Treasure hunters
Best friends open an independent boutique inspired by their travels
LAUREN McGRADY & TOM GAVIN
AGES: 31. CLAIMS-TO-FAME: Partners of new West Loop boutique Rider (1115 W. Lake), which opened late last month. FAMILIAR
FACES: Before leaving their day jobs to open Rider, McGrady and Gavin earned their retail chops as the manager of the Bucktown menswear spot Apartment Number 9 and creative director of Haberdash, respectively. LIVE IN: Ukrainian Village.
HOWTHEY MET
McGrady: We met at Columbia College in an entertainment law class [10 years ago]. We’ve been friends ever since.
THE IDEA
McGrady: The initial thought was to have mostly American-designed products that we refurbished. Then I started traveling a lot and realized you can’t be so insular. So [the concept] evolved to Rider, meaning riding around and keeping your clairvoyant eye open for tiny treasures that inspire.
WHAT’S IN STORE
McGrady: We sell everything from furniture to clothing, apothecary, jewelry, journals, ceramics, chocolate bars — really, a little bit of everything [we find] when traveling around. [For example,] when we were in Lisbon, [Portugal], we came across these handmade soaps and porcelain goods. We have a few local Chicago designers, intimates from Estonia, artwork from Alabama and St. Louis [and] an apothecary line from New Zealand.
Gavin: It’s a true lifestyle store, in every sense of the word. If you walk in and see a light fixture hanging from the ceiling or a sofa, you can buy [it].
FAVORITE PIECE
McGrady: Hand-blown glass vessels like decanters and carafes from [New York-based] designer Anna Karlin.
Gavin: We have a Derby silver flask from 1817. I guess it’s more like time traveling, isn’t it?
TRAVEL TIP
McGrady: Eat between the lines. The best snacks aren’t always found in Michelin-rated restaurants or those you’ve seen featured on Anthony Bourdain episodes.
Gavin: There really isn’t any great reason to stay out past 3 a.m.