Sidewalk Sale Returns!

By Jennifer Houghton

As a fountain pen enthusiast, I have a soft spot in my heart for birthdays and special milestones. It means something I’ve been dreaming about might get gifted to me. But, what if I told you that there’s an event coming up next week that’s a gift in and of itself?

The largest sidewalk sale in Chicago will be hitting the street August 12th and 13th. Let your inner pen geek mingle, safely, outside of the Atlas Stationers store front from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The Event

What will you find at the event? Well, for starters, dozens of vendors, thousands of products, and special promotions. If you have been following us on social media (@atlasstationers) you know the promotions and giveaways we’ve done in the past. I’m sure Brendan has been working on some surprises that you’ll hear more about as the event date nears. 

The first thing I wanted to know was which vendors were attending the event. The list covers just about every line I lust after:

• Pineider 
• Diplomat
• Conklin
• Monteverde
• Tibaldi
• Yookers
• Maiora
• Esterbrook
• Aurora 
• Montegrappa
• ystudio 
• Otto Hutt
• Caran d’Ache
• Pilot 
• Pelikan

Where

Atlas Stationers is located at 227 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60606. We will be hard to miss with dozens of vendors and tables set up outside. 

History

This is the 34th Annual Sidewalk Sale and our first in-person, post-COVID! We want everyone attending to know that we take your safety seriously. While the outdoor portion is mask free (per current CDC guidance) we are being cautious and wearing masks inside the store. We welcome any questions, just reach out to us! Any details or updates can be found at www.atlasstationers.com. 

Why does a store start hosting a sidewalk sale? Well, for us, it was originally a way to clear out older merchandise in the weeks leading up to Halloween and Christmas. You know, making room for the candy corn and fa-la-la-la’s. What started out as a one-day event has grown to two full days because the people demanded it (and we needed to be sure that we could cover any situation Mother Nature threw our way).

If you stopped in during the early days, you probably remember seeing only Atlas employees. But, as things expanded, vendors and manufactures wanted to join in. Who doesn’t enjoy a family business hosting a party, I mean sale, in the Loop? Atlas is friendly and fun! So, by bringing in vendors, customers get the added benefit of having their products and special promotions onsite.

Lay of the Land

We know that many people will visit from outside Chicago, so here are a few things to help you navigate your time during our Sidewalk Sale.

Attractions: While you are in the neighborhood, take advantage of some of our iconic sites. There are boat tours on the River Walk; Wrigley Field is a few stops on the “L” train; Millennium Park and the Bean are within walking distance; and check out the Willis Tower Sky Deck for amazing views of the city. 

Food: Chicago has some of the best restaurants, so you can’t go wrong with any food choice. Nearby spots for grub include Yolk, Monk’s, Pizzeria Portofino, and Beatnik on the River.

Transportation: As any resident knows, the city is great but driving and parking isn’t as much fun. We recommend a great pair of walking shoes and enough time to get around on foot. However, to speed up your journey (and to get back to the Sidewalk Sale for more shopping) some options for getting around without a car include using the Divvy bikes (https://www.divvybikes.com), taxis, or the Chicago Transit Authority (https://www.transitchicago.com). If you want to park nearby, the closest lot is located at 180 N. Franklin and is self park (https://www.iparkit.com/locations/lake-franklin-parking). Or, you can park on the street which has metered parking (https:www.parkchicago.com).