GOLD COAST — Kanye West fans who didn't catch the rapper's United Center shows Tuesday and Wednesday can still get their hands on Yeezus tour gear this week, at the musician's pop-up merchandise shop at 46 E. Oak St.
Past the shop's nondescript, all-white and unlabeled exterior is a pop-up shop that looks like an art gallery, with flags painted by artist Wes Lang flanking a red and white Honda motorcycle, which staff jokingly assure shoppers "is not for sale."
What is for sale is a collection of Yeezus tour concert posters and T-shirts, some designed by Lang and others featuring Kanye's name or "Jesus Christ" in geometric text. Priced at $35 and up, the apparel selection includes designs not available at concert merchandise booths, and special edition, "pre-distressed" tops with holes and missing sleeves.
The lack of signage wasn't an accident — Robert Palma, a Yeezus tour spokesman, said the shop is set up in major cities along West's tour route in a "very spur-of-the-moment" way, with no advertising.
"We get the word out strictly through social media," Palma said.
LeDia Smith and a friend were on their way to the Cheesecake Factory Thursday when they saw a tweet from West's Twitter account announcing the store's address. They postponed lunch and rushed right over.
"We saw the show Tuesday and Wednesday and just had to check this out," Smith said while her friend bought a black crewneck shirt.
This is the first West tour to be tailed by a pop-up store, according to Palma. The shop made week-long stops in New York and Los Angeles before making a final stop in Chicago this week.
The most exclusive item is a green, limited edition silk bomber jacket emblazoned with the rapper's nickname that costs $500 and is only available in short supply.
The shop will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday and from noon to 7 p.m. Friday before closing up shop for the remainder of West's tour.
