Had an amazing time in this great gem of a shop browsing the many art pieces and trinkets that the owner picked! Greatly appreciated the help she provided me and super happy with my purchases! Will definitely go again! read more

A beautifully curated gem of a store. It's a great boutique that adds to the essence of Bucktown.

my go-to gift store! the only problem, i usually end up as the recipient of my purchases. oops. note to self - buy gifts for FRIENDS! get on the email list - julie, the owner, does a fantastic job of sending out email that isn't junk; rather the emails feel personal and always have great ideas and specials in them. everything in the store is super high quality, locally made, &/or in some way, feels just super special. even the bags are cute! this is a great spot for greeting cards that are something different than run-of-the-mill. also great for candles! next time you've finished your breakfast at toast two, don't hesitate to pop in here. it's quite the gem. read more

Such a cute boutique with fabulous jewelry, gift items and cards. The owner really has great taste and is very friendly and helpful. I was looking for an unique, cool necklace and found it there! I like how she buys original pieces, too. For the jewelry pieces that I liked, she told us that she tries to buy unique pieces and will only carry one of a certain style. So most likely I won't be seeing too many people wearing the same necklace as me! Virtu also carries a lot of Snow and Graham cards, which are one of my favorites. If you ever need to find a classy, original gift, I would highly recommend paying Virtu a visit. read more

Wonderful little gift boutique with a beautiful selection of candles, jewelry and glass and porcelain home goods. The last day I was there was a day when part of the proceeds went to a women's charity. Really cool couple that owns the place and I will definitely be back. read more

A gorgeous collection of vintage jewelry and assorted gifts. I highly recommend going in. The owner and her husband were quite lovely even though my 5 yr old was getting into mischief. I walked away with a stunning rose gold and garnet ring at a crazy good price! read more

Virtu. I love you. The reviews on Yelp perfectly describe this fantastic shop. Why oh why have I never been in this special place before (few blocks from my house)? Sigh, better late than never. Let's see.... Unique gifts. You know, those special people in your life who you rack your brain to find something just right. And still don't. No worries, just go to Virtu and it'll be there. Check. Beautiful wrappings for your newly discovered perfect gift at Virtu. Check. Amazing customer service (THANKS JULIE). Check. Prices. Don't make you flinch. Check. Buying local and from local artistis. Check. What's there not to love. See you soon. read more

This is a great place to shop for gifts because they carry wonderful, unique items and wrap them beautifully. I have to say, I'm always pleased when I get something in a pretty Virtu box! read more

This is my go-to shop for gifts - housewarming, shower, out-of-town visitor, you name it. I love everything here and always find something unique and special. The owner is really helpful and alway points me in the right direction. I was there just before closing today and she stayed open while my husband and I debated about a gift - it's always a plus when people aren't rushing you out the door. We will definitely be back! read more

Adorable. Stop in here every time I am walking along Damen and it is still open. If you want to find a unique gift for someone, or great stationary or cards, this is the place in the neighborhood. The owner is so nice and welcoming. I would want pretty much anything in the store! Great place to also bring out of towners if you are walking around town too! read more

Great gifts for friends. Candles, scarves, boutique cards galore. Complimentary gift wrapping is a nice touch. Helpful sales associates. Parking available on side streets. read more

Virtu rocks. The owners are artists themselves. They carry a variety of fine crafts - not junk you could have bought from a run of the mill "gift" boutique. I collect fine craft jewelry. They have some of the best living artists' work in their store. Really, Virtu is the ultimate "buy local" boutique. Go there. You will not be dissappointed. read more

Really, really nice owner. And very cool stuff! I want the honey bear resin...

Walked into this place with a friend about a year ago while browsing Damen and now I come back every time I need a card! Love them! Most stuff there is a bit overpriced, but you can sometimes find a small gift for a reasonable price. Super cute and very nice staff. read more

Adorable little shop in the Wicker Park area between a homely gallery and other boutique shops. Virtu has a cutesy artsy style and lots of trendy and cool gift items. I was in love with some great scarves and funky purses. They also have great stationary items some of which I brought home. They also have one of a kind jewelry and home and office items. Great place to find that unique gift. read more

Nice selection of cards and candles. I love Binth and Lotta Jansdotter candles and they have a lot of them here. Cute jewelry and friendly service. Good place to find Snow and Graham cards for the holidays. read more

I have a candle addiction. Virtue is has a sinful collection of the most sensational soy candles. I can't help it. I have to make it my goal to own one or 2, 3, 4, or 10 of every scent. Seriously, these candles last for months if burned and trimmed correctly. Julie, the owner, is so nice and sweet. Never pressuring the consumer but wisely informing of the quality products. CAVE I give in every time. I love the candles. Get one! Get TWO! The selection of merchandise will sure to please any receiver of a gift. Virtue is a one stop boutique shop for any man, woman, teenager, self, boss, colleague, family member, or a special candle for any room of the house. read more

I'm about a year late writing this review, but better late than never I guess! My now-fiancé and I went to Virtu last summer to look at engagement rings--we were looking for rings by a particular designer, and they were one of only a handful of stores in Chicago that carried her work. Even though Virtu's selection of engagement rings is small, it is thoughtfully and beautifully curated. I was blown away by the selection! Julie, the owner, clearly has a relationship with the designers whose work she carries, because she was able to tell us about customization options and other styles that we may have also liked. Speaking of Julie, her service was impeccable. She listened attentively when I described the styles I liked, let me pick out the rings I wanted to try on, and also selected others based on what I told her. Thank goodness she did, because I ended up picking a ring that she initially selected! While I traipsed around the store trying the ring on (I didn't want to take it off, lol), she and my fiancé talked logistics and payment options. I didn't learn this until after we got engaged (the timing of everything was a surprise to me), but Julie was especially helpful as the proposal date approached. The jewelry designer was experiencing some delays resizing my ring due to the holidays, which threw my fiancé for a loop. Julie kept him abreast of any information she had and was able to overnight my ring to my fiancé just in time for him to propose while we were visiting my family out of town. I can't recommend Virtu and Julie enough! read more

Virtu is a lovely boutique, with a wide range of gift items and price points you are sure to find something for even the most hard to shop for individual. It's a true original standout in a sea of sameness. We found it, by chance, from an ad in Chicago Brides Magazine, which indicated it carried an independent jewelry designer, whom I adored immediately. And sure enough, Julie Horowitz, the owner, carries a very broad selection of Anne Sportun rings. Later we were invited to an Anne Sportun trunk show at the store, and I picked out the next six or seven pieces I need to have. (But that's a completely different review) However, that was JUST the beginning of our relationship with Julie. She held our hand through the entire process of buying our wedding rings. She was very honest, informative and so incredibly supportive that I could never imagine receiving the same service at any store on Wabash, or even a big name jeweler. (Not that mass-marketed Tiffany rings are our style anyway.) If you want different, unique, handmade from an independent designer, run, don't walk....to Virtue. Julie measured, re-measured and gave such great advice - that I knew we had made a great decision. Once ordered, she sent me weekly emails, letting me know the status of the rings, options for engraving or just updates on delivery. The rings arrived on time, and simply beautiful. They were, however, a bit too big (every bride/groom looses weight for their big day, right?) and made sure both rings were re-sized after the ceremony so that they wouldn't fly off our hands. She never blinked an eye when it came to sending them back for additional work. Trust Julie. She will not steer you wrong. She is very knowledgeable and insightful about ALL her products, and I am sure you all understand how refreshing it is to talk to someone who is really passionate about retail. She cares where, how and under what circumstances her merchandise is manufactured. In these socially ambiguous times, she puts a stake in the ground and stands by her principles. I refer everyone in need of a house gift, a birthday present, a special piece of jewelry, to Virtu. Perhaps selfishly, I want Julie and her shop to be around for a very long time. read more

A beautiful, unique collection of gifts, jewelry, paper products, etc. The owner is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet and I feel good about giving her my business. read more

Julie was the best when helping pick out a gift for my girlfriend. As a guy who doesn't know anything about jewelry, she asked all the right questions and picked something my girlfriend absolutely loved! Now my girlfriend can't wait to shop there for herself. What a great local shop! read more

Just bought a Margaret Solow Zen Gems necklace over the web from Julie at Virtu. Felt as though I was doing business with her in person. She's totally into customer service. I was so impressed by the experience that I plan to drive to her shop (325 miles from my town) as soon as I get the chance. I highly recommend this shop and website! read more

I would definitely give Virtu more stars if I could! Hands down one of the best stores in Chicago with its eclectic mix of cards, vases, candles, purses (including Orla Kiely) , scarves, jewelry, etc. It's the perfect place to shop for gifts - men you can't go wrong here shopping for your loved ones. Most of all, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their jewelry. They carry unique lines that I rarely see elsewhere. Julie (the owner) loves what she does and it shows in the warmth of her greeting and the attention and care she devotes to finding just the right item for the store. She's more than happy to assist and also maintains a wish list - for me that would be the entire store ;). In addition, she is socially conscious and strives to find like minded designers who contribute back to their communities like she does. If you need help with gift ideas or want to treat yourself - go to Virtu! read more

MOST AMAZING LITTLE BOUTIQUE I HAVE EVER BEEN INTO!!!! Seriously, I am not a yelper, I have only written one review besides this one so this means a lot. The store and its owner are both so lovely and unique. This boutique should be everyone's first stop when looking for amazing gifts for any occasion, as well as amazing little knickknacks for the home, office, garden etc. I AM IN LOVE! read more

Beautiful gift shop! I was able to find a wonderful gift for my mother in law for the holidays and she is the hardest person on my list. I think that i will go back for other gifts for this year as well as for years to come. Staff was delightful and helpful. Thanks for the great ideas! read more

This place is great--non-cheesy cards and unique little gifts! The owner is seriously helpful and, as an added perk, hilarious!

The owners never fail for my odd and last minute requests She has fabulous taste. The boutique is flawless and product is NOT cluttered. I enjoy them in my neighborhood the passion is there! read more

Great store for house wares - vases and coasters and bowls. This is a store of unique accent pieces with a friendly owner who is always hosting events for the community. She is helpful and will take time to order things for you - even wedding favors! read more

i love this cute, quaint store in bucktown. im a sucker for cool greeting cards, one-of-a-kind items within every price range. there's always that cool bowl of random (but AWESOME) things at the register, and you want to buy one for each of your friends. the owner is really cool. you can find anything from unique pieces of jewelry (prep to spend $30-$200 for a nice piece), good housewarming gifts, cool cards, and maybe a lil' sumthin' for yourself. read more

As usual I'm shopping last minute for birthday and just because gifts! Julie was quick to help! I had a great candle and card chosen for me and wrapped up so beautifully. Customer service spot on. The new location (across the street from the old one) is perfect. Best for one-of-a-kind items, jewelry and house warming gifts :-) neighborhood gem. Will return for sure, last minute, as usual!! read more

Purchased a pair of earrings there for my wife in July 2017. She wore them once and the front part of the earring detached from the stem. We took them back to see if they could be fixed or exchanged. Virtu said they would give the earrings back to the artist to fix and took our contact info. We never heard anything from them. We gave them ample time and then found out we would be moving out of state that fall. We went back into to follow up before we left town and she said the artist forgot to bring them with her last shipment. I should have asked for a refund right then and there. The clerk or owner(?) asked us to leave our address for the earrings to be sent to us. Never heard or received anything from Virtu. Our mistake for thinking they would be honest and honor their customers. I've since then emailed and received no response. One review may not make a difference but want people to know. Sadly it's too late to dispute the purchase as well. Frustrated customer and while we no longer live in Chicago, we have plenty of friends that do, and we won't be recommending Virtu. read more

Love this boutique gift shop in the 'hood. If you're looking for a card and small present or if you're looking something major, this is the spot. The only problem is that you'll likely find too many fun goodies for yourself. It's a good problem to have! read more

Virtu has a great assortment of unique jewelry, handbags, homewares, etc. It's pricey, so I only go here for really special occasions, like wedding or engagement gifts. Julie, the owner, is completely knowledgeable about every designer she sells. She spends a ton of time with customers, but never pressures. It's no wonder that this boutique has been around for more than 10 years when so many others on Damen have gone out of business. Don't miss it when you're in Bucktown. read more

Stopped in this gem of a store months ago, saw a ton of stuff for myself and to gift! Finally went back when I had a friends bday and felt so welcome. I didn't get the name of the sales associate, but she was a sweetheart and was able to help me pick out the perfect gift for my friend without getting too distracted by all the goodies I wanted for myself! I will be going back for the holidays as they have items that are one of a kind and LOCAL!!! Before I left, the lovely lady told me she knew the three artists personally of all the items I got! How cool is that!?! Oh! & she even wrapped up my items much better then I would've! Will def be back! read more

I am giving 2 stars because the merchandise is wonderful. It is to bad because I have shopped here several times and in the past. The young gal that works here helped me both times recently and she was very sweet but the owner on the other hand has been horrific both times I have been in...Completely rude to me when I was looking at cards, but friendly to a "regular"...then later talking badly about these "regulars"? Unprofessional and she was complaining about her taxes and then was very rude to me when I tried to pay for a small item with a credit card. read more

I came here a while ago looking for an engagement ring and was very put off by my experience. The woman who showed me around the store was in the middle of talking to her friends hanging around the shop. I liked some of their selection but when she finished she basically stopped my browsing and implied I didn't know what I wanted and that they would contact me with anything new they had coming into the store. It felt more like a way to get me out so they could have fun. I never received an email and have no interest in going back to this over priced shop. read more

I have never written a review before, but after my experience with Virtu I felt compelled to do so to warn others. I will just share my factual experience. I purchased an engagement from Julie, on December 12, 2015. During this first encounter, she was very friendly and kind; she told me the entire process would take about 2 months. Since I was proposing in NYC, the plan was to present the ring, size it, and ship it back to her. I was told that I would receive proper shipping instructions via email or phone, but that never happened. Over a month later, I reached out to her since I had not received news from her or her staff, and during this time I was told not to worry. Again, I was told I would receive the instructions soon after our call. After waiting for a few weeks for this email or call, I decided to personally drop-off the ring; to make a long story short it took over 6 months to finally receive the ring. During this entire period, I reached out to her on numerous occasions and each time she had no concrete update and at the end of each conversation she ended with "I will call you back or email you, thank you for patience." Yet she never did. Toward the end of this process, my calls were ignored so much so that the only way to speak to her was calling as a private caller. Again, I was very patient during this process, and I am writing this so others can be aware that this might happen to them. The first response I received from Virtu was about a week ago, after I told her (via voicemail) and the designer (via email) that I had talked to my lawyer and bank to seek full reimbursement. At this point, I had no patience because it all felt like a scam or fraud, as it seemed like the ring was never going to reach my fiancée's hands. In the end, we did receive the ring over 6 months later directly from the designer. All in all, the sales associates at Virtu were always pleasant and friendly, yet highly unprofessional due to the lack of communication skills, which DELAYED the process and our life plans. Had I known that this process was going to take over 6 months, then I would understand, but I was told it would take 2 months. Perhaps the most upsetting part was being told I would be reached with an update after I called; yet that was never the case. I will end with this, as I told Julie, I never thought, purchasing a home would be much quicker than buying a ring at Virtu. read more

This is my favorite little shop in the area! I love every single thing they carry. I can't afford many things but I love to look at them. They wrap everything up in perfect little boxes with purple ribbons and bags. read more