I frequented this store often in my teen years but I never really took full advantage of their custom made t-shirts until today. I had seen a shirt online that I absolutely loved but it was pretty expensive and it was going to take three weeks to get here. Patience is a virtue as some people say and I usually have it but not when it's something I really really really want! And so I went in search of my perfect Bulls t-shirt in Wrigleyville. I went to two stores across the street from Wrigley but my shirt was not there. I wanted more than just a shirt with the team name on it. I was told to check out Strange Cargo because they have more non-licensed team shirts and can even custom make one while you wait.... And went I did... I was greeted right away by a young employee, I forgot his name. Sweet kid, curly hair, skinny, with a hat. Super friendly and very patient with me while I asked 100 questions and changed my order five times. He searched online to find the kind of shirt I was looking for and gave me the option to custom make one which was the best thing I could have done. We picked out the shirt style, color, images, letter font, and wording. The whole process took about 20 minutes and my shirt was done in 15! Incredibly fast! The guy was as excited as I was about the shirt and kept saying it was going to come out awesome... and it did! I got my custom Derrick Rose shirt with Chicago skyline, ready to wear for game time tomorrow! Couldn't ask for better service, thanks guys! read more

As a perfectionist by trade, I'm pretty hard to please, but I am more than impressed with my experience today. I had the pleasure of working with Seth who helped me customize the back of 6 work shirts with my company logo. He truly is the best I have worked with and knows his stuff. Such an easy experience from start to finish, only 2 hours later! Highly recommended. read more

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

First time to this location since moving from Wrigleyville. Same attentiveness to printing and mostly the same. I will say certain things but not all a noticeable price increase, maybe due to COVID, unsure. I remember the old location had a lot more pre-made shirts than I noticed today, but selection of options for printing still great. Owner (I think) was super nice and lovely to talk to about accommodating options. I appreciate someone who is upfront when they can't accomplish what you're looking for rather than let you order and be disappointed later. read more

I go in this place everytime I pass it. Usually I have no issues here. T-SHIRTS I have gotten t-shirts here before. Once I got a calen carr themed tshirt I designed, no issues! Also I got a city of chicago seal on a red tshirt there, and it looks amazing. They charge by the letter, so it can get pricey, but the seal of chicago shirt was relatively inexpensive. Also, they have plenty of fat guy sizes. I'd recommend going here for tshirts. CHICAGO FLAG MERCH This place has a gang of chicago flag merch! They have wallets, stickers, mini buttons, belt buckles, magnets, patches, and an array of designs for shirts and hats that you can have made. Top notch! HOW THEY MADE ME ANGRY This is a one-of-a-kind place that can get by on the strength of what they offer. It'd be nice if they had better service, though. They have a sign on the door that says "No Cell Phones" and a sign at the register that says you should finish what you're doing on your mobile phone--even texting!--before you pay because it's a common courtesy. I think it's a great sign as no one should be treated like a second class citizen just because they are waiting on you. Anywho, I am the only person in the store on a Wednesday afternoon. I take my purchase to the register, she tells me how much it costs, I get out my credit card and--AND THEN--someone yells to her from the back that she has a phone call. What does she do? She stops waiting on me, and takes the call. I hate to assume, but it sure didn't sound important from her end. Respect is a two way street. I know this is a hipster type place, but she could have at least treated me kindly IRONICALLY, you know? Oh well, I'll probably still go back and buy Chicago Flag merch. Besides, next week that girl will probably be backpacking through Europe or on tour with her band or living in Portland, so I really shouldn't hold it against the place. read more

Okay, I love this place. It would totally be 5 stars except that this place is damned expensive. But, if you are having the urge to splurge, then go have a ball. They have fantastic t-shirts. Great vintage style t-shirt for all of Chicago's sports teams. My most flattering Cubs shirts all came from here and I don't regret the cost, not one little bit. After all, t-shirts are usually cut for men and fail to capture the essence of a woman. But here they have great shirts, that skim your shape and are butter-soft. What more can a girl want? read more

Strange Cargo is always good for a laugh if nothing else. My friends and I have been known to put certain inside jokes on tee shirts, and when I discovered that they would print any design on a shirt for $19 (including the shirt!) I was in heaven! I've put in orders as small as 1 shirt and as large as 18 and every one has been perfect. One thing that does bug me a bit is the ordering process. You have to email the design, and they will not begin working on the shirt until your order is paid in full. I understand that they do this in order to not get stiffed with a pile of shirts with my buddy's face on them, but I don't understand why they don't allow you to place credit card orders over the phone to avoid making two trips. It wouldn't be as bad if the store didn't close at 6:30 sharp making it hard to get there during the week you work a 9-6. If you've never been to Strange Cargo, your first visit will likely be best if you like vile humorous shirts. Within a few visits, you'll probably have memorized most of the stock. They do add a few shirts to their collection every month and the new additions are always placed in the window. I walk by on occasion to check them out, and usually only go in if a new design tickles my fancy. One Saturday while hob nobbing around the town I tried to shock a guy I was dating with the shirts, and I discovered a hidden jewel. The hat bin! I've picked up a shocking shirt or two from there, but I'd really like to shake the hand of the person that has the stones to wear any one of those hats in public! WOW! read more

I saw Reid kissing Santa Claus Nevermind that I don't know Reid and wouldn't know what he looked like if he fell in front of me from outer space (though that would be a bit strange...) - this is what I needed my tshirt to say. A large group of people from across the country were ordering tshirts making fun of this Reid dude (who I still don't know) and the organizer, a guy from Boston, directed us to Strange Cargo's website. I had some issues with the website and then realized that since they were a local company, I could just go in and save myself the added shipping cost. The people in the store could not have been nicer (or more excited to actually meet one of these "Reid people). They offered to make my shirts while I waited (also ordered one for a friend) but I preferred to pick them up again the next day. The final product was perfect - exactly what we wanted. Picking them up was super easy. And I know that everyone who did order them online was very impressed by the ease of the process and the speed of shipping. A tip: if you're having trouble on the website - order over the phone or call them! They can often fit more letters per line than the website will let you do, so call call call! Or, if you're local - visit! The store is super fun. And I certainly know where I'm heading next time I need a fun tshirt or a white elephant gift... read more

They have everything you can think of here! I have gotten a few shirts, magnets, etc... They even have Michael Jordan valentine's cards! How cool is that! They have a little retro section with toys and stuff too. They have tons of shirt designs and can do custom ones too. They are quick and friendly. The only gripe I have is their weird hours. read more

Strange Cargo - an eclectic store of odds, ends, and all in-betweens. They carry vintage kitsch, toys, stickers, 1980s swag, 1970s geegaws, obscure jokes, pickles, military bags, and retro clothes both new and used. The stock rotates, titillates and occasionally, aggregates. The best part about this place is the custom shirt potential. You can get lettering, a large variety of retro logos, pictures, celebrity montages or even really nifty local art on a shirt of your choosing. You too can Like Big Butts or pay homage to Alf or sport Megatron line-art with a tremendously phallic "trigger". Word to the wise - stay out of this place if you're mad as hell about something. That sarcastic / snarky / ironic t-shirt will seem 900% less poignant and cool after you calm down. But hey, it's probably on a nice American Apparel blank so it's softer than wearing a baby llama. Then again, being on Clark near Addison, drunken custom shirt rabbling probably makes up fully half of their business. read more

I wanted to get t-shirts made for an upcoming reunion with my friends. We found a design online that we liked and was about to order them when I remembered that there are a bunch of custom t-shirt shops around the city. I asked a friend who always gets shirts made - team jerseys, random tees, etc. and he recommended Strange Cargo. I was super simple. I sent an email with a picture of the design I wanted and called a few minutes later to follow up. I spoke with Grace and she explained the ordering process. I didn't have time to make that trek to Wrigleyville to look at the sample shirts for quality and sizes so I went with the basic (i.e. least expensive) Gildan unisex tee. I figured it would look and feel like any of those t-shirts you get at volunteer days and the like. Anyway, once I was ready I called back the next day and got Karen to get the invoice started. $17 + tax for each shirt, no shipping because I was going to pick it up and it was going to be ready in just a few days. Perfect. Process: You get an email to confirm/approve the design, # of shirts, sizes, etc. Then another email to submit payment for the full order before production begins. Lastly you'll get a call from the store as soon as the shirts were ready for pick up. Simple. Fast. Nice product. I would definitely use them again. read more

Not worth explaining, just save your money and go elsewhere. Look at all the responses of the owner, Jay, to anyone with any sort of issue. It'll never be his fault. That should tell you all you need to know. Peace! read more

I confess, it's been a while since I visited (I moved out of Lakeview), but this has always been one of my favorite shops in Chicago. I'm kind of surprised to hear the Trixies and Chads are taking over. I can't imagine they'd have anything here that would interest them. Maybe they're having frat/sorority t-shirts made or something. Anyway, this is a fun shop and a great place to take out of town visitors. Lots of geeky novelty items, some cute vintage clothes and new clothes and a suprisingly large selection of cheap but cool-looking shoes. I once got an awesome pair of rollerskates here. And of course there's the whole make your own t-shirt thing. I've always found the people who work here to be really nice, especially the manager/owner. He helped me find a leather jacket for my boyfriend once. read more

I love Strange Cargo... The name does not lie, you're going to find a whole buncha strange cargo (and more) here. They've saved me when I need a last minute custom shirt for a couple of things (St. Patty's Day, running races, etc). I LOVE weird...they sure are weird here. read more

Great customer service! I was in to buy a t-shirt for my up and coming fave holiday-St. Patty's-and had my eye on a particularly fitting tee (I'm Getting Drunk B****). I'd never been in the store before but was presently surprised but the array of trendy/cute/fun attire and accessories. After tracking down my planned purchase in the conveniently organized racks of shirts, I proceeded to the check out. Unfortunately, the credit card machine was giving out an error message every time they ran my card and I didn't have cash! The associate grabbed her manager just to make sure she wasn't doing anything incorrectly and after testing the machine he confirmed that there must be something wrong with it. He apologized for the inconvenience, bagged up the shirt and gave it to me anyway! It was so nice of him to take care of his customer that way and I plan to go back soon! read more

How much do I love thisplace? I actually went there last night right after the Cubs game let out! Strange Cargo has never let me down. They always have a great selection of tees, shoes, and bags. I've been needing a new tote bag, and I've been having trouble finding one that fit my style and wouldn't fall apart. I really didn't want to come down here while the Cubs are at home, but I knew I'd find what I was looking for, and I did. Unfortunately, my ears practically start bleeding from the moment I walk through the door. I wish they allowed booze in the store, because keeping track of the number of "bro"'s and "kyote"'s (the word is pronounced CUTE not KYOTE!) would make for a fun drinking game. And the orange raspy-voiced "kyote" trixies have a habit of hogging up the mirror, even if you were already using it. That said, this is far from the store's fault, and I'm glad that they do so much business. I think this will have to become my new Great America - I'll have to take a day off just to go down there. read more

I was not that impressed with this place, the store was really small and had little to offer. What was there was overpriced. Though they did have some nice Puma's for 20 dollars! read more

Standing in front of their vintage candy selection I am instantly transported back to 1986. They have all kinds of new and vintage t-shirts, band t's, bowling shirts and crazy old jackets. If you're very tall or large you may not find sizes that fit. Mainly because an "extra large" back then is a medium now. I'm talking dudes here, I can't vouch for the ladies. But it's a fun store to poke around in and instantly dispels the drunken jock vibe of the rest of the neighborhood. Weird jewelery and accessories. Nothing is overpriced. read more

T-shirts galore. Strange Cargo is my go to place for making my own t-shirts. Whether I want something quirky and fun, stupid and perverted, sports related, or vintage, they have it all. Over the years I've gone to strange cargo for bachelor party gifts, birthday gifts, and for myself. After all, I'm a sucker for their women's vintage tees. Along with a plethora of t-shirt designs, they have random, fun 80's doodads, new and used clothes, hats, bags, shoes, killer belt buckles. Anything that has a hint of gimmick to it, they have it. The service is fast and the people who work there are ridiculously friendly. Especially the owner. Customer service is exceptional. I've even received a free shirt when they screwed up the one I had ordered and it happened to be the last silk screen. When the new shipment came in, they remade it and sent it to my house. That's what I call great customer service. The shirts can get kinda pricey, but you won't be disappointed. Every type of plain t-shirt is available. Men's, women's, vintage style, baseball style, and they come in every color of the rainbow. And the majority of them are American Apparel - even better. As for the prints and designs - you name it, they have it. The options are endless. A couple downsides: - Parking is a mo'fo. There's a tiny lot but it's often full. - Don't go during or around a Cubs game. It gets packed. - Actually, it gets packed fairly regularly, so expect a wait. Don't worry - it will be worth it. - You end up spending way more than you anticipated - there's just way too much cool shiz up in there. Strange Cargo is where it's at for tee. I always leave with an empty wallet, stellar goods, and a smile on my face. read more

I've had a few t-shirts printed here over the years. This is the kind of place I'm fortunate not to have found in high school when I was really into buying t-shirts with stupid crap (if anyone needs a "Your College Sucks" t-shirt in nearly perfect condition, PM me). There are more than enough decals on hand, though, to please the infinitely more discerning 20s and 30s age decal t-shirt crowds. If you take a look at the website or call beforehand to find out what you want, you can walk in and out with a brand new custom tee in ten minutes. Changing rooms are there if you need to try on the sample shirts. Then, one of the friendly attendants will take your t-shirt color/style, size, and decal choice, and before long you've got an image of Ditka in papal garb. Your custom tee's cost might run a bit high--mine was about $25--but remember, you have control over everything: size, color, cut, and most importantly, the ridiculous decal you choose to have printed upon it. And you're getting it made right away, although you might have to wait five or ten minutes if you're there a few days before Halloween. read more

A haven for kitsch lovers! Strange Cargo carries everything you don't need (but inexplicably want), from the ever-stylish fake mustache (please see my 'Hollywood Mirror' review for an homage to upper-lip fuzz) to mint-condition (still in the box!) NKOTB dolls. I seriously considered purchasing a Jordan Knight doll to replace the one that got lost in the shuffle of me growing up. Amidst the kitsch, you will also find a decent (albeit slightly pricey) collection of Chuck Taylors and a section devoted to custom-print tees. I'm not gonna lie, I am kinda wishing I sprung for the "Mustache Rides" shirt. Though I'm not entirely sure what a 'mustache ride' is...and I'm a little bit afraid that it might be something that I don't exactly want to advertise on my person. Strange Cargo even boasts a modest selection of tanks and dresses - some reasonably priced, but others not so much. I did find a plum-colored, breezy linen tank at a happy twelve bucks which I promptly changed into, as this recent heat wave has been compelling me to (1) Sport multiple 'fresh' outfits in a day; and (2) Shower almost immediately after coming in from outside. Bottom Line: Go for the kitsch alone - prices are relatively cheap when compared to those REFLECTed (ahem, hint hint) in some other popular spots. read more

anytime you can walk into a place and feel the history, feel the fun, feel the same energy you first felt back in highschool and were looking for something to help express your identity to the world...its a magical place. Full of recycled and remixed odds and ends, shoes, clothing, wigs and trinkets, Strange Cargo is the place Molly Ringwald's characters would be seen shopping. In the corner you would notice "ducky" from the movie 16 candles just dancing away to his own beat and that really hot weird chick you noticed last weekend at neo's restocking some shelves. Custom shirts can help bring back a taste of yesterday here and for some reason everytime I exit the place back into the sunlight, the first few lines of SE Hinton's "the Outsiders" always echos in my mind. read more

I bought two pairs of tiger running shoes here and I love them! I bought them for a sweet price too. I've shopped here for many years. Once I bought a Michael Jackson wallet that I used until you could no longer see his face and it started falling apart. I think it was only five bucks. Every now and then I find a cool bag here or a postcard I need. I always want to try on the wigs but I've never been sure about proper wig trying on etiquette. They can put almost anything on a shirt for you and have tons of Iron on's to pick from. I never seem to have much luck finding something I would wear here but it's really all about the shoes for me when I go. If anyone who works there reads this please stock more green shoes!! I will love you forever. And if Alf trading cards are your thing (they aren't mine) you will find them here. Tons of 80's trading cards. read more

The staff members who help with the custom t-shirt service are so helpful and friendly! They will help with any questions you have and recommend the best route for your design as well as the most cost efficient options. This is also a very convenient place to find random and unique gifts for people, or yourself! read more

Nice little hidden on the Northside. Went in here looking for a St. Patty's day shirt last minute and they had over 20-25 shirts to select from. Whats even better is if the shirt isn't on the rack, they'll make it for you right there (or you can check out their website and order ahead of time). In addition to St. Patrick's Day tees, they have over 100 other designs that all can be printed while you wait. And if you are like me and appreciate a funny, raunchy and sometimes inappropriate t-shirt, this is the place for you. Place is small and maybe due to the last minute rush to get a shirt, it was crowded. So there was a little bit of a wait and cluster. But overall its one of the better local thrift shops I've seen in Chicago. Staff was real friendly and the prices were very reasonable. Most definitely coming again. Check out their website for all the designs they have to offer. read more

Having changed my Halloween idea to the last minute, I give: 1 "strange" star for giving me t-shirt options in different colors and sizes. I had a color in mind, but the more I dug through the racks, the more I trouble I had deciding which one to pick. 50 cents per regular size letters and $2 for numbers. Not bad, not bad... 1 "strange" star for helpful staff. I was greeted by employees when I came in. After picking out a shirt, a guy saw me wandering among the crowd trying to figure out if there was a line or not. I heard, "YOU miss, what can we do for ya?" Sweet. Here's what I want my shirt to say, can you do it? Yes. Whatever I wanted it to say, they did it. I picked a font (look up at the shirt with the sample fonts) and color of the lettering. 1 "strange" star for quick service. I double-checked what the guy wrote down. He gave me my pick-up receipt. I paid at the register by the entrance. The guy helping me said they were a little backed up and gave an approx. 30-45 minutes time frame to pick up my shirt. Due to it being a Saturday afternoon, I went in expecting a longer wait time. I was relieved that's all it took and not an entire day. 1 "strange" star for being so close to restaurants and bars to go to while waiting for your finished product. It's also right off the oh-so-fun 22 Clark bus and near the red line. Wahoo! It's a fun store to check out for custom made shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, pants, etc. and other stuff they offer. By the way: They use mostly American Apparel brand t-shirts, which, if you've never worn one before, can run a little small. It's best to go up a size or two (and there's nothing wrong with that!). read more

Um I'd be grumpy too if I had to work in Wrigleyville. I have always had a great experience with the staff. They are all very nice and helpful. I go here if I need a great t-shirt that nobody else has. They have tons of iron-on decals. Everything from Iron Maiden to Andre the Giant. They have thrift items and cool shoes plus accessories. There is also a section of funny toys and movie memorabilia. What else could you ask for? Oh yeah, I love that you are not allowed to have your phone on in this store. DIG IT! read more

I would go back to Chicago, soley to eat at the Chicago Diner and to shop at this store! My boyfriend and I unfortunatley stumbled upon it late at night, in route to Chicago Diner and didn't have enough time (more than a half hour) to thoroughly go through everything in this store. This is the type of store that you need to plan on being at for HOURS -- there is so much to see and try on and awe over that anything else is completely inadequate. We crumbled under the pressure of our hunger and left before we could try on any of the clothing we loved. I did however buy a pair of gloves and some knick knacks for people back home. That's the other thing about this place -- any sort of store like this in our area would price things at LEAST three times as high as Strange Cargo. Amazing, affordable, and not to be missed! read more

I'm just on the heels of a fantastic Saturday afternoon impulse buy here. Wandering here on a whim following a great brunch at Pick Me Up, I perused the vintage leather jackets in search of a bargain and found one in particular that fit perfectly and seemed in good shape -- minus the inner lining. The owner came up to me, noticing my close examination of the jacket, and asked if I had any questions on it. When I pointed out the torn lining, he instantly offered it to me at half-price. The sexy jacket was mine. And it was good. Very friendly customer service, good deals, and a large array of all sorts of goods ensure that I will be back for return visits. read more

One of my favorite stores in the city. I have had so many t-shirts made here it's ridiculous. I actually don't like the fit of the blank shirts they sell, so I usually hit up Unique Thrift Store for my own, then bring it in ($5 off!). Besides the t-shirts, there's loads of other great stuff in here: the kind of junk you'll find at Uncle Fun but less of it. Sticker packages from the 80s (Dukes of Hazzard and ALF stickers? Really?!), great postcards, very funny fridge magnets and related humorous/hipsterized gear essential for strategic placement in the modern apartment. I just bought myself a wee bank with "I'm saving up for some good weed!" emblazoned on the side next to a picture of a 50s little boy grinning like a Cold War junior zealot! I splurged, what can I say... No matter how many times I go in the store, there's something else that always makes me laugh--the signs on the wigs (on a shelf at the back of the store) warning people not to touch them. Each wig has its own sign, not-so-subtley informing the public NOT to touch the wigs. Really, really funny and to my knowledge I have never seen anyone so much as breathe too closely on any of them. Some other great stuff I've picked up at Strange Cargo: a mousepad with an image of Jesus carrying a boombox on his shoulder; a rubber ice tray that produces ice shaped like marijuana leaves; a child's accordion; one of those 'metallic shavings' toys where you make hair or a moustache on a person... except this one was more adult in nature of the hair placement; tiny little ninja figurines; Rocky Horror patches and stickers; Dia de los Muertos figures. The store can get pretty busy, but they're always prompt with the shirts. I have personally never had a problem with the staff, they've always seemed fine to me. Hell, mostly they seem like people I wish I were meeting for a beer after they got off work. Mabye the people who did have "problems" just wandered down from Wrigley and weren't expecting to see counter people who looked like they couldn't give a shit who won the game. read more

This place is a little too retro for me to buy any of their vintage clothing, although I will admit it's fun to poke around. This is a great place to go for custom-made shirts. The shirt selection can sometimes be lacking, but I love the variety of screens they have available. Last summer I made up a few tees for friends visiting from Europe - with a screen print of the 'Chicago' band logo. I usually wear one myself to Cubs games to stand out from the usual Cub-logo-laden crowd. read more

Make my own t-shirt? Of course I can make a better t-shirt than any company out there! Duh! A few years ago now I went to this store and had two shirts screen printed. I got to choose my t-shirt fabric/color that I wanted and the designs. I opted for a yellow shirt with I heart Chicago and the skyline on it and a grey Bear's shirt with the bear face on the front and some cutesy cartoon that was ironic on the back. I some how lost my Bear's t-shirt over the years and it's absolutely devastating because they no longer have the print I had on the back at the store. So sad. However, when I was there recently I did manage a great find on the sale rack. There was a shirt with a large hole on the seam, which I didn't mind since I was planning on cutting the t-shirt up anyways. The shirt was white with neon pink and orange and it was two pigs going at it...and underneath it reads "makin' bacon" hahahahahahaha! Adorable, or vulgar. Whichever you prefer. I had to have it. If you know me at all, you know I love bacon and super bright colors. This was a total win at $5 due to the hole in the shirt. Besides awesome screen prints, they also sell shoes. There were some awesome plum colored converse on sale for $30. Plus they have tons of little pins and magnets and other little fun things in the front of the store. They have a magnet of a t-rex with a mustache. This is the perfect BFF image for me and my BFF since I love dinosaurs (typically t-rex since my nickname is Rexy) and she loves mustaches. I wish it was a keychain instead of a magnet. I don't even know what I would do with a magnet other than stick it on my fridge? Not super exciting. You should go here and have a fun, unique t-shirt made. For sure. read more

This is a fun place to stop by in for novelty items and custom T-Shirts. I haven't gotten any custom work done here for jackets or tshirts but I've seen a huge variety. They have novelty toys, patches, collectors items and shoes. I love their shoes! It's not so much about the brand names, but just unique shoes in general. It's mostly casual flats, canvas sneakers and basics. The prices are about what you expect for custom work, but certain items are fairly inexpensive. The customer service is about average compared to the typical urban "we're unique!" stores. It's not super, but not bad. it's fun to visit for sure. read more

Great place to stop for gifts! Great selection of vintage, screen t-shirts. Everyone can find something here. Store is fully stocked and is tight to walk through, especially when before/after Cubs game. read more

We visited this store to have some t-shirts made for a contest and boy were we pleased! They have a wide selection of images to put on your t-shirts but also allow you to use your own picture or do custom lettering. They use American Apparel t-shirts which is an added plus. The sales people were very nice and helpful and we were able to pick up our t-shirts within 20 minutes of placing our order. Their prices were fair for a custom t-shirt. I highly recommend for custom t-shirts. read more

This place has really cool T-shirt designs. I definitely suggest coming here. You can even design your own T-shirt.

I'm a wannabe-Chicagoan and this place is my numero uno Chi-town visit destination ALWAYS. (Okay, maybe right after Chicago Diner...) I know I will find the most bitchin' stuff ever at Strange Cargo, but it's also my punk rock fashion graceland. As in, I bought my first Chucks at this place. The kind that were made in the USA. I bought the "shirt that I own that is everyone else's favorite" there. I loved it so much my sister got it for me in a second color. My ex bought me my guy-magnet "Ditka" shirt there. I bought a different boy a Cubs shirt. Shit, I got a free "George Bush is a punk ass chump" shirt there and it's still fashionable! So hurry up and go. You have a lot of punk rock fashion memories to catch up on. read more

One of my favorite places in Chicago, period. The eclectic and unique merchandise speaks for itself, and the staff is extremely helpful and courteous. Had a slight issue with a jersey customization order recently, and Sheldon refused to let me go home without being 100% satisfied. He ordered new jerseys from the manufacturer, redid the customization, and didn't charge me. The guy knows how to treat his customers. Already can't wait to go back! read more

Such an awesome place. They were able to turn around a large tank top order for my company very quickly and just in time for Pride. Thank you so much, everyone loves their tanks! read more

It's because of this store that I go to the nearby mall for a Christmas/birthday/any other holiday gift only as a last resort. Strange Cargo has a bunch of things to offer, ranging from a huge collection of shoes, vintage clothing, t-shirts galore (you can get them customized also), jewelry, posters, toys, and other random things like patches, posters, trading cards from your favorite TV shows and movies (Star Wars, In Living Color, M*A*S*H, etc) and wigs. Make sure you turn off your cell phone also. And don't you dare try on that wig and have someone take your picture. There are posters up in the store that remind you to do so. The staff will not hesitate to kick you out. They close early (around 6:45), so make sure you get there on time. I definitely recommend this place. You're guaranteed to find something you'll really like. read more

Very cool place. While I was having a t-shirt made (Cubs, whaaat?), I found a hot pair of red pumps and some naked women postcards that I needed to buy as well ;) And all of it was only $38! The staff was super friendly though there were a ton of people in there; my t-shirt only took about 20 minutes and looked great - I will def be back. read more