City of Lake Forest, IL

Original art by George Erkenswick, a current Junior at Lake Forest High School

The City of Lake Forest opened a first of its kind Pop Up shop at the East Lake Forest train station on Friday, November 27. Called Lake Forest Station, the shop introduces something new and exciting to the downtown shopping district for the holiday season and supports many Lake Forest non-profits by providing a venue to raise their visibility and sell branded items. The Pop Up also offers a collection of limited-edition Lake Forest merchandise. 

By opening a fun, new shop in Market Square, the City, along with sponsors Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lake Forest, Coldwell Banker, @properties, Compass, and Griffith, Grant and Lackie hope to promote local shopping and help to bolster the Lake Forest business community during this challenging period.

Lake Forest Station opened on Friday, November 27 and operates from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays. Saturdays through Sunday, January 9. The Pop Up will be staffed by adult volunteers and Lake Forest High School National Honor Society students who will earn service hours. 

Follow Lake Forest Station on Instagram for special shopping days and holiday closures.  

Proceeds from the sale of non-profit merchandise will go directly back to their organizations. Gorton Community Center, Elawa Farm, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Lake Forest Library, CROYA, LFHS Spirit Store, Ragdale, History Center of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff, Mother’s Trust, Paws for Patrick and Reading Power will take part, among others. Net profit from Lake Forest Station will be distributed among participating non-profits.

Lake Forest Garden Club has generously installed the beautiful floral arrangements in the large urns near the front entrance of Lake Forest Station. George Erkenswick, a talented artist and junior at Lake Forest High School, created the illustration of Lake Forest Station, which will appear on community boards, advertisements and shopping bags stickers.

The City hopes the unique Pop Up makes the holiday season and this unprecedented time a little bit brighter for Lake Forest and encourages all to stop in!