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Woolly Mammoth
1513 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
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Woolly Mammoth
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DJ
Review №1

Was an awesome and creepy lil shop. Highly recommend. All kinds of antiques, medical instruments, taxidermy, and more. Went in on a lark and will be going back soon!!

va
Review №2

I finally got inside! Most times that Im in the area I would be too early and I can only look in. They have a great selection of stuff! Some people might say oddities, but thats subjective. If you want to see an actual shrunken head, go there before someone buys it. There are many preserved animals including at least one baboon.

Sa
Review №3

Never knew you could so much cool stuff in to such a tight space. definayely recommend you visit your next time in Chicago. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Vi
Review №4

Pretty cool spot with very unique items in a pretty tight store. Definitely going to be in the higher price point compared to other shops in the area due to the rarity of their stuff.

Li
Review №5

Visiting Woolly Mammoth is a must every time I visit Chicago! Love seeing the new oddities that have arrived since my last visit!

As
Review №6

Go here. If you’re weird and fun and love where life takes you, even on simple days, GO HERE.I truly loved my experience here and I would gladly shop every day. Magical, spooky, funny, and honest. I had a chance to talk to the owner, Adam, who was simply put- great.Go in, tell him crazy stuff and he will tell you equally crazy stories. Buy some interesting stuff for yourself or gifts for others- they won’t ever forget it.

Je
Review №7

Met the owner and he is a very nice guy and very pleasant to talk to. You can tell he is artist with a unique point of view

Ja
Review №8

Darling and delightful spot. First time at this shop. Friendly service and cool assortment.

Ly
Review №9

Walk in and feel like you’ve dropped out of time! This is the curio shop you never knew you needed, stocking everything from anatomical models, to Victorian jewelry, to a genuine bezoar from the Hague. Each piece has been hand selected and it shows in the cohesiveness of the display and the quality of the items.

Ca
Review №10

Such a fun find! I highly reccomend this shop to anyone interested in oddities. The store is small but its covered head to toe with something interesting to see!

Re
Review №11

Pretty small place, but lots of weird, creepy, unique stuff here. Lots of medical tools and paraphernalia. (X rays, human teeth, etc). Also a bunch of taxadermied animals. I love the mini shadowboxes too. The guy who works there is very cool too. Friendly and knowledgeable about not only the products there, but stuff to do around the neighborhood too.

Th
Review №12

Incredible collection of the weird and wonderful. Worth checking out!!

Mr
Review №13

Coolest place in the city. Its like a museum, but cooler, because almost everything is for sale. 😎

Fi
Review №14

So worth the wait to get in!! The oddities are amazing, the strange things within make my creepy lil heart soar

La
Review №15

Such an interesting place! The owner was super cool. We saw some many oddities like unique circus heads, actual human skulls, bones of all kinds, an actual painting from John Wayne Gacy, among many other cool things. Definitely stop in here to see all the amazing things.

Eb
Review №16

Love thos place. And they have the best sleepy boy named Melvin. Sadly he Id not pictured. But their lovely horned moose is. Be sure to ask to take pictures.

Ke
Review №17

Ha! Weird, creepy, educational (thanks to the staff). You can easily kill an hour in here without knowing it. Mostly old, old stuff that make it a facsinating visit.

Br
Review №18

Such a cool place, definitely recommend coming in here to see these amazing oddities from some amazing people.

Pe
Review №19

A shop full of eccentricities and oddities you won’t find anywhere else. A must-stop if you’re looking for the strangest stuff in Chicago.

br
Review №20

Fun curiosity & antique shop.

Mi
Review №21

As a self proclaimed aficionado of of road side attractions and oddities I can easily say that Wooly Mammoth is a must see.The prices are very expensive for most items but most of the items are rare and hard to find anywhere else.Its ok if you dont buy anything. Think of it as an awesome free museum for freaks.

Ro
Review №22

If you know someone who wants to get some real teeth, this is the place to go

Li
Review №23

This place is full of unique items!!

ka
Review №24

Excellent collection of the weird and the morbid. Off the beaten path but worth a visit.

Lu
Review №25

THIS PLACE WAS SO COOL, THERE WAS A PITTY IN A SWEATER

Je
Review №26

Funny, I thought it would be bigger from the photos, but there are plenty of things in the space that they are in. Pretty cool overall.

Au
Review №27

Such a cool shop!

Li
Review №28

Wonderfully curated, staff was extremely nice.

Vi
Review №29

It was good. Went in to see if they had painted little porcelain tiles. The last time I purchased a couple with depiction of Italian buildings. They were made in Italy. Their collection is not for everyone taste. Its interesting to see items they sell. You never know what you might found.

Gl
Review №30

Unusual place to check out at lease once

Te
Review №31

This place is majestic. Honestly, the highlight of many weekend trips into town. Fascinating antiques and oddities. Some taxidermy, medical paraphernalia not for the faint of heart. I could spend all day exploring this little store, there’s so much to read and look at. Ask to take pictures! Staff was friendly, but adamant about that. Love the Woolly Mammoth.

Ty
Review №32

It was so fun. It is a small store, but the attractions are everywhere and amazing. It was very well decorated. I got a ostrich feather and magic matches.

Ma
Review №33

Wow. This is probably one of my favorite stores I have been to. They have a unique selection of everything you could imagine, from human bones to old vintage photos. I am a big fan of antiques and this definitely one of my favorite stores in the chicago area. I spent an hour and a half here and still could not get enough of it. I purchased a human rib bone at the end of the day because i felt that it summed up the store very well. Everyone i talked to there were very nice, respectful and I had a good conversation with one of the employees. Keep up the great work!

Na
Review №34

One of my favorite stores in Chicago, super cool and nice people are always working there and they have some of the weirdest most awesome stuff you can imagine. There should be a 6 star option for this place.

Av
Review №35

The NICEST people (and dog) work here. There is nothing there that I need but I will probably go back and buy stuff anyway :)

Ma
Review №36

I always have to stop here when I come to Chicago! Quaint, homey location, old arch ally nearby, and Green Mill Lounge is close. Truly one of my favorite spots.

Je
Review №37

I went here looking to buy human teeth and I was NOT disappointed. There is also a wealth of unique antiques and one-of-a-kind objects that will fascinate and delight people of all ages. Would buy teeth from again!

Br
Review №38

Woolly Mammoth is such a cool place! I went in initially to just glance around, but found myself acting as if I was in a museum. The items they have here range from fascinating to disgusting. A very fun and quirky place to checkout when you have the chance. The staff was very kind and Im sure theyre quite used to by now people coming in to simply look. However, feel free to buy almost anything in here to add to your collection of oddities at home.

Od
Review №39

Its no hype, this place is cool.Theres an entrancing variety of interesting objects. At least one of them is sure to call out to you. Fans of the macabre in particular will rejoice but theres something for everyone. From x-rays of feet to bowls full of teeth, fossils to forceps, taxidermy raccoons to... Pickled baboons. (Ok well, toads not baboons but baboons rhymes)Long story short, its cool, check it out.

Ta
Review №40

This shop was great. You can find a lot of antique figures here. I come here often and I never get tired of looking at the different stuff here. So if you love odd things just like me, this is the perfect place for you.

Ke
Review №41

Everything worth buying isnt for sale. What is for sale is priced for the area of Chicago it sits in and not what the item is worth. Dont get me wrong, if youre in the area, stop in. Just dont expect to buy anything without hurting that wallet and finding it outside city limits for less.

Mi
Review №42

A place for people who like oddities, including bones.

Jo
Review №43

Very unique, friendly staff

Ma
Review №44

Cool oddities but needs a bigger place for better shopping/viewing

De
Review №45

Get right out of my face if you cant appreciate this place. I love it so much Im leaving an abrasive 5 star review. Chicago should be happy to have such a gem.

Je
Review №46

Best shop in the city. Need some old human teeth? They got em. Wanna see some original John Wayne Gacy art? Yup. Snakes in formaldehyde? You know it.Support weird, support local.

Wi
Review №47

Really interesting place. Are you looking for a Mammoth tooth? Or how about a real stuffed animal. If youre looking for interesting treasures, youll find it here. Check them out!

Do
Review №48

Amazing finds, skulls, teeth, x-rays, wet specimens. Very fun to LOOK at everything. But since its a store I went in there to buy something, since I was in town for my anniversary and I couldnt buy anything. Most if not all of the wet specimens are half full, and most everything is $25+. That is for like small knick knacks. Actual odd items will run you anywhere from $100 to $400. They have human teeth but are selling them for $12 a piece. You can easily buy these things on eBay or Etsy for much cheaper. But still fun.

As
Review №49

Absolutely fantastic store with a great collection of oddities from human teeth, to shrunken heads, to old postcards from 100+ years ago. If youre into anything weird, wild, or odd do yourself a favor and stop by! Dont forget to pet Melvin too!

Sa
Review №50

Awesome place. Friendly staff. You cant see this stuff anywhere else.

Er
Review №51

This place is amazing. If youre into the odd, interesting, or macabre, you just HAVE to stop by. Plus they give solid travel advice.

Da
Review №52

Cool little shop with some rare and hard top find oddities. Parking is on the road, so you might have a little walk. Store is ada accessible and easy to navigate. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff!

fa
Review №53

I was really excited to check this place out whole visiting Chicago and really wanted to to like the place. I got to see a handful of artifacts and specimens that Ive never seen before which is always a welcome experience, but I wound up leaving empty handed as even traditionally cheap gimmicky products were marked at about two times the average cost in regards to most other brick and mortar oddity shops in the country Ive visited. Im very well versed in values of taxidermy goods and other such oddities and have even processed and sold my own works for the past 5 or so years, and the items here were marked so far above value that I couldnt justify making a purchase despite the fact that I wanted to support the place. Ill always pay a bit more than usual to support a shop, but not at such a steep margin. The skulls in particular that they had on display were in pretty poor condition, even a greasy old partial piece of a deer skull will run you like $30+. I had to stifle a laugh when I noticed a little box of literal fragments of tiny bones and claws labeled $2 a piece. Props to you for trying to make a buck off of your trash, but it came off as a joke to me. Human teeth will run you $12. A raccoon bacculum? I believe $14 or $16- either way, awfully high for an item that is mostly a gag gift at this point and can easily be found elsewhere for a mere few bucks. After leaving, I went to the Sideshow Gallery and was so pleased with what I found there and the pricing of everything.

Ja
Review №54

I have never been in a store quite like this. Its kind of like the owner goes to estate sales and buys only the items toward which other antique dealers turn up their noses. And it works. Youre not going to find a mid-century arc lamp or a King Louis pick-a-Roman-numeral side table, but if youre looking for a taxidermied fox or a giant metal tooth-cutter or a (and I swear Im not making this up) shrunken head, this is the place. Half museum, half carnival sideshow, half store where a Shakespearean witch would buy her eye of newt--yeah, this place can pull off three halves--Woolly Mammoth is a great place to cleanse the palate between visits to more traditional, staid, and stodgy antique shops.

Sh
Review №55

A one of a kind shop, there isnt another like it in the city of Chicago. Wooly Mammoth and American Science and Surplus are my go to shops for the weird, the unique, and the quirky. Every time I stop by, I always end up leaving something I had no idea even wanted. A definite recommendation for a Chicago destination outside the norm.

Bi
Review №56

My wife and I stopped by, bought some blood slides, a Houdini book, and a die. This is the damn coolest shop Ive ever seen. If you go to Chicago, go to this shop.

Sc
Review №57

I visited this store because I like visiting oddity stores. I collect various curiosities and like to browse for unique items to add to my collection. On my visit there was friendly staff. The store has a nice variety of things to offer....taxidermy, jarred specimens, various animal and human bones, out of the ordinary medical items as well as oddfellow items. Some of the more unique items are not for sale, but, are great to see. There are other items that are your run of the mill oddities so to speak, but, for the most part, its worth a visit.

Ar
Review №58

If you have someone visiting from out of town, this is a great weird place to take them. 5 stars for Wall Beef

Em
Review №59

So many funky finds at Woolly Mammoth, including some really unique antiques. Need taxidermied animals? Old dentistry tools? Salt and pepper shakers? Fossils? Its your one-stop weird shop.

Jo
Review №60

Definitely gotta stop and be amazed if youre in Chicago!

Mi
Review №61

Fantastic specialty collectibles store--a lot of medical swag and comics from ages old. Old records, fancy lamps made of old clarinets, jarred specimens, bones and skellys....And Adam is a great shop owner (I hope hes the owner--if not, he runs it like a Swiss clock! Great personality, too). OH, and if you are lucky to meet Melvin the dog--your day will be complete. Must see, for kids and adults alike.

Ca
Review №62

A really unique place and worth a visit if only just to explore and make your day a lot more interesting! Its like a mini museum for people who appreciate the eerier and darker things in life.

Mi
Review №63

It is an amazing place filled with items that you will see no where else. Completely unique in every way.

Ri
Review №64

Only way to describe this place is as INTERESTING... You just have to check it out for yourselves

Je
Review №65

Great store with all kinds of strange and bizarre antiques and vintage goods. They do buy items too, but it has to be unusual and low cost

Mi
Review №66

Weird stuff. Cool joint to check out if youre into antique and vintage stuff but it does have a small footprint so inventory limited

Da
Review №67

Very nice guy and gave us great info for seeing parts of Chicago that we would like.

mi
Review №68

Cute little creepy place just wish it was a little bigger I dont like to be elbow to elbow when Im shopping for teeth or taxidermied mice

Do
Review №69

Fascinating modern version of the old curiosity shop. Quite small but jammed with oddities, often a bit morbid in nature, that will grab your attention. More for browsing than shopping as, apparently, curiosities are exorbitantly expensive

Br
Review №70

Not for the faint of heart-- or hardcore vegan.

Ma
Review №71

Shop was amazing, great displays and inventory. Adam was very great to buy from

Ap
Review №72

Wooly Mammoth was a whimsical and fantastical store! They had everything from animal fetuses to a larger than life giraffe bust, and even a conjoined pig! I cant wait to buy one of their bobcat skulls and start a collection of oddities for myself!

li
Review №73

Lots of strange things that make you think alot about life. Similar to TV show oddities.

Al
Review №74

Raddd. Rare awesome dark dope delights.

Ol
Review №75

Five stars for just being, hands-down, the weirdest shop you will find in Chicago. Seriously, its difficult to describe. Just give it a visit.

An
Review №76

I feel really bad about how often I have stopped in here and yet how infrequently I wind up purchasing anything. There are always fantastic things to find in this tiny shop, so well worth the visit.

xa
Review №77

Amazing inventory. Wonderful associate. Wish I could put it all in my pocket.

La
Review №78

Love this place. Lots of quirky, creepy, weird and amazing finds. The owners are super friendly.

Se
Review №79

Awesome place to browse a variety of oddities and antiques. The owner, Adam, was really friendly and knowledgeable.

Ch
Review №80

Oh my! Is all I could say when I walked through the doors of this heavenly place😍 Skulls,bones, Taxidermed cuties interesting stuff was all around me. My eyes couldnt focus on just one item and I Can NOT wait to go back!

Ar
Review №81

Very unique store. Take some time and browse through everything.

Ti
Review №82

A nice place to check out cool stuff.

Ch
Review №83

Owner is super nice, pupper is even better, however i found a lack of variety in this shop like dont get me wrong, it had alot of cool things but definitely not what i was looking for however with the ever changing inventory i may be back soon and change my review.

Ha
Review №84

Love all of the weird stuff, been looking for places like this since i moved here

do
Review №85

One of the coolest oddity places Ive ever been too!

Mi
Review №86

The strangest antique store you will ever find. Full of wonderful weirdness.

Ma
Review №87

They are very creepy and dont have anything cool there my daughter got jumpscared and started crying because of the people wax head eyes were staring at her and i do not like taxidermy because your hurting cute and harmless animals.

Ja
Review №88

A strange and werid place to visit. I enjoyed it very much.

Ch
Review №89

If a mad scientist had a garage sale it would be just like this. Loved it. Will be back for sure.

ke
Review №90

Amazing selection of some of the coolest thing you can find in the city

Er
Review №91

A must visit store...reminds of a place I loved in Paris

Jo
Review №92

Chicagos oddity store. Good for people wanting to be shocked by what people collect

Br
Review №93

This place has some really bizarre dead stuff. If you are looking for something unique this is the spot. Prices range from average to expensive.

Ha
Review №94

Do you like oddities? Go here.

Ju
Review №95

Amazing store! And the owner is very well informed about odd and dark stories that happened in Chicago :D

Ce
Review №96

Nice selection but very overpriced. Found some similar things about ten minutes away for a third of the price.

Fr
Review №97

Was very intersting. Stopped there with 4 kids. The little one wanted to by a stuffed dog

Je
Review №98

I love this place, planning to get more unique findings, I got a cat heart and a minks skull last year for my bday in may

Ta
Review №99

Amazing Store! Always new things in the store everytime I come in!

Le
Review №100

While this is not the first, and certainly not the last, it is way fun. It is not your grandmas antique shop. If you have ever seen the show oddities, this is the place to be in Chicago. I purchased a skull here for an excellent price considering it was audentic and had a beautiful color. They have taxidermy, and lots of unique and hard to find goodies. When I hav a question, the worker was super helpful and friendly. They even had a sleepy doggie (real and alive). Worth checking out.

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.7 Rating
  • Address:1513 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
  • Site:http://woollymammothchicago.com/
  • Phone:+1 773-989-3294
Categories
  • Antique store
  • Boutique
Working hours
  • Monday:12–5PM
  • Tuesday:12–5PM
  • Wednesday:12–5PM
  • Thursday:12–5PM
  • Friday:12–5PM
  • Saturday:12–5PM
  • Sunday:12–5PM
Planning
  • Quick visit:Yes
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