Despite chilly temperatures and concerns about inflation, shoppers turned out en masse to take advantage of Black Friday sales in Chicago.
The sidewalks along the Magnificent Mile were packed on a day that, for some, is just as much about finding good deals as it is about holiday tradition. A long line of customers stretched around the Richard J. Daley Center waiting to get into a packed Christkindlmarket, and hundreds of shoppers waited in line to get into the Starbucks Reserve Roastery at 646 N. Michigan Ave., which the company bills as the world’s largest Starbucks.
Hundreds more waited for up to an hour inside The Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan Ave., to get a shot at buying a Jellycat plush toy from a small store tucked inside Nordstrom.
The toys’ popularity soared on social media this year, especially among teens, but there are only two brick-and mortar Jellycat locations in North America, including the one in Nordstrom.
“My family is in that line, and I know it’s been at least 45 minutes so far,” said Christy Coulombe, who’s visiting from the Tampa area with her husband and three children, including a 13-year-old. “Her birthday was in October, and the only thing she asked about was a Jellycat. They think it’s the coolest thing.”
Coulombe and her husband David, both retired members of the military, said they’re on a holiday visit to relatives in the suburbs, and coming downtown on Black Friday was a perfect opportunity to show off Chicago to their children. They also planned to visit American Girl Place-Chicago, a specialty doll store in Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., and drop by downtown’s Christkindlmarket.
Chicago’s chilly temperatures weren’t an obstacle.
“People who are stuck in Florida for the summer find it refreshing,” she said. “We love downtown because it’s absolutely beautiful, especially with all the Christmas decorations. The city really does a good job with those. We drove in and the kids said, look at the city, it’s so pretty.”
Jen Villa and her husband Joe Villa typically visit Chicago-area family on Thanksgiving and hit some of the city’s best known stores on Black Friday. The pair were taking a rest in Macy’s flagship store on State Street after a busy morning, and were about to get some of the store’s world-famous Frango candies.
“We have two teenagers and another son and this is our tradition every year,” said Jen Villa, a preschool teacher from the Detroit area. “We have to get Frangos every year.”
They still planned to visit Water Tower Place and other outlets on Michigan Avenue, before going ice skating and attending the “The Sound of Music” sing-along at the Music Box Theater.
“We love doing that,” Jen Villa said. “It’s a girls outing.”
Joe Villa, who works for General Motors, said they don’t buy many items on Black Friday. The trip is mostly about spending time with family on an extended holiday weekend. He does have some concerns about persistent inflation, but gave each of his children, ages 17, 18 and 21, about $100 to spend.
“It’s a great way for them to learn about inflation, by spending their own money,” Villa said. “We don’t have the Magnificent Mile in Detroit. We have a lot of stores, but it’s just not the same.”
Many Chicago-area consumers are worrying about inflation this Christmas season, and those worries could cause many to cut back on spending.
Deloitte’s 2025 Chicago Holiday Retail Survey found local shoppers plan to spend an average of $1,553 for the holidays, down 11% from last year. More than three-quarters of Chicago shoppers surveyed said they expect to see higher prices, and nearly 90% said they would be on the hunt for deals.
Not everyone is worried. Older shoppers are likely to spend roughly the same amounts or a little more than they did last year, while those under 44 report they may make significant cutbacks, according to Deloitte’s national shopping survey. Generation Z, those aged 18 to 28, are the most anxious about their holiday finances, and plan to cut spending by 34%. Generation X, those between the ages of 44 and 61, plan to boost their spending to $1,980, a 3% increase, Deloitte found.
The city’s thrift stores were a popular destination Friday for shoppers looking for more economic, guilt-free purchases. The Salvation Army offered 50% off on clothing, a deal that the dozens of shoppers who crisscrossed the aisles at the Lincoln Park store took advantage of Friday morning.
Pamela Trout, 32, was searching for a new outfit for an upcoming trip to Mexico, specifically a black denim jacket. It can get pricey buying new clothes, so the Salvation Army deal felt like a perfect compromise, she said.
“I feel better about the dopamine hit of getting something new,” Trout, a Lincoln Park resident, said. “I did some online shopping at Aritzia, and I bought three things, and it was like $400. That versus here I can get a lot more stuff and it’s more unique.”
She also picked up a black and white striped shirt for work for less than $5.
Giuliana Martinez bought sweaters and bilingual books for her three nephews. The 40-year-old West Loop resident tries to keep Spanish alive in her family and said the Lincoln Park store has a robust selection of secondhand books. She also loves finding surprises in thrift stores.
“I really enjoy the hunt of thrifting,” Martinez said. “I’m not really looking for anything specific, so if I find a good treat, great. If I don’t find anything I’m not disappointed. When I go to the mall. I’m very targeted, because it’s too busy.”
Keith Beyar, 57, said his family agreed to make this holiday a “thrifting Christmas” so as not to put pressure on anyone financially. He shopped Friday with his wife and two children.
“It’s like make a list, see if you can find a version of it at a thrift store or upcycle, recycle,” the Old Town resident said.
His 22-year-old daughter, Nadya Beyar, said it doesn’t seem like there’s many good discounts at shops anyway, so 50% off comparatively seems like “a real Black Friday sale.” She found Levi’s jeans and athletic wear.
“Those are always the hidden gems in thrift stores,” she said.
Back on Michigan Avenue, some consumers said shopping wasn’t the only thing on the agenda.
Elizabeth and Mario Lazo were walking through the immersive black-and-white gingerbread house experience at the entrance to The Shops at North Bridge with their three children, and although Elizabeth had a small Louis Vuitton gift bag from Nordstrom, they said they were more interested in the city itself.
“We’re from northwest Arkansas, and this is our first time in Chicago,” said Mario Lazo, who works at Tyson Foods. “We want to experience the whole area, we want to see the Bean and walk along the Riverwalk, and experience all the culture Chicago has, especially its food, like deep-dish pizza.”
.
