Mostly Men and Money on Maxwell Street

Young folks created urban fashion trends with their finds on Maxwell Street. These young men pose for the photographer, looking good while shopping.

Vendors on Maxwell Street sell everything from boom boxes and knives to clocks and hair care products. Those who could not afford regular retail merchandise found what they needed here.

Not everyone had a shop. Many vendors sold items right on the street.

Setting up a shop on Maxwell Street was far less complicated than other retail spots in the city. Each shop sold a true variety of wares.

You could find women and girls on Maxwell Street, too.

The "rule" was to look in department stores and magazines for trends and then find a reasonable facsimile on Maxwell Street. Note the woman in the background with the giant plume.

"Temporary" structures attracted as much business as the shops. Trendy items in national chain stores were available on Maxwell Street too.

Young Black boys could hang around Maxwell Street and grab a "pop" (the Chicago word for soda) without concern of harassment. That was not true for all parts of Chicago.

What might be considered "panhandling" in other communities was not uncommon on Maxwell Street. There were many ways to make some money.

Maxwell Street was a small street that intersects Halsted just south of Roosevelt. But the term literally grew to refer to a small series of streets that formed a neighborhood.

Working class laborers often went to Maxwell Street to get boots for their jobs. These shoes often came directly from import merchants and were sold directly to consumers.

Those without merchandise could set up shop to perform services, too. Everyone could make or spend a few dollars on Maxwell Street.