Lisa Chrisopoulos, one of the owners of Heritage Trail Mall in Wilmette.
WILMETTE – Step inside Heritage Trail Mall in Wilmette and any fear you may harbor of finding that perfect holiday gift will disappear. At over 7,000 square feet, and with more than 70 vendors showcasing antiques and collectibles, Heritage Trail is a treasure trove of unexpected and eclectic gifts.
“You can buy so much more for your money if you are willing to put the time into looking through a store like this,” owner Lisa Chrisopoulos said of the mall located at 410 Ridge Road.
Each vendor creates a unique display of antiques and collectibles that range from books, dishes and vases to jewelry, artwork and furniture. Some vendors specialize in Mid-Century Modern, while others sell more traditional antiques. In short, you’re likely to find something at Heritage Trail that can be found no where else.
“The art runs the gamut, from listed artists to on the bizarre side,” Chrisopoulos said. Vendors are constantly bringing in new items everyday — even Chrisopoulos sees something new every time she walks through the store — and vendors are always looking for new trends.
Chrisopoulos runs the store with her sister Kirsten Carlson and mother Joan Carlson, who started the store with her husband Jerry 23 years ago. Jerry Carlson, who passed away this past June, decided to open the store after retiring as a security specialist at the Social Security Administration.
Carlson was home about six months when his wife told him he needed to find something to do in his retirement. He opened Heritage Trail in a former feed and grain store, selling antiques as well as crafts. The store turned out to be a success — eventually focusing exclusively on antiques — and expanded into the adjacent building that was a former horse stable. Soon Joan opted for early retirement and joined her husband at the business, as did both daughters. For Chrisopoulos it was a logical leap, since she had been working in retail at Marshall Fields.
“We accuse my father of opening this store just so he had a place to put all of his Christmas stuff,” Chrisopoulos joked. Indeed, an elaborate miniature Christmas village displayed in the storefront windows is from her father’s personal collection. “We’ve been putting (the Christmas village) in the windows for at least 22 years,” she said. “It has been a huge neighborhood hit,” Chrisopoulos added.
The holiday season begins at Heritage Trail after Thanksgiving, when an influx of out-of-town visitors come to the store. “We’ve become a destination for out-of-towners,” Chrisopoulos said. Many are repeat visitors who enjoy coming back each year when they are in town visiting relatives. “For me that is a good feeling being a long term retail person, when you actually make connections with people,” Chrisopoulos said.
Keeping it personal seems to be part of the charm of Heritage Trail. Chrisopolous noted that vendors share their talents by helping customers pick out items, many of whom they know by name. “I know probably close to fifty percent of the customers by name,” she said. Two days before Christmas is also a busy time of year, when men come in with their children shopping for their wives. “It has become a tradition at this point,” she said.
Many of Heritage Trail’s vendors were former store owners who transitioned to Heritage Trail after closing a store. Chrisopoulos said an added benefit is that these vendors bring their customer base with them. Each vendor rents varying amounts of square footage and commits to working a certain number of hours on the floor each month. Spaces are never available for long and openings are advertised by word of mouth.
While some may view this job as a hobby, keeping things current is a lot of work. “It is too expensive to be a museum,” Chrisopoulos said bluntly of the cost to rent a space. “It’s a lot of work keeping it fresh,” she said.
Chrisopoulos observed that the business continues to change over the years, as people shift away from collectibles and formal dishes. “Nobody is collecting anymore. It is very design focused,” she said. “I think that the North Shore is more design focused and savvy (than other areas),” she added.But Heritage Trail continues to stay current on design trends. “To keep the finger on the pulse you have to keep looking at home decorating magazines out there,” Chrisopoulos said. Chrisopoulos would also like to grow her client base by marketing the environmental advantages of purchasing old rather than new. “I would really like to develop the greener aspect of this business,” she said.
Indeed, her passion for this family business is apparent. “This is not a get rich business. You do it because you love it,” she said.
Heritage Trail Mall is open 11:00 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10:00 am. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. For more information go to www.heritagetrailmall.com.
