Now Open: Kids Rule

By chicago-pipeline at December 16, 2011 | 12:29 pm | Print

Kids Rule, a new toy, book, and party supply store, opened this past week in the former Chang’s Martial Arts space at 1534 N. Milwaukee Ave. and will be hosting a Grand Opening Party tomorrow, Sat. Dec. 17 featuring activities from 9:30AM-4PM including toy demos, healthy snacks, face and hand painting, biodegradable balloons, free gift wrapping, and photos with Santa for those who arrive before 1:30PM.

When the Pipeline popped by a few days ago, we met Eman, who lives in New York City, and is a preschool teacher. She was visiting Kid’s Rule to help her brother, Rashid, set up the store, which draws its inspiration from Little Things, a toy store in Brooklyn which Eman frequents with her daughter.

Kids Rule, 1534 N. Milwaukee, will be open until 8pm this Saturday. For more information, call 773-227-7525.

For those curious about Chang’s, the martial arts academy relocated and merged with its West Town school, at 1856 W. Chicago Ave. We reached owner Lanre Lawanson by phone, where he reported that he initially opened his martial arts academy in the former Earwax Space at 1561 N. Milw., followed by the Zen Noodle space on North Ave. (formerly Hi Ricky), then where Cafe Matou was (now Siam Noodles) on Milwaukee, followed by the Jimmy John’s space on Milwaukee and finally 1534 N. Milwaukee, where the academy ran for the past 10 years.

Not surprisingly, as the neighborhood became more congested, parking or the lack thereof was the final straw for Lanre, who would’ve celebrated his 25th anniversary in the neighborhood this May 5, 2012.  “We tried to implement the first martial arts school with valet parking, and it was too difficult, the potential wasn’t there, it was time to move out,” he said, adding that, “We enjoyed our time in Wicker Park. I don’t regret a single minute. I still go to my favorite Chinese restaurant, Papa Jin.”

 

Business Featured Neighborhoods Updates Wicker Park Chang's Martial Academy, Kid's Rule