CHINATOWN -- Local businesses are looking for Chicagoans' support this holiday season.
If you want to help, you can grab a bag of caramels from a new Portuguese bakery in McKinley Park, some "deep house" vinyl from Bridgeport Records or early release Jordan sneakers at a burgeoning Chinatown streetwear store.
Block Club Chicago rounded up a few neighborhood gift options to help residents shop local. Here's what you can buy:
Ichiban Candy & Snacks, 2117A S. China Place. Website
The colorful candy store in the heart of Chinatown Square translates to "number one" or "best." Customers can grab a bag and pick out unique individual candies that typical run $12.50 or $15 by the half pound.
There's over 40 over flavors of Hi-Chew from "cola soda pop" to classics like mango and strawberry. The store also stocks mini mochis, chestnut pancakes and fun-size Japanese Kit Kats in milk tea, orange, green tea and matcha latte flavors, just to name a few.
The candy store also has larger containers of Lay's Chinese potato chips -- in flavors like roasted cumin lamb skewer and cucumber -- and speciality Cheetos, usually $3 or $4 each. A tin box of Snoopy maple sugar cookies goes for $17.95.
Ichiban is open noon-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. (312) 804-8686.
Vital Chinatown, 235 W. Cermak Road. Website, Instagram for sneakers, Instagram for apparel.
Brian "Vital" Chan went from being known as that CPS teacher with the cool kicks to hustling sneakers around Chinatown to now running his own streetwear store that's becoming a burgeoning community center.
Vita Chinatown opened last year and has since hosted pop-ups for rapper Trinidad James and local designer Chelsea B, who released her own Jordan brand shoe at the store, Chan said.
Chan has hosted collaborative pop-ups with other local brands and designed New Era caps with Burdeens, a historic streetwear store in Pilsen, in hopes of "emphasizing Latino and Asian unity," Chan said.
"We'd like to believe we have been chipping away at historical divides since we've opened, connecting so many different communities to Chinatown in a positive way," Chan said.
Chan has early releases of Jordan "Black Cement" 3s and Jordan "Legend Blue" 11s, which he expected to be the hottest sellers of the holiday season. Prices range $250-350.
As part of a full apparel line, popular "Vital Anniversary Tees" sell for $58.
The store is open Monday 2-7 p.m., 2-7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and noon-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday. It is closed Tuesday.
Bridgeport Records, 3336 S. Halsted St. Website.
Vick Lavender, a longtime house DJ, and Jerry Morrison, a retired Illinois political power broker, opened Bridgeport Records in July as a homage to their coming-of-age in the Chicago house music scene.
Bridgeport Records stocks a mix of jazz, soul, hip-hope and grunge selections, but their speciality is deep house, which Lavender described to Block Club as a chillier, moodier subset of house music.
If crate digging isn't your thing, Bridgeport Records has its collection available online. Marshall Jefferson's "House Masters" and Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" both run $32, while bucket hats cost $40.
Bridgeport Records is open noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Monday. 312-560-6742.
Let's Boogie Records & Tapes, 3321 S. Halsted St. Facebook.
If you're a serious crate digger, you can't go wrong with Let's Boogie Records & Tapes. An anchor of Bridgeport's Halsted Street corridor since 1976, Let's Boogie feels like a blast from the past in all the right ways.
Let's Boogie is located across the street from Bridgeport Records. Used records abound in this shop, including Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" ($30). There's plenty of new, or at least non-used records, including The Strokes' "Room On Fire" ($25). T-shirts from the legendary store hover around $40.
It's the 98th year in business for Filbert's, which still bottles its root beer in a small Bridgeport warehouse with piles of boxes strewn around for costumers to dig into and buy.
The family-owned business offers 31 different flavors, from black cheery and orange to holiday specialities like pumpkin cream soda and pumpkin root beer.
Customers can buy a box of 24 bottles in-store for $14. The business is cash only.
It's the last local soda maker in Chicago.
"We're so small, the big guys spill more than we make," said Ron Filbert as his trusty bottling machine clanked and clicked along. "We work when the orders come in."
Filbert's is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Use the side door. Website.
Cadinho Bakery, 3438 S. Archer Ave. Instagram.
Maria Alejandra Rivera spent three years living in Cascais, Portugal, and brought back to Chicago tried-and-tested recipes for Portuguese tarts, cakes and breads. She's now turned an Instagram side-hustle slinging the treats out of her house to a McKinley Park storefront, which opened July 18.
"The store has been a great experience, just lovely to see so many familiar faces and new faces from the neighborhood," Rivera said. "It's been a wonderful learning experience bringing things from home to an audience."
For the holidays, Rivera is selling boxes of four pastries -- including signature Portuguese egg tarts (pastel de nata), slices of cakes and breads -- for "kids to give to their teachers," she said ($15).
She'll also be making bags of caramels ($15) with chai, orange, thyme and rosemary flavors, similar to the popular smoothies and coffee drinks she now sells in her sit-down shop. Online gifts cards will also soon be available.
Cadinho Bakery is open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Video Strip: Movie and Game Rentals, 3307 S. Archer Ave. Facebook.
Joe Trutin wants to help you find your parents' favorite niche movie or your best friend's most nostalgic childhood video game.
His movie and video game rental business is still standing with over 25,000 titles -- more than Netflix or any other streaming service.
He's also got classic video games for the beloved Wii and GameCube, as well as older consoles of the Xbox and Playstation. What's new: the store's beagle, Honey, who is a fan of affection from customers and chicken nuggets.
Video games rent for $1.99 a day. For TV shows and movies, new releases run $3.99 for two days while all others are $3.99 for a week. Unlimited monthly movie rental packages start at $12.99.
Video Strip also sells pop culture collectibles and toys, including a large selection of Funko Pops (starting at $15).
The video store is open 1-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 1-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 773-927-4307.
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