Chicago is one of the biggest cities on Earth, meaning it has a lot of options for places that support eco-friendly lifestyles. This can be overwhelming when you are in a rush. So, here is a concentrated guide to some amazing eco-friendly businesses located in Wicker Park, all of them on Milwaukee Ave.
Interested in green activities in Seattle? Check out our Earth-friendly Seattle Guide!
Mojo Spa
1468 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
Mojo Spa is a salon and store that provides salon services as well as self-care materials. The refreshing smells that waft throughout the store first greet you when you walk in, followed by the friendly employees. Strolling through, you’ll see their walls are lined with dozens of bottles holding makeup, body lotion, fragrances, oils, and more. This business prides itself on selling materials that are all hand-made and organic, something displayed on the back of each of their products. The reviews listed on their site and on public forums show overwhelmingly positive reactions to their products and service. If you’re interested in natural products that were handcrafted right in Chicago, then check out Mojo Spa!
For more information, visit their website here.
Buffalo Exchange
1478 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60622
The Buffalo Exchange is a thrift shop that offers and exchanges used clothing. Rather than throwing clothes away and contributing to waste pollution, you can bring your old shirts, shoes, pants, hats, here for cash or trade. As a result, they heavily mark down the prices while the clothes retain satisfactory quality. Not to mention, the clothes offered are modern, colorful, and stylish. In addition, the Buffalo Exchange regularly supports eco-friendly organizations by running programs, like the annual $1 Earth Day sale, which has raised over $665,274 since 1997 for numerous environmental causes and charities.
For more information, visit their website here.
Native Foods Cafe
1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
The Native Foods Cafe is a vegan restaurant (three Chicago locations above) that prepares fresh cuisines daily. Although this restaurant is not exclusive to Chicago, it still offers a unique experience for both vegans and non-vegans that large chain-restaurants can’t compete with. Notably, the cafe is making real progress in utilizing and normalizing eco-friendly practices, such as using biodegradable or recyclable packaging. The Native Foods Cafe also is officially LEED certified. They use all plant-based products that are organic, whenever possible, therefore their dishes change from season to season. So, better head to the Native Foods Cafe to try their new dishes before they’re gone!
For more information, visit their website here.
Brü
1562 N Milwaukee Ave, Wicker Park, Chicago, IL 60622
Brü is a coffee shop that offers both a relaxing environment and a green menu. All of the items listed are made with natural and organic products, including breakfast, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, coffee, and juices. Personally, I recommend the Go Green! smoothie for a mellow, sweet boost of energy. Brü, full of comfortable chairs and couches, is perfect for people looking to study, relax, or catch up with some friends for brunch. Brü also actively engages with the community, hosting events run by local artists.
For more information, visit their website here.
(Photo by Kris Atomic on Unsplash)
Revive Nails & Co.
1144 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago IL 60642
Revive Nails & Co. is a nail salon that focuses on utilizing safe ingredients for their clients. They carry vegan polishes that do not contain toxic ingredients like toluene (which can cause everything from headaches to reproductive damage and respiratory complications) or formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). In addition, they focus on recycling their polish bottles, and use reclaimed wood from local areas for the salon interior. They offer a wide range of manicure/pedicure and spa treatments that focus on rejuvenating and cleansing the body. The atmosphere is natural and calming, perfect for a day to relax and just focus on you.
For more information, visit their website here. For pictures of the interior and results of their treatments, click here.
(Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash)
Chicago Diner, Logan Square
2333 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
A notable earth-friendly restaurant just up the street is the Logan Square outlet of the venerable vegetarian restaurant, Chicago Diner. They offer delicious vegan milkshakes, a Radical Reuben with homemade seitan in place of corned beef, biscuits & vegetarian gravy, and even Chick’n Fingers for the kids.
For more information and their complete menu, visit their website here.
Be sure to check out these stores if you visit Milwaukee Ave [near] in Wicker Park, but also feel free to explore. There are tons of cute little shops as well as franchises that offer great food, unique merchandise, and useful services that support an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Featured image accredited to David Wilson [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
