5 Best Craft Shops in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 7 min read

Not every craft shop in Chicago is a strip-mall fabric aisle: one of the names on this list operates out of a 1934 building with a glockenspiel clock over the door, and another survives entirely on donated art supplies. Together, the five shops below have racked up nearly 3,000 Google reviews, and every one of them holds at least a 4.6 rating, so what separates them is specialty, not quality.

Short answer: Blick Art Materials leads on volume with a 4.6 rating across 1,463 reviews, the deepest track record of any craft shop we checked in Chicago. For a tighter specialty, Atlas Stationers holds the highest rating on the page at 4.9 across 585 reviews, and Fishman's Fabrics (4.8, 323 reviews) is the pick for fabric and upholstery work specifically.

Jump to a business

1. Blick Art Materials
2. Atlas Stationers
3. Mythical Smokes
4. Fishman's Fabrics
5. The WasteShed
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Chicago's Craft Shops Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Blick Art Materials	4.6 ★	1,463	Overall / broad art and craft supplies	View ›
2	Atlas Stationers	4.9 ★	585	Fountain pens and fine stationery	View ›
3	Mythical Smokes	4.7 ★	401	Smoke shop with a craft-adjacent range	View ›
4	Fishman's Fabrics	4.8 ★	323	Fabric and upholstery	View ›
5	The WasteShed	4.8 ★	213	Budget and secondhand craft supplies	View ›

The shortlist, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Blick Art Materials

4.61,463 Google reviews

Blick Art Materials operates a Loop location inside a 1934 building designed by the same Chicago firm behind the Civic Opera Building, with a preserved glockenspiel clock and King Gambrinus statue on its facade. The store carries a broad range of paint, brushes, sketchbooks, canvases, markers, and craft materials for both hobbyists and professional artists. It's part of the larger Dick Blick chain, which also offers online ordering and delivery for anything not in stock locally.

What people praise

Reviewers describe an unusually wide selection covering painting, drawing, illustration, and mixed media in one store
Staff repeatedly praised as friendly and knowledgeable, not just present
Historic building adds character reviewers mention unprompted
Online ordering available for anything the physical store doesn't stock

Worth knowing

The Loop location is smaller than the chain's now-closed State Street store, so full-range stock isn't guaranteed on every visit

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,463 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown75% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: With 1,463 reviews, more than double the next name on this page, this is the safest default pick if you just need broad art and craft supplies without a specific niche.

Website +1312-920-0300 Directions

16 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Atlas Stationers

4.9585 Google reviews

Atlas Stationers is a downtown Chicago shop specializing in fountain pens, notebooks, and fine writing supplies, alongside a broader stationery and craft materials range including washi tape, stickers, and wax seals. It carries a large number of pen and paper brands and offers hands-on guidance for shoppers new to fountain pens, including cartridge replacement and nib alignment. Its own site describes it as an oasis for all things writing.

What people praise

Staff repeatedly praised by name for patient, hands-on help with fountain pen setup
Described by reviewers as a must-visit even for out-of-town stationery enthusiasts
Wheelchair-accessible entrance available around the corner from the main door

Worth knowing

One reviewer notes some items lack visible price tags on the shelf, worth asking staff before you commit to a purchase
It's a specialty pen and paper shop first, general craft supplies second

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume585 · 92th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: This holds the highest rating on the page at 4.9, and reviewers back it up with specific, repeat praise for individual staff members rather than generic compliments.

Website +1312-726-5261 Directions

227 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60606

#3🕑 Open 7 days

Mythical Smokes

4.7401 Google reviews

Mythical Smokes is a tobacco, cigar, and vaporizer shop in the Loop that also carries cannabis-adjacent and hookah products. It surfaces on craft shop searches through category overlap rather than a craft specialty, and its stock centers on smoking accessories rather than art or hobby materials.

What people praise

Reviewers describe knowledgeable, friendly staff, with one team member named repeatedly across multiple reviews
Fast, helpful service noted even during busy periods

Worth knowing

Several recent reviewers note service dipped after a specific staff member left
This is a tobacco and smoke shop, not a craft or art supply store

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume401 · 86th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenessphone · hours

Rating breakdown91% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth flagging plainly: this ranks here on Google's own categorization, not because it sells craft materials. If you're after actual craft supplies, look to the other four names on this page instead.

+1312-929-2596 Directions

27 E Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Fishman's Fabrics

4.8323 Google reviews

Fishman's Fabrics is a family-run fabric store operating since 1903, sourcing fabrics from mills worldwide and offering roughly 120 continuity lines. The shop specializes in fabric for garment work, home decor, and upholstery, with staff who help match specific fabrics to reupholstery and sewing projects.

What people praise

Family ownership and long history mentioned warmly and specifically by reviewers
Staff described as going out of their way, including reopening after hours for one customer
Individually tagged pricing, so reviewers report no surprise costs at checkout
Reviewers highlight successful, detailed help with specific projects like couch reupholstery

Worth knowing

Limited hours (closes at 3pm on weekdays, 1pm Saturdays) may not suit every schedule

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume323 · 81th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown90% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: At 4.8 stars and over a century in business, this is the clear pick for anyone doing fabric or upholstery work specifically rather than general craft supplies.

Website +1312-922-7250 Directions

1101 S Desplaines St, Chicago, IL 60607

#5🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

The WasteShed

4.8213 Google reviews

The WasteShed is a nonprofit creative reuse center with locations in Chicago and Evanston, collecting donated art, school, and office supplies and reselling them to the public at low cost. It positions itself around sustainability, keeping usable materials out of landfills while making supplies accessible to teachers, artists, and anyone on a budget.

What people praise

Prices described by reviewers as significantly below standard art supply store rates
Donation model means stock changes often, so reviewers mention finding unexpected items
Reviewers praise the sustainability mission alongside the practical savings

Worth knowing

Selection depends on what's been donated, so specific items (like yarn, per one reviewer) aren't guaranteed to be in stock
Quality varies by item since materials are secondhand or donated

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume213 · 69th

Confidencehigh

Recency4 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: This is the pick if budget or sustainability matters more than guaranteed selection. Reviewers are candid that stock is inconsistent, but the savings and the mission both land.

Website +1773-666-5997 Directions

1754 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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How we score these

Rating is each shop’s live Google average. Review volume shows how many real customers left that rating, more reviews means a more reliable number. Confidence blends the two, so a 4.6 from 1,463 reviews counts for more than a similar score from a small handful. Recency tracks how current the feedback is. No shop can pay to change these numbers.

What do craft supplies cost in Chicago? (2026)

We don’t have a verified, current price list across every shop and category here (paint, fabric, stationery, and reuse-center goods price very differently from each other), so we’re not going to guess at a single range. In general, specialty shops like Atlas Stationers and Fishman’s Fabrics price at the premium end for quality or rare materials, while The WasteShed’s donated stock runs well below retail. Confirm pricing for your specific project directly with the shop.

Craft shops across Chicago

Most of these shops cluster in and around the Loop, with Fishman’s Fabrics just south in the Near West Side and The WasteShed further north in Avondale, with a second location in Evanston. If you’re searching for a craft shop near me in Chicago, the Loop cluster covers general art and stationery needs, while the outer two shops are worth the trip for fabric or budget supplies specifically.

What to ask before you shop for craft supplies in Chicago

Does the shop stock your specific material (fabric type, pen brand, paint medium) or will it need to be ordered?
Are prices marked on the shelf, or do you need to ask staff to confirm cost?
Does the shop offer online ordering or delivery for out-of-stock items?
For secondhand or donated stock, can you check quality before buying?
Is there parking nearby, or is the shop easier to reach by transit?
Do they offer workshops or classes if you’re new to a specific craft?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these five?

We compared every craft shop in Chicago with a real Google track record, then ranked on rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing them.

How often is this updated?

We refresh this page periodically as new reviews come in. This version reflects data verified in July 2026.

Why does a smoke shop show up on a craft shop list?

Mythical Smokes surfaces through Google’s own category overlap, not because it sells craft materials. We include it with a clear note so you know what you’re actually getting.

Where can I find cheap or secondhand craft supplies in Chicago?

The WasteShed is a nonprofit creative reuse center selling donated art and school supplies at prices well below retail, though stock varies by what’s been donated.

The bottom line

For general art and craft supplies, Blick Art Materials is the safe default with the deepest review history on this page. If you know exactly what you need, fountain pens at Atlas Stationers, fabric at Fishman’s, or budget finds at The WasteShed, go straight to the specialist instead.

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