14
Oct
A Magnificent Mile of Shopping
Posted in Articles by admin on October 14th, 2008
James Cook asked:
The Magnificent Mile as it is known today was in fact the portion of Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois extending from the Chicago River to Oak Street in Near North Side community area. The story of Michigan Avenue becoming the shopping paradise it is today is an interesting one. In 1913, after much political debate, the idea of the Michigan Avenue Bridge was born, connecting the “old” south with the “new” north and creating a gateway to the city’s new commercial district. With the opening of the double-decked Michigan Avenue Bridge in 1929, a building boom began along Michigan Avenue. Emblematic of the spirit of Chicago, the Wrigley Building was built with the purpose of drawing shoppers and businesses over the new bridge to the north side of the Chicago River.
Today the Magnificent Mile offers 460 stores within eight city blocks showcasing high-end retail to bargain shopping and everything in between. Beyond the Chicago favorites like American Girl Place, Garrett Popcorn Shops and Niketown, choose from delectable restaurants, unique shops and several museums and galleries to round out your day on the Mile. The 900 North Shops features Bloomingdale’s Fashion department store, and six levels of upscale retailers, including several restaurants, a full service salon and spa and a state-of-the-art fitness facility. Westfield North Bridge is an elegant specialty center anchored by the Midwest flagship Nordstrom. Popular retail stores and innovative restaurants are enclosed in a four-level concourse at 520 North Michigan Avenue.
The area has become the hub of Chicago’s shopping and nightlife and offers some of the best experiences in the world when it comes to shopping and partying. The area has seen rapid development in recent times and also houses museums and art galleries which are of great cultural interest to the city of Chicago.
A number of Chicago hotels can be found dotted around the Magnificent Mile area and offers comfortable accommodation. Hotels in Chicago can however be slightly more expensive than in certain areas but that is of course attributed to the demand of travelers to stay in those sections of the city. Today hotels in and around Magnificent Mile mostly cater to up market clientele who can afford to stay at their plush suites.
The Magnificent Mile as it is known today was in fact the portion of Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois extending from the Chicago River to Oak Street in Near North Side community area. The story of Michigan Avenue becoming the shopping paradise it is today is an interesting one. In 1913, after much political debate, the idea of the Michigan Avenue Bridge was born, connecting the “old” south with the “new” north and creating a gateway to the city’s new commercial district. With the opening of the double-decked Michigan Avenue Bridge in 1929, a building boom began along Michigan Avenue. Emblematic of the spirit of Chicago, the Wrigley Building was built with the purpose of drawing shoppers and businesses over the new bridge to the north side of the Chicago River.
Today the Magnificent Mile offers 460 stores within eight city blocks showcasing high-end retail to bargain shopping and everything in between. Beyond the Chicago favorites like American Girl Place, Garrett Popcorn Shops and Niketown, choose from delectable restaurants, unique shops and several museums and galleries to round out your day on the Mile. The 900 North Shops features Bloomingdale’s Fashion department store, and six levels of upscale retailers, including several restaurants, a full service salon and spa and a state-of-the-art fitness facility. Westfield North Bridge is an elegant specialty center anchored by the Midwest flagship Nordstrom. Popular retail stores and innovative restaurants are enclosed in a four-level concourse at 520 North Michigan Avenue.
The area has become the hub of Chicago’s shopping and nightlife and offers some of the best experiences in the world when it comes to shopping and partying. The area has seen rapid development in recent times and also houses museums and art galleries which are of great cultural interest to the city of Chicago.
A number of Chicago hotels can be found dotted around the Magnificent Mile area and offers comfortable accommodation. Hotels in Chicago can however be slightly more expensive than in certain areas but that is of course attributed to the demand of travelers to stay in those sections of the city. Today hotels in and around Magnificent Mile mostly cater to up market clientele who can afford to stay at their plush suites.
Tags: Magnificent Mile, Niketown, Wrigley Building