FUN
SERIOUSLY
R E TA I L P R O F I L E
Nostalgia and whimsy await customers at The Red Balloon, a charming destination boutique in the heart of Bucktown, Chicago. BY
MICHELE SILVER
ENNIFER POPE KNOWS her strong suit. The Chicago native always had a clear vision for her retail venture and has stayed the course for more than three decades. That’s some serious longevity for a business owner who self-professes that she never wants her store’s merchandise to be “taken seriously.” Pope’s passion for vintage treasures in a lighthearted environment came together for The Red Balloon, her specialty store named after the French 1950s children’s film. Although the category of offerings has shifted over the years, the shop’s gestalt has remained the same.
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