The Vintage Garage Chicago’s flea market filled the entire fifth floor of the Maple Avenue parking garage on Sunday Oct. 15, with 100 unique vendors selling antiques. There were items from all throughout the 20th century, some dating even further back. The six hour event was crowded, with people walking around and chatting the whole time, despite the chillier weather. 

Vintage Garage Chicago only has four markets a year, with Sunday’s market being the last of this season. Everything from jewelry to gowns to antique Christmas decor was on display, with items originating from the early 2000s displayed next to antiques from the early 1900s.

For Madelyn McGlynnl, one of the shop owners at the market, using vintage pieces is an environmentally friendly way to connect with the past. 

“I’m kind of a nerd about the history of vintage stuff. It’s such a connection that we have to people who lived before us. There’s something really cool about vintage suits from the 1950s because when one thinks about the lady who was wearing that, she must have been such a cool person,” said McGlynnl. “Clothing tells stories and those stories are kept alive when vintage things are used and valued, and kept out of landfills.”

McGlynnl owns a vintage clothing shop called Madelyn’s Stoirin, which means ‘little treasures’ in Irish.