08/01/08

Amazing space for a wedding

by julybride

I had my wedding reception at Architectural Artifacts and it was fabulous! All my guests, from 30 to 80 years old, told me that it was the best wedding they have been to in along time! I didn't want a country club wedding and the unique space allowed for my guests to wonder around the store. I was able to use pieces from the store to create the atmosphere I had envisioned. The photographer we used stayed longer because he was having such a great time using the space and the items as unique background settings. We has such a great experience working with Marie. I would highly recommend Architectural Artifacts if you are wanting a fun and different setting for a wedding!

• Pros: Unique space, use venders I want, parking, service was great, clean

10/31/07

We agree and disagree

by earlweingarden

Having used both the vendor and the venue for our daughter's wedding, we would not recommend either Architectural Artifacts nor J & L Catering. Details can be found at our J and L blog at blogspot dot com

• Pros: Interesting place, great potential
• Cons: Terrible attitude, overpromises, failed to deliver

09/21/07

Horrible customer service

by chrissoloma

My son and daughter-in-law had there wedding reception at Architectural Artifacts on 9/15/07. I will NEVER recommend the facility to anyone for any type of event. I think people need to remember this is a warehouse or a museum or a store. It is NOT a wedding reception venue. And the owner can only communicate via profane language.

09/21/07

event venue

by MaryPowers231

My daughter and son-in-law held their wedding reception here and it was awsome! We had J and L Catering cater the event and the food, the service and the attentiveness by Rachel and her staff was just over the top. I would highly recommend J and L to anyone looking for a caterer. I would not, however, recommend Architectural Artifacts for your space. As unique and different this place may be for events, the risk of having it ruined by false accusations and the vulgar and crude use of profanity by them in trying to discuss and resolve the situation just doesn't make it worth it.

08/14/03

A tour of this extraordinary antique shop is a working history lesson in European architecture.

by Contributor

The Scene
This massive antique boutique could be the excavation site of a fallen, well-endowed 19th-century European town. That's because owner Stuart Grannen scours Europe every few weeks for the kind of stuff that makes people squeal with excitement on "Antique Road Show." The handpicked selection is surprisingly well-organized, and each item is labeled with price and origin (an ancient monastery, a public building in Glasgow).

The Goods
Every inch of the 30,000-square-foot store is chock-full of finds, from places and periods as divergent as 16th-century England and 20th-century America. Big draws include more than 2,000 chandeliers, ornately carved fireplace mantels, stained glass, American and European garden accessories, and carved stone statues. You might see an original staircase from the Chicago Stock Exchange (the only other one is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art), French leather club chairs, an 18th-century Spanish doorway or an American ceremonial pickax.