On 11/11/2017, built on Matthew’s childhood love of neighborhood shopkeeps, he and his life/work partner Greg pulled the paper off the windows of a little shop in Chicago’s tight-knit Andersonville neighborhood—and saw a small crowd of the most delightful faces peering in to see the new frontier they had created.
And those faces kept coming, year after year—seeking birthday presents, shirts for a first date, blankets to keep cozy on frigid nights, barware to toast a longtime friend, and gifts to bring some holiday cheer. Cowboys and Astronauts quickly became more than just a store—it became a place where people found beautiful, practical things for themselves and others. It became a part of the fabric of the neighborhood.
Since then, the store grew a little, the website launched and expanded, awards were won, and plenty of wisdom (and gray hairs) were earned. The biggest lesson? Nothing matters more than the community of people who paused long enough to come in, share stories, and support a local dream.
When Matthew and Greg announced in February 2025 that they were stepping away, we were stunned. As longtime customers, we immediately knew we couldn’t let this place disappear from Andersonville. Brian saw the post on Instagram, reached out that same day, and then turned to Tyler and said, “What do you think?”
The timing felt wild. But also right. Tyler spent years in retail and always dreamed of owning a store. Brian’s long wanted to run his own business. It just... made sense.
After two months of conversations and contracts, we officially took over on April 30 and gave ourselves just six weeks to reopen. We moved fast—learning everything as we went—and on June 12, we welcomed the neighborhood back inside.
We’ve kept the heart of the store intact: Supplies for Modern Kind. Useful, beautiful, everyday essentials for your journey—plus the fun, the thoughtful, and the unexpected.
We’ve brought in a few new brands, and we’ve got plans for more. But what matters most is the same as it ever was: making space for style, self-care, and connection in the neighborhood we love.
Come say hi. We’re proud to carry this story forward—and excited to make it our own.
—Tyler & Brian
If you’ve visited the shop prior, you probably noticed Smokey Bear keeping watch from above. He’s been a part of Cowboys and Astronauts from the beginning—born from Matthew’s childhood memory of a towering, animatronic Smokey he met at the Ohio State Fair. That moment sparked a lifelong connection, and Smokey became a symbol of care, purpose, and gentle guidance.
While Smokey did move on with Matthew and Greg, as a tribute to that legacy, we’ve made a quiet promise: there will always be something Smokey-related in the shop. A little nod to where the story began.
