Why Does Evanston Have So Many Rug Stores?

EVANSTON, IL — The cluster of carpet shops along Chicago Avenue in Evanston is nearly a century old, but it may not last much longer. A question posed to a local public radio station prompted a profile of some of the six carpet dealers in the area last month exploring how the business could stay afloat. One of the first rug stores on Chicago Avenue was opened by an American immigrant in 1920 and remains as a third-generation family business, it said. But, as Chicago Public Radio reports, rising property taxes and developers interested in converting some of the shops into condos is putting pressure on remaining shops.

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