Hair Salons Near theMART: A River North Local's Guide

If you spend your work week in or around the Merchandise Mart, finding a hair salon close enough for a lunch appointment is its own kind of search. The Mart has more than four million square feet of tenants, plus the design center floors and the showrooms, so on any given day there are tens of thousands of people walking through. A salon within walking distance is not just a convenience, it is the difference between keeping the appointment and rescheduling it for the third time.

We are 3rd Coast Salon. We are a boutique suite at 223 W Erie Street, Suite 1E, three blocks from theMART. This guide is meant to help you find the right salon for your hair, whether that is us or one of the other shops in the area.

Why is theMART such a useful landmark for finding a salon?

The Merchandise Mart sits right on the Chicago River at the south edge of River North. If you are using it as your reference point, almost every River North salon is between a three and ten minute walk away. The Brown and Purple Line both stop at the Merchandise Mart station, which means you can also get there easily from the Loop, the West Loop, or Lincoln Park.

Most people searching "hair salons near theMART" fall into one of three groups: people who work inside the building, people staying at nearby hotels like the Renaissance or the Conrad, or East Bank Club members coming over for a same-day appointment. Each group has a slightly different set of needs, but the convenience requirement is the same.

How far is 3rd Coast Salon from theMART?

About three blocks. From the north entrance of the Merchandise Mart at Wells and Kinzie, you walk north on Wells, cross Hubbard, and turn right onto Erie. We are on the first floor of 223 W Erie. Door to door it is a four to five minute walk in normal weather, longer if you stop to look at the Chicago River from the Riverwalk on the way.

The Brown Line Merchandise Mart stop is the same distance as the building itself. If you take the L in for an appointment, you exit at street level and follow Kinzie east, then north on Wells. The walk is well lit, all sidewalk, no transfers.

What is near the salon if you want to make a half day of it?

The Chicago Riverwalk is a half block south of our front door. After a color appointment in summer, a lot of guests walk down to the river before heading home. Bonci Pizzeria, RPM Italian, Tre Soldi, and the Doughnut Vault are all within a five block radius. The East Bank Club is six blocks west if you have a workout to fit in around your appointment.

The River North Gallery District starts two blocks east. If you are coming in for a longer service like balayage or extensions, that is a three to four hour window where you can park, get your hair done, and walk to a gallery or grab dinner before heading back. We mention this because a lot of out-of-town guests do not realize how walkable this stretch is.

What kinds of appointments work best for people coming from theMART?

A few patterns we see from guests who work in or around the Mart:

• Lunch hour cuts. A men's haircut with Phillip runs about 45 minutes and fits inside an extended lunch. Women's cuts depend on length and style.
• End-of-day color refresh. Single process color or a money piece can be done in 90 minutes. We start at 5:30pm on Tuesday through Friday for guests coming off work.
• Friday morning blowouts. A blowout before a Friday dinner or event runs 45 to 60 minutes. We hold morning slots open for these.
• Bridal trials and special-occasion styling. The Riverwalk, the Wrigley Building, and the Loop hotels are popular wedding venues. We see a lot of bridal styling traffic from theMART area guests in May and September.

How we think about the Mart-area client (in our own words)

When someone tells us they work in the Mart, we know we have to be on time. We know the lunch hour is real. We know that if a color session runs over, you are missing a meeting, not just a lunch. So we build a buffer into appointments for guests we know are on a tight schedule, and we tell you up front if a service is going to run long. We would rather you book a slightly longer slot than have you walk out with toner in your hair because you were watching the clock.

Kevin handles most of our same-day color refreshes because his timing is the most consistent on the team. If you are booking a 60 minute window, ask for him.

Who this guide is NOT for

If you are looking for the cheapest haircut near theMART, we are not it. The towers around the Mart have a few quick-cut chain options on the ground floor and at the Loop end of Wells Street. Those are perfectly fine for a maintenance trim and they are faster to book. We are a boutique stylist-led salon, which means a different price point and a different appointment length. If you want a 20 minute trim under $30, those chains are a better fit.

How to book if you are coming from theMART

Call (312) 929-2627 from your desk and we will check the schedule, or use Book Online any time. Tell us when you book that you are walking from the Mart so we can pad the schedule slightly. For service details, browse our full services menu, our color services, or our Chicago salon page.

Frequently asked questions

How close is 3rd Coast Salon to theMART?

Three blocks. We are at 223 W Erie Street, Suite 1E. From the north entrance of the Merchandise Mart it is a four to five minute walk.

What is the closest L stop to 3rd Coast Salon?

The Brown and Purple Line stop at Merchandise Mart. From the platform it is about a five minute walk north on Wells Street and east on Erie.

Can I get a haircut on my lunch hour from theMART?

Yes. A men's cut runs about 45 minutes. A maintenance women's cut can fit inside an extended lunch. Book in advance and tell us your timing when you book.

Where can I park near 3rd Coast Salon?

There is metered street parking on Erie and Huron and several pay lots within two blocks. Most guests use SpotHero or park in the lot off Hubbard Street.

Are there other hair salons close to theMART?

Yes. River North has more than a dozen salons within a ten minute walk of theMART. We are one of the smaller boutique options. Larger floor-style salons are also nearby.

Do you offer same-day appointments for people in the area?

Sometimes. Tuesday through Friday we hold a few flexible slots open. Call the salon directly for same-day rather than booking online.

Is the walk from theMART safe in the evening?

Yes. The Wells and Erie corridor is a busy mixed-use stretch with restaurants and offices, well lit through the evening hours.

Do you take East Bank Club members?

We do not have a formal partnership but a number of our regulars are East Bank Club members who walk over after a workout. We are a six block walk from the club.