The Brown Elephant's New Location

The Howard Brown Health Center operates four well known Brown Elephant resale shops across the city and in Oak Park. The Andersonville shop recently moved to its new location at 5404 N. Clark Street, just a few storefronts from its old home. Originally a vaudeville theater, it later became a roller rink, then home of the Griffin Theatre Company. The space now dramatically showcases the Brown Elephant's many donations from furniture and dishes to clothing and jewelry. We stopped in on a whim and were blown away by the huge space, ornate detailing, and friendly staff. We didn't buy anything, but here's what we saw:

Proceeds from donations and sales at the Brown Elephant shops benefit the programs and services of Howard Brown, who provides health care and wellness programs for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

Comments (4)

The north end of Chicago is readily becoming a vintage/thrifter's paradise! From Lincoln Ave with its many little antique nooks just south of Irving park, The Brown elephant on Clark, Ravenswood Antique Mart on Damen, BAM and Edgewater Antique Mall on Broadway there's plenty to keep one occupied on a saturday- just be sure to rent a truck!

posted by Julian on 2006-04-27 15:26:47

This is a great place; I bought an awesome pair of gold hoop earrings for only $3.

posted by m bianco on 2006-04-27 20:46:19

I love this building. Even after I am done rummaging through the merchandise, I can just stand inside and look around the architecture and try to imagine all the incarnations this building saw.

posted by Dop on 2006-04-27 22:03:09

i didn't have great luck when i visited, but i definitely recommend it. seeing the space is reason enough to visit. and, of course, proceeds go to a wonderul cause.

oh- and it was a bowling alley too. a very cool history.

posted by kevin on 2006-04-27 22:09:14