Blick reopens Loop location

Blick Art Materials returned to downtown Chicago on Friday, Oct. 21, with the grand opening of its newest retail store, located in the Old Heidelberg Restaurant building. The family-owned, Chicago-based business had been missing from the Loop since closing its store on State Street late last year. The new store is appropriately located near the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

It’s an 18,000-square-foot, bi-level store with products including — but not limited to — trendy craft items, stationary, gifts and any and all imaginable art supplies. The building façade was designed by the same architecture firm responsible for the Merchandise Mart and Civic Opera Building. Wooden doors above the glockenspiel clock conceal the structure’s quirkiest feature, a colorful statue of King Gambrinus by Chicago artist Edgar Miller in 1934. 

Blick serves all artists, crafters and art students, not to mention the casual passerby. “Blick Art Supplies is an integral part of the Loop’s ecosystem, which has taken a hit in recent years,” said President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance, Michael Edwards. 

Blick Art Materials is a pioneer in online art supply sales and has a call center run by Blick’s very own employees in Galesburg, Illinois. 

A long time advocate of art education, Blick provides support for art programs and education. Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony included the presentation of a $3,000 check to support Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts.

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