Sometimes those discoveries are tucked inside an elegant resale boutique just off Michigan Avenue.
The North Shore Exchange is located in the historic Bloomingdale's building. Founded in 2013 by Wendy Serrino, the boutique has become a destination for beautifully curated designer fashion, jewelry, handbags, and home décor. But what makes it truly special is that every purchase supports charities that help children and families throughout the Chicago area. Last year, over $600,000 went to charities.
As wonderful as the store is, the real treasure I found was its manager, Mia Cohen.
I met Mia a few years ago, I realized she had grown up in one of those wonderfully creative Chicago homes where the arts weren't simply appreciated, they were a way of life.
Mia's father, Fred Spector, spent more than fifty years as a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Musicians came and went through their home, students arrived for lessons, and string quartets rehearsed in the living room. His prized possession was a Bergonzi, known as the Spector B, a highly sought after violin.
Meanwhile, Mia's mother, Estelle Spector, was equally accomplished. A renowned choreographer, director, and teacher, she inspired generations of performers through the Goodman School of Drama and Columbia College Department of Theatre. Mia said her mother did tai chi every day until the day she died.
You can almost imagine the fascinating dinner conversations at the Spector household.
Mia began working at Northshore Exchange as a volunteer. Now, she manages the Chicago store, working with an incredible team of volunteers and welcoming shoppers from around the world. What she loves most is knowing that every handbag, every piece of jewelry, every designer dress sold helps fund important charitable work.
When I asked Mia about her favorite things, her answer came without hesitation.
Family. Her husband. Her children. And now, the newest loves of her life—her grandchildren.
She also told me how much she enjoys living in the city. After years in the suburbs, she moved to Chicago nine years ago and has embraced its energy, neighborhoods, and endless opportunities to discover something new.
And then there's the job she clearly adores. But there is another reward that money can't buy.
"It's seeing someone's face light up," she told me. "When they find exactly what they've been looking for." Anyone who has ever found that perfect jacket, that impossible-to-find handbag, or that unexpected treasure knows exactly what she means.
As I left North Shore Exchange, I couldn't help thinking that the store is a perfect reflection of Chicago itself.
Beautiful things with rich histories.
People whose stories are even more remarkable than they first appear.
And a community where generosity and elegance can exist side by side.
That's one of my favorite things about this city. You walk in expecting to find a beautiful handbag. Instead, you leave with a beautiful story and know that the purchase goes to a well-deserved charity.
