The Wild Child closes Wilmette store, points customers to Glencoe location
All is calm now at The Wild Child in Wilmette.
The local toy shop has abruptly closed its downtown Wilmette location, 114 Central Ave., directing all customers to its flagship in Glencoe.
A letter taped to the front door in Wilmette says that running both stores had become “too difficult.”
“It is with much sadness that we are announcing the closing of our Wilmette location … effective immediately,” the letter says. “As a family-run small business, it has become clear that managing both stores has been too difficult a task. With the holidays approaching, we want to concentrate on one great store.”
The Wild Child toy shop has occupied 1114 Central since 2019. The original location at 657 Vernon Ave. in Glencoe is celebrating its 10th year in business.
Owners of The Wild Child declined to comment further, only referencing the note on the door.
Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate purchased the building at 1114-1116 Central Ave. in Wilmette in 2024. It was the second of five promised acquisitions, following 64 Green Bay Road, home of Aboyer, a French-inspired fine-dining establishment in Winnetka, from Hoffmann.
When announcing the building purchase, the company stated in a September 2024 press release, “(Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate) plans to transform 1114 Central Ave. into a new Oberweis retail location, further driving growth and enriching the local community.”
The company, however, did not back up that plan in an emailed response to The Record on Friday.
“Wild Child has been a great tenant, and we’re sad to see them go. We’re currently working through a long-term vision for the space and will be sure to keep you closely updated as plans take shape,” wrote Rachel Berkowitz, Hoffmann’s vice president of marketing and communications.
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Joe Coughlin
Joe Coughlin is a co-founder and the editor in chief of The Record. He leads investigative reporting and reports on anything else needed. Joe has been recognized for his investigative reporting and sports reporting, feature writing and photojournalism. Follow Joe on Twitter @joec2319
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