The Alley

A fixture in Lakeview for more than a generation, The Alley has been in existence longer than many of its fans—including Matthew Ancer, a musician and Columbia College student studying public relations and arts management. Ancer lives in the ’hood now, right near the Clark and Belmont intersection anchored by the Alley and its sister stores—including Architectural Revolution, Taboo Tabou and Blue Havana—owned by Mark Thomas. But Ancer was a suburban high-school student when he discovered the Alley.

“I was in search of Gothic garb for a one-man show I’d written for acting class,” Ancer says. “I was desperate for silver and brocade; I needed to resemble Stevie Nicks as much as possible. I struck gold at the Alley, where I found a mass of eerily Stevie-characteristic garments, accessories and props, including a massive silver spider ring, a black velvet cape and platform kicks.”

The store has morphed through various incarnations since the late ’70s, when it was “the Cartier of head shops,” located in suburban Woodfield Shopping Center, says Thomas. He bought into the business at that time, but when Schaumburg banned the sale of pipes, it was time for a change. The Alley reinvented itself, specializing in clothes for the rocker, the biker and the goth; it also moved to the first of its Lakeview locations in the early ’80s—a move that, fittingly, put the storefront in an actual alley just off Belmont. Today, the latest store on Clark Street occupies three floors, selling everything from leather jackets to shoes, but the biggest draw is the piercing studio and accompanying jewelry.

“We’ve always had a very unexpected mix [of customers],” Thomas says. “We have a huge client base with the guys rolling down the street on their motorcycles. The [most] colorful part of our client base has been the Punkin’ Donuts kids [the disaffected youth who hang out at the Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner], but we couldn’t have stayed alive just from them, because they bought dollar stickers.”

When Ancer shops at the Alley, he’s got a system that includes looking for bargains. “Keep your eyes on the price tags,” he says. “Some of the clothing can be expensive, but a lot of merchandise is marked down.” Indeed, on the day we visited, we found a number of items marked as much as 50 percent off, including a leopard-print belt and superhero-insignia hoodies. Furthermore, Ancer advises, “Start at the back. You don’t want to rummage through goblets and posters only to miss the groovy shoe collection.”

The Alley, 3228 N Clark St (773-883-1800).

Matthew Ancer’s favorite finds

1. Wine-colored pinched pie hat “A dashing hat always adds a regal touch to any ensemble.” $40.
2. Black jacket with hood “The weathered wash, sharp accents and oversized zippers caught my eye. This jacket means business.” $95.
3. Leopard-print belt “I am Leo and always try to embrace my inner kitty.” $9.
4. Vans black high-tops with gold skulls “A rare treat: Combat, character and comfort.” $68.
5. Buttons “At five for a dollar, I couldn’t resist representing my retro favorites.” 25¢ or 5/$1.