City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio

- 3022 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60612

For homeowners, property managers, and businesses throughout the Chicago and wider Illinois region, transforming an outdoor space requires more than just plants—it requires the expertise of a professional general contractor specializing in landscape design-build. City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio is a unique establishment that seamlessly blends a full-service, beautifully curated garden center with a high-end landscape design and construction firm. This dual nature allows them to manage your entire outdoor project, from the initial creative concept and material selection to the final, professional installation.

Since its founding in 2003, City Escape has been an integral part of the Chicagoland green industry. The company, which has deep roots in a Michigan flower farm, was created as an outlet to transform both outdoor and indoor landscapes, providing a much-needed escape from the urban environment. They serve a discerning clientele, catering to both residential properties—including intimate home gardens and private residences—and large commercial, residential, and municipal properties across Chicago. Their commitment to excellence is evident in their careful sourcing of unique flowers, fresh plants, and carefully curated home décor and garden accessories.

The Design Studio component operates as the general contractor, providing a full suite of services that include architectural design, hardscape installation (patios, retaining walls, walkways), custom features (water features, lighting, irrigation), and the implementation of a sophisticated planting plan. This integrated 'design-build' approach streamlines the project management process for local users, offering a single point of responsibility for a complex exterior renovation.

City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio is conveniently situated in Chicago, IL, making it a central resource for customers from the city and surrounding Illinois suburbs. This location serves as both a design consultation hub and a massive retail garden center, allowing clients to physically see and select materials for their projects.

The physical location is:

• Address: 3022 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

The facility is designed for easy customer access, providing several features that ensure a smooth and pleasant visit, whether for a quick pickup or an extensive design consultation:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot
• Curbside pickup service for convenience
• Delivery and in-store shopping options

The center is generally open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, providing ample time for busy Illinois residents to visit and explore the extensive selection of plants, pots, and accessories. Payment is made easy with acceptance of Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments.

City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio offers comprehensive services across both the retail and contracting sides of their business. As a full-service landscape designer and general contractor for outdoor spaces, their offerings include:

• Landscape Design-Build & Construction Services:
  • Full Landscape Design: Including site inspection, topographical analysis, and graphic design (hand-drawn or computer-generated).
  • Hardscape Installation: Construction of stone and brick patios, walkways, natural stone features, and retaining walls.
  • Water and Lighting Features: Custom installation of water features and custom lighting systems.
  • Irrigation: Design and installation of custom irrigation systems.
  • Subcontractor Management: Professional management and coordination of all subcontractor services required for the project.
  • Landscape Renovation: Developing new designs, removing and pruning specified plants, and installing new construction per plan.
• Planting and Horticulture Services:
  • Custom Plant Specification: Careful selection and specification of plants obtained from local growers, suitable for the Chicago climate.
  • Plant Installation: Complete bed construction and finished installation with shredded mulch.
  • Soil Nutrition: Soil analysis for necessary nutrients and adding soil amendments.
  • Seasonal Flower Programs: Design, installation, and maintenance of seasonal flower arrangements for residential and commercial properties.
• Garden Center & Retail Offerings:
  • Extensive Plant Selection: A wide range of high-quality indoor and outdoor plants, annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, and shrubs.
  • Outdoor Décor & Accessories: Curated selection of outdoor furniture, unique garden accessories, and high-quality containers/pots.
  • Home Décor: Exquisite home décor selection for interior spaces.
  • Convenience Services: Curbside pickup, delivery, and in-store shopping for all products.

The advantages of choosing City Escape for your Illinois outdoor project are rooted in their unique combination of retail and professional contracting services, which include:

• Integrated Design-Build Model: Clients benefit from a singular, comprehensive service for their entire project, from concept creation with skilled landscape architects to the final construction and planting—all under one experienced general contractor.
• Curated, High-Quality Inventory: The garden center is frequently described as a "plant compound" with "absolutely everything," featuring gorgeous and unique plants, pots, and accessories carefully sourced from all over the world, offering options "leaps and bounds beyond the standard 'big box' garden product."
• Expert Staff: Customers report that the staff is "super helpful, kind, and knowledgeable," providing honest advice on plant choice and use, ensuring the right selections are made for Chicago’s climate.
• Strong Commercial Portfolio: They serve as the landscape maintenance firm for numerous high-profile commercial, residential, and municipal properties throughout Chicago, demonstrating their capability to handle large and complex accounts with an amazing eye for detail.
• Aesthetic and Inspiring Space: The physical location is described as beautiful and a joy to visit, functioning as an inspiring design studio where clients can see the potential for their own "personal escapes from the city."

To schedule a landscape design consultation, inquire about maintenance contracts, or find out more about their retail offerings in the Chicago area, please use the following contact information:

• Address: 3022 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
• Phone: (773) 638-2000
• Mobile Phone: +1 773-638-2000

The Design Studio encourages potential clients to reach out to discuss their project vision, whether it’s a detailed plan for a backyard patio or ongoing seasonal maintenance for a commercial property.

Choosing City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio as your general contractor for landscape projects in Illinois is choosing a partner with a deep, specialized expertise in transforming and maintaining outdoor living spaces. The fundamental reason to choose them is the unmatched convenience and quality assurance of their design-build model. You eliminate the coordination headaches of separate designers, suppliers, and contractors, instead relying on one professional entity to manage every detail, from the selection of the perfect perennial to the construction of a custom stone patio.

While some customer feedback suggests that their prices may be higher than average and they maintain strict policies on certain product returns, the consensus around the quality of their products—the unique flowers, the expansive variety, and the beautiful accessories—remains strong. For Illinois clients who prioritize superior product quality, sophisticated design, and a comprehensive, managed construction process for their outdoor investment, City Escape is an ideal choice.

Their experience in creating beautiful, relaxing, and highly functional spaces—from intimate perennial gardens to complex, multi-featured residential and commercial landscapes—confirms their standing as a premier landscape design-build general contractor in the Chicagoland area. They offer the necessary resources and design vision to make your outdoor space an elegant and valued extension of your Illinois home or business.

City Escape Garden Center and Design Studio

3022 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA