Jim Wetzel and Lance Lawson’s local chain of Jake clothing stores went down in a blaze of not-quite glory last year, but the pair soon forged ahead with a new retail venture, Space519. The shop is a departure from the high-stakes world of high fashion that allows them to keep their eyes and instincts sharp (Lawson describes it as “a refined general store, a collection of all our favorite things”). Space519 oozes cool, and roughly half of its 2,200 square feet is devoted to furniture and home accessories from such affordable-chic lines as John Robshaw. Many vintage pieces are rehabbed by Wetzel and Lawson themselves. 900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-751-1519, space519.com

Photograph: Matthew Gilson

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