More Than Meets the Eye at Blue-Eyed Jack in La Grange

There's a lot more than meets the eye at the artisan shop , located at 106 Burlington Ave. in La Grange. Occupied in the store's small space are an art gallery, vintage furniture, antique knickknacks and a range of items well suited for gifts.

Blue-Eyed Jack opened in December last year just in time for La Grange's Hometown Holiday celebration. But while owner Jack Baldus was just getting on his feet, and sped through the window. A significant amount of one-of-a-kind merchandise was destroyed in the accident, and to make matters worse, the front windows needed to be covered in plywood boards—not exactly as inviting as the store's current window display.

"I think traffic died down due to visibility," said Baldus recently in his store. "On nice days I'd open the doors and that helped, but you can't do that in the heat."

Since the plywood window coverings have come down, Baldus said sales have increased as the store's window display has again caught shopper's eyes. 

"I can tell there's been more traffic," Baldus said. "In a way, [news stories about the accident] helped to let people know I was here, but now we have people who walk by and stop in again."

The way the store's wares are displayed in the windows and throughout the shop are no accident. Baldus has a long history of setting up shop displays. Before opening Blue-Eyed Jack, Baldus worked in the corporate world setting up product displays, primarily in airports. When the recession hit and his company cut the number of sites he oversaw, he decided it was time to do his own thing.

"I knew all these artists and I thought, 'why not open a shop where I get to do everything I love,'" Baldus said.

In college, Baldus said he dreamed of a career as an art curator. An artist himself (with work at the store), Baldus said he now has that opportunity with Blue-Eyed Jack. In addition to selling vintage items and antique furniture, Baldus also runs the gallery component of Blue-Eyed Jack. All around the store, the works of local artists cover the walls, which he also sells.

Baldus said he considers himself of a man of eclectic tastes and that the shop has become a vehicle for them.

"Everything in this shop is something I would want," Baldus laughed. "Sometimes it can be hard to part with some of it."

As nerve-racking as opening a new business can be, Baldus said he's never been happier. The store is doing well, he's developed a regular customer base and he's got big ideas for the future of the space.

"It's a great job because I'm constantly surrounded by things I like," he said.

Blue-Eyed Jack is well organized with simple, clean displays of products as wide ranging as antique chandeliers and mid-century modern furniture to small soft-sculpture dolls made by a local, 14-year-old artist named Natalie Krause. But even if big-ticket items like a painting or a new couch aren’t in your sights, there's plenty in the shop to pick up for a small gift for a friend, teacher or co-worker. The shop also sells the Life is Good line of accessories, hats and t-shirts as well.

"Those are very popular," Baldus said. "People search those out."

Starting in the fall, Baldus said there will be even more opportunities for shoppers to stop by with some special events that will be held at the shop. Focusing more on the gallery aspect of Blue-Eyed Jack will be artist receptions and opportunities for La Grange residents to explore their artistic leanings. Baldus said he decided to do more artist events after finding a lack of opportunity in La Grange for local artists to display their work. Krause, for example, recently held her own reception at the shop earlier in July.

If that's not enough, Baldus is also expanding his design business as well. He also works as a color consultant, interior decorator and decor planner. Customers can also sign up for his wish list service, where they can tell him a particular item or style they are looking for and he'll keep his eye out for them as he does his hunting for vintage furniture and antiques.

Running an artisan shop, design business and also hunting down new products and artists seem like full-time jobs in their own right. But even if he's tired at the end of the day, Baldus said he's happy doing just that.

"The hunt is what makes it all worthwhile," he said and smiled.

For more information about , or visit the store's website here at www.blueeyedjack.com.