Foursided Card + Gift - Andersonville

A local suggested that I visit this shop, and ….wow! This store is awesome! Foursided has so many unique, fun, and quirky items to offer. There really is something for everyone. Plus, the customer service is amazing, and I was able to snag some gorgeous ornaments from their holiday sale. Def recommend!!!!

Foursided was a shopping treat during our holiday visit to Chicago. They offered a great selection of gifts and unique merchandise including ornaments, stationary, calendars, and more. Everything was very colorful, and it is evident that the shop is well cared for and maintained. The Andersonville area had lots of other local shops that we enjoyed visiting too. Definitely worth the trip.

The stuff is super cute and unique which is good because the staff is standoffish and unfriendly. They likely know how great their merch is so customer service is not of the essence. I bought a $60 item which I’m so happy with but it took a while for staff to notice me to purchase. I’ll still go back though!

A favorite gift shop of mine! Unique gifts, many locally made. The window display at Christmas is worth a visit, even if you don’t need a thing. You’ll fall in love with something every time. Affordable, whimsical gift shop!

Very nice gift shop so many creative pieces and little trinkets. I would definitely return again. Most of the prices were incredibly fair and the store is decently sized.

Such a fun mix of goods! It's as if early-2010s Etsy and Paper Source had a baby (in a good way). Their cards and prints are always a hit, but all of the quirky, unexpected, and creative gifts and home goods are a joy to browse. I always end up finding something new to appreciate. Their shop design is stunning, especially around Christmas. The shop is on the smaller side with a LOT of merchandise and aisles can sometimes get a little crowded, but you don't mind because there's just so much to look at and discover.

This place brings me warm fuzzy feelings just by walking inside. When you walk in you are bombarded with color, stimulation, and maximalism. Get ready to have fun. Foursided is a great place to get gifts, candles, local artwork, small plant pots, baby books, cards, and more. The people working were talking about House of Dragons while I was shopping and they gave me the vibes that they wouldn't be upset if I jumped into the conversation! Once you make your purchase they take off the price tags in case you are gifting the items which saves me a little time in the long run. They have tons of cards to choose from, making this a prime spot to go to get someone a gift. An extra bonus is a lot of the merchandise is from local artists and Chicago-themed.

Fun store packed with unique finds. From whimsy to snark! Buttons, stickers, wrapping papers, cards, soaps, tarot cards, framed art, and more! They were reorganizing the front half of the store after holidays when we visited. So we didn't see the seasonal gifts. Still found some great Chicago-themed items as well as gift ideas for later.

Foursided is such a cute place. They had unique and fun ornaments, notebooks, knick knacks. I went because I knew they had Baggu items, and thankfully I found the hello kitty bag I wanted.

This might be my favorite store on earth. Every time I go in here I know that any prudence for a budget will be thrown out the window. Did I just spend $60 on two stuffed animals? Yes I did. Why? Because Jelly Cat are the best stuffed animals and make the best gifts and also because it's important to SHOP LOCAL! Great gifts, arts, and whimsy. Additionally, I prefer this location to the lakeview store.

The owner was nice enough to reach out to me via his personal Yelp account to insult me as his first attempt at outreach, as opposed to being professional. I was honestly willing to let this go as a miscommunication, but I need to post this as a Red Flag to people wanting to do business here. This is the most ridiculous and disrespectful response I could ever imagine. There are plenty of other places in Chicago to get things framed. Do that instead

Amazing shop. They've framed almost all of the art in our apartment. It's not inexpensive for the custom framing, but it's very high quality. They have ready to buy frames as well, tons of fun and unique cards, art, enamel pins, patches, etc as well. By far one of my favorite places in Andersonville.

Another placeholder so my pictures link. I'll update with details later, but the 4 star rating holds true.

Four words: THE BEST FRAMING EVER! I've had pieces custom framed since 1980, and FOURSIDED IS THE BEST BY FAR! Professional and courteous with high quality results.

I decided to take a look in this store and found a tote bag that I liked. I've been looking high and low for just the right tote bag. I had to *really* like this tote bag because I had left my wallet in the car and the store doesn't take Apple Pay so I put the bag on hold for the next day. I was going to be in the area and parking is free on Sunday so I could park right in front. Mission accomplished and I am a happy camper. I give the store three stars due to the lack of friendliness from the staff. The person who checked me out with my purchase was friendly, but other than that it's not been a good experience. Later in the day I went to Enjoy in Lincoln Square for a different type of purchase. Enjoy is a much friendlier store. I also feel claustrophobic in Foursided. The store is packed with merchandise and the shelves are close together and on a good day I am 5 feet tall. It's hard to breathe in this store. I'm sure I'll go back when I'm in the area again, just to look around, hopefully I'll find a time where it isn't crowded. FYI, if you want to up your cat gear, this is definitely the place to go, if you're willing to spend the money on the items. I took a look at the price of a kitty coffee cup and it was pretty darn expensive. Definitely happy with my tote bag.

*******THIS POST WAS DELETED BY FOURSIDED. WARNING OF CENSORSHIP. THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH. So, let me first say that pre-pandemic, this place used to be my lodestar for all things fun, fantastic and quirky. The gifty items were always chocked to the rafters, and the art prints (my main go-to) were varied and unique. But this review is not one that's about the merchandise. Although I will say that since all of the stores have been closed, that the merch-in-question is more deftly CURATED than anything else, as sites such as Etsy, Society6 and Redbubble, to name a few, offer the same kind of works, and then some, without all of the hygienic hassles that this place wants to inflict upon an average regular customer. Or is it just for me? Black woman that I am, I have been used to all kinds of slights being in a mostly white world, living on the north side of Chicago as I do. And frankly, I never felt that vibe here; otherwise, how would I have found it as hip and refreshing as I once did? But after I went there today for the first time since February (as the stores are now open here), I came away with some terribly disturbing ironies. Such as: 1. Once outside, my friend and I came to the rather bizarre chain link they have at the door (like some kind of artsy nightclub) and we were asked, "Do you want to come in the store?" Ummm, yes, please. As nobody else who approached was asked such a ridiculous question, I found this more than a little, well, questionable. 2. Once inside, we were given a very specific lecture about how we had to keep our masks on (no issue there), but, that we were not allowed to touch any of the merchandise, and if we did, we must put it in a designated "area", where assumedly, it was disinfected. 3. Once I decided I wanted to look at the prints (always my main reason for visiting), I asked how exactly I was supposed to accomplish this, without touching them? I was told they could give me a tissue, which seemed both laborious and ridiculous, especially considering that the bins the pictures were in were still filthy from BEFORE the virus. Which led me to believe, Did ANYTHING in the store even GET wiped down? Forget MY germs--what kind of germs would I be getting from THEM? Especially since they used to allow a plethora of pets so large and so insane that I used to repeatedly find animal fur on the products. Which leads me to my last point... 4. Once we had been, in my opinion, reluctantly been let in at the door, scolded about cleanliness (and me being old enough to scold THEM, after all, since the majority of people in the Chicagoland area that I have seen and indeed, around the country that are not wearing masks and such are THE SALESGIRLS' AGE, NOT MINE), had attempted to look at merchandise to hopefully buy (I support small businesses), then, THEN, said salesgirl at the door STARTED TALKING TO A GIRL, WITH NO MASK ON, AND FEEDING A DOG, WHICH SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO PET. And, she had previously pet ANOTHER dog, just a minute before. Say Whaa? Now this place has the nerve to have a BLACK LIVES MATTER sign in their window, a fact that I unfortunately did not see until we left. But here, at this moment in time (or really ANY moment in time, for that matter) I am left to believe this: That somehow, I, HUMAN BEING THAT I AM, am less sterile, less clean, less of a "health risk" than a dog. You may say I am reaching, but I think not. That was certainly the optics that I saw today. And most of all, felt. For when I mentioned all of this to the girl, all she did was scurry away, saying "Well, it's because we have a bathroom," to wash her hands in, I presume. As if that somehow explained that she had already touched another dog, and the only difference the second time was that it was ON ITS MOUTH. And, that I said something. Ugh. The absolute worst part of all, of course is that she walked away, overtly oblivious and uncaring to my concerns or my feelings. Meanwhile, the second salesgirl continued to have her head buried in some I imagine imaginary work, as there was not a single other soul in the store. Not once did either one of them try to help me, or answer a question. They acted like I was a major inconvenience. Well, then why are you open, my loves? I'm hoping that soon enough, they won't be. They can get all the white sterility and silence they want when they're spending their days at home.

So here's the deal... I've popped in and out of their Andersonville location a billion times over the years, usually for cards or gift wrap and tiny gifts. A recent visit presented me with a great idea for a housewarming gift--a small customizable art piece that kinda "tells your story." I worked with Employee X, who would be creating the piece, and she was friendly and quirky and funny and really made the whole process a LOT of fun. The finished piece (which took just a few days to make) looked fantastic and the recipient loved it to death! It was a total home run, so much so that I decided I wanted one for myself. I again worked with Employee X, taking a little more time this go around as my "story" is a bit more convoluted. We roughed out some ideas together and landed on a solid foundation along with where she'd have creative license. ...or so I thought. When I went in to get the piece a few days later, it turns out that we weren't quite on the same page after all. Employee X wasn't working that day, so I explained to her coworkers what wasn't quite right (there was one egregious error along with two smaller things that would've been totally live-withable if the bigger error wasn't there.) They made a note or two and said they'd have Employee X call me the next day, which she promptly did. Apparently, the "fun" part was over and Employee X's tone was now one of obvious annoyance. We talked through what needed to be revised and I increasingly found myself apologizing, which... wait a minute... aren't I the customer? And aren't I supposed always be right? The overall vibe I was given was "well this is what you said" and never "how can we fix this." Gaslighting notwithstanding, she would work on the revisions and send me something as a pre-approval before she got too far down a road. ...again, or so I thought. I eventually got a call from Employee X telling me that the revised piece was ready. I explained that I had expected to see "something" prior to the finished piece and I was told that she had to "do it all" in order show me something anyway, which... okay? She sent me a picture of the finished piece, which was again not quite correct. Sigh. Let's pause here and be clear: it's a tiny art piece, not the cure for cancer. I say that meaning it's not the end of the world for me if I had to wait again for it to be corrected. I wasn't angry, I wasn't annoyed, I hadn't lost my faith in Employee X or Foursided or anything like that. Instead of going back and forth over the phone, I went up to the store to re-review things with Employee X. When I told her that it still wasn't quite right, she essentially immediately washed her hands of me and told me she was going to hand the project off to a colleague--again, tone changing back to annoyance. I attempted to explain to her that a.) I really didn't want that and b.) the piece being wrong isn't a reflection upon her and that my dissatisfaction was by no means personal. It was her (original) enthusiasm and demeanor that made me want to get the piece in the first place and I really wanted to be able to complete the project with her. AND it was really just a matter of reverting one thing back to the previous version; a very simple fix. Oh, and c.) I called her out on her tone change. And all of this was happening very calmly and at polite conversational levels. In swoops Apparent Manager Lady, who shooed Employee X off to take a break. After some back and forth on the events that led me to that moment, AML informed me that my demands obviously can't be met and she spoke with the store owner about this and the best course of action is to refund my money. Let's break that down, shall we? My demands can't be met? Here we go again with the blame-shifting. It is not my fault that Employee X proceeded to create a revision without confirming that she fully understood the details to be represented in it. It is not my fault that Employee X didn't suggest that I come back into the store at my convenience so that she and I could sketch things out again and ensure that she fully understood said details. "My demands" are simple. "My demands" are simply for you to provide what I have paid for and asked for and for you to ask questions if you have any while you create it. Also, you spoke to the store owner about a.) a mere $85 art piece and b.) his response was "give him his money back and get rid of him" and not "what can we do to make him happy?" Either the store owner is still in business on a wing and a prayer or you're FOS. Keeping my cool, I agreed to the refund. And in the end, there was very little in the way of any sincere apology or attempt at amends. No "we hope you'll come back and visit us" or "we're really sorry this didn't work out. Adding insult to injury, I have $1,000 worth the custom framing in the works with them as well. I really wish I chose to spend that money elsewhere (no reflection upon the framing staff; they've been great.)

Cool shop, but significantly overpriced and the staff has NEVER acknowledged my existence even though today I was the only person in the store. Sadly I won't be back. Too many other great shops nearby to support that appreciate the clientele. Maybe I should only give them two stars.

Foursided is the best place to get framing done. Fast, professional and incredibly kind and smart staff. Love getting art framed by them!

I went in to mount some artworks (2 of them) on frames. Simple and easy I thought. Not only the girl in the store didn't like how I wanted to mount (stretch) the artwork on a frame and wanted to recommend a different way with glass and a background .. etc. (more money of course) , but also she had a dry approach and was kinda rude even. At the end after she gave me the total pricing and I told her it's kinda expensive and I need to think about it (which is what someone does before making any financial decision), she didn't try to even offer any discount (I had two pieces of art). Not sure how these people stay in business.

I went into the store to purchase some Chicago memorabilia. Instead The store became a political statement was very demeaning Trump cards that I thought was super disrespectful. I would never shop there again and everything I had in my hands which was almost $200 worth of merchandise I put back. Nothing to do with taste! Called respect.

I love love love getting pieces framed here. They have great expertise and I love the molding choices, definitely very unique and in great taste! Excellent service. Framing is always expensive because a lot goes into it, but their prices are great and they're happy to cut a mat / glass for your pre-existing frame. And they have a creative selection of adorable repurposed vintage & antique frames. GREAT BUSINESS.

Honestly I cannot say enough great things about the location on Clark across from Bar Roma. The displays and windows are designed and curated so beautifully and the staff is warm and helpful. I have to single out the lovely woman working the floor with the curly hair and round glasses. She dresses funky and she is so helpful and kind! A special person !

Foursided is an eclectic mix of vintage and hipster-centric items. A lot of the items here seem like they'd be on Etsy; so, if you're a fan of Etsy, you'll love this place. I will state that if you want to go here to find a gag gift, this place is it - but on the flip side, if you want to buy a good gift for a friend, you'll also find it here. For the chaotic environment, this place is surprisingly organized! If you're looking for office supplies or office based humor, you'll find it in one area. If you're looking for gems and succulents, you'll find it in one area. Frames? One area. Cars? One area. It's nice, but also still very random, to the point where you want to walk around the store so you don't miss anything. My personal favorite? The Chicago themed items. Who doesn't need a magnet that says, "Chicago is Better Than New York"? You can get a variety of things here; this includes getting items framed, and personalized art. For example, they have a lovely array of different states that you can place in a frame connecting two states. They have a wide array of frames. They also have everything from pins, to magnets, to kids stuff, to notebooks, vintage slides, vintage items, etc. They have a looooot of things here. I love all the funny mugs and feminist items! Price wise... eh, you gotta make a profit, right? However, I will say that I feel this place is definitely overpriced. I can find a lot of the stuff online for cheaper - that is not to say that the convenience isn't a factor. Some things are very reasonably priced, others... not so much. I don't want to page 8 dollars for the cheapest looking pickle ornament known to man. The staff are fairly inattentive, which is this is getting four stars (and, well, I guess for the prices). They seem to be running around with their heads cut off. Sometimes they're relatively rude towards you because they seem to busy. I will say (opinion, of course) that I think this place needs a bit more space. It's extremely hard to navigate this store. It's so crowded with items and people that you can barely get around. Do NOT go here on a Sunday morning (believe me... I tried twice!). Overall, it's a fun store with mostly pros, and some cons.

This is the first time I've gotten a picture professionally framed, so I can't really compare them to anyone else. But I'm very happy with it, I think they did a great job. They have a nice selection of different styles and colors of frames to choose from.

Great place to go when you need to buy a gift (hostess, friend, family member, stuffed animal for a kid, etc.). The inventory changes frequently. Love their selection of cards at the back.

Let's cut right to the chase--you are going to come into this store for framing or for cards and tchotchkes. You won't go wrong either way. Their framing work is outstanding, but be forewarned that you will pay A LOT. They have an enormous selection of frames, and the staff will dive in and work with you for as long as it takes to find the perfect combination (which could be thirty minutes or more if you are as particular as I am). I have had two unusual items framed here--a jigsaw puzzle and a large quilt fragment--and in both cases the work was exquisite. I hope to have those pieces in my family for a long time to come, so ultimately the expense will be worth it. And now that Paper Trail has closed, this will be my primary local source for cute and arty greeting cards. They do pretty well with that too.

Foursided has made me feel so very safe during Covid with their protocols, all while keeping their shop full of blissful tchotchkes. Such a welcome escape during this very strange year.

This is my favorite Foursided location ... great selection of gifts for myself :) and others. Friendly staff!

Cool place, super over priced. Came here once pretty costly but they did a great job. Second time I came here with a painting, not very big at all, maybe the height of my torso, and little skinnier than my frame, they wanted to charge me about $400 for the cheapest option. I'm sure there are just as good places out there for a cheaper price

Two stars because I cannot give less to a organization that puts dog treats outside the door for passerby-dogs. This was a one time trip here as we are from far out of town. We spent 45 minutes in the store. The owner and two employees were present for at least some of the visit but for the last 30 it was just the two employees. Twice I stood at the counter and waited while the two employees chatted with each other and when they did leave from behind the counter they strode right by without making eye contact or asking if I needed assistance. I was standing with an armload of merchandise, because this is a store with some cool stuff, but they did not offer to check me out (I wasn't ready, I had a question and was not finished shoppingo.) Eye contact and a hello would have probably allowed me the ability to purchase everything I had chosen but instead I put it all back (I embarrass easily and this made me feel uncomfortable and not quite like I fit in. I am not too hip, really) In total, I think I put back about $42 with of merchandise and did not purchase the $60+ speaker from the wall that my husband eventually was able to get some attention to get a price for)* I think with some basic customer service training this owner can whip these kids into shape. He should Never lose a sale because of them. He trusts them to have the ability to sell a customer not to discourage them. This is an awesome town that we stumbled upon and this was the deviation from the treatment that we received from other shops. *currently searching the Internet for that speaker. I really did want it.

I wouldn't go back to this place even if someone paid me. I've seen the owner (Todd, as the website indicates) talk down the employees AND customers. It's so blatant that it becomes a nervous and awkward experience for the customers around. I've witnessed him calling over employees just have them do a menial task like throw out his trash when he very well could have walked over to the equidistant trash can. I was around when he gave a customer a really hard time for having to wrap her mug--she asked very kindly, and he kept mentioning how he was really doing extra for her and it wasn't necessary for him to do it. He makes crude jokes about the customers when he thinks they're not listening. For the most part, the actual employees seem very nice. But if I see this man in there I just don't bother going in or staying long.

NEVER visit this store in Andersonville!! Just got kicked out of the store because the ignorant COVID door monitor wasn't paying a lick of attention to those coming or going, then rudely kicked us out after two people left the store, and we entered. We stood in line outside for 15 minutes, making sure we didn't just walk in. If you are going to give a modicum of power to those who do not possess the mental capacity to understand it, or don't care enough to do it correctly, you risk losing clients. You just lost two good clients today. Sack your door monitor. She absolutely SUCKS!!! 12:47pm 10/17/20.

Cute place! Lots of eclectic stationary and gifts. Chicago pins, frames with your home state (TX!), candles with celebrity faces, artist prints, cards, and sarcastic office supplies. The store itself is a fun place to browse with friends, with potential for lots of Instagram-worthy shots.

This afternoon I was gift shopping for my aunt and uncle, so I stopped in to see if there was anything they'd like. The merchandise was okay, but the customer service was horrible. There were three employees in the shop, and I was the only customer. I was not greeted when I came in. Nobody offered me assistance while I browsed. They just chatted among themselves. I saw some things that I would have bought, but I was so annoyed that I decided to leave. I thought that if I left, they might at least say "Thank you for stopping in" or something. Nope. I can't believe that I looked around this store for several minutes and not one of the three employees said a word to me. I see from other reviews here that this is typical behavior. Sad. And very out of character with the area. I went to three other shops in Andersonville after this experience and every time I was greeted, offered assistance, and was told to have a nice day on my way out the door. The poor customer service here is not representative at all of what Andersonville has to offer. I will not be returning to this store.

Such a magical place to stroll through anytime of the year! Todd has such a talent for collecting and displaying all sorts of things from the toys and trinkets of ones childhood to the current and cool pieces of today's generation. Everything displayed so creatively and thoughtfully... you'll surely find something you'll have to have for yourself! Being AirBnB hosts for the past 6 years here in Andersonville, we've met people from all around the world and nearly every guest mentions to us how much they love shopping at Foursided! When we see a Foursided bag in our home, we smile with a "Go Todd!" cheer! So much fun to have such wonderful artistic talent on the corner of Clark & Carmen!

This store has fun and unique gifts that are hard to find anywhere else. It is always perfectly merchandised as well. I would give it more stars, but the customer service is sub par every time I go. Especially today... I was one of 2 customers in the store and there were 2 women working. I never even got a "hello". Instead one was just straightening things up as I looked at them. Then, another coworker walked in and was greeted cheerfully by the associate behind the counter. Still, nothing said to me. I was pretty annoyed so I put all of the merchandise I had in my hands perfectly back in its home and walked out.

My basic knowledge of Catholicism came in handy at Foursided. I was shopping, minding my own business, when I heard a man ask the employee if they had baptism cards. But he wasn't confident that's what he needed. He struggled to find the word "sacrament," and asked her "which one comes first?" She struggled too. I was apprehensive to interrupt, but felt like I might be able to help. Yes, he meant baptism. And no, Foursided does not have baptism cards - but many baby cards that can fit the bill! Good deed for the day - check! Foursided is one the best boutique gift shops around! It's a long way from home for me, but after reading a few reviews, into my bookmarks it went. I was in the area last weekend (picked up a gorgeous area rug from Craigslist!) so I took full advantage of my time in Lakeview. There's street parking on Clark, but I felt rebellious and didn't pay the meter. I was parked right outside the door and didn't think I'd stay as long as I did. Just a guess - street parking on nearby side streets is probably free. What first caught my eye was the planter/vase with a cute vintage face painted on it. I'd seen something similar on Pinterest that I'd wanted for my make-up brushes, but I lack ambition when it comes to DIY. I was so happy to find something nearly identical and only $18. I also bought a dainty gold necklace shaped like an envelope (that my friends referred to as "e-mail" ugh), only $15! It's lightweight but nice quality. There's a nice variety of jewelry, especially with a Chicago or Illinois theme. Last into my basket was a coffee mug decorated with Pantone paint chip colors, also $18. The theme here is affordable, adorable gifts - for yourself or someone else. On this particular shopping binge, it was all for me! There are lots of unique gifts, much of it has a vintage feel including Chicago-themed art, cocktail glasses, dog collars, cards and journals, candles - definitely check out the wine candles. They're $28 but they really smell like wine - the chardonnay was my favorite scent. The employees are nice and even wrapped my necklace in a box and my glass items in paper for secure transport back to the 'burbs. If you love shopping, especially artsy, vintage, unique boutiques, then bookmark this spot no matter where you live.

This store has an amazing selection of unusual greeting cards that are like tiny pieces of art. Verily, I could see recipients of said cards framing them. Lots of quirky home decor items, old maps, flash cards - really cool stuff! Interesting little boxes and items, as well as original art by obscure artists. Really cool stuff here . . . it's almost like a little museum.

The website takes forever to load and there's no way to skip the flash intro. You really need to just call or stop by. But this is an excellent custom framing shop in Andersonville and is an additional location complementing their Lakeview store.

I live in Andersonville/Ravenswood and always support my neighborhood businesses. Stopped into Foursided today to pick up a Christmas/Encouragement Card for my wife who has breast cancer and is in chemotherapy. When I went to the checkout, there was a big display at the sales counter with cards saying things like Trump is a D**khead and Trump is a Motherf**ker followed by "have a nice day", real imaginative stuff. There were families with young children shopping in the store who inevitably were going to follow their parents to the checkout and see these cards. Are these the values this store is trying to represent? Subjecting ALL it's customers to their bias--even small children? I'm fully in tune with the "vibe" of my neighborhood, and despite being Conservative, I fully respect everyone's right to free speech--although it is rarely reciprocated--but this is lazy and lowbrow pandering of the highest and worst order. I'm not a "cancel-culture" kind of guy, but for a neighborhood that celebrates its inclusion and diversity--these folks are way off the mark. This isn't even the first time this has happened. I bought my wife a birthday card--a very gender unspecific card with a funny message about "someone reminded me it was your birthday" as if to imply that the buyer had forgotten. It was a cute card. On the back of the card was the price sticker with the label "Man Card", as if to imply that men are all chimps who forget their wives birthdays. Is this feminism? Why? Where does all the hate come from in a freaking gift shop--as store where people are happily buying gifts for their loved ones? Is this the shopping experience they are trying to promote? No thank you.

Five stars seems to be too conservative for this incredible, fun shop!!! There are just too many incredibly unique items to explain it. You have to experience this store. As an artist, I love many of the vintage images, great papers and fun add ins for collage work. Go with a group of friends and share some laughs as you read signs/greeting cards. It is a MUST if you are anywhere near Andersonville!

I absolutely adore these greeting cards and wish I had a place like this close to home. If I did, they definitely would be my go-to place for greeting cards. The cards are unique and I like the tongue-in-cheek ones that I found. For example, the wedding and engagement cards are hilarious. One was congratulating a couple on their wedding with an image of a shotgun. There are cards that you can give your friends to ask them to be part of your wedding party. In addition to the greeting cards, the shop carries a great selection of candles and home decor. They have a great selection of Chicago maps and images to decorate your walls. Some of the images also don't require any additional framing, which is nice for those of us who don't want to deal with that. Overall, great card shop and I definitely will come back when I next visit the area so I can stock up on my card needs.

The girl who helped me pick out matting and frames was wonderful. They require a down payment which is fine, but their receipts are not logical. They write down a cost for the framing. I would expect the subtotal, tax, total cost, down payment, and balance clearly documented. That's not the case. Because of there weird receipts, they told me my balance, but neglected to leave off tax. On a $600 purchase, that is significant. When I picked up my purchases he was searching for the store receipt. When he could not find,he asked me if I had gotten a call that my frames were ready.(in that tone that comes across as "You are an idiot. I can't find your receipt because your order isn't ready for pick up.") He took my receipt before finding the misfiled receipt. He did not hand me back my receipt, but said he placed it down on the counter-I was looking at merchandise. When he told me my balance, I told him it was not what I expected and asked him to explain the receipt. Hes obviously not a math person, a good business person, or able to understand the importance of good documentation. He called me a horrible person. He never understood my concerns about the receipt. He kept telling me the information was on my receipt, which could not be located. So now, rather than listening to my concern about the bad documentation on the receipt, he is now MAD that he can't PROVE to me something on my receipt. I had to ask him 10 times to just let me pay so I could leave, but now he won't ring up the purchase because he's intent on finding the missing receipt. Why can't he just let me pay? The vein in his forehead is popping out and if I had been at any other business, I would have left long ago, but they have my family heirlooms. Although the framing experts were wonderful and the products turned out great, I will NEVER go back here because that man literally frightened me to the point it felt like he could harm me. Maybe he was having a bad day, but I was shaking when I left. Shame on him.

Our go-to spot for cards and small gifts. Great selection of art and framing. Plus their seasonal window displays just make me smile. They always have a ton of fun, unique Christmas ornaments and themed trees around the holidays, too.

If you're looking for anything Chi-town related to hang on the wall or set on a shelf, look no further. A mind-boggling assortment of art, books, cards, candles, magnets, you name it, Foursided has it all. I stood in the doorway for a long moment just to get my bearings and decide what to look at first. And the employees are smart and friendly, too. I will be back to buy some fun art for our Chicago apartment, but I'll have to bring my boyfriend to help me pick from the selection, because there's just so much to choose from!

When I need a gift, something nonspecific and not very expensive, something fun and light and charming, I go here. And I always come away with something perfect, and more often than not I leave with something for myself. Definitely my go-to spot for cards as well.

Great store with the best little gifts and home goods. I purchase a majority of our candles from here. They have a great selection.

I already raved about the location on Clark in Lakeview. This one is like the Mama to the Clark St baby. Seriously. I love it all. Ron Swanson quote prints, YESSSSS. Eclectic ephemera. And of course, the smartass cards that I keep on hand. I could seriously go broke. I love that the non-card merchandise varies and you never know what you might find. A Leslie Knope Galentine's Day card, yep. Breakfast Club reference birthday card, of course. Pop culture and attitude. I bust out my wallet every time. I haven't used the framing services, but I trust that they'd be rave worthy as well.

There's quite a bit going on here. One of those shops where you're likely to find some kind of gift for anyone on your shopping list. That said, I was primarily in to shop some of their used frames. I'm always on the hunt for frames for my photography. On the recommendation of an acquaintance, I stopped in. They do indeed have a large selection of very cool *salvaged* frames. A very large selection. Distinct. Not the usual bland fare found in stores like Michael's or Joann's or Target. However, while I am far from averse to paying good money for an awesome frame, those here are, in my opinion, wildly over-priced. Especially since some of them are so old and dried out as to be falling apart. Not to mention, I was shopping only for the frames themselves -- thank goodness. I was told by a clerk that if I wanted mats and glass it would cost even more with price depending on the size of the frame. Six used frames lightened my wallet by nearly $250. I'm ticking $$$$ because it is an expensive shop. However, I would not call the merchandise "ultra high end".

Hidden neighborhood secret. Great for unique and eclectic mix of gifts, cards, stationary and more. I always enjoy perusing the store and, of course, it's my 'go-to' for fun (and a little expensive) Chicago-centric gifts.

Great spot to stop in for after breakfast at the bongo room. I was quite impressed with this shop. Most of these kind of stationary, knock knack shops are overpriced with only a few interesting things. I felt like everything here was unique and fun to look at. From the candles, to greeting cards, and from the posters to the jewelry, this place was cool. I will definitely be visiting again with a bit more cash ;)

Stumbled upon this place while in Andersonville. So cute! Love all the accessories... from cute ceramic vases, to crystals, metal pins, and super cute jewelry... and they sell vintage frames and do custom framing. The prices are also on point. Nice little gift shop! Good job guys!

I will start off with a simple, what a great shop. Do you have a birthday/shower/holiday gift need and no idea what to do? Well they have a load of unique gift ideas for just about every taste and price point with the added bonus of a great card selection. How about a bare wall and a need to fill it with a piece of art or perhaps your own picture/piece that needs a frame? What a fun selection of framed art work showcasing Chicago and Midwestern art works as well as some neat pieces that involve some everyday objects fashioned into interesting pieces to have on the wall. For those that are more into their own tastes and pieces I have picked up a few frames from here from their fantastic selection. We have a few simple frames from their stock selection and two of their reclaimed/antique wood frames. I like to "bus my own table" and put together my own frames and ideas but sometimes it is nice to have a different set of eyes to offer up a new perspective. After picking up a small piece during Open House Chicago I popped in for assistance and worked with their framers talking about my idea and they offering a few different thoughts that I had not considered. When all was said and done I walked out with a professionally completed reclaimed wood frame, mat, glass, and my piece mounted for less that the price I was quoted at Blick for a only thick piece of matting. With the holiday season upon us do yourself a favour and check these guys out for gift ideas or stop in and/or have them take care of your framing needs.

I love this store. I buy cards with great frequency as I love to give them. I refuse to send e-cards because to me, nothing will ever take the place of an actual handwritten card that can be mailed vs. the clicking of a link sent on an email. I'm old fashioned like that. Finding the perfect card is a thing of beauty and a feeling of triumph. In addition to framing services, unique gifts, candles, flash cards in different languages (what does one do with those anyway?) and other quirky items, Foursided has one of the most fantastic selections of greeting cards I've come across. I spent almost an hour in there choosing cards from their section known as "Lovey Crap" and before I knew it, I had amassed a pile of cards which would cost me a king's ransom. Unfortunately as much as it pained me, I had to put a few back, because I also have other frivolities to spend money on (like rent) but I am definitely coming back to scoop up some more. Some of their cards even come with the cautionary: "Read at your own risk as some material may be offensive." Who wouldn't want to receive a card with a warning label? Thanks to Beth R. for the heads up on this cool store!

I can't get enough of their cards. Some are cute. Some are funny. Some are naughty. But all are perfect to give to someone. My most recent trip in was to pick up some Mother's Day cards. Not only do I give one to my Momma, I also get some thoughtful ones for Grandma, a family friend, my friend with a new baby, etc. Again, these are pricey, usually around $5 each. But I find it to be a very kind gesture to give someone a fancy card every now and then. The three times I've been here, there has been a select few cards on sale, so be sure not to miss that.

You might be walking down Clark one day and suddenly realize, "Hey! I need some vintage typewriter keys!" You might be walking down Clark one day and say to yourself, "Uh oh! I forgot to get this woodblock print framed!" You might be walking down Clark one day and think, "Where am I going to get an expletive-laden letterpress card?" Maybe, just maybe, you're walking along on Clark and are saddened by your total lack of tiny watch gears, skeleton keys, and miniature photographs of 1930's Chicago. Well! If you're walking down the the stretch of Clark where Four Sided stands, you're in luck! They can help you out with all that stuff. They also have pretty jewelry, holiday decor, and oodles of ephemera and miscellany, all served up by nice people. Some of the prices are a little higher than you might be expecting, but I don't mind giving a little extra to support my local botanical glass slide vendor.

John Waters, Amy Sedaris, and Emily Post walk into a store. And that store is Foursided. This is a charming, irreverent, dusty little mecca of DIY, framing, cards, and unique gifts. Some of the merch is handmade, and some are the ingredients you'd need to make your own little shadowbox or magnet or whathaveyou. The front end has seasonal displays (like Christmas trees with those bright metal ornaments - you know the ones I'm talking about?), the side has the framing supplies, and the back is the card section. There is also a bathroom because they're hospitable like that. Since there is so much to look at, and I know I will look at it all, I have started this habit where I park across the street and don't pay at the box. That way I have to stay on my toes, make it speedy, and keep an eye on my car or else get a ticket. It's come to that. My favorite section is the cards, which are pricey ($4.00+) but unique and worth it. They carry cheeky ones, hip ones, and simple ones. I limited myself to one card for Valentine's this year (self-discipline in action). They also carry Coffee Stain cards, one of which I recently had the pleasure of receiving. I haven't used their framing service but recently gave a gift card and also bought the Groupon for that purpose. Update to come. In the meantime, I'll be back for chuckles and maybe a purchase or two.