I absolutely adore everything about this cute shop. So much fun stuff! Love the friendly staff. Will continue to visit whenever I'm in that area. read more

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Great job on my t/shirt. Nice folks, great collections of weird fun stuff. Why do they force a minimum of characters on Yelp???

They have very good socks collections. You can find a lot of interesting gifts and stuffs here. Mainly a tshirt printing store. A must stop by to check out read more

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This place is awesome, it's might have some things that people might be all like "Oh my!" So sensitivity to your audience. There might be a giant peen or bong laying around you don't want your toddler to encounter. But they push all the right button, pleasantly antagonistic to some. Lots fun obscure collectibles. Action figures, pez, gear, shirts, silk screen stuff. It's pretty awesome. read more

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Myself and now multiple friends of mine have had poor experiences with staff, particularly the owner, making fun of and insulting purchases. If you're going to belittle customers for purchasing items, maybe stop stocking said items. You run a silly gift shop. People will be purchasing silly gifts. Why drive customers away with your weird attitude? read more

This place is the authentic goods store that I didn't know I needed in my life! I'm so happy with my new beanie! It's a Chicago gift for myself (moving back home) and it's high quality and I just know this item will be sentimental to me till I'm old! The staff is friendly and very covid safe. 5 stars!! read more

Strange Cargo - A man with a beard and a big smile is wearing a blue, white, and red winter hat with braids, indoors near a window and a wall art. - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's some strange stuff in Strange Cargo! This custom print shop also sells all of your hipster needs. They have a wide, wide, wide selection of t-shirts, but not in wide. (har!) They've got witty sayings on them about all aspects of Chicago. Their sock selection was also very impressive. They sell anything a hipster might need. Smurf lunch boxes or Where's Waldo glasses- they've got it all. It's not a cheap place to go shopping, I imagine that they have to pay all kinds of royalties to former child actors, whose likenesses they're using on their stickers or hoodies. The staff seemed like they were all having a good time, kidding around with each other and the customers. They have lots of cool stuff to check out, and going through their inventory is like going back in time to the 80's or 90's on a lot of their stuff. My favorite thing about the store is their life-sized cutout of Betty White. Don't tell anyone that I didn't really meet her in Chicago! :P Ha! read more

My husband ordered a a shirt for me but it was too small. Thought it would be a hassle to get it fixed but they responded quickly and solved the problem. When I came in to pick up the replacement they were friendly and quick about it. I will only buy my shirts here because of the quality of the shirt and the exceptional customer service. Thank you for a wonderful experience. read more

Terrible service and bad quality shirts and cheap ink on the material washed one and shriveled up

I ordered a single t-shirt for my brother's birthday (lordy, lordy, he turned 40!) with a childhood photo of him. Uploading the image through the website and explaining what I needed could not have been simpler. (And helped me avoid toting three toddlers in my car across town to place an order). Within an hour or so, I received a friendly email asking me to specify the shirt color and size. Shortly after I replied, I received a proof via email and I asked if I could pick it up in 48 hours. They said, "Of course!" and actually had it finished before the deadline and called to let me know. When I arrived at the store to pick it up, I asked if I could park out back and run in quickly, but whoever was staffed that day brought it out to me. A wonderful consumer experience and the t-shirt made my brother's day. I hope I need to order more shirts from them one day because they did a great job and provided a hassle-free experience. Very much appreciated. read more

Strange Cargo - birthday t-shirt - A red T-shirt displays a printed photo of a young boy in a red shirt, with text reading 'LORDY, LORDY' and 'ADAM'S 40.' - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had four T-shirts custom-made for Black Lives Matter protest they came out perfect service was excellent the curbside pick up was excellent and the price was just right. read more

Strange Cargo - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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All kinds of tshirts, postcards, magnets and such, mostly with a Chicago bent. Nice guy behind the counter. Fun to browse if you're shopping in the Andersonville area! read more

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I've walked past Strange Cargo countless times telling myself I need to check it out. I finally made the leap and went into the store. The inside of Strange Cargo is huge! They have a ton of great throwback/classics designs when it comes sports apparel. I got a great Bears hat that I was able to rock during the Draft Town. The hat was made with quality material and kept my head warm while looking stylish. Strange Cargo is definitely the place to go for quality and quickly produced custom shirts. They have two walls full of possible designs that you can choose from while still allowing you to bring in your own design. I came in roughly 15-20 mins prior to the store closing so I didn't think I would have time to get a shirt made but I was surprised that they were able to make my shirt in 5 mins. Due to the store closing and everyone being rushed out I didn't get a chance to check my shirt to ensure it was the right design and shirt that I wanted. When I got home I realized they gave me the right shirt design but gave me the wrong shirt. Normally I wouldn't mind because it was the color and design I wanted but I paid a little more to get the design on a sweater not a t-shirt. I brought the t-shirt back the next day with my receipt and they were so nice about getting me the correct that I paid for. They still gave it to me in 5 mins and it was even better than I pictured it! I would HIGHLY recommend coming to Strange Cargo for any of your apparel or accessory needs. I'm definitely going to come here for all of my future sports apparel needs! read more

Strange Cargo - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Long time fan, first time reviewer. I've been patronizing Strange Cargo for strange cargo for a long time - a decade if not more. I actually used to sell them advertising in my first big girl job, so they'll always have a place in my heart. Here are some highlights: *finding what I thought I had a .05% chance of actually finding: Harry Caray glasses (two styles, too!) *making a "Hot for Student Teacher" t-shirt for the '07 Van Halen show *receiving one of their nose pencil sharpeners from my brother for Christmas *outfitting a company softball team with their tube socks *purchasing a button of Jesus for my other brother (and when I say "Jesus" I mean this one: http://www.cool-movie-trivia.com/images/jesus.jpg) But don't let my wonderful purchases make you think there's nothing good left to buy there. They have tons of stuff, much of it cheap, and all of it will make a good gift for the right kind of person. (I'm that kind of person and I have a birthday once a year.) read more

Strange Cargo - A little fuzzy, not unlike the man himself. - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm not a vintage clothing type of gal, but I shop at Strange Cargo when I ever need a t-shirt made for a special occasion (bachelorette party, Halloween, etc). The staff is super helpful and they have thousands of images to choose from. No worries if they don't have the image you want because you can bring in your own as well...it's as easy as printing it off your computer. They put your images on American Apparel t-shirts/tanks, but if you don't like the way those shirts fit you can bring it your own as well. read more

I was actually looking at T-shirt deli reviews and came across Strange Cargo after viewing Lilianna S.'s review. I bought a whole set of basketball jerseys off ebay and was meaning to make some customized jerseys for quite some time. I went into Strange Cargo, explained the layout I wanted, and they were able to get it done for me in 20 min. And the price was great, definitely cheaper than T-shirt deli. $5 to use my own jersey +.50/letter + $2/6 inch numbers. Total per jersey averaged out to about $16 for front and back. My only complaint was I wish they had more fonts and colors. They pretty much only had white, black, navy blue, gold, and red. Perhaps, T-shirt deli may do a better job, but, overall I'm happy with the service and the price. It would have cost me about $25 at T-shirt deli and considering I ordered 3 jerseys, that's some savings. read more

Strange Cargo - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice welcomely family owned business which practice safety in-regards to COVID-19. They did a real good job on my custom T's, which I received a day early. They were also accommodating. Vintage and other merchandise inside worth stopping by. Thanks read more

My family and I love to stop by Strange Cargo after a good meal from the restaurants down the street :). Every time that we visit it is like a great wave of nostalgia, we've been shopping here for years. We are reminded that this is a great location if you're on the hunt for a gift or even shopping for yourself. We had just gone by and were greeted by two very kind employees (the cashier especially, as she was very sweet and efficient). 10/10 recommend coming here, bring your friends too because I guarantee they'll love it here, it's a cool location to show off. read more

I generally try to buy local whenever possible, but URLs with phrases like "RushOrder" had given me the false impression that I had no other choice for a last-minute job. But before I agreed to shipping rates that were more than an actual tshirt, I decided to check out Strange Cargo. I am so glad I did! As a graphic designer, I can tell pretty quickly when I'm working with quality printers (they're organized, efficient, communicative, etc.). When I came by the store to look at/feel the shirts and discuss artwork placement, I felt reassured through the entire process. Nikki, the associate who helped me, was great. First, she came up to let me in even though the sign on the door said they were closed to the public that day (I called just in case someone might be there). Then she was super patient and helpful when I had questions about the different brands and SC's printing capabilities. She also brought out several samples relating to my questions so I could see for myself and make choices I would be happy with (for obvious reasons, this isn't possible with online retailers, and it can be the most nerve-racking part of the ordering process because sizes and colors vary a lot between brands). She kept busy and didn't rush me while I tweaked the design file a bit in-store. Later while reviewing the proofs, she was happy to swap out the file and promptly provided a new proof when I wanted to tweak something else. When I picked up my printed shirts, I realized there was a glitch with one of the designs (I could tell it was a fluke), but they were apologetic and had a reprinted shirt ready for me quickly. In the end, the whole process took less time (even with the minor issue at the end), and delivered better results than with big-name online printers I've had to use in the past. It was also less expensive than the impersonal online retailers (and that's without any shipping fees I would have had to pay). I'm already getting another file ready for my next custom printing job because this one went so well, and I'm excited to have such a great resource for personalized gifts within walking distance. Note, you don't have to be a graphic designer to appreciate SC's approach to customer service and quality results. Clearly they have the expertise needed to guide any customer through the custom printing process. read more

I've been patronizing this business for 10 years. Today I asked them to put a couple of hip-hop song lyrics on a T-shirt. I was then told that the shirt would not be made due to the content. When I calmly asked the owner of the shop to explain his reasoning, a long and winding series of unhelpful suggestions and nonsensical analogies followed before a conclusion of "I'm just not going to do it" was reached. It was at this time that I was asked to leave. I've never felt like "the customer is always right" was a useful adage, but if you're going to sell custom T-shirts, this place needs an addendum to its sign reading "subject to the staff's delicate sensibilities." I shouldn't be surprised that, in these times of overwhelming and unnecessary sensitivity, a business would want to shy away from anything that might stir the pot and leave them liable for social media blowback, but I honestly thought that a joint that sells novelty tchotchke at an unethical markup would be a little looser about ironing a few letters on shirts. I won't be back to Strange Cargo. I know they won't suffer from my lack of business; clearly I don't have a cause or an agenda, so it was safe to throw me out. But I still want people who are curious about where to spend their money to be aware of the bizarre double standard under which this place operates. They'll happily sell shirts championing sexual assault (Donkey Punch) and making light of vulgar Onanism (love is a heart shaped cum stain), but will apparently kick a once-solid customer out of their shop before putting Wu-Tang lyrics on a shirt for a fan about to go to their show. Shameful. read more

Ordered a shirt online the other day. Came by to pick it up o. Christmas Eve. Should've known but didn't realize they closed early. They still let me in to pick up my order let me look around while I waited. On my way out I was called back in and given a knit cap..so generous and thoughtful. I must've looked cold to them....looking forward to going back. Thanks for making my day! read more

I received a shirt, from a friend in Chicago, that Strange Cargo made for Christmas. I was very impressed with the quality. I decided to reach out and have them make a few more shirts for me. What amazing customer service! I was kept in the loop about the entire process and at one point I had sent them a graphic that wasn't as good quality as I thought and they offered to search for it for me. AMAZING JOB to everyone involved! I can't recommend this place enough! If you're in Adersonville you must check them out! read more

I have routinely made custom tees at Strange Cargo for my birthday for years. Today, I visited for the first time in over a year (Thanks, Covid...) to make a friend a bday tee. Jay was incredibly helpful and patient, as I was clearly overwhelmed and excited to be back. However, that excitement clouded my senses and I (like an amateur...) didn't double-check the design form. Subsequently, my order was wrong. Without a second thought, Jay grabbed a new form, rewrote my order and Noelle had the remake done in 10 minutes flat. To say I'm grateful is a profound understatement! I have always had great experiences there, between the quality product and even higher quality staff, but today was stellar. Big shout outs to Jay & Noelle for fixing my bonehead move and making sure this gift was 100%! read more

I can't speak highly enough of Strange Cargo. Yesterday, I found myself wanting a shirt in an hour. Since I drive by the billboard for One Hour Tees all the time, I went online to order a shirt. Then I found out that I couldn't get it in an hour, I couldn't place an order after 4, I couldn't get the shirt color I wanted, I couldn't get the style I wanted (unless I was willing to wait a few days to have it sent from their warehouse), and they couldn't print in the color I wanted. So...I found One Hour Tees to be a misnomer. I went on Yelp to see who else might meet my needs, and came across Strange Cargo. I went after work, shared my vision with them, and the team at SC had me out the door with amazing shirts in 20 minutes. They took my crappy homemade artwork, cleaned it up in Illustrator, and even printed my shirts in glitter. They look amazing. The price was right. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. I felt way better about patronizing a local business. If you need a shirt on the double...or shirts printed in MANY OPTIONS OF GLITTER...go to Strange Cargo! read more

I love this place for any kind of random T-shirt or accessory. My favorite part is that you can get a customized shirt in less than 10 min for a very fair price. Check out the latest Birthday present for Stacy we created (cuz she wanted a new Cubs shirt)!!! Thanks for being u SC! read more

Strange Cargo - We took a regular Chicago Cubs shirt and personalized it for Stacy's bday! - Screen Printing/T-Shirt Printing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've always loved Strange Cargo starting back in their Wrigley days. They may have changed locations, but their quality & customer service remain outstanding. They are the go to place for novelty items (socks, pins, stickers, mugs, etc.) and the obvious choice for custom t's. We brought in some bandanas to have printed for our dog. Nikki and the crew could not have been more friendly, fun and accommodating. Thank you Strange Cargo for being awesome! read more

Strange Cargo is the place to go for all your tshirt needs!! My school used a different company before but switched over to SC after our amazing experience! Now we get all our custom school shirts from strange cargo! They respond quickly, are always friendly, and are beyond flexible with anything we need. Thank you so much to Sami for being so patient and helping us design our graduation shirts and working so hard to get them done in time!! They were amazing! read more

Stopped in with a friend who needed to get his name added to a shirt. This place was full of shirts with crazy sayings, logos, etc. Need something custom made? This is the place to go. In less than an hour he had what he needed and we were able to go about the rest of our day. I suspect they would have been abele to have done it immediately on a not-so-busy day. read more

. Everyone was quite pleasant. It's aggravating, although not their fault. I guess my ideas were not compatible with available technology and copyright. I was able to create a shirt that was okay. Thank you. I won't be satisfied until... If they can put a man on the moon, you know? read more

I had never ventured over to Strange Cargo before, so when I saw their deal on Groupon, I thought now is the time. I paid $8 and received a $16 voucher to spend here. They have a large selection of customized Tees, Chuck Taylors in every color you can imagine, combat boots, vintage hand-bags, funky laces, and socks. I found the longer I browsed around, the more I wanted. Finally, I decided on an orange leather hand bag with teal birds sitting on a green stick. It's roomy and looks awesome with my teal winter coat. I also bought socks because they were fun and you can never have too many pairs. When I made my way to the cash attendent and told him I had a Groupon, he thought that was really cool and honored it without a problem. I will be back here soon. read more

I've been on a sticker rampage as of late (my laptop and notebooks need love too) and thought I'd find some cool ones at Strange Cargo. Came up empty-handed, but did run into a smattering of other fun trinkets. What do we have here? Wigs, toys, Chucks, fun 80s paraphernalia, random junk, new and used apparel and of course their signature draw: made-to-order t-shirts. So if you're looking for that special gimmicky tee for a bachelorette party or a Kitson boutique-inspired shirt (remember the 'Team Aniston' vs 'Team Jolie' tees?), Strange Cargo is the joint. Yes, the trixies and chads congregate here. I was bumped a few times, but hey it's Wrigleyville and when it comes to push and shove, I win! read more

It only loses a star for its immense ability to attract the largest amount of Trixies and Chads I've ever seen in a so-called, "alternative store." Or outside the line at Barleycorn. Seriously, I went the night before one of the last Bears games...looking for a tee shirt to wear. Something semi-vintage looking, cute, not like the stuff you can pick up at Jewel. Something I could wear around the house or out walking the dog, and not look like a super jock. So yeah, I head over here thinking its been a cool spot and I've always had luck in the past with unique finds. It's packed to the damn gills with girls in Ugg boots and guys with popped collars, and I about wanted to barf, seriously. The people that work here were very obviously fed up with the obnoxious number of people...they aren't really known for their freindly nature as it is (part of the charm). The kind of people that talk really loud so everyone can hear, are perma-attached to their blue tooth headsets, shout profanitiy nicknames (Hey beeyotches!) loudly across the store, or just your generic older trixies with huge effing diamonds looking for an XS kids shirt to show off the mounds of silocone. :) So yeah...I guess on a non-busy day or whatever, this place is a good stop for cool trinkets, some funky clothes etc. I've gotten some great deals on clearance stuff and have had some cool t-shirts made for family members and friends out of town that don't have access to cool places like Strange Cargo. I just can't handle rude people (the customers) in large groups. I just can't. And one cash register doesn't help the flow of things either. That's all. It's worth it. Sorry for my rant about rude people. I'm sassy today. read more

Vintage is often another word for expensive. But not here. This place has a special place in my heart since I bought my first pair of Chuck Taylors here. My favorite part of this store is the the prints that they will put on a shirt of your choice. Where else could you get a "The Fonz" t-shirt that looks brand new? This is also a good source of Cubs gear, especially during the season. read more

I went here to meet OUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, QUEEN ANDY for his fitting because as you all know, he's going to be one of the models for the yelp fashion show this Thursday! They have funky shoes, accessories, a little bit of cool used clothing but they REALLY rock the house with walls and walls of cool, funky, funny, and cute designs to choose from for t-shirts and hoodies! You can also have custom shirts made... I think I may get a couple really cheesy ones made for myself but it's just gonna take a while before I actually get get on it since I can't decide which ones to do... - bob barker pick meeee!!! - erik's wife - i designed this. neat hu? - a sucker is someone who takes the time to read long text on t-shirts. - don't you know who i am?! (neither do i...) - "your mom" (written in japanese characters) yeah i know... cheesy =) read more

Ahh yes, Strange cargo. As ( an unpopular) kid growing up on the North Shore I always sought out places in the city where I could acquire goods that made me feel unique and cooler than my other classmates.Every time I'd pop my head into Strange Cargo, I would emerge what was realistically several atoms cooler with new loot. Unsurprisingly, enough I choose to move to Los Angeles where I could truly nurse these wishes along with everyone else in the city. Going back to Chicago, I was initially a little skeptical that Strange Cargo would provide me with the same "wow" factor but contrary to those feelings, I found that Strange Cargo does the trick- and really well. Strange Cargo is a sort of vintage really neato store that sells everything you don't need but you really want. Looking for a Michael Jordan Space Jam mug? you've come to the right place. What about an old E.T. Iron-on? look no further. What about a retro Cubs shirt for a team you only pretend to care about? Gold mine! There's a huge selection of unopened trading cards from the 70's and 80's for only a few bucks apiece, tons of Vans shoes, buttons, hats and a million other disturbingly enticing items that serve no real purpose ( okay, they will make you happy so scratch that). And there's the t-shirts.The real reason to come Strange Cargo is the T-shirts. Strange Cargo houses thousands of old iron-ons from movies, pop culture, music, TV, booze and sports teams. Depending on what garment you decide for your iron-on ( which they will make) you'll be out around thirty bucks and procure a t-shirt that is truly unique. I promise that whatever you choose you will get the attention and adoration from others that you may have missed out on in your chubby middle school years. This is a really great place to go if you need to get someone a gift. The stress that I equate shopping for gifts is about on par with root canals and air travel but when I come here I am.. dare I say, enjoying myself? For what you're going to be getting, the prices are unbelievably good. Many of the items that you find at Strange Cargo, you at double or triple the price at Ebay or any vintage store- so stock up! I've come here dozens and dozens of times over the past decade and I have never once had a negative experience with the employees. Everyone here is WONDERFUL, super helpful and generally fun. I came in looking for some specific items ( hello Space Jam) and although they didn't have exactly what I was looking for, the owner gave me a great deal on another related Space Jam Item As far as getting to Strange Cargo, it's a breeze. The store is about five minutes walking distance from the Addison El stop and if you choose to drive, there's free parking in the back. For the love of trinkets, you must visit Strange Cargo. You will find no store like it. read more

I am giving Strange Cargo 5 stars even though they pulled the heinous trick on me and made me eat gum from 1983. Okay, okay, no one from the store actually force-fed me the stuff, but who in their right mind would be able to resist a square of still-sorta-pinkish gum from the package of Topps Superman II movie cards? I know, right? You totally would've tried it, too. It cracked - more like shattered - in my mouth and when I tried to chew, it turned to powder. The powder would not mix with my saliva and I had to spit out my ancient gum because it tasted a bit too musty attic-y for my Bubblicious palette. But still, I give Strange Cargo 5 stars--because where else will I even find Superman II movie cards? Or Ghostbusters II, for that matter? (Whatever happened to the first movies' cards, I don't know). On top of all that, I can get (and have gotten) cool heat transfer shirts (I have a thing for timeless rockers. My heat transfer shirt collection now consists of Jimi Hendrix and Jem & The Holograms). And I can get wicked cool bags and purses for cheap(ish). And old leather jackets or other vintage stuff. And shoes and wacky tights and a totally awesome skull print pocketbook and weird postcards and hats and scarves... They've got all sorts of fun stuff. The staff is friendly, the heat transfer shirts are made quickly and did I mention they have Superman II cards? read more

They have great T-shirt's and decals. I bring in the T-shirt that fits well and they put the decal on. Great Chicago sports decals.

I love the shoe collection at Strange Cargo. People compliment the shoes I buy here more than any others. They are trendy, but affordable enough that you don't feel bad tossing them after a season... or when your dog decides to eat them for lunch... Also, check out the button collection. They're so fun to make fridge magnets with! read more

This place has been around for years and continues to have a cool selection of both vintage and new hip cloths and shoes. Nice selection of Converese Chuck's and Vans, but inventory changes. Some funky novelty toys, Mr. T dolls, Jesus bandaids, fart cushions..mmm! The jackets, tshirts, shoes keep me coming back and all the other funky stuff like the sunglasses, postcards,. jewelry and bags keep me entertained. You can get great, disgusting fun, weird, retro T-shirts made to order here. Where else could I purchase my very own custom Camel Toe T-shirt ? read more

Maybe 10 years ago it was cool to have a PBR belt buckle, but nowadays all the bric-a-brac in this place is just a bunch of played out junk. If that's what you're after, there's cheaper places with a WAY better selection (Uncle Fun, etc). And if you still think ironic t-shirts are cutting edge and fashionable, then you should probably check out Jive Monkey or T-Shirt Deli. The shirts my friends and myself have had made at Strange Cargo are usually cheap, fall apart, and the iron-ons come off or start to bubble. I never feel like I have gotten my money's worth at Strange Cargo. * It bears mentioning that the owner has had 3 (THREE!) previous reviews of mine removed because they were unflattering. It's nothing personal, but this place has gone downhill and I was simply leaving feedback. A little disturbing that Yelp would remove bad reviews upon their request. Also a little "strange" that the owner feels the need to intimidate me via message because I didn't give his store a good review. Lame. Either way, you should pass on Strange Cargo. There's better, cheaper options only a block or two away. (I hope that meets Yelp's review criteria, sheesh.) read more