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Replica Chicago to Celebrate Expansion With Food, Music, Pet Adoption Event

 Replica Chicago, which started as an online business eight years ago, expanded into a second storefront.
Replica Chicago, which started as an online business eight years ago, expanded into a second storefront.
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Facebook/Replica Chicago

JEFFERSON PARK — Replica Chicago will celebrate its eighth anniversary and recent expansion with an event Saturday that will include food, music, local art and dogs looking for their forever home.

The store and custom printing business owned by Lyn and Jeremy Hooley outgrew its storefront at 4425 N. Milwaukee Ave. after a successful holiday season, and scooped up the storefront next door, the owners said.

After starting online, Rep Chi opened its Jefferson Park store at 4425 N. Milwaukee Ave. in 2012, and has been the go-to source for Chicagophiles all over the city ever since.

The expanded space will allow the store to stock more of its Chicago-themed shirts and gifts — and hold classes — including candle making — and special events, Lyn Hooley said.

The store's floor space more than doubled after the couple knocked out part of the shared wall between the existing store and the once-empty space next door, Lyn Hooley said.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the store will feature canines from One Tail at a Time Dog Rescue that are up for adoption, locally made art for sale from Purple and Lime, Nerfect, 8 Bit Hearts and Hell Razor and live caricatures drawn by the store's neighbors, Sketchy Fetish Airbrush.

Acoustic musicians will provide the party's soundtrack and the Vegan Good Truck will provide food for sale, Lyn Hooley said.

In addition, the store will host the second annual The Chicago Riots Junior Roller Derby Bake Sale Fundraiser. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. pies, cupcakes and treats — including gluten-free and dairy-free items — will be sold to benefit the all-female roller derby team.

An online competition in 2014, sponsored by Ald. John Arena (45th), named Replica Chicago the best retail establishment in the 45th Ward.

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