What started as two friends challenging themselves to explore a new Chicago neighborhood each week has turned into a hot retail concept.
It’s the Pop-Up Shop—a store that opens for a few days in a temporary location, sells its stock, then closes.
Karen O’Sullivan and Susan Gallagher of Wilmette discovered a shared passion for shopping for home décor and fashion. 
As their weekly “adventure in the city” trips added up, they realized their homes and closets were full—and when they saw an amazing item, they’d ask, “Who do we know who needs to own this?”
In May, they launched their first sale and sold out all of their merchandise on the preview night.
“We realized after that first night that we’d hit on something unique,” says O’Sullivan. In preparing for their fall show, they spent the summer scouring estate sales from Skokie to Highwood, New York to Atlanta.
“We start each season with a look in mind,” says Gallagher. “For fall, we love the idea of taking it inside, warming up your home.”
This season, they shopped for a color palette of plum and mossy green, and tabletop items for holiday entertaining, holiday gifts and newly painted vintage furniture, all of will feature prominently in this month’s sale. Items range in price from $8-$350.
In Evanston, partners Jeanie Petrick, Melissa Clary and Jodie Richter met at Wilmette’s Heritage Trail Antique Mall, where they each owned booths, and decided to try their first pop-up shop this month.
“Through conversations at the mall, we shared our love for scouting out the best flea markets and antique fairs, and soon found ourselves bumping into each other at estate sales all over town,” Clary says.
The Coach House event will focus on antiques, in styles from rural to refined. Their price range will be $15-900, and the sale will take place in Richter’s coach house, which she uses as an art studio.
Clary says, “Because we all share a love for family gatherings, our November sale will have many side tables, cocktail ware, serving platters, dining chairs, mirrors, candlesticks, art, and vases to help get you ready for company during the holidays.”
MarKetS: 500 Central Avenue, Wilmette; preview party 6:30-9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 20; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 21 and Fri., Oct. 22. www.shopourmarkets.com.
The Coach House: 1712 Ashland Avenue, Evanston; opening night party 6:30-9 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Nov. 5 and Sat., Nov. 6. For more information, contact Jeanie Petrick at petrickj@yahoo.com.
