Navy Pier Inc.

11/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/14/2025 13:05

New Retailer Celebrates the Creativity and Craftsmanship of Chicago

Navy Pier Local soul announces grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony on november 19 at navy pier

CHICAGO (Nov. 12, 2025) - Today, Navy Pier announced the opening of a new retail experience dedicated to providing the local entrepreneurs and makers of the Chicagoland area with an unmatched retail platform. The new concept, Local Soul, is slated to have its grand opening on Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m., just days before shoppers nationwide celebrate small, independent retailers on Small Business Saturday.

"The initial enthusiasm for Local Soul has been overwhelming," shared Martha Wade, Chief Curator at Local Soul. "Being able to provide a retail space for the eclectic mix of creators and entrepreneurs that Chicago has is something we take great pride in. We can't wait for the world to see all that our great city has to offer."

Providing a curated selection of rotating items that represent Chicago, Local Soul celebrates community through commerce. Featuring more than two dozen vendors, Local Soul is where local meets luxe, with every product telling a unique, soulful story. Whether it is fashion, food, art or design, Local Soul is more than a store. It is a showcase of the spirit that drives the Chicagoland area forward.

The initial retailers who will have products available through Local Soul include.

"While the products speak for themselves, so many of the business owners we are working with have incredible and inspirational stories that we can't wait to see shared with the world," added Wade. Beyond the wide array of retail partners, Local Soul's opening and operations are made possible in part thanks to the generous philanthropic support of Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz.

Additional information on Local Soul, including an up-to-date list of brands represented in the store can be found at navypier.org/location/local-soul. For a complete list of the shops, restaurants, and attractions at Navy Pier, please visit www.navypier.org.

###

About Navy Pier

Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the most visited destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases over 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities, and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. Today, Navy Pier continues to usher in its second century with ongoing redevelopment efforts including the 223-room Sable hotel, the all-transient Navy Pier Marina, and thrilling new attractions such as Flyover Chicago. The Pier is proud to present free programming designed to inspire and engage communities across the city and globe, including the #1 Fireworks display in the nation. For more information, visit NavyPier.org.

Navy Pier Inc. published this content on November 13, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 14, 2025 at 19:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]