Last December, 4th Ward resident Claire Hillesland was searching for a second-hand winter coat for her two-year-old daughter.
She asked 9th Ward resident Katie Mckiernan, whom she’d met two months prior through a toddlers’ program at the Chandler-Newberger Community Center, where to find such a coat. Hillesland and Mckiernan said they realized there was nowhere in Evanston to buy second-hand children’s clothing.
That changed when they founded Little Gems, which opened Saturday on Washington Street.
For its grand opening, more than 100 customers filled the store — far more than Hillesland said she’d expected. While parents shopped and conversed, children lined up on the sidewalk for face painting and gelato.
Mayor Daniel Biss arrived around noon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but between talking to families and managing logistics, Hillesland said they forgot about the ribbon. They used leftover bright pink bulletin board trim instead.
“It felt really surreal,” Hillesland said. “I can’t believe all these people are here to take pictures and watch us cut a makeshift ribbon.”
The store also sells toys and books, many of which come from Mckiernan’s personal antique collection. She said she’s always loved thrifting and started a vintage furniture company with her husband in 2012.
Like Mckiernan, Chicago resident Jackie Krejnik said she often buys clothing second-hand — just like her mother did for her.
“Finding something that’s already been loved by another family just feels kind of special,” Krejnik said. “You’re getting a gift from somebody that you maybe don’t know.”
Krejnik said she heard about Little Gems’ opening through Hillesland, whom she met while working at Asrai Garden in Wicker Park. She held floral arrangement workshops at the hotel where Hillesland managed programming. Hillesland said she hopes to arrange a pop-up with Krejnik at the store around Christmas.
Biss said he might return to buy items for his nieces and nephews.
“I feel disappointed that I’m out of the age where I have kids who’d be perfect to shop for here,” Biss said.
Skokie resident Christina Magnabosco said she valued Little Gems’ affordability. She said half of her children’s clothes go unworn, and she often needs to buy new items for them.
She said she and Mckiernan both have children who attended Pope John XXIII School, and that as a mom, it’s important to support other moms.
The founders said motherhood affects their approach to business. Mckiernan, who has three children, said in the future, she might have to close the shop for 20 minutes some days to pick up her kids from school.
Mckiernan also said among the customers she spoke with Saturday, one’s daughter was surprised Mckiernan had opened a store — or that she even could.
“She said, ‘Wait, we can just do that?’” Mckiernan said. “Maybe girls don’t have that big dream because they don’t see a lot of women business owners, so it’s the main goal to support women-owned businesses. You can do this. Look at all the women that are doing it.”
For months, Hillesland said the concept of a second-hand children’s store in Evanston seemed like a “hypothetical.” While she and Mckiernan both thought one would garner interest, they were never completely sure.
“Today, it feels like we were proven right,” Hillesland said.
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