The RealReal, a San Francisco-based e-commerce company that sells consigned luxury goods, has opened a Chicago flagship store on the Magnificent Mile.
The store, which opened Friday, spans 12,000 square feet at 940 N. Michigan Ave. Shoppers can find shoes, accessories and handbags from brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Burberry. Patrons can also shop for beauty products, fine jewelry and watches, and art.
The store features a glass-encased watchmaker station, onsite tailor and repair services for handbags, shoes, jewelry and watches.
The location is also home to The RealReal’s luxury consignment office, where employees assess and buys items to sell, and the company’s fourth CaféCafé, which sells options from Goddess and the Baker, Colectivo Coffee and Karl’s Craft Soup.
The RealReal Chicago store
“What sets our stores apart is how far beyond the transaction they go. Stores are a way for us to deeply engage with our community, which is why experts and services are at the heart of our store experience,” said Rati Levesque, COO of The RealReal, in a statement. “We hope this new flagship store will drive even more Chicagoans to support resale and help us make fashion more sustainable.”
The RealReal said it is hiring up to 50 local people to manage the operation.
Founded in 2011 by Julie Wainwright, The RealReal has become a popular e-commerce site with shoppers looking for a discount on luxury brands. The company says it has a rigorous authentication process overseen by experts so shoppers know the items they are purchasing are “real.” To expand its reach offline, The RealReal began opening physical stores. Besides Chicago, The RealReal has locations in New York, Dallas and San Francisco, and other cities. The RealReal, which raised more than $350 million in venture capital funding before going public last year, said its new Chicago store is its largest location yet.
The RealReal joins a growing number of online companies that are opening brick-and-mortar stores in Chicago. Shoe startup Allbirds opened a Chicago store last year, and Warby Parker has steadily expanded its Chicago footprint, now operating several local stores. Bonobos, Tie Bar, Mugsy Jeans and Interior Define also have opened brick-and-mortar locations.
