BUCKTOWN — After 16 years in Bucktown, designer housewares and accessories boutique Stitch has been priced off trendy Damen Avenue, and after it closes it will be replaced by a high-end children's clothing chain.
Stitch will remain open through the holidays, and its owner plans to relocate somewhere in the neighborhood early next year.
Peek Kids will move into Stitch's storefront at 1723 N. Damen Ave. next year, according to Baum Realty Group. The San Francisco-based national retailer's clothing "features the same high quality that adults demand in their own wardrobe, with thoughtful details, luxurious materials, and interesting finishing work," Baum said in a statement.
The kids shop will join other pricey shopping destinations on Damen, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nanette Lepore and Joe's Jeans.
The upcoming closure of Stitch, which was one of the first boutiques to open on the now-booming stretch of Damen, is similar to what's happened to other businesses on the strip.
"When we moved in there was only Tangerine, p.45 and Northside Bar and Grill," Stitch owner Pamela Hewett said.
But as bigger brands moved in, rents went up.
"It didn't make sense for us to compete with national [retailers] who are coming in to the neighborhood at market rates," Hewett said, citing increasing rent as the reason for the closure.
Stitch — which will be open through the holiday shopping season and into early January — joins several other independently-owned boutiques that have been priced off of Damen Avenue in recent months.
After a decade at 1630 N. Damen Ave., children's boutique Psychobaby closed in July and relocated to Division Street, while Riley Boutique at 1659 N. Damen Ave. shuttered in May.
Riley will be replaced by New York City-based clothing designer Steve Alan, who plans to open his first Midwest store soon.
When asked about the changing landscape on Damen just north of Wicker Park's six-corner intersection, including the arrival of the Nike Running Store set to open Friday, Hewett said "it speaks for itself. There's a lot of outside influence coming in."
Despite the move, Stitch will stay open and Hewett said she is "99 percent sure" it will be somewhere in the Bucktown or Wicker Park area.
Meanwhile, Peek Kids is happy with their new high-end neighbors.
“Bucktown was the perfect choice for our first [Chicago] location," Tina Canales, CEO and Founder of Peek Kids said in a statement. "We’re excited to join the high-end retailers and boutiques on Damen."
