On a quiet street in a celebrated historic neighborhood lies, unassumingly, the city's David Yurman boutique, whose product selection is great and customer service (newly) unparalleled. I visited the site twice on my last visit to Chicago. Read below for my impressions.
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| The somewhat subtle boutique storefront |
Boutique Details
Address: 40 East Oak Street
Established: 2007
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5
Telephone: 312.787.7779
Men's Collection Showcases: 4 (5 including timepieces)
Number of Service Representatives on the Floor: 3-5
DYguy's Favorite Staff: Nina C and Diana B
What Was of Positive Note
Much-Improved Customer Service
In past visits to the boutique, the levels of customer service experienced were inconsistent. I am happy to report this seems a resolved issue. Staff--I interacted with four--were knowledgeable, approachable, and, perhaps most important, legitimately helpful. When I took interest in a product, said product was quickly offered to me as were other complementary pieces. If a ring or bracelet appeared not to fit, the representative with whom I was working made haste to locate, if possible, additional available sizes. I was never made to feel as I did when I called the store in late '12--a burden, an obstacle. No, these were salespeople who were sincerely happy to help, and if that were not, in actuality, the case, if it were all a show, well consider me fooled (albeit happily, willingly so).
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The boutique is located on Oak
St., one of the most prestigious
shopping lanes in the city. |
Extensive Men's Inventory
Four display cases. Of men's jewelry. I was in heaven. What's more, what's there is put, as tends to be the case with David Yurman, on exquisite display. The cases are not just product repositories. They are, truly, nigh works of art that have to be seen to be believed. The placement of each piece in relation to others as well as the case itself is, without question, deliberate. Yes, to call the spatial arrangements exact would be, despite the absoluteness of that claim, a form of understatement. Oh, and in case you are wondering, the themes of the cases, in order from front of store to back, are (1) Exotic Stone, (2) Armory, (3) Diamond- and Gemstone-Encrusted, and (4) Ironwood (le yuck)-cum-Royal Cord.
What Was of Negative Note
Use of Tacky Dell Laptop and Presence of OMG-Bad Chairs
When purchases are processed on the sales floor, staff use a plasticky, what-looks-entry-level Dell laptop whose appearance almost offends the eye. Needless to say, its profanity does not mesh well with the store's otherwise almost impeccable aesthetic.
Note I said "almost." Whoever selected for purchase those belong-in-an-'80s-boudoir, pinkish-mauve sitting chairs positioned just beyond the store's entrance needs... well... a stern talking to as they are not luxury, not sophisticated--indeed--not even tasteful. No, they are just plain bad, and in a store that is otherwise so good--dangerously good, in fact--in taste, their presence is all the more erring.
Have you been to the David Yurman boutique on Oak St. in Chicago? What has been your experience there? Did I get anything wrong in this profile? (Don't even tell me you find those chairs agreeable.) Sound off; post a comment or
shoot me an E-mail.
