The Destination
Honeycomb, 663 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, 847-242-0066; www.beehoneycomb.com

The Owner
Graphic designer Jae Han and industrial designer Yeseung “Rebecca” Lee became best friends while attending the Rhode Island School of Design. After both migrated to the Chicago suburbs and Han became a mother, they decided the time was right for a children’s lifestyle store with a fun and funky vibe. What do their customers think? “We keep hearing that we have beautiful taste,” says Lee.

The Vibe
Unlike many kids’ stores where “more is more,” Honeycomb’s spare lines and natural lighting are reminiscent of the best show rooms. Virtually all of the merchandise is visible at a glance, and a sunlit play area allows kids to test out toys and books for sale.

The Goods
Lee and Han buy in limited quantities from more than 40 vendors, which ensures their customers won’t see their new Matta hand-dyed cotton tunics ($40) on every other kid in town. The pair like the tongue-in-cheekiness of No Added Sugar’s “Sleep Thief” onesies ($38), Interracial Productions’ ($27) representations of notable figures such as the Dalai Lama and Basquiat, and WiseGuys’ tops ($20) that proclaim, “I make dining out miserable.” Japanese-designed Makie’s print dresses ($92) feature the same spare and lovely aesthetic as charming handmade dolls by Chicago-based Scrappy Nation (from $25), colorful Palladium shoes ($52), and Sirch Sibis’s handcrafted toy carts ($200).

The Verdict
A lovely addition to this vibrant, small-town shopping destination.