There’s a treasure trove at 7523 N. Milwaukee Ave, Niles, one that transports you to a fancifully decorated era. The riches lie within Kayla’s Korner, an antique store, run by owner and Niles West Class of 2017 alumna Kayla Carpenter. Guarded carefully by an entrance sign proclaiming, ‘I attract prosperity and abundance,’ stepping inside greets you with an eyeful of ornate furniture, fascinating taxidermy and the clamber of a vintage radio parroting classic songs. Carpenter greets you clad in a navy blue dress borrowed from 1934, curled blonde hair and shoes from the ’40s. By the looks of it, this is a place that appreciates the history of its inhabiting objects.
Opening in May of 2024, Carpenter opened her shop at only 25. Despite her youth, she had held an interest in antiques from a young age, and opening a vintage store was seemingly always in the cards for her.
“Ever since I was younger, I’ve always had a deep connection to [antiques]. Older things and the way things were made back then, the quality of it and the history of each individual item. I was really inspired by old buildings and architecture so I went to school to become certified in antique appraisal. [To open] I put my mind to it, selling at local booths and did all the research I could since I live in the area, then I saw that this place had opened up,” Carpenter said.
When it comes to appreciating vintage items, her customers share the sentiment about how special each specimen becomes in time. The curious, placating atmosphere created in antique stores is especially present to her guests.
“She and her store have a personality that pops at you. Her space is so homey and is filled with taxidermy and trinkets laid throughout the store. The store totally relaxes me, they play a jazz station that is so nice to listen to while browsing. I loved being able to do laps around Kayla’s Korner and spot cool new things each time. I also love vintage shopping, it gives stuff that would otherwise be discarded a second life. Some of my favorite items I have bought have been secondhand. There’s something to be said about the craftsmanship of older furniture and clothes,” customer and current Niles West senior Laira Biewer said.
Besides students, Carpenter’s former business teacher Tricia Brown recognizes her charisma, hard work and knack for business. With the help of Niles West’s business classes, Carpenter prepared for the undertaking of opening a vintage store with the knowledge she learned in school.
“It was always easy to engage Kayla in conversation. In recent years, I saw Kayla at her workplace and she continued to express her interest in being an entrepreneur and blending her love for antiques with that role. [She] always had an eye for ‘old’ beauty and art. I think Kayla has the perseverance and determination to succeed. I can’t wait to see how she markets her items and grows her customer base,” Brown said.
Coming from all around Illinois, collectors and fanatics alike flock to Niles to visit Kayla’s Korner among other local shops such as JuJu’s Vintage, whose owners have a close relationship with Carpenter. The community has a network of heirloom zealots and local artists looking to make connections and embrace a passion for the eccentric. Carpenter finds it essential that her store connects locally with Niles and widely within Cook County, carrying local artists’ work to promote their business. It won’t be hard to find her engrossed in a conversation about Illinois vintage circles.
“I cycle through Chicago and into the suburbs to bring everyone in here. I live in Niles, [and] a lot of the people in the community know me already. I do like church events in Skokie and little antique fairs all around the surrounding suburbs. I try to get my word out there, [give] local artists a voice and I’m a people person. I like including and talking to everyone that comes in here. During the summer, I had an outdoor sale and included the community, it was so much fun. [Collecting] is coming back, especially in Chicago. The older architecture is being fixed and it’s bringing out that community that appreciates the older things and the younger generation just is trying to preserve that,” Carpenter said.
With such an interesting gem in our Niles West community, you should check out Carpenter’s store. As an alumna of our school, she gives hope to students as an impressive and upstanding member of our locality.
“Kayla’s store showed me that it’s possible to start your path doing something you truly love while you are young. It’s incredible how she can host such a wide assortment of gorgeous things and it’s inspiring that she can live from it too,” Biewer said.
If you’re in the market for esoteric books, facsimile Victorian paintings, spirited furniture or any number of obscure finds, make sure to stop by!
