website at andersonville.org.
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce fosters a vibrant environment in which Andersonville businesses can thrive by attracting a diverse customer base; providing business support services and advocacy; and engaging in business attraction, long-range planning, and economic development.
From a press release
