After weeks of suspense, Urban Outfitters finally opened its newest Chicago location at 651 West Diversey Parkway, right on the border between Lakeview and Lincoln Park. Those of you who have lived in “New Town” for a few years may remember that this location once held a Pier 1 Imports. This space was an excellent choice for an Urban Outfitters, as its existing design fit in well with the brand’s industrial aesthetic. The area surrounding the Clark and Diversey intersection is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, in spite of the recession. In addition to Urban Outfitters, a Trader Joe’s is being built two doors down at the corner of Orchard and Diversey.

The two Urban Outfitters employees who I had photographed a day earlier, Uriel and Christine, invited me to the store’s grand opening. I took the opportunity to introduce myself to the sales associates who will inevitably be seeing me on a weekly basis. I met and photographed Kit, Azariah, and Amber, all of whom were very sweet, and quite excited about working at the new store!

To celebrate the grand opening, the store featured the sounds of Urban Outfitters employee and DJ Louis Perchikoff.