Strange Cargo Tees, Chicago's Custom T-shirt Store

This store is really unique and has really interesting and funny items. You are sure to find something you like or a gift for someone else. You can also have a custom shirt made. They have dressing rooms available in the back. They have so many different blind boxes, plushies, jewelry, and much more. I would recommend checking out their instagram for updates on new items or events!

I was so grateful that strange cargo was so fast on the tshirt I needed the next day! They made the process super easy to order. I didn’t even know there were cute gifts inside too since I’ve never been inside. To top it off, I was able to get a hat made in about a half hour without having to order ahead- you can’t beat that (I wouldn’t expect this as standard, I think I just got lucky)! Super accommodating staff and will be coming here again for any custom shirts in the future!

I LOVE this place! Their craftsmanship and level of customer service is like no other! I love that you can bring in your own item for personalization. A little pricey; but definitely worth it!

I had such a wonderful experience with the friendly, helpful and creative staff. They helped whip me up a shirt "in minutes" just like their sign said! They worked with my idea to create the perfect design from scratch but they also have hundreds of designs all over the store. They also have a variety of other goods; cubs gear, postcards, patches, socks, bags, etc. I live in Seattle but will defiantly be ordering from them next time I need custom shirts (plus they dont charge a handling fee, only the exact cost of the shipping)!

So happy with our purchase, these Bella and canvas zippered hoodies are the SOFTEST THING EVERRRR. Jay was patient with me and let me look at many different styles on the computer, then helped me find them in store to touch them for feel. He even offered to order a blank one that wasn’t in stock so I could make sure we would love the feel of it! Then Karen in design fielded our requests for multiple mock-ups with different options to make sure everything was perfect. She was creative and polite and so helpful. Even though they had to order the sweatshirts in, it was still done super fast. The design is gorgeous, the fabric is a cloud, this garment totally means everything I wanted it to. Great product, great service, and really fast, too! Thank you Strange Cargo!

Love my shirts and the fast service. Don't love that they are displaying a collection of shirts with a misogynistic slur on them. If you wouldn't put homophobic slurs or racist slurs on a shirt, why choose a sexist slur??

Be sure to call in advance to make sure that they don't close early on certain days.

Cannot even begin to explain how amazing this business is! Anytime I need a shirt made they have my back, they are so kind and patient, their designers are rock stars, and they go above and beyond to fix anything that might be wrong. Today they let me grab a shirt even though the store was technically not open yet, and did so with JOY. They have a forever customer in me!

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?

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.

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

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

. 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?

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.)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

The shipping process just takes way too long. We tried thinking ahead and allowed plenty of time for packing and shipping, and received a notification that our label was created. But then no status updates for over a week. Obviously the company is poorly managed and unorganized. Frustrated as they aren't exactly cheap and can't do something as simple as getting your order to you on time.

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

This place rocks!!! I picked up a custom shirt here when I was in Chicago on the way to my first Cubs game at Wrigley, what an experience!!!..it was tough to choose what shirt to get there were so many I would have wanted to pick up. So when I got back to LA I decided to check out if they had an online store and low and behold they do....SWEEEETTTT!!! I think I'll have a few more shirts shipped my way...at $5 shipping no matter how many you order...dang that's a great bargain!!!

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!

Currently working with Strange Cargo on a custom t-shirt order for a group. The staff is awesome! Responsive, helpful, friendly whether you're in the store or working with them via e-mail. Rebecca helped me price out options that worked within my budget (!!). The store in Andersonville also has a ton of sample brands/sizes to try on before you order. Based on the great customer service so far, I expect that finalizing the order and print job should be a breeze!

Talk about an awesome store! This is a place just outside of Wrigley. They have tons of awesome, original Chicago gear. Its actually a screen printing place. You can pick your own shirt, pick your own design, and get something made. Or you can choose from a great supply of some of their already printed gear, which I took full advantage of. Chicago coats, hats, shirts. Funny Haray Carey t-shirts. I can't say enough about how awesome this place is. And check out their clearance rack! I got a kick ass t-shirt for $5!! This will definitly be a stop the next time I'm in chi-town!

A really fun place to visit. The staff is friendly and they are so attentive. It is located on lively street and the hours are great. I appreciated the laidback atmosphere and the retro touch. Parking is a headache but the place is well worth it. Recommend with zeal.

If your looking to get a shirt made, I would definitely recommend Strange Cargo. Wide variety of different styles & tees. The service is great.

Strange Cargo is a life savor! I bought 10 t-shirts for my sisters bachelorette party thinking I would bedazzle them and iron on myself..... YA that didn't work out. Came here with my design and they were able to use the shirts I bought and do them in the same day!!! Here we come NASHVILLE!!!

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.

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!

5 Stars does not due the team at Strange Cargo justice. I was in Chicago on business and had order ordered t-shirts for an event, which were lost in delivery. I frantically called every one-hour t-shirt shop that I could find and Strange Cargo were the only ones that said they could make my 2 hour timeline work. They created 20+ custom football jersey shirts (front and back) and literally saved the day. I could not be more grateful for their help. Thank you for the great customer service, quality product and especially for your kindness.

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.

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.

Unique items, great gift ideas! Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Went in today, right before Christmas, store was busy & staff was very helpful.

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 =)

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.