Tag: Anthropologie

From DNA Chicago (Now Block Club) in 2016:

“To some, the arrival of J. Crew on the Southport Corridor was just another sign the block was flourishing.

To others, it was less than thrilling.

“Can we stop drooling over this already?” one person wrote on Facebook. “We get it. Everyone on Southport loves basic, poorly made, over-priced clothing.”

Since Anthropologie arrived on Southport Avenue a decade ago, neighbors have cautiously guarded against the corridor losing its small business flavor. National chains like Gap, J. Crew and Lululemon might draw in visitors, but some worry the corridor risks becoming too bland to stand out and too costly for local shops and boutiques.

“I don’t think we’re there yet, where we really need to be worried we’re going to turn into the suburbs or North and Clybourn,” said Lee Crandell, executive director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. “But we want to maintain that diversity.”

It started with Anthropologie exactly 10 years ago.