Page 160 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

158  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPS AND MARKETS

Shopping, rather than sports, may well be Chicago’s boutiques, specialty shops, and
the major pastime of Chicagoans. The sheer legendary department stores. No matter
number of shops in the small area around what your passion, you will find a merchant
Michigan Avenue alone makes Chicago a in Chicago who shares it. Many of the shops
world-class shopping destination. listed on pages 160–63 will take you off the
Everything from basic necessities to beaten track into the city’s many distinct
outrageous luxuries can be found at and charming neighborhoods.

may be required to pay duty
on the purchase once they
arrive home.
Payment
Major credit cards are
accepted in most Chicago
stores, as are bank debit cards,
though small businesses may
have a minimum-price policy
(usually a $10 minimum) for
purchases paid for this way.
Traveler’s checks must be
accompanied by identifica -
Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and Soda Fountain tion. Personal checks are
discouraged; foreign currency is
When to Shop becoming crowded as the never accepted. A few smaller
Most chain stores are open evening approaches. On the shops are still run on a cash-
seven days a week, from 10am to weekends, downtown shops only basis.
6pm. Some shops open an hour and malls are packed.
later and close an hour earlier on Returns
Sundays. Malls and shopping
centers usually stay open Sales Be sure you understand the
evenings as well as on Sundays. Pre-season sales, end-of-season shop’s return policy before
Neighborhood shops, sales, 13-hour sales, Mother’s you make an important
antique dealers, vintage- Day sales – it is easy to find purchase. Keep your receipt
clothing stores, and galleries some kind of sale each day as a proof of purchase.
keep more relaxed hours. Many of the year. Each store sets its own return-
are closed on Mondays and Many sales, especially when and-exchange policies; they are
Tuesdays and may not open shops want to clear their racks generally posted at the cash
until noon on other days. to make way for the next register. Some shops will give a
Shops are blissfully empty on season’s merchandise, offer full refund with no questions
weekday mornings, gradually great bargains. asked, whereas other shops
Be wary of “going out of
business” sales – some have
been going on for years.
However, some are legitimate
sales; ask at nearby stores.

Taxes
Sales tax in Chicago is 9.25
percent and is added to
everything except newspapers,
magazines, and groceries. Sales
tax is not refundable to visitors
from overseas. However, if the
shop ships your purchase to an
address outside Chicago or
Vibrant window signs brightening a Illinois, you can avoid city and/ Sunday morning in the busy Maxwell Street
storefront in Chinatown or state sales tax. Foreign visitors Market (see p161)

158-159_EW_Chicago.indd 158 13/07/16 3:00 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm