Embrace

Part gourmet restaurant, part upscale gift boutique, this unusual hybrid is well worth seeking out—and half the adventure is actually finding it (it's located in an old theater down a long, romantically lit alley). The retail half of Embrace greets you at the door, and the rustic space focuses on luxury impulse buys: D.L. & Co. scented candles, Bond No. 9 fragrances, Santa Maria Novella soaps, and Jeanine Payer engraved message bracelets, plus weekend-ready clothing like J Brand jeans and T Luxury extra-soft tees. Just beyond the sales floor is the bistro, which has the same warm elegance as the store—slate floors, wide-plank-wood tables, handcarved archways—and offers inventive takes on traditional American dishes.
29 E. First St., 630-325-1996, embraceyourstyle.com

Women's Clothing, Beauty, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique