CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- At the corner of Milwaukee and Diversey in Logan Square lives 4,100 square feet of fun and nostalgia - and eventually live music.
"We've got Robocop, Planet of the Apes, this is a Jimmy Hendrix action figure, which you don't see a whole heck a lot of, " laughed Flabby Hoffman, owner, Extraordinarium.
Hoffman, who goes by his stage name, said his shop was inspired by the beloved Lakeview staple Uncle Fun that closed in 2014.
"The gentlemen who ran it, Ted Frankel, is a source of inspiration for not just me, but so many Chicagoans. I used to go to the shop and buy gag gifts for my audience when I did comedy. There was a huge gap in my heart when Uncle Fun closed. It is empowering to me and influential to me to capture some of that and add to it my own take on things."
From Star Wars action figures to gag gifts, to throwback toys and books, Hoffman said the store is an extension of his own love of movies and memorabilia.
"It's been really a labor of love," he said.
From Star Wars action figures to gag gifts, to throwback toys and books, Hoffman said the store is an extension of his own love of movies and memorabilia.WBBM Newsradio/Lisa Fielding
The shop is divided by section and is uniquely titled to showcase it's equally unique items, which Hoffman said he devotedly searches for worldwide.
"I'm up all hours of the night, online digging into the rabbit hole. I also go to all the flea markets and thrift stores for the collectible side of it," he said.
When the store closes, that's when I really go to work. I dig so deep in the rabbit hole, I need someone to standby with a tether just in case I get lost in there," he laughed.
Before the pandemic, his plan was to use the back half of the store for live music, which he hopes to kick off when the coast is clear. In the meantime, he hosts craft markets on the weekends featuring local artists.
Before the pandemic, his plan was to use the back half of the store for live music, which he hopes to kick off when the coast is clear. In the meantime, he hosts craft markets on the weekends featuring local artists.WBBM Newsradio/Lisa Fielding
"Each day is a different lineup of people so we're really able to provide a nice network for artists that can get a little bit of side money and exposure. Most of these people's day jobs are service people whose hours have been cut almost completely. So we offer the space for artists to showcase their wares and talents," Hoffman said.
An 18 hole free miniature golf course is set up in the back of the store and a podcast space in the front of the building rents for $20. Hoffman likes to call it a creative space for all ages.
"Evolution by empowering what's good in people. Bringing people a little sense of their own power, their own intellect and their own spirit to create a new path forward that is less depressing. It's something we can do together," said Hoffman, who said it's a critical time for small business.
An 18 hole free miniature golf course is set up in the back of the store and a podcast space in the front of the building rents for $20. Hoffman likes to call it a creative space for all ages.WBBM Newsradio/Lisa Fielding
More than anything, he said, he hopes visitors walk away with a smile and warm fuzzy feeling inside.
"This isn't a cash grab, I'm not in this for the profit. I'm in this for the purpose of doing the right thing in this world. I think there are a lot of businesses that feel that way. We'll make you warm inside and that special feeling that things can be good again. It's a whole lot more fulfilling than a box store," he said.
Extraordinarium, located at 2800 N. Milwaukee Avenue, is a sanctuary for laughs, lessons, and creativity in Logan Square.
"We can still do things that matter, that make a difference in our world. How we decide to spend our time and our money. All the different clubs, all the different types of stores like mine that are struggling trying to bring a little joy in this world. Some of us might be able to survive, but some of us will not," Hoffman said.
The retail shop and live music space can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
