AMADARA

The merchandise is AMAZING here — I’ve gotten very affordable, but cool/​chic/​unique/​good quality gifts for teachers, babysitters, my own teenager who is very particular, and some very nice household stuff. The extensive range of options, the great prices, and the owner’s friendliness and helpfulness without being at all pushy are all wonderful. The owner also offered to help wrap my gifts when I purchased several at once for no extra charge, and her artistry really made for a much better presentation than I ever could have done.
Why only 4 stars, then? Well… about 50% of the time that I intend to stop in, it’s closed, and there are no posted hours (on the door or online) that I have ever been able to find. On a few occasions this past holiday season, I was doing last minute teacher-​aide shopping and after two failed attempts to get cool stuff during what would seem to be normal business hours, I ended up having to just get Starbucks gift cards down the street. :(Even one of those «back at …» plastic clocks would be useful. I live in the area and drive/​walk by probably 1−3x a week and still can’t figure out the rhyme or reason of when the store is open, or not. If you’re making a trip, definitely call first to see if they will be open.

This little shop is WONDERFUL! I just moved into an apartment in the building of this store and I’ve had no trouble finding little decorating trinkets. The woman who owns it is fabulous and extremely personable. I felt like I made a new friend. Truly the standard for business these days

Driving down Western I stopped my friend mid-​sentence when I noticed the colorful lanterns in the window – oooh what’s that store???
Come to find Amadara is relatively new to the area (they have a sister shop in Navy Pier) and their focus is on imported wares. The items are from India, Indonesia, Thailand and run the gamut from paper lanterns to jewelry to clothing to picture frames to hand made bags… just some cute cute stuff.
My visit ended up with me buying a great button down shirt for my son made from the softest breathable cotton and some bracelets for me. On my list for future purchases, more bracelets and some paper lanterns, maybe some necklaces and maybe some scarves – haha, It’s all good in here. Colorful and hand made items. Friendly owner.

I was drawn in the store by the great selection of colorful paper lanterns that dangle in the window. It’s a great little neighborhood shop full of hippie-​esque items. Seriously, if long crocheted vests aren’t hippie I don’t know what is. They have tons of imported gift items, trinkets and jewelry. There are purses made of seashells, and eco-​friendly handmade writing journals made of tree bark. This is a great place to buy a gift for a friend or two, or treat yourself to something funky. The owner is also very nice. The shop’s name is a combination of her children’s names. It’s a nice little neighborhood destination.

This is a new shop with gifts, small furnishing and accessories (e.g., jewelry and scarves). All of the items are made in countries like India, Indonesia and Thailand and there are a lot of fun things to choose from. It’s easy to miss the shop if you are driving down Western Avenue but it’s worth stopping by to check out, especially if you are looking for gifts. The couple who run the shop are very friendly and can tell you more about where items are from.