My Chicago: Maddie Rogers

by Megan Kirby
Video by Zachary Phelps

Alum Maddie Rogers’s (BFA 2020) Vintage House Chicago began as a series of vintage markets in 2021.

Today, it’s evolved to include a brick-and-mortar store in Bucktown, complete with a colorful mural, a photo booth, and decades worth of vintage duds. In this video, Rogers takes us on a tour of her storefront. She also shared some of her favorite spots in Chicago to chill, find community, and—of course—source the best vintage. 

The Lakefront

I grew up by the water in Seattle, and whenever I've kind of had a rough time with the transition to moving here, going to the lake has always been very centralizing for me. I think the lakefront really brings Chicago together. 

Ten Cat Tavern

This pool bar is up north on Ashland and Irving Park. I started going there when I was 21 and it's where I started learning to play pool. So much of my aesthetic and so much of my community now is because I walked in there and I joined a pool league. That changed the course of my life in Chicago. I don't go there now as much, but it was such a pivotal place for me when I was at SAIC, and I'm so grateful for it and grateful to have played pool and then kept doing it.

Village Discount Thrift Store

It could be any of the Village Discounts. That's where I do a lot of my sourcing, and where I do a lot of my alone time. I could be in one of those stores for like four to five hours, and I won't really notice the time pass by. I love being in there. I found the one in Logan Square when I first moved here, and I was so overwhelmed by it at first. It really trained me how to shop. ■