If you weren't completely obsessed with this place, I have to wonder, do you even like stationary?…read moreBecause the selection, prices, and service at Atlas cannot be beat. I live 90 minutes away, and this was on my must-do list for my trip to Chicago. I'm so glad that I finally made it here! When I was a child, I was completely obsessed with the scented Sanrio markers. Overtime, I discovered that I enjoyed journaling, and have been very selective regarding pens and paper. Atlas has it all. Maybe not Hello Kitty, grape-scented markers, but literally everything else that a nerdy pen-and-paper-obsessed person could want. I brought my 13 year old, for whom most things are *eyeroll* boring and she didn't want to leave. The washi tape and sticker area had her plotting collages and teen-angst journaling for days. For me, it was the ability to check out the pens. Of course they are known for the fabulous and gorgeous selection of fountain pens and ink. But I haven't gone down that rabbit hole yet. I am talking about the regular pens. Ballpoint, felt tip, colorful, plain, all sizes of points and inks and all wonderfully curated. And you can try them all. And here is the thing: for this level of service and attention you would think it would be too pricey, but it wasn't this is part of the reason I will keep coming back. If you haven't been here, make the journey and keep writing!

Are you all about Japanese planners and stationery? Then, Atlas Stationers, who has been around…read moresince the late '30s, is your spot! This place is large and spacious, and their selection is so great - they have everything from all the different types of pens (fountain pens, ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, calligraphy, and glass dip pens), markers, various types of pencils (mechanical and woodcase), pencil sharpeners, erasers, stamps, stickers, washi tapes, wax seals, inks and refills, notebook covers and accessories, pen storages, notebooks, sketchbooks, and paper/sticky notes! I loved their selection in stationery, washi tapes, and the stickers! There are stations in which you can test out different types of paper and pens to just find that 'perfect' one! There are friendly staff readily available to answer any questions or help you locate any item(s). You can easily spend at least an hour in here! Metered street parking can be found in the area. +stationery and planners +great selection +available staff +metered street parking available

Fun shop to visit for any gift needs! They have art and…read morecards designed by local artists as well as items like candles, mugs, jewelry, baby clothes, and more. It's great to have a store like this in the neighborhood. The folks there are always welcoming and helpful. The interior does look a little dark from the outside, so it may not be clear whether they're open or not, so they have a big sign in front when they are.

Such a cute little shop with awesome gift opportunities made by local artists! Friendly and…read moreaccommodating staff, who gave me a little background on the artist who made certain items I was interested in. Lots of fun perusing this store and a go-to anytime I need a quick gift.

Went walking around Lakeview and Inkling's unique items caught my eye from the window. There are…read morequite a bit of cute and quirky items that have some personality. When you're thinking about holiday gifting items, there's a great variety of decor, trinkets, and jewelry to consider. It can be a bit visually overwhelming to look at everything, but it's well organized by content so it's very doable. The staff I interacted with were very kind and pleasant given it was a busy weekend. Prices aren't terrible, but everything is expensive these days. Will definitely be interested to see what Inkling has in store throughout the year! I'll be back to see :)

What a cute store! Came in here just to browse and ended up leaving with a great vintage scarf!…read morePrices were pretty good. Excellent jewelry selection. If I lived in the area I would definitely stop by to get gifts here!

Such a cute shop in a nice area with lots of restaurants and places to see. They actually print…read moresome of their cards and stuff. LGBTQ+ is also a plus to me.

I came here because my friend who is also a letterpress designer recommended it. It's so cute, lots…read moreof cute and funny stationery to choose from, and I love that they sell a lot of local artists' goodies!

I walked in for a pen. I left with an experience. Parchment. Ink. The soft rustle of paper. Unique…read morewriting instruments in neatly arranged rows. Bari arranged a few things while showing me a selection of pens "they're in the wrong order." I blinked. Nothing appears out of order in this store, but I'm sure this level of attention to detail is why. The Expert (??? I don't know - I just met this person, but it was a vibe) Bari very kindly introduced themselves to me and allowed me to try a variety of pens. This was a kindness as I blustered through my terrible handwriting until I finally met my perfect match - Cinderella & the Ballpoint Pen. Since I was getting a pen for writing, Bari suggested I get a felt tip pen. Thus I am the proud owner of an extra fine brush pen I have been using religiously since purchasing it there for the fine price of five dollars. Honestly - I think I'm starting to write like I own a good pen . Jokes aside, I had a really lovely and unexpected experience at this store. If you love beautiful things, custom stationary, and the art of making an impression, check it out.

Another cute shop with pens and paper, pencils and tape all wonderfully displayed. And Bari…read morepackaged up your purchases adorably like in Japan.

If you're in search of Jellycat plushies, this is the spot! There's a wider variety as the holidays…read moreare coming up!

Very cute shop. Shop keep said hello when we walked in. Being acknowledged goes a long way in my…read morebook. But it was the Corgi in the window that drew me in. It was a stuffed toy Corgi her name is Betty and she went home with me. I'm a sucker for anything Corgi.

This place reeks of sewer. That put me off so much I just couldn't really breathe and I find…read morebreathing is kind of essential to be able to enjoy an experience. In addition, their cute notebooks with creamy smooth paper were unpriced, and the staff weren't paying attention to the customers trying to catch their eye / chase them around the store to ask questions. They had some cute $195 tote bags, but they looked like they may be sprayed with waterproofing forever chemicals. They had cute $16 handkerchiefs, but there were like 75 colors to choose from, and I just couldn't decide on one. Also, they were $16. For a handkerchief.

Please, do some research before buying a pen from this store. I wish I had. I'm not one to ever…read moreleave a negative review of a business but I had a very upsetting experience at this store. I wanted to get myself a nice pen so I bought a $95 Kaweco pen from this store. Signs on the wall said returns are accepted within 30 days and the salesperson told me I'd be able to return the item. When I got home, I really didn't like how the pen wrote on my notebook. I returned to this store well within the 30 day window to return the pen. The first person I spoke to was kind and told me that they could accept the return. Then a woman came over who told me that I can't return the pen because I have used it. She suggested that I ruined the function of the pen by messing with the nib, which I never did. She didn't introduce herself or ask me any questions to clarify what I didn't like about the product, and turned and walked away when I still had unresolved questions. I definitely feel that the way I was treated was not appropriate. Overall, what I experienced was a very stuck-up, "you're not worth our time" attitude and feeling from this Topdrawer store. After getting back home I did a bit of research and ended up buying FIVE pens for a fraction of the cost of the one pen I got from Topdrawer, and I am much happier with these pens. I recommend everyone do the same before buying an overpriced fountain pen that can't be returned.

Please note that Komoda just moved across the street and a few buildings up! This store is amazing…read more The owner does such a nice job hand selecting items and there's a bit of everything from plants to trinkets to puzzles to crafts to jewelry to coasters, among so many other things! There are adorable gifts that I never knew I wanted or needed until I see them. Compared to other gift shops, the prices are more reasonable. A must visit!!!

The cutest store with a plethora of unique gifts and trinkets. There have everything from jewelry…read moreto stationary to incense. Everything is very cute and aesthetic, would have bought the entire store! Perfect place to check out for gifts for friends (or yourself)!

Sandmeyer's Bookstore is a gem! Everyone who works there is so friendly and it makes for a great…read moreatmosphere. It feels really cozy inside and I could spend an hour or so perusing the book selection. They also have a nice variety of bookish gifts and cards. The best part is the sale corner in the back where you can find books of all kinds marked down to really reasonable prices. I'll always stop at Sandmeyer's when I'm in the area!

What a gorgeous location to have a bookstore! Sandmeyer's Bookstore sits in Printer's Row and is a…read morevery lit and airy environment. The selection is not too bad, considering they are recovering from a flood. There are so many titles and a vast array of topics available. I found some classics, fiction, a wonderful selection in their non-fiction area, and translated books. They also provide you with lists of books that have won prizes or coincide with different regions in the USA and the world! I thought that was very helpful. It's a medium-sized store, but their displays are quite prominent. Everything is easy to grab (no ladders or staff needed to get to the high books). All the areas are labeled and it's visually pleasing. The staff was nice, too. Checkout was easy and they were friendly. Prices are standard of paperbacks and hardcovers. You are paying for an indie bookseller (I paid about $40 for two books, which includes tax). I wasn't at all disappointed with the price. They also have a loyalty program for those that are regulars. I really am happy I checked out this spot. It was beautiful and friendly. There was a lot of books and totes to chose from, it was hard not to leave with more in my bag!

I adore this spot…read more The only thing that could make this place better would be more fabulous things for me to buy. Although I'm pretty sure my husband would disagree. The staff is so kind and helpful. I do wish they had a bathroom. But really. It's okay. Cuz my guys just went to Starbies and brought me back a drink. I also wish they had a lot for parking. I don't care... they still get five stars from me.

Paper Source is a good place to find nice, thick wrapping paper, stationery, cards, and all the…read morethings you need for gift giving purposes (you might even find the gift itself here). I'd been to the ones on Southport and on Wells but it was interesting to see the difference in merchandise here. It makes sense--this location seemed to have more office-type merchandise, and for a location in the Loop what better place to sell office supplies? Heck, I even had to stop myself from buying some of the cute office stuff they have here, and I only work two days per week in the office and still don't have my office space fully set up at home. If you need a last-minute card, even if it's beyond the standard congratulations or birthday, this is a great place to stop. And it's directly across the street from the Clark postal station, so may as well get it in the mail immediately before you forget! They had several board games. I'm a board gamer but usually don't play the ones that get mass market attention, and I saw some more niche ones like Steam Up which was truly surprising. I'm not sure who's coming here to buy them but I am totally in favor of stores supporting small publishers. I also saw journals, notepads, coffee cups, and so on. There's no parking here given its location in the loop. Train, bus, and/or foot will be your options.