The Whistle Stop, a vintage thrift store in West Chicago, reopened in a new establishment at 113 Main Street on March 9 after being temporarily closed since Feb. 16 due to the pending location change. 

The Whistle Stop opened in February last year, and has gained customers and positive reviews since then. Recently, upon searching for the shop online, a user would see that the thrift store was temporarily closed: this was due to a location change. Thanks to the business’ growth, the owners moved the shop into a larger establishment to display clothing and retain more customers, as announced on Instagram in February.

The owner of The Whistle Stop, Isaac Nelson, who is also an alum of West Chicago Community High School, reports that the main reason for the change was the need for space.

“We had a crazy amount of growth this year and our inventory has grown from about two-thousand items to six-thousand. I knew that our old location was going to be short-term,” Nelson said. 

Previously, The Whistle Stop called 108 Galena Street home, but Nelson believes that the new location will attract customers due to being able to store online items in a basement instead of off-site.

“It basically doubles the amount of items we have. I’m really excited about this new space, and I really hope that it does attract more customers,” Nelson said.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Photo by Sebastian Alarcon

A look at The Whistle Stop's new location on Main Street from the outside; through the window, customers can view all the vintage wear available.

Not only is the location bigger, but it is also more convenient because it offers multiple bathrooms for employees and customers. The shop has become a local favorite, especially among WEGO students.

“I’m really happy that there’s a store like that in West Chicago, I think we need more so people visit the small businesses around here. I think the new place will be cool, and I hope people go to see it,” senior Mariana Acosta said. 

Many locals believe The Whistle Stop is a great addition to the downtown area, and the vintage pieces are worth the trek. 

“I haven’t seen [the new location] yet, but I want to ’cause the clothes are tough and peak,” junior Antwan Angeles said.

With a bigger establishment, Nelson hopes to be more inclusive with the shop’s variety of clothing.

“Moving forward, a big focus of ours is going to be to find a balance between men’s and women’s clothing, and make sure all our options can be accessible to everyone at all the places we sell,” Nelson said.