Welcome to the Randolph Street Market

The Randolph Street Market makes it season debut this weekend.  If you are in Chicago, visiting Chicago or even want to drive to Chicago for the weekend, I definitely recommend checking it out. 


Brandon and I went last summer and had such a blast.   The market isn't only for women who love to shop, they have items and other fun stuff for men as well.   Brandon favorite part was all the antique furniture and the food.  So if you are thinking about making the trip and want to include your man, don't worry there is plenty of fun stuff for him to do. 

Here is some information about the Randolph Street Market. 

Anyone looking to spruce up their home, wardrobe or garden with something truly special and exceptional should look no further than The Randolph Street Market Festival, returning to
Chicago’s trendy West Loop neighborhood for its 8^th season this Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.New lower admission fees, $8 online/$10 at the gate (good for both days), make the Market even more of a bargain hunter’s dream this year.  Held one weekend of each summer month, May through September, the European-style, indoor-outdoor market has earned an international reputation as one of the finest and most diverse antique markets in the world, drawing comparisons to Paris’ legendary Le marché au puces de Saint-Ouen.

 Featuring 200 select purveyors of high quality, amazingly priced finds, it has been described as the “Market of Markets,” offering an array of vintage and modern furnishings, clothing, jewelry and collectibles, as well as food and flower vendors, a full bar with wine, beer and liquor offerings and live musical entertainment.

The May Market will also feature the annual Garden Party theme, showcasing exceptional outdoor living and home accessories, providing shoppers the chance to refurbish their gardens and patios in time to entertain in style this summer.

In the Wall Street Journal this past November, Celebrity designer Nate Berkus, raved “The Randolph Street Market Festival. For me, trawling for finds here is the definition of a perfect weekend morning. You can land distinct antiques, great vintage estate jewelry and cool designer pieces.”

NEW for 2011

New Lower Admission Fees - $8 online/$10 at the gate  

Bargain hunting gets even more affordable in 2011 with a lower entrance fee to the Randolph Street Market Festival. Tickets are only $8 (good for both days), when purchased in advance online at www.randolphstreetmarket.com. Students get a $3 admission fee when they purchase tickets online in advance and $5 when purchased at the gate (must present a valid student ID). General admission when purchased at the gate is only $10 (good for both days). Ticket information enclosed at end of release.

FREE furniture delivery service

For the first time, the Market offers a FREE furniture delivery service to downtown Chicago. Customers living in the downtown area who spend a minimum of $150 will now be able to have their purchased furnishings delivered free of charge. The market is thrilled to be able to offer such a benefit to its loyal customers, allowing them to bring home larger pieces they fall in love without worry or hassle.

Shopping Voucher

New for 2011, with paid general admission, shoppers will also receive two $5 shopping vouchers, each good for $5 off any purchase of $25 (or more). Students who purchase the discounted ticket will receive one $5 voucher.

Saturday Early Buying: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Proceeds benefit Chicago House

Early birds get the best deals. New for 2011, the Market offers a Saturday Early Buying opportunity from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. offering first dibs on some of the best buys in the city. Early Buying admission is $20 online/$25 at the gate (cash only). Gates open to the public at 10 a.m. For the first May Market, a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Chicago House. Since 1985, Chicago House has provided permanent housing and supportive services to men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS.   

Retro Re-Vamp

Crafting meets bargain hunting at the new Retro Re-Vamp corner. Here, guests can personalize their newly found treasures using decoupage, beading or other simple techniques, transforming their goods into one-of-a-kind treasures. The theme of the Retro Re-Vamp corner will vary each month. The theme this May is Garden Party, and shoppers can sew flowers onto a sunhat, embellish sunglasses with jewels, silkscreen floral design onto a messenger bag and more.

“With this latest addition to the Randolph Street Market Festival we offer an opportunity for designers to meet and create. Our visitors will be kept on the cutting edge of fashion, making the fashion hounds everywhere beg the question, ‘Where can I buy that?’” shared Market Founder and Executive Producer Sally Schwartz.

Additional Randolph Street Market Festival highlights include:

• Sell Your Gold Market allows attendees to bring their own gold to be sold onsite, earning extra cash for unwanted jewelry
• A Professional Appraiser will offer on-the-spot valuation of heirlooms
• Great vintage bicycles, certain to catch the eyes of cycling enthusiasts participating in the May 29 “Bike the Drive” event, will be available for purchase
• The Fancy Food Market returns with unique gastronomic creations by local culinary artisans
• At the Vinyl Swap Meet nostalgic music lovers can find their groove pouring over original vinyl recordings
• Global Goods Bazaar showcases an exciting array of artisan goods representative of Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods
• Chicago Antique Market features a diverse array of treasures from the past
• Indie Designer Market, where top designers sell modern and eclectic fashions of today