Gamma Player

I’m not sure if this store is open anymore but it took center stage because it represented a number of stores that used to line «posh» Oak street in the early 80’s. The little street then represented a type of Chicago Rodeo Drive. It was a place to take out of town guests. At any rate, if Gamma is no longer open, it followed a trend that kinda started perhaps around the year 2000. Many of the older stores along Oak Street begin to close such as Ultimo, Sonia Rykiel, Pompian, Gianni Versace etc. making way for a new wave of British styles, boutiques with names not known widely to 80’s groupies.
The real issue is culture begin to change in Chicago and finance made a need for quieter, smarter, family concerns to take hold that could have made such stores like Gamma’s position less realistic.

There is a serious lack of retail shops in Chicago pushing the boundaries of fashion beyond what we’re used to seeing — the safe, insipid, often poorly-​made clothes you can get almost anywhere. Gamma Player challenges us to be a little more adventurous and is stocked with many designers most have never heard of but some bigger name European designers that should be familiar to some like Hussein Chalayan, Jean Pierre Braganza and Henrik Vibskov.
No, it’s not cheap but considering that some people are willing to pay up to $ 200 for a sweater at certain stores at the mall, I think the prices are worth it. For about the same price, you can get a piece of clothing that is unlike anything you’ll see at the mall, is well-​constructed, isn’t made in China, and supports an independent business in our city. Plus, there was a generous sale on most of the items when I stopped in.
The selection tends toward the more adventurous side with interesting draping and exaggerated shapes but the tones are tame, usually sticking to a black, white and gray palette with a little bit of color here and there. I would love to see more shops like this in Chicago. As I get older, I’m trying to make more of an effort to buy more quality over quantity, as tempting as disposable-​fashion mall shopping can be (I still give in once in a while) and I’m glad this store exists to prove that there are still some places in our city where saving up for an item will be well worth it.

Really good things from Europe and here. It’s just so dark in there!

I think Deeter from Sprockets should be working at this place with his monkey, Kraus.
Look, I’ll admit up-​front that I think 90% of boutiques are for elitist yuppies who need to be able to brag about how they bought something at this little shoppe over on _​_​_​_​_​_​for only $$$$$$.
I guess what really gals me about places like Gamma Player is the mindset of the person that decides that this is the kind of business they want to open. «Hmmm, I’m going to open a place where scenesters, snobs, douche bags, kept women, and lottery winners can come and spend an obscene amount of money on two items. A place where common, everyday folk would never dare tread. Muah ha ha ha!»
Stylish clothes are a great thing, but never NEVER should you have to pay prices like these. I’ve never exited a store as quickly as I did this place. I liken it to walking into an unknown car dealership hoping to find a nice car for around 25 – 30 grand and then realizing you walked into a Ferrari dealership.
«Ohhhh you’re soooo hip, Gamma Player. You’re soooooo cutting edge with your über contemporary haute couture and funky fresh music. It’s soooo refreshing to only have 10 items to choose from instead of the vast selection at some other stores!»
Get over yourself Gamma Player. Even if I was a millionaire I wouldn’t pay these prices. I can’t wait to see what goes in here when this place goes out of business or at least moves out of the neighborhood (I don’t want it to go out of business, I wouldn’t wish that on any business… except The Hangge Uppe) Anyone who buys clothes that are this pricey needs to reevaluate their priorities. I love how one person thought that a «funky casual piece» being under $ 200 is quite the deal. This place belongs on Michigan Avenue or some place akin, not in the Wicker Park/​Ukrainian Village area.
Auf wiedersehen!!!

this boutique sells clothes from the future/​outer space. and i mean that in a really really good way. you’ll find lines from japan, germany, belgium, uk — all over. i’ve bought several pieces from gamma player and while they have been a small fortune, the price point does vary substantially. in other words, you can get some funky casual pieces for under $ 200. watch out for the sales too!
enough of the goods, on to the service. yoko, the owner and i believe wife of jeff mills, is always very helpful and attentive, but not in an over bearing way. she also gives back to the community — last year she very generously donated a $ 1100 silver pauric sweeney overnight bag to the silent auction at the american cancer society’s discovery ball. thanks again, yoko!
i hope this store has a long life on division.

I will buy something from here…
…seriously… I WILL BUY SOMETHING SOON. Just need to get employed again. And stop buying sneakers…
SO much good designers!

I love Gamma Player if only for the fact they carry Hussein Chayalan. A bit of the selection is hit or miss, but there are some amazing pieces. I like to shop there, the chic black décor is lovely. If one can afford, one should definitely go.

I’d heard the hype about this shop but had never been and am happy to report that, now that I’ve gone, Gamma Player is definitely a player on the Chicago boutique scene. Hope they keep growing.
Customer service was truly very friendly and inviting, something that is always very cool and especially unexpected when there’s a $ 1500 dress on the rack.
Carrying a great selection of clothing for both men and women — items that can’t be found anywhere else in town — and complemented by a well-​edited selection of jewelry, handbags, books/​mags, and music, check it out when you’re down there on Division.

Gamma Player rocks. You get customer service here like no other. And I say this because I’ve yet to make a purchase here but everytime I come in, I get a consistent flow of genuinely friendly customer service. No snobs here!
The pieces they feature are definitely something different and they also carry a selection of books and music!
Oh and another cool thing is that they started featuring art installations like Phaiz!

Generally being a dick full time, I was rifling through my friend’s european carry-​all when I discovered a discreet black envelope that looked like the calling card of an insidiously stylish assasin.
Lo– it was a receipt meticulously stowed for future viewing! Upon this receipt was penned the iconic «T-​SHIRT, WITH SCARF» on one line, followed by a trail of periods and a «140.00 $»
He revealed to me that it was indeed just that– one garment that combined both a tshirt and a scarf for the affordable sensible 140 $. Gamma Player, I don’t know how you do it but I salute you. At least he isn’t wearing animé tshirts anymore.
GP is the perfect business one can walk their leashed cat into to peruse the latest haute couture in varying shades of flat black.

A new small store with great small boutique fashion brands from europe
and asia.
Things you don’t see everywhere.
Great music and books selected by Jeff Mills.
This area of Chicago is growing. It getting more intresting every day.
Check it out.