ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Fresh Design Studio - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 256, Chicago, IL 60604
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Danie Lyn The Brand - 401 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60611
• Windy City Digital - Chicago, IL 60614
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601

If you specifically need headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d focus on firms that can show real work with Hydrogen/React or Next.js + Shopify Storefront API, rather than agencies that mainly customize Shopify themes.

Downtown / central Chicago firms to investigate

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. Shopify/Shopify Plus is a core specialization, and the firm is listed as a Shopify service/Platinum partner. This is one of the more directly relevant downtown options for a Shopify-heavy engagement.
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Their listed capabilities specifically include Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps, and Checkout Extensibility. This is a particularly relevant technical match for your requirements.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. An enterprise ecommerce engineering firm with Shopify Plus experience and substantial integration/commerce-platform expertise. Good candidate if your build involves ERP, PIM, complex catalog, or other enterprise integrations.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop. Their offering includes composable/headless commerce alongside UX and digital experience work. I'd investigate them if the project is as much about the customer experience and product discovery as the underlying commerce engineering.
• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More of a broad digital transformation/engineering agency; their public work emphasizes headless CMS and custom digital platforms. Worth considering if Shopify is one component of a larger digital ecosystem.
• Always Coded Fresh — 155 N Wacker Dr. A smaller digital/product shop whose published technical stack includes React and Next.js. I'd verify their specific headless-Shopify portfolio before putting them on an RFP list.

The technical shortlist I'd start with

For your exact brief, I'd put BlueBolt, Praella, and Atwix through the first round, then ask each for:

1. 2–3 live headless Shopify projects they personally engineered.
2. Whether the frontend was Hydrogen or Next.js, and why.
3. Their approach to Shopify Storefront API, cart, customer accounts, checkout, and webhooks.
4. How they handle SEO/SSR, Core Web Vitals, caching, preview environments, and deployments.
5. Who actually writes the React code—local senior engineers, offshore team, or subcontractors.
6. Post-launch ownership and React/Shopify maintenance.

There are also Chicago-serving agencies explicitly advertising the stack you're after. For example, Sigma says it builds headless Shopify storefronts with React/Next.js + Shopify Storefront API, while WayOut advertises Hydrogen/Next.js headless builds and Mejix advertises Hydrogen/Next.js headless storefronts. Sigma Infosolutions WayOut Inc Mejix

One caveat: “Chicago agency” doesn't necessarily mean the engineering team is physically downtown. I'd verify where the actual delivery team sits before treating office location as a selection criterion.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $50–100k, $100–250k, $250k+) and whether you need Shopify Plus, I can narrow this to a 3–5 agency shortlist with relevant case studies, locations, and contact links.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Fresh Design Studio - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 256, Chicago, IL 60604
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Custom Websites Designer - 156 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

For a downtown Chicago agency, I’d shortlist these based on publicly documented Shopify/headless/React capabilities:

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle; Chicago-headquartered Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist. Worth contacting for a serious Shopify implementation.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker; downtown office and deep ecommerce engineering, including headless/PWA architecture and Shopify Plus.
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle; specifically advertises Shopify Plus, headless storefronts and custom apps.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington; smaller Loop agency with composable/headless commerce capabilities.

For your custom React storefront, I’d put BlueBolt and Atwix on the first-call list because their published technical scope most directly matches headless architecture rather than conventional Shopify theme work. commerce-ui.com sigmainfo.net

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably. The important distinction is that you want an agency with actual headless/React commerce engineering, not simply a Shopify theme shop.

My shortlist

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop
   • Probably the strongest first call if you want a Shopify-focused agency with serious Plus experience.
   • Chicago-headquartered and a Shopify Platinum Partner.
   • Good fit if the project also involves integrations, migration, CRO, or ongoing Shopify Plus work.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North
   • Particularly interesting for your requirements: they explicitly offer Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps and Checkout Extensibility.
   • More technically oriented than a typical branding/marketing agency.
   • I'd put them high on the list for a custom React frontend.

3. Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop
   • Strong choice if your Shopify project has substantial ERP/integration or enterprise architecture requirements.
   • Their Chicago office is downtown and they work across Shopify Plus and other commerce platforms, including headless/PWA architectures.
   • I'd especially consider them if the backend is complicated rather than just needing a custom storefront.

4. 1DIGITAL AGENCY — 205 N Michigan Ave, Loop
   • Downtown and explicitly works with Shopify Plus and Hydrogen/Oxygen-style headless builds. www.1digitalagency.com
   • More ecommerce-focused than a general digital agency.
   • I'd interview them alongside Praella/BlueBolt, but I'd ask for specific React/Hydrogen case studies before choosing.

5. WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop
   • Worth considering if the project is as much about digital experience, product discovery and composable/headless architecture as it is about Shopify.
   • Smaller/senior-agency feel may be attractive for a bespoke storefront.

One important wrinkle

I'd also talk to WayOut even though its location is less specifically "downtown office." They explicitly advertise Hydrogen and Next.js headless builds, custom Shopify apps/Functions, and a claimed migration of a $12M brand from Magento to headless Shopify. Their published starting point for headless builds is $75k. www.wayoutinc.com

For comparison, Sigma explicitly says it builds headless Shopify storefronts using React/Next.js + Shopify Storefront API, although its Chicago operation appears more like a distributed engineering organization than a traditional downtown agency. www.sigmainfo.net

Who I'd interview first

For your exact brief, my first three calls would be:

1. BlueBolt → technical/headless fit
2. Praella → Shopify Plus depth + Chicago presence
3. Atwix → strongest candidate if integrations/enterprise architecture are substantial

When you talk to them, don't just ask "Can you build headless Shopify?" Ask:

• Show me 2–3 production Shopify headless sites your team built.
• Was the frontend React/Next.js or Hydrogen?
• Who actually wrote the frontend—the agency's engineers or a subcontractor?
• How are Shopify Storefront API, cart, customer accounts and checkout handled?
• What CMS do they recommend alongside Shopify?
• How do they handle SSR/SSG, caching, SEO and Core Web Vitals?
• Can they provide the actual architecture diagram and Git workflow?
• What happens after launch when Shopify changes APIs?
• Who owns the code and infrastructure?

That's a much better filter than "Shopify agency" rankings. For example, ConversionEX's Chicago practice explicitly describes Hydrogen/Oxygen, Storefront API, ERP/PIM/3PL integrations and load/failure testing, and importantly says it will sometimes recommend not going headless if the use case doesn't justify the complexity. www.conversionex.com

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $50–100k, $100–250k, $250k+) and whether you need ERP/PIM integrations, I can narrow these to the 3 best agencies and compare them on headless expertise, likely cost, Chicago location, and technical fit.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SpurIT - 2155 N Ginger Cir, Palatine, IL 60074
• Ecommerce Development - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642

Yes. I’d narrow the field considerably for a headless Shopify + custom React storefront rather than a conventional Shopify theme build.

My downtown Chicago shortlist

1. BlueBolt Solutions — River North

• Best technical fit. Their offering specifically includes Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and complex ERP/CRM/PIM/3PL integrations.
• This is the kind of agency I’d interview first if the frontend architecture and integrations are as important as the visual design.
• Codal — 433 W Van Buren St

• Stronger choice if this is a larger digital-commerce transformation, rather than simply a storefront rebuild.
• They have Shopify/Shopify Plus experience alongside custom application and full-stack engineering. Their Chicago location is actually downtown.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr

• Particularly interesting for enterprise-scale commerce and integrations.
• Their Chicago office is right in the Loop, and their capabilities include Shopify Plus, headless/PWA architecture and broader commerce-system integration.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St

• A particularly relevant local option because they're Shopify-focused and headquartered downtown.
• I'd put them on the RFP list, but I'd specifically ask for examples of React/Hydrogen or Next.js headless builds, rather than assuming their Shopify expertise automatically means deep custom-frontend expertise.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St

• Worth considering if you want a stronger brand/digital-experience component alongside commerce engineering.
• They advertise composable/headless commerce capabilities, although I'd probe their specific Shopify + React delivery experience more heavily.

The two I'd call first

BlueBolt would be my first technical interview, followed by Atwix if your project has substantial ERP/PIM/OMS or enterprise integration requirements. BlueBolt's stated capabilities line up unusually closely with your architecture. 100x Elevate

I'd also put Praella into the competitive bid because of the genuinely downtown location and Shopify specialization.

One caveat: "Chicago agency" doesn't necessarily mean the actual engineering team sits downtown, so I wouldn't select based on address alone. For the RFP, ask each agency to show you a live Shopify headless project where they personally implemented the React frontend, and ask whether it used Hydrogen, Next.js, or another React architecture. Several agencies market "headless" while primarily doing conventional Shopify theme work.

If you want, I can also rank these by likely technical depth, estimated project cost, and suitability for a $100k–$300k headless build.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Digital - Chicago, IL 60614
• Ecommerce Development - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

For a headless Shopify build with a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the field to agencies that can handle more than Shopify themes—specifically React/Next.js or Hydrogen, Shopify Storefront API, integrations, performance, and commerce architecture.

Here are Chicago-area firms I’d put on a shortlist:

A few additional Chicago-market options that specifically mention headless Shopify/React stacks:

• BlueBolt Solutions — probably one of the closer matches if you need Shopify Plus + integrations + engineering depth.
• Atwix — better suited if the project has enterprise complexity (ERP, PIM, multiple systems, large catalog).
• Clique Studios — consider if the storefront is closer to a digital product experience than a standard ecommerce site.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — consider if you want a Shopify-first partner.

When interviewing them, I’d ask these exact questions:

1. Have you shipped a production headless Shopify storefront using React/Next.js or Hydrogen?
2. Who owns the frontend architecture—the Shopify developer or a dedicated React engineer?
3. How do you handle Shopify Storefront API, cart state, checkout redirects, and customer accounts?
4. What CMS do you recommend alongside Shopify (Sanity, Contentful, Shopify metaobjects, etc.)?
5. Can you show Lighthouse/Core Web Vitals results from a live headless Shopify build?
6. Who maintains the code after launch?

For a serious custom React storefront, I’d probably start conversations with BlueBolt, Atwix, Praella, and Clique first, then compare architecture proposals rather than just hourly rates.

I can also help you build a vendor scorecard/RFP checklist specifically for headless Shopify agencies if you’re planning to send this to multiple shops.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

Yes. I’d shortlist four downtown/near-downtown Chicago firms for this specifically, rather than treating every Shopify agency as equivalent.

My shortlist

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. This is probably the strongest first call if you want a Shopify-specialist agency that can handle the entire commerce experience. Praella is Chicago-headquartered, a Shopify Plus agency, and its portfolio explicitly includes headless/PWA and Shopify Hydrogen builds. Praella Praella Praella

Best for: brand-led DTC, sophisticated UX, Shopify Plus, Hydrogen, ongoing ecommerce optimization.

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. This is the one I'd investigate particularly closely if the project has difficult integrations or you're looking for a genuinely technical Shopify team. BlueBolt says its core competency is Shopify Plus engineering, including APIs, custom checkout, multi-storefronts and performance, and specifically supports Hydrogen, Next.js and hybrid headless architectures. BlueBolt Solutions BlueBolt Solutions

Best for: complex integrations, custom Shopify apps, headless + CMS, enterprise commerce.

• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. Atwix has a downtown Chicago office and broader enterprise ecommerce-development capabilities spanning Shopify Plus, custom applications and headless/PWA architecture. Atwix

Best for: technically complex implementations where Shopify is one component of a larger commerce architecture.

• Caxy Interactive — 212 W Van Buren St, Loop. This is the most engineering-heavy option I'd consider. Caxy is Chicago-based and has shipped Shopify Plus headless, with React/Next.js, Node.js and AWS expertise; it has 40+ senior engineers and describes itself as a custom-software engineering firm rather than a conventional Shopify agency. Caxy Caxy

Best for: a genuinely custom React application, complicated backend integrations, ERP/CRM systems, or situations where your storefront is almost a software product.

How I'd rank them for your project

If your requirements are specifically “Shopify backend + custom React storefront”, I'd start conversations in this order:

1. BlueBolt — strongest apparent match between Shopify Plus and headless/React technical expertise.
2. Praella — strongest Shopify-centric option with proven headless/Hydrogen work and a strong UX/ecommerce orientation.
3. Caxy — particularly compelling if the React frontend and systems architecture are unusually sophisticated.
4. Atwix — worth including if you're dealing with enterprise integrations or broader platform complexity.

One important distinction: React doesn't automatically mean you need Hydrogen. I'd ask each agency to propose the architecture rather than specifying Hydrogen yourself. For example, BlueBolt explicitly supports both Hydrogen and Next.js, while Caxy describes React/Next.js headless architectures. BlueBolt Solutions Caxy

What I'd ask them in the first meeting

Give all four the same brief and ask:

• “Show me 2–3 production Shopify headless sites where you built the React frontend, not just the Shopify backend.”
• “Was the frontend Hydrogen, Next.js, or another React architecture, and why?”
• “Who actually writes the React code—your Chicago team or an offshore delivery team?”
• “How do you handle Shopify Storefront API caching, SSR/streaming, search, cart state and checkout?”
• “What CMS would you pair with Shopify—Sanity, Contentful, Shopify metaobjects, etc.—and why?”
• “Can you provide Lighthouse/Core Web Vitals data from a live headless implementation?”
• “Who owns the source code and infrastructure after launch?”
• “What does ongoing React/Shopify maintenance cost?”

That last set of questions will separate a real headless engineering team from an agency that mostly builds Shopify themes and has added “headless” to its services page.

If you tell me your approximate budget and whether this is DTC, B2B, or both, I can narrow these to the 2–3 I'd actually invite to RFP and compare their likely strengths, project fit, and downtown locations.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Kin + Carta - 111 N Canal St floor 3, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Custom Websites Designer - 156 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• American Eagle - 5220 Fashion Outlets Way Suite 1075, Rosemont, IL 60018, United States
• One North, A TEKsystems Company - 227 W Monroe St #3500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes. I’d narrow the downtown shortlist to agencies that can demonstrate actual headless Shopify + React/Hydrogen engineering, rather than agencies that merely advertise “Shopify development.”

Best downtown Chicago fits

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St. This would be one of my first calls. They’re Chicago-based, Shopify Plus-focused, and have a strong ecommerce orientation. The downtown location and Shopify specialization make them a particularly natural fit.
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr. Probably the most technically interesting option if your project involves more than the storefront. They specifically list Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps, Checkout Extensibility and complex commerce architecture.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr. Strong engineering-oriented choice. They work across Shopify Plus and other enterprise commerce platforms and have experience with headless/PWA architecture and scalable infrastructure. I'd consider them if integrations and backend architecture are substantial.
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — 205 N Michigan Ave. They have a downtown presence and explicitly offer Shopify Plus/headless work, including Hydrogen + Oxygen and React-based storefronts. Their broader ecommerce/marketing capability could be useful if you want the agency to own growth as well as implementation. 1Digital® Agency
• Kin + Carta — 111 N Canal St. This is the more enterprise/consulting-oriented option. I'd put them on the list if you're talking about a substantial digital transformation rather than simply replacing a Shopify theme. Their Chicago operation is engineering/product oriented.

My ranking for your specific project

If the brief is “Shopify backend + custom React storefront + serious production engineering”, I'd start with:

1. BlueBolt — strongest apparent combination of Shopify Plus + headless + custom engineering.
2. Praella — strongest Shopify/ecommerce-centric option.
3. Atwix — worth considering for complicated integrations and enterprise architecture.
4. 1Digital — good if you also want ecommerce marketing/CRO under the same roof.
5. Kin + Carta — better suited to a larger enterprise transformation and potentially a substantially larger budget.

One important distinction: ask each agency whether they'd build the React layer with Shopify Hydrogen/Remix or Next.js, and whether the team doing the work is actually in-house. Current Shopify headless implementations commonly use Hydrogen/Oxygen or Next.js; Shopify's Storefront API handles the commerce layer while your React application owns the customer-facing experience. Several agencies above explicitly advertise this architecture. Bigfolio LLC Mejix Liquid Web Developers

For an RFP, I'd specifically ask for: a live headless Shopify example, React/Hydrogen team bios, architecture diagram, Storefront API experience, CMS choice (Sanity/Contentful/etc.), hosting approach, checkout strategy, Core Web Vitals targets, and examples of ERP/PIM/OMS integrations.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies that have the strongest demonstrated headless Shopify portfolios and estimate their likely project budgets.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• Custom Websites Designer - 156 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Yes. I’d narrow the downtown/near-downtown field quite a bit for a headless Shopify + custom React storefront—that’s a substantially more technical project than a normal Shopify theme build.

My shortlist

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Probably one of the strongest fits technically. Their stated capabilities include Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and integrations. Mintec Agency
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. A Shopify-focused ecommerce agency with a downtown Chicago office and Shopify Plus specialization. I'd put them on the RFP list if you want a Shopify-first agency rather than a general digital shop.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. Strong engineering/ecommerce orientation and an actual downtown office. They work across Shopify Plus and other enterprise commerce platforms, so they're worth considering if your project includes substantial integrations or migration complexity.
• Codal — 433 W Van Buren St, West Loop. More of a digital product/ecommerce consultancy than a pure Shopify shop. Its technical orientation makes it interesting if the React frontend is going to behave more like a custom digital product than a conventional storefront.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop. Smaller/senior-led option. Their positioning includes composable/headless commerce, which is particularly relevant if you're deliberately choosing an architecture beyond Shopify's standard frontend.

One I'd also interview, even though it's not downtown

Makro looks especially interesting for a technically complex Shopify Plus implementation. It explicitly lists headless commerce, custom Shopify apps, integrations, B2B, migration, and enterprise work, and says it focuses exclusively on Shopify Plus. Makro Agency

Who I'd contact first

For your specific requirement, my initial three would be:

1. BlueBolt — best apparent match for headless + custom engineering.
2. Praella — Shopify-specialist option with a downtown presence.
3. Atwix — strongest candidate if there are significant ERP/PIM/OMS or enterprise integration requirements.

One important caveat: “React storefront” isn't enough by itself. When you talk to agencies, ask whether they have actually shipped production Shopify headless storefronts using Hydrogen/React or Next.js + Shopify Storefront API, rather than simply having React developers.

I'd also ask each candidate for 2–3 live headless Shopify examples, the frontend framework used, who owns the architecture, and whether the work is done by their in-house engineers.

If you want, I can also make you a 5-agency Chicago shortlist ranked by technical depth, downtown location, likely project fit, and estimated budget range.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Custom Websites Designer - 156 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes. I’d narrow the field considerably for headless Shopify + a genuinely custom React storefront. A lot of Chicago agencies advertise Shopify, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have strong headless/React architecture experience.

My downtown Chicago shortlist

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. This is probably my first call for a technically demanding build. They explicitly work with Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps and Checkout Extensibility, and their portfolio includes larger brands and complex commerce implementations. Clutch
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. Strong Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization and a particularly good candidate if you want an agency that can handle both ecommerce strategy and engineering. Their Chicago office is genuinely downtown rather than simply “serving Chicago.”
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More engineering/enterprise-oriented than a typical creative agency. They have Shopify Plus experience alongside other commerce platforms and specifically list headless/PWA architecture and custom ecommerce development.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop. Smaller, more senior-looking shop. They emphasize composable/headless commerce, so I'd investigate them if you want a close agency relationship rather than a large implementation team.
• Always Coded Fresh — 155 N Wacker Dr. Particularly interesting on the React/Next.js side: their stated stack includes React and Next.js along with ecommerce development. I'd consider them if the frontend experience is the primary differentiator, but I'd verify their recent Shopify headless projects before shortlisting them.

One important distinction

For your project, I'd ask each agency specifically:

“Show me two production Shopify headless stores where your team built the React/Next.js frontend and integrated it with Shopify's Storefront API. Who actually wrote the frontend, and can I speak with the technical lead?”

That's a much better filter than asking whether they're a “Shopify agency.”

For comparison, there are Chicago-area firms explicitly advertising this architecture—for example, Sigma describes React/Next.js + Shopify Storefront API headless implementations, while WayOut advertises Hydrogen/Next.js headless builds. Sigma Infosolutions WayOut Inc

If I were issuing the RFP, my first three calls would be BlueBolt, Praella, and Atwix. I'd then use the RFP to determine whether BlueBolt/Atwix's engineering depth or Praella's Shopify specialization is the better fit.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. $50k, $100k, $250k+) and whether you're DTC or B2B, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies and compare their headless/React credentials, downtown location, likely project fit, and estimated cost tier.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• Swarming Technology - 770 N Jefferson St, Ste 230, Milwaukee, WI 53202
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Yes. I’d narrow the downtown list considerably for headless Shopify + a genuinely custom React storefront. You want an agency that can handle architecture/API work, not just Shopify themes.

Best downtown Chicago candidates

• BlueBolt Solutions — River North / LaSalle

• 415 N LaSalle Dr
• Particularly strong fit technically: Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and complex integrations are all specifically listed in its capabilities.
• I'd put this near the top of your shortlist if the project involves ERP/PIM/CRM integrations or non-trivial commerce logic.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — Loop

• 203 N LaSalle St
• Shopify-focused ecommerce agency and Shopify Plus partner. This is probably the strongest downtown option if you want a dedicated Shopify specialist rather than a general digital agency.
• Worth asking specifically for recent Hydrogen/React headless implementations, rather than assuming every Shopify Plus project they do is headless.
• Atwix — Loop

• 20 N Wacker Dr
• More enterprise/engineering-oriented. Its capabilities include Shopify Plus, headless/PWA work and complex commerce integrations.
• I'd consider them particularly if this is a larger replatform with ERP, inventory, CRM, or other enterprise-system integration.
• WHQ — Loop

• 24 E Washington St
• Interesting option if the project needs brand/design + composable/headless commerce, rather than purely engineering.
• I'd verify their depth specifically in Shopify Hydrogen/React before putting them into an RFP.
• Clique Studios — Loop / Wacker

• 20 N Wacker Dr
• Stronger as a broader digital experience agency. They have headless/content architecture and custom development capabilities, but I'd rank them below the first three for a Shopify-first engineering project.

One non-downtown option worth knowing

Uncap is headquartered outside downtown, but I'd still include them if technical commerce complexity is more important than having a Loop office. Their focus is Shopify, particularly complicated B2B/unified-commerce architectures.

My shortlist

For your exact requirement, I'd start with:

1. BlueBolt → 2. Praella → 3. Atwix → 4. WHQ

There are also Chicago-focused agencies explicitly advertising Hydrogen + React/Next.js. For example, WayOut says it builds headless Shopify storefronts using Hydrogen and Next.js, while Bigfolio specifically advertises Shopify Plus + Hydrogen. WayOut Inc Bigfolio LLC ConversionEX also explicitly describes Hydrogen storefronts using Shopify's Storefront API, edge caching and streaming SSR. ConversionEX

One important qualification: I'd ask each agency to show you 2–3 live headless Shopify stores they personally engineered, and ask whether the React layer was built with Hydrogen, Next.js, or another framework. "Shopify Plus partner" alone doesn't establish that they have serious headless React expertise.

If you tell me your rough budget ($100k / $250k / $500k+), catalog size, and whether you need Shopify Plus, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually invite to the RFP.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Swarming Technology - 770 N Jefferson St, Ste 230, Milwaukee, WI 53202
• Ecommerce Development - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Danie Lyn The Brand - 401 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60611
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Yes. If by “downtown” you mean the Loop / River North / nearby central Chicago, I’d shortlist these rather than generic Shopify shops:

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. Strong Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization and probably the first downtown shop I’d interview. It’s positioned around complex ecommerce builds rather than just theme customization.
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Particularly interesting for your requirements: their capabilities include Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps, Checkout Extensibility and integrations.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More enterprise/engineering-oriented. They handle Shopify Plus and headless/PWA architecture, so I'd consider them if you're integrating ERP/PIM/CRM systems or have a complicated backend.
• Codal — 433 W Van Buren St, West Loop. A larger digital/product-development shop with Shopify Plus, custom application development and integrations. Good candidate if the project has substantial UX/product-design requirements alongside engineering.
• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More of a digital experience agency than a Shopify specialist. I'd put them lower on the list unless brand/content experience is as important as the commerce engineering.

The technical bar I'd use

For your particular project, don't just ask, “Do you do Shopify?” Ask whether the actual proposed team has shipped:

• Shopify Hydrogen or a comparable React/Next.js headless storefront
• Shopify Storefront API, including cart/customer/account flows
• React/Next.js production applications
• Shopify Plus / Checkout Extensibility / Shopify Functions
• SSR/streaming, caching and Core Web Vitals
• SEO architecture for a headless storefront
• CMS integration such as Sanity or Contentful
• ERP/PIM/OMS/3PL integrations if applicable
• automated testing and CI/CD
• post-launch engineering ownership

There are also Chicago-focused firms explicitly advertising this stack. For example, WayOut says it builds headless Shopify with Hydrogen and Next.js, while Sigma describes React/Next.js + Storefront API headless implementations. WayOut Inc Sigma Infosolutions

For a genuinely headless-first implementation, Hydrogen + React is worth discussing rather than assuming you need to build a generic Next.js frontend. Current Shopify-focused agencies are explicitly using Hydrogen/Oxygen for this architecture. Mejix ConversionEX

My first three calls would be Praella, BlueBolt, and Atwix, with BlueBolt particularly worth probing on the technical side.

If you tell me your approximate annual online revenue / SKU count and whether you need ERP, PIM, subscription, or B2B integration, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best-fit Chicago agencies and compare their likely strengths, size, and headless experience.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• ISKPRO - 400 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• cre8 - Chicago, IL 60607
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Swarming Technology - 770 N Jefferson St, Ste 230, Milwaukee, WI 53202
• Ecommerce Development - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

Yes. For downtown Chicago specifically, I’d put these at the top of the shortlist for a headless Shopify + custom React storefront, rather than treating them as generic Shopify/web-design shops:

• BlueBolt Solutions — River North, 415 N LaSalle Dr. This is probably one of the strongest fits. Their stated capabilities include Shopify/Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps, Checkout Extensibility, and complex ERP/CRM/PIM/3PL integrations.
• Atwix — The Loop, 20 N Wacker Dr. More engineering-heavy than a typical creative agency. They work across Shopify Plus and other enterprise commerce platforms and have experience with headless/PWA architectures and scalable infrastructure.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — The Loop, 203 N LaSalle St. A Shopify-focused agency with a substantial Shopify Plus practice. I'd shortlist them if you want UX/design + Shopify engineering rather than a pure software engineering firm.
• Clique Studios — The Loop, 20 N Wacker Dr. Stronger on digital experience, product strategy, UX and custom engineering. Their headless/CMS work makes them worth considering if the React storefront is also intended to become a broader digital experience.
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — The Loop, 205 N Michigan Ave. Ecommerce-centric and supports Shopify plus headless work, although I'd rank the options above higher for a technically sophisticated React architecture.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — West Loop/Loop, 211 W Wacker Dr. More design/brand-oriented, but has Shopify and headless experience. I'd consider them if the creative direction is as important as the engineering.

My top 3 for your project

1. BlueBolt — best apparent match for a technically demanding Shopify Plus/headless implementation.
2. Atwix — best if the project has substantial integrations, infrastructure, or enterprise complexity.
3. Praella — best if you want a Shopify specialist that combines commerce strategy, design and development.

There are also Chicago agencies explicitly advertising React/Next.js + Shopify headless capabilities. For example, Sigma says it builds headless Shopify storefronts using React/Next.js and the Storefront API, while Bigfolio advertises Shopify Plus + Hydrogen/headless builds. Sigma Infosolutions Bigfolio LLC

One important caveat: I wouldn't select an agency merely because it says "headless Shopify." For your RFP, I'd specifically ask them to show 2–3 production Shopify headless projects and identify:

• React/Next.js or Hydrogen architecture
• Shopify Storefront API usage
• CMS choice (Sanity, Contentful, Shopify, etc.)
• hosting/edge architecture
• SSR/streaming and caching strategy
• checkout/custom-app approach
• Core Web Vitals results
• how they handle Shopify API/webhook failures
• who actually writes the React code (in-house vs. subcontractor)

If you tell me your approximate budget and whether you're on Shopify or Shopify Plus already, I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and compare their likely fit, technical depth, downtown location, and typical project profile.

• React/Next.js or Hydrogen architecture
• Shopify Storefront API usage
• CMS choice (Sanity, Contentful, Shopify, etc.)
• hosting/edge architecture
• SSR/streaming and caching strategy
• checkout/custom-app approach
• Core Web Vitals results
• how they handle Shopify API/webhook failures
• who actually writes the React code (in-house vs. subcontractor)

If you tell me your approximate budget and whether you're on Shopify or Shopify Plus already, I can narrow this to 3 Chicago firms and compare their likely fit, technical depth, downtown location, and typical project profile.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• Danie Lyn The Brand - 401 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60611
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably. You want more than a shop that can customize Shopify themes—you want proven Storefront API / Hydrogen or Next.js / React architecture, integrations, and Shopify Plus experience.

My Chicago shortlist

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Probably one of the strongest fits technically. Their published capabilities include Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and complex ERP/CRM/PIM/3PL integrations. Good choice if this is a substantial commerce platform rather than just a visual redesign.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More enterprise-oriented. They work across Shopify Plus and other commerce platforms and have experience with headless/PWA architecture and scalable infrastructure. I'd consider them if you have significant integrations or enterprise complexity.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. Chicago-headquartered and heavily Shopify-focused, with Shopify Plus expertise. I'd put them on the RFP list, particularly if you want a combination of UX/design, Shopify engineering and ongoing optimization.
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — 205 N Michigan Ave, Loop. Their offering spans Shopify and headless builds, although they're a broader e-commerce/digital agency rather than a headless-specialist shop. Worth interviewing, but I'd probe their actual React/Storefront API case studies closely.
• WPrime Agency — Merchandise Mart, River North. They list React/Node.js alongside Shopify, so there is relevant technical capability, but I'd treat them as a secondary candidate until they've demonstrated production headless Shopify work.

One important caveat

I found several agencies advertising “headless Shopify” in Chicago, but not all appear to have a physical downtown office. For example, Bigfolio explicitly advertises Shopify Plus + Hydrogen/headless, while Sigma says it builds React/Next.js headless storefronts using Shopify's Storefront API. Bigfolio LLC Sigma Infosolutions

For your particular project, I'd prioritize BlueBolt → Atwix → Praella, then use the others as comparison bids.

What I'd ask them

Don't simply ask “Can you build headless Shopify?” Ask for these specifics:

1. Show me 2–3 live Shopify headless stores you've built.
2. Is the frontend React/Next.js or Hydrogen? Why did you choose it?
3. How are you using Shopify's Storefront API and webhooks?
4. Where does CMS/content live—Shopify, Sanity, Contentful, etc.?
5. Who owns the React code and infrastructure after launch?
6. How do you handle SEO, SSR, caching, redirects and Core Web Vitals?
7. What happens at checkout—Shopify-hosted checkout or a customized checkout experience?
8. What integrations have you built with ERP/PIM/OMS/3PL systems?
9. Can your senior React/Shopify engineers work with us directly, rather than through an account manager?
10. Give us the estimated cost and timeline for a production build, not a prototype.

One thing I'd specifically push them on: whether headless is actually warranted. A good Shopify agency should be willing to tell you not to go headless if your requirements don't justify the additional infrastructure and maintenance. Even Chicago agencies marketing headless acknowledge that distinction. ConversionEX

If you tell me your approximate annual online revenue, number of SKUs, current platform, required integrations, and budget, I can narrow this to the best 3 Chicago firms and compare their likely fit, technical stack, pricing tier, and downtown location.

One thing I'd specifically push them on: whether headless is actually warranted. A good Shopify agency should be willing to tell you not to go headless if your requirements don't justify the additional infrastructure and maintenance. Even Chicago agencies marketing headless acknowledge that distinction.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Adage Technologies - 10 S Riverside Plaza Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• IDE Interactive, Inc. - 2945 W Peterson Ave Ste 103, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• ISKPRO - 400 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Devaims - Software Development Services in Chicago IL - 1435 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Fresh Design Studio - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Suit 1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field pretty aggressively. You want more than a conventional Shopify theme shop: look for Shopify Plus, Storefront API/GraphQL, React/Next.js or Hydrogen, integrations, and experience owning the architecture.

My downtown shortlist

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop

Probably the first shop I’d interview. They’re a Shopify-focused agency with a downtown office and Shopify Plus specialization. Their positioning is much closer to the architecture-heavy project you’re describing than a typical design/marketing agency.

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North

Particularly interesting for a technically complex build. They advertise Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps and Checkout Extensibility, making them a strong candidate if your React storefront also has substantial backend/integration requirements.

• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — 205 N Michigan Ave, Loop

A good option if you want commerce strategy/design alongside engineering. Their Shopify Plus offering explicitly includes Hydrogen/Oxygen React headless storefronts, GraphQL APIs and ERP/OMS/CRM/PIM/WMS integrations. 1Digital® Agency

• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop

Worth considering if this is an enterprise/integration-heavy implementation. They're more broadly an ecommerce engineering firm rather than a pure Shopify boutique, which can be advantageous when Shopify needs to connect to complicated existing systems.

• Adage Technologies — 10 S Riverside Plaza, Loop

More of a custom software/digital-experience firm. Their downtown team does strategy, UX, software development and ecommerce integrations, including Shopify. I'd consider them if the storefront is really a custom digital product with commerce attached, rather than simply a Shopify redesign.

One important distinction

I'd put Praella, BlueBolt and 1Digital at the top of the first-round interviews specifically for your stated architecture. I found explicit evidence for headless/React/Hydrogen capabilities from those candidates; several other downtown agencies advertise Shopify but don't demonstrate the same depth publicly.

For comparison, Shopify specialists outside the immediate downtown area also advertise very directly against this architecture: Sigma says it builds React/Next.js headless storefronts using Shopify's Storefront API, while Caxy's Chicago HQ describes Shopify Plus headless work alongside React and senior US engineering. Sigma Infosolutions Caxy

What I'd ask them in the first meeting

Don't just ask "Can you build headless Shopify?" Ask:

1. "Show me 2–3 production Shopify headless sites you personally engineered."
2. "Would you use Hydrogen or Next.js for our project, and why?"
3. "Who owns the React architecture and Shopify integration code?"
4. "How are you handling Storefront API caching, ISR/SSR, webhooks and preview environments?"
5. "What remains native Shopify versus custom code?"
6. "What does your post-launch engineering retainer look like?"

That should quickly separate an agency that has actually operated headless commerce from one that's simply added "headless" to its services page.

If you tell me your approximate revenue/SKU count, whether you need Shopify Plus, and what systems Shopify has to integrate with (ERP/PIM/CRM/etc.), I can narrow this to the 3 Chicago agencies I'd actually invite to bid and compare likely strengths, project fit and red flags.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Plego Technologies - 8 W Monroe St APT 424, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Swarming Technology - 7610 W State St Fl 2, Wauwatosa, WI 53213, United States
• Magneto IT Solutions LLC - eCommerce Development Company - 347 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field quite a bit. You want a team that can do more than Shopify theme work—specifically Hydrogen/React, Storefront API/GraphQL, Shopify Plus, integrations, and production-grade frontend architecture.

My downtown shortlist

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Probably one of the strongest fits technically. Their capabilities specifically include Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility and integrations. If you want a genuinely custom React architecture rather than a dressed-up Shopify theme, I'd put them near the top.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. A Chicago-headquartered Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist. They're a particularly logical candidate if you want a Shopify-focused agency rather than a general digital consultancy. Their downtown presence also makes them convenient for an in-person discovery/architecture session.
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — 205 N Michigan Ave, Loop. Established ecommerce agency with a downtown office and Shopify Plus capabilities. Their technical offering includes Hydrogen/Oxygen React storefronts, Shopify Functions, checkout extensibility and ERP/OMS/PIM integrations. 1Digital® Agency
• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More of a broader digital-experience/technology agency than a Shopify specialist. I'd consider them if the project is as much about brand experience, content architecture and composable/headless UX as it is commerce.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop. Interesting option if you have a sophisticated product/catalog experience. They advertise composable/headless commerce, product configurators, product data systems, search/filtering and B2B/B2C commerce. I'd interview them specifically about their recent Shopify + React implementations.

One important distinction

I wouldn't automatically choose an agency just because it says "headless Shopify." For your project, I'd ask each candidate these five questions:

1. Show me 2–3 live Shopify Hydrogen/React storefronts your team actually built.
2. Who will write the React code—your employees or subcontractors?
3. Are you recommending Hydrogen/Oxygen or Next.js/Vercel, and why?
4. Who owns the Shopify architecture, GraphQL/Storefront API layer, caching, search and integrations after launch?
5. Can you provide the proposed frontend architecture before we sign the build?

That's especially important because headless introduces substantially more engineering and maintenance than a conventional Shopify theme. Some agencies market "headless" but are really optimized for Liquid/theme implementations.

My first three calls would be BlueBolt, Praella and 1Digital. BlueBolt looks particularly compelling if the technical architecture is the priority; Praella if you want a Shopify-centric partner with a downtown presence; and 1Digital if you want Shopify Plus/headless plus broader ecommerce services. 1Digital® Agency

If you tell me your approximate annual ecommerce revenue, number of SKUs, current platform, and integrations (ERP/PIM/CRM/etc.), I can narrow these down to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually put on an RFP and compare their likely technical fit.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• Towering Media - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• ISKPRO - 400 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• cre8 - Chicago, IL 60607
• 7fridays - Chicago, IL 60601
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Nous Frame - Chicago, IL 60642

For a headless Shopify + custom React storefront, I’d focus less on “Shopify designers” and more on agencies that can own architecture: Shopify Storefront API, React/Next.js or Hydrogen, CMS integration, performance, integrations, QA, and post-launch engineering.

Here are Chicago-area shops that look closest to that requirement:

Strongest fits for headless Shopify + React

BlueBolt Solutions — River North / downtown Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-236-4507)

Good fit if you need a serious commerce engineering partner. Their capabilities include Shopify Plus builds, headless storefronts, custom apps, checkout customization, and complex integrations.
Ask them about: React storefront architecture, Storefront API patterns, ERP/PIM integrations, and whether they recommend Hydrogen vs. Next.js.

Praella - eCommerce Agency — Loop / downtown Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-761-3218)

A Shopify-focused ecommerce agency with a downtown office. They specialize heavily in Shopify and Shopify Plus implementations.
Best for: brands that want Shopify expertise plus design/UX and growth support.

WHQ — Loop

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-796-6456)

More of a digital experience/product agency. They specifically highlight composable/headless commerce, product configurators, search/filtering, B2B/B2C commerce, and product-data systems.
Best for: complex catalogs, premium brand experiences, or commerce that needs more than a storefront.

Atwix — Loop

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 833-462-8949)

A large commerce engineering firm with a Chicago office. They are known more broadly for complex commerce implementations and integrations, including Shopify Plus among other platforms.
Best for: enterprise-scale builds where backend systems matter.

Also worth evaluating

• Clique Studios — Loop

Strong custom digital product background with React/custom development experience; worth considering if the storefront is part of a broader digital experience.

• Always Coded Fresh — Loop

Smaller studio with modern JavaScript capabilities including React/Next.js and ecommerce work.

• Uncap — Chicago

Particularly interesting if you have B2B, wholesale, ERP, pricing rules, or operational complexity.

My shortlist for your exact project

If I were issuing an RFP for “Shopify backend + custom React storefront”, I’d probably invite:

1. BlueBolt — strongest direct match for Shopify + headless engineering.
2. WHQ — strongest if the experience/design layer is strategically important.
3. Praella — strongest Shopify-specialist option.
4. Atwix — strongest if integrations and enterprise architecture dominate.

When you interview them, I’d ask these specific questions:

• “Would you build this with Hydrogen, Next.js, or another React stack, and why?”
• “Who owns the frontend code after launch?”
• “How do you handle Shopify checkout in a headless build?”
• “What CMS would you pair with Shopify (Sanity, Contentful, Shopify metaobjects, etc.)?”
• “Show me a live headless Shopify storefront you built—not a theme customization.”
• “Who are the actual engineers assigned to the project?”

One caution: many agencies advertise “headless Shopify” but mostly build premium themes. For a true React storefront, ask to see the architecture diagram and Git-based development workflow before signing.

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the Chicago field considerably rather than choosing a general web/marketing agency.

My downtown Chicago shortlist

• BlueBolt Solutions — River North, 415 N LaSalle Dr. This is probably the strongest fit if the technical architecture matters most. Their Chicago practice specifically covers Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and integrations. Their stack is much closer to “commerce engineering” than a typical creative agency.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — Loop, 203 N LaSalle St. Shopify/Shopify Plus is a major focus, and they're a Shopify Platinum Partner. I'd put them high on the list if you want a combination of UX/design + serious Shopify implementation.
• Codal — Near West Loop, 433 W Van Buren St. More of a technology consultancy than a pure Shopify shop. They do Shopify/Shopify Plus alongside custom software and digital product development, so they're worth considering if your React storefront needs to integrate with a larger application or complex backend.
• Atwix — Loop, 20 N Wacker Dr. Strong enterprise-commerce engineering and integrations. Shopify Plus is part of their broader commerce practice, although they're not as Shopify/headless-specialized as my first two picks.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — Loop, 200 W Jackson Blvd. The enterprise option. They have substantial web/application engineering capability, but I'd choose them primarily if this is a large, complex enterprise program rather than a focused Shopify headless build.

One important caveat

I would not automatically equate “Shopify agency” with React/headless expertise. For your project, I'd require the agency to show you a live or recent project using Shopify Storefront API + React/Next.js or Hydrogen, rather than merely a custom Shopify theme.

For example, Shopify's headless approach can use Hydrogen/React, and agencies advertising this capability include Commerce-UI, whose published stack explicitly includes Hydrogen, Oxygen, Next.js, React storefronts and Vercel. Commerce-UI

I'd also ask each shop these five questions:

1. “Who will own the React/Next.js codebase after launch?”
2. “Show me two Shopify headless stores you've actually shipped.”
3. “Would you use Hydrogen or Next.js for this project, and why?”
4. “How will you handle Storefront API, checkout, CMS/content, search, analytics and preview environments?”
5. “What performance target will you contractually commit to—especially mobile Core Web Vitals?”

If I were sending RFPs today, I'd start with BlueBolt + Praella + Codal, then add Atwix if the project has substantial ERP/PIM/OMS integration. The first two look the closest to your specific Shopify/headless requirement based on their published capabilities. Commerce-UI Sigma Infosolutions

If you tell me your approximate revenue/traffic, number of SKUs, existing platform, and whether you need Next.js specifically vs. Hydrogen, I can narrow this to the 3 best-fit Chicago agencies and compare their likely technical approach, size, and project fit.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• ISKPRO - 400 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Devaims - Software Development Services in Chicago IL - 1435 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably. You want an agency that can do Shopify Plus/Storefront API architecture, React/Next.js or Hydrogen, integrations, performance, and ongoing engineering—not just Shopify theme design.

My downtown shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop

• Probably my first call for your requirements.
• Downtown office and strong Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization.
• Particularly worth evaluating if you need integrations, custom functionality, and a sophisticated storefront rather than a standard Shopify theme. Shopify Agency Directory
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North

• Very relevant technically: their Chicago practice specifically lists Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps and Checkout Extensibility.
• I'd put them high on the list if your project has substantial backend/integration complexity.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop

• Downtown and more engineering/commerce-platform oriented than a typical creative Shopify shop.
• Their background is heavily enterprise ecommerce, integrations and complex implementations, with Shopify Plus among the platforms they work with.
• Worth interviewing if you're dealing with ERP, PIM, OMS, or complicated B2B requirements.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop

• Interesting option if UX/product experience is as important as engineering.
• They explicitly work with composable/headless commerce, product configurators, B2B/B2C commerce and product-data systems.
• I'd consider them particularly for a highly customized product experience.
• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop

• More of a digital product/experience agency than a pure Shopify specialist.
• Stronger candidate if you're envisioning Shopify as the commerce backend with a broader headless digital experience/CMS architecture around it.
• Their capabilities include custom engineering and headless/content architectures.

One important caveat

I wouldn't choose an agency simply because it says "headless Shopify." Ask them to show you a live production React/Hydrogen/Next.js Shopify storefront they actually engineered, and ask:

• Is the frontend Hydrogen or Next.js?
• Shopify Storefront API or another architecture?
• Where is it hosted—Oxygen, Vercel, AWS, etc.?
• How do they handle cart/session state, search, customer accounts and checkout?
• What CMS sits alongside Shopify?
• What happens with SEO, structured data, redirects and server-side rendering?
• What is their strategy for Shopify API changes and long-term maintenance?
• Can they provide the actual senior React/Shopify engineers who will work on your project?

That distinction matters because a lot of "Shopify agencies" are really excellent at Liquid/theme development but aren't equipped for a genuinely decoupled React architecture.

If I were sending out three RFPs based specifically on your requirements, I'd start with Praella, BlueBolt, and Atwix. If the experience is unusually design/product-heavy, I'd substitute WHQ for Atwix.

For comparison, there are also Chicago-area specialists explicitly advertising Hydrogen/Next.js headless work, such as WayOut and Commerce-UI, although I wouldn't classify them as the strongest downtown-office matches based on what I found. WayOut Inc Commerce-UI

If you tell me your approximate annual ecommerce revenue, SKU count, ERP/CMS, and whether you're B2C or B2B, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually interview and give you a technical RFP checklist.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Plego Technologies - 8 W Monroe St APT 424, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Chicago Internet(Fireplace's Specialist) Marketing Company - Kensium LLC - 200 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

If you specifically want downtown Chicago + real headless Shopify/React engineering, I’d narrow the field considerably. I’d prioritize agencies that can demonstrate React/Next.js or Hydrogen, Shopify Storefront API, custom integrations, and Shopify Plus—not just agencies that build Shopify themes.

My downtown shortlist

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop

My first call. Praella is a Shopify/Shopify Plus-focused ecommerce agency with a downtown office, and its profile specifically points to complex commerce implementations. It is listed as a Shopify Platinum Partner. For your project, I'd ask them specifically for recent Hydrogen/React headless storefronts rather than accepting a generic Shopify portfolio. Shero Commerce

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North

Strong technical fit. Their Chicago operation focuses on digital commerce and custom software, and the business listing specifically identifies Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps and Checkout Extensibility. This is probably the most interesting option if your project has substantial custom integrations or application logic.

• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop

Best if the storefront is also a major digital-experience project. They're a digital strategy/design/engineering shop rather than a Shopify-only agency, with capabilities in custom frontend engineering, ecommerce, integrations and headless CMS architectures. Sofusm

• Plego Technologies — 8 W Monroe St, Loop

Worth interviewing for a more engineering-heavy engagement. They're a custom software/web development firm with downtown presence and Shopify ecommerce capabilities. I'd verify their recent React + Shopify Storefront API work before putting them on the final shortlist.

• Always Coded Fresh — 155 N Wacker Dr, Loop

Interesting smaller-shop option if you want a more hands-on engineering team. Their published stack includes React, Next.js and Node, along with custom ecommerce development. I'd treat Shopify headless as something to validate in the interview rather than their primary specialization.

Who I'd contact first

For the architecture you described, my order would be:

1. Praella → 2. BlueBolt → 3. Clique Studios → 4. Plego → 5. Always Coded Fresh

One important caveat: “Shopify + React” isn't enough to establish headless expertise. I'd ask each agency to show you a production site where they personally implemented:

• React/Next.js or Shopify Hydrogen frontend
• Shopify Storefront API
• Cart/checkout integration
• SSR/SSG and caching strategy
• CMS integration, if applicable
• Shopify webhooks and backend integrations
• Analytics/SEO in a headless architecture
• Deployment architecture (Vercel/Oxygen/etc.)
• A migration from an existing Shopify theme/store, if that's your situation

I'd also ask “What would make you tell us not to go headless?” A genuinely technical Shopify agency should be willing to say that headless isn't automatically the right answer.

If you tell me your approximate GMV, SKU count, current platform, and whether you need Shopify Plus, I can narrow these to the 2–3 best agencies and compare their likely technical fit, downtown location, and relevant case studies.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown options considerably rather than picking a generic Shopify shop.

My Chicago shortlist

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. This is probably my first call. They’re Shopify/Shopify Plus-focused and have a downtown presence. The important thing is that they’re an ecommerce specialist rather than a general web agency. Their work spans custom Shopify implementations and more complex commerce builds.

Mejix- BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Particularly interesting for your requirements: their Chicago operation specifically lists Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom apps, Checkout Extensibility and integrations. If your React frontend needs to connect to ERP/PIM/CRM or other systems, I'd put them high on the list.

• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — 200 W Jackson Blvd, Loop. A substantially larger digital/technology consultancy. Worth considering if this is an enterprise-scale implementation with complicated integrations, multiple markets, or significant post-launch support.
• Codal — 433 W Van Buren St, West Loop/Loop edge. More of a technology consultancy/digital product shop than a Shopify-only agency. That's potentially valuable if the React application is going to behave more like a custom product than a conventional ecommerce site. Their capabilities include Shopify/Shopify Plus and custom software development.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. Very technically oriented and experienced with complex commerce implementations and integrations. They're historically stronger in Adobe Commerce/Magento, though, so I'd specifically verify how much recent Shopify Hydrogen/React work their Chicago team is doing before putting them on the shortlist.

The one I'd investigate first

BlueBolt + Praella would be my initial two conversations.

The reason is that your requirement isn't simply "build me a Shopify store." You want:

Shopify backend → Storefront API → custom React frontend → likely CMS/integrations → Shopify checkout

That's a materially different engineering problem from customizing a Shopify theme.

There are also agencies advertising precisely this stack. For example, current Chicago-focused offerings include React/Next.js/Hydrogen storefronts, Shopify Plus, Storefront API and headless architecture. 100xelevate Avelize

One important caveat

I'd not automatically choose headless just because it's technically attractive. A good agency should be willing to tell you not to do it if your requirements don't justify the additional frontend infrastructure and maintenance.

For example, ConversionEX explicitly positions its Chicago practice around determining whether headless is actually warranted, while supporting Hydrogen, Shopify Functions, B2B, ERP/PIM/3PL integrations, etc. ConversionEX

When interviewing agencies, I'd ask these five questions:

1. Show me 2–3 production Shopify stores where you owned the React/Next.js/Hydrogen frontend—not just the Shopify backend.
2. Who will actually write the React code, and are those engineers in-house?
3. Would you use Hydrogen/Oxygen or Next.js/Vercel for this project, and why?
4. How will you handle SEO, SSR/streaming, caching, redirects, structured data and Core Web Vitals?
5. What does your post-launch architecture/maintenance responsibility include?

If an agency can't give you concrete answers to #1 and #3, I'd remove them from consideration.

If you want, I can also rank 5–10 Chicago agencies specifically by headless/React technical depth, downtown location, Shopify credentials, likely project size, and estimated budget tier.

One important caveat

I'd not automatically choose headless just because it's technically attractive. A good agency should be willing to tell you not to do it if your requirements don't justify the additional frontend infrastructure and maintenance.

For example, ConversionEX explicitly positions its Chicago practice around determining whether headless is actually warranted, while supporting Hydrogen, Shopify Functions, B2B, ERP/PIM/3PL integrations, etc. conversionex.com

When interviewing agencies, I'd ask these five questions:

• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Atwix - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Towering Media - 3509 N Reta Ave Apt 3, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chicago Internet(Fireplace's Specialist) Marketing Company - Kensium LLC - 200 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Virtina - eCommerce Web Design and Development Company - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2149, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Danie Lyn The Brand - 401 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60611
• IODEV - Chicago, IL 60642
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a genuinely custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown field considerably. Based on current local listings and agencies’ published technical capabilities, these are the strongest fits:

• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North. Probably one of the most directly relevant options: their Chicago practice specifically lists Shopify Plus, headless storefronts, custom/private apps, Checkout Extensibility, and integrations. Caxy
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop. Shopify/Shopify Plus is a major specialty, and they're a Shopify Platinum Partner. I'd put them high on the list if you want a polished ecommerce/brand experience alongside the engineering.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — 200 W Jackson Blvd, Loop. Much larger enterprise agency, but a strong candidate if your React storefront needs substantial ERP/PIM/CRM, B2B, or other enterprise integrations.
• Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. More engineering/commerce-platform oriented than a typical creative agency. Their Chicago team works across Shopify Plus and other enterprise commerce platforms and has substantial integration expertise.
• Clique Studios — 20 N Wacker Dr, Loop. Stronger on digital product strategy, UX, design, and custom engineering. Their published capabilities include headless/content architectures and custom development, so worth considering if the storefront experience is a major differentiator.
• Always Coded Fresh — 155 N Wacker Dr, Loop. Smaller shop with a modern technical stack including React and Next.js. I'd investigate them if you want a more hands-on boutique engineering team rather than an enterprise agency.

My shortlist

For your specific requirement, I'd start with BlueBolt, Praella, and Atwix.

I'd also ask each agency one very specific question:

“Show me two production Shopify Plus stores where your team built the storefront as a React/Next.js or Hydrogen application rather than a customized Shopify theme. Who wrote the frontend, and who owns the architecture today?”

That's important because “Shopify development” and “headless Shopify engineering” are very different capabilities. For example, Shopify headless can involve Hydrogen/React, Storefront API architecture, SSR/streaming, CMS integration, caching, SEO, preview environments, and substantially more frontend engineering than a conventional Shopify theme.

If you specifically want downtown-only and agencies with demonstrated production React/Hydrogen work, I can dig into these firms' portfolios/case studies and rank the top 5 by technical depth, likely project size, and fit for your project.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601
• Digitally Enhanced - 226 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
• Shift7 Digital - 217 N Jefferson St #150, Chicago, IL 60661
• DS&P Digital Marketing & PR Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611
• Digital Third Coast - 2540 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
• Thursday Creative - 834 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
• Logical Media Group - 445 W Erie St #208, Chicago, IL 60654
• Digital Media Marketing Chicago - 9933 Franklin Ave Ste 102, Franklin Park, IL 60131
• Digital4Startups Inc. - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Suit 1212, Chicago, IL 60654
• Proceed Innovative - 1501 Woodfield Rd Ste 112E, Schaumburg, IL 60173

For a headless Shopify build with a custom React storefront, I’d focus less on general “digital agencies” and more on teams that have shipped Shopify Plus + Hydrogen/React/Next.js + API integrations. A downtown address is useful, but the technical proof matters more.

These Chicago-area shops look like the strongest candidates to vet:

Strong fits for headless Shopify + React

• Praella - eCommerce Agency — Downtown/Loop presence and ecommerce specialization. Their Chicago office listing identifies them as an ecommerce agency; they’re worth interviewing specifically about headless React storefront experience and Shopify Plus migrations.
• Mejix — Focuses on Shopify Plus implementations, migrations, and headless storefronts using Hydrogen/Next.js. Mejix
• Makro — Positions itself around Shopify Plus, custom commerce builds, integrations, and headless commerce for larger merchants. Makro Agency
• Conversion} — Has a Chicago Shopify Plus/headless offering covering Hydrogen storefronts, checkout extensions, Shopify Functions, and complex integrations. ConversionEX
• WayOut — Chicago-focused Shopify development shop mentioning Hydrogen, Next.js, custom apps, and headless builds. WayOut Inc

Downtown/central Chicago agencies worth screening

• Digitally Enhanced — West Loop/Fulton area presence; more of a digital agency profile, so I’d verify Shopify headless case studies before engaging.
• Shift7 Digital — Located near the West Loop; worth considering if you need broader digital transformation capabilities alongside commerce.

Questions I’d ask before selecting one

1. Show me 2–3 live headless Shopify builds.

• React framework used? (Hydrogen, Next.js, Remix, custom React?)
• Hosting stack? (Oxygen, Vercel, AWS, etc.)
• Who owns architecture?

• Named technical lead/solution architect?
• In-house React engineers vs subcontractors?
• How do you handle Shopify limitations?

• Checkout extensibility
• Customer accounts
• Search/filtering
• CMS integration (Contentful, Sanity, etc.)
• ERP/PIM/OMS connections
• What is the ongoing operating model?

• Retainer for React updates?
• Shopify upgrades?
• Performance monitoring?

For a serious headless build, I’d probably start conversations with Mejix, Makro, Praella, and WayOut and ask for architecture walkthroughs rather than sales decks. Mejix Makro Agency WayOut Inc

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• WHQ - 24 E Washington St Ste 875, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Danie Lyn The Brand - 401 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60611
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 1300, Chicago, IL 60631
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Nansen LLC - 300 W Hubbard St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably. A lot of agencies can build Shopify themes; fewer demonstrate the architecture experience you actually need.

My shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop

• Probably the first downtown shop I’d interview.
• Shopify/Shopify Plus is a core specialty, rather than an incidental capability.
• Their downtown office is at 203 N LaSalle. Shero Commerce
• Best for: a sophisticated Shopify Plus implementation where UX, integrations, and commerce strategy all matter.
• BlueBolt Solutions — River North

• Stronger technical profile than a typical creative Shopify agency.
• Their capabilities include Shopify Plus, custom development/integrations, and headless delivery; they also work with Optimizely and other enterprise digital-experience technologies.
• Best for: Shopify + complex integrations + a more enterprise-grade digital experience.
• WHQ — 24 E Washington St, Loop

• This is an interesting one if your project is more than just an ecommerce redesign.
• They specifically list composable/headless commerce, platform architecture, product configurators, B2B/B2C commerce, search/filtering and product-data systems. Caxy
• Best for: complex product catalogs, configurators, B2B, or a broader composable architecture.
• 1o8 — 231 S LaSalle St

• Downtown and strong on digital/commerce strategy.
• I'd put them behind the first three for the actual React/headless engineering piece, though.
• Best for: projects where growth marketing, content and ecommerce strategy are as important as development.
• WPrime Agency — Merchandise Mart

• Their published technical stack includes React/Node.js alongside Shopify.
• Best for: a smaller agency engagement where you want modern frontend development plus Shopify, but I'd demand specific examples of production headless Shopify work before shortlisting them.

One Chicago option I'd seriously consider even though it's not downtown

Caxy Interactive is worth putting on the RFP. Its Chicago HQ is at 212 W Van Buren, and it explicitly specializes in headless commerce, including Shopify Plus, with React/Node.js and senior U.S.-based engineers. It reports 20+ years of ecommerce experience and 100+ production platforms. Caxy

That's arguably a better technical fit for your architecture than several of the downtown agencies.

What I'd ask them

Don't ask, "Can you build a headless Shopify site?" Almost everyone will say yes.

Ask these five questions:

• "Show me two live Shopify Plus stores where you built the frontend in React/Next.js or Hydrogen."
• "Who actually writes the React code—your Chicago team, another office, or subcontractors?"
• "Would you recommend Hydrogen/Oxygen, Next.js/Vercel, or something else for our project, and why?"
• "How will you handle Shopify Storefront API, checkout, customer accounts, search, analytics, SEO and caching?"
• "Can we speak with a client whose headless store you've operated for at least 12 months?"

That last question is particularly important. Launching a headless store is one thing; maintaining the integration as Shopify APIs, Hydrogen/Next.js, apps, analytics and third-party systems change is another.

If I were issuing an RFP today, my first three conversations would be Praella, Caxy, and WHQ, with BlueBolt as the fourth. The choice between them would depend heavily on whether your project is primarily DTC/brand experience, complex commerce/integrations, or enterprise composable architecture.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Kin + Carta - 111 N Canal St floor 3, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Element 48 Salon Studios - 3353 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Bradford Real Estate Co - 200 S Wacker Dr #726, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown/central-Chicago field considerably. The key is finding a team that actually does React/Next.js or Hydrogen + Shopify Storefront API, rather than an agency that mainly builds Shopify themes.

My shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St

• Best local fit to investigate first.
• Downtown Chicago office and Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization.
• Particularly relevant if you want a commerce-focused agency rather than a general digital shop.
• I would ask them specifically for recent headless Shopify projects using React/Next.js or Hydrogen, because “Shopify Plus expertise” alone doesn't guarantee strong headless engineering.
• BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr

• Very interesting technically: Shopify Plus, custom development/integrations, and experience with headless delivery and experimentation/personalization.
• Their location puts them in the River North/Loop-adjacent area.
• A strong candidate if your project involves more than the storefront—e.g. PIM, ERP, personalization, search, or other integrations.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — 200 W Jackson Blvd

• Best enterprise-scale option.
• Their downtown office has substantial web/application-development and ecommerce capabilities.
• I'd consider them if this is a sizable replatform with complex integrations, multiple systems, or a large organization.
• The tradeoff is that they're much larger than a Shopify-specialist boutique.
• Kin + Carta — 111 N Canal St

• This is more of a software engineering/digital transformation consultancy than a Shopify boutique.
• Strong choice if the React storefront is really part of a larger digital-product architecture.
• Their technical depth is likely more relevant than their Shopify specialization, so I'd only put them ahead of a Shopify specialist if your project has substantial custom application/integration requirements.

One important caveat

I found several agencies advertising “Chicago headless Shopify,” but not all appear to have a genuinely downtown office. For example, 100xelevate explicitly describes Chicago headless Shopify work with React, Next.js and Hydrogen, while Makro and other specialists advertise Shopify Plus/headless capabilities, but I wouldn't classify them as downtown shops without confirming their physical presence. 100x Elevate Makro Agency

Also, headless is not automatically the right architecture. A good agency should be willing to tell you when a sophisticated Shopify theme is preferable. ConversionEX, for example, explicitly makes that distinction and describes Hydrogen as appropriate when there is a real performance/content/UX justification. ConversionEX

What I'd ask each agency

Don't ask simply “Do you do headless Shopify?” Ask:

“Show me 2–3 production Shopify stores where you built the frontend in React/Next.js or Hydrogen, using Shopify's Storefront API. Which parts of the architecture did your team own?”

Then ask:

• React: Next.js or Hydrogen? Why?
• Rendering: SSR, SSG, streaming, or a hybrid?
• Commerce: Storefront API, cart API, customer accounts, checkout extensions?
• CMS: Shopify-native content, Sanity, Contentful, etc.?
• Hosting: Vercel, Shopify Oxygen, or something else?
• Search: Algolia, Shopify Search & Discovery, custom?
• Integrations: ERP/PIM/WMS/OMS?
• Performance: Can they show actual Core Web Vitals from a live project?
• Team: Who will actually write the React code—not just sell/manage the project?
• Post-launch: Who owns the frontend when Shopify changes its APIs?

If this were my project, I'd start conversations with Praella and BlueBolt, then use Americaneagle.com as the enterprise-scale comparison. The fact that Praella is actually downtown and Shopify-focused makes it particularly worth a first conversation. Mejix

If you tell me roughly your budget ($50–100k, $100–250k, $250k+) and whether you're B2C or B2B, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely technical fit, project size, and strengths.

Then ask:

• React: Next.js or Hydrogen? Why?
• Rendering: SSR, SSG, streaming, or a hybrid?
• Commerce: Storefront API, cart API, customer accounts, checkout extensions?
• CMS: Shopify-native content, Sanity, Contentful, etc.?
• Hosting: Vercel, Shopify Oxygen, or something else?
• Search: Algolia, Shopify Search & Discovery, custom?
• Integrations: ERP/PIM/WMS/OMS?
• Performance: Can they show actual Core Web Vitals from a live project?
• Team: Who will actually write the React code—not just sell/manage the project?
• Post-launch: Who owns the frontend when Shopify changes its APIs?

If this were my project, I'd start conversations with Praella and BlueBolt, then use Americaneagle.com as the enterprise-scale comparison. The fact that Praella is actually downtown and Shopify-focused makes it particularly worth a first conversation.

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably. You want an agency that can do actual commerce architecture—not just Shopify theme customization.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Best overall fit to investigate first.
   • Downtown/Loop location and Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization.
   • Particularly relevant if you need complex integrations, subscriptions, B2B, or a sophisticated commerce architecture. www.mejix.com
   • Ask them specifically: who would be the React/Hydrogen lead on your project and to show 2–3 production headless Shopify builds.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr
   • Stronger technical/digital-experience orientation than a typical Shopify marketing agency.
   • Shopify Plus, custom development/integrations, and headless experience are all relevant to your architecture.
   • Good candidate if the project involves CMS, personalization, experimentation, or other systems around Shopify.

3. 1Digital Agency — 205 N Michigan Ave
   • Very convenient Loop location.
   • Explicitly advertises Hydrogen + React, Shopify Plus, Storefront/Admin APIs, custom apps, Functions, and integrations. www.1digitalagency.comwww.caxy.com
   • Of the downtown options, this is one I'd put on the RFP list specifically because they publicly demonstrate the React/headless skillset you're asking for.

4. Adage Technologies — 10 S Riverside Plaza
   • More of a custom software/digital product agency than a Shopify-specialist shop.
   • That's potentially valuable if your React storefront is really a bespoke digital experience with substantial integrations rather than simply a nicer Shopify frontend.
   • Their ecommerce practice includes Shopify and backend-system integration.

5. Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr
   • Downtown and technically oriented toward complex commerce implementations.
   • I'd consider them particularly if you're migrating an existing enterprise commerce operation or have substantial ERP/integration requirements.
   • Shopify Plus is part of their broader commerce stack, although I'd verify the recent React/Hydrogen portfolio before putting them ahead of the Shopify specialists.

One important caveat

Don't let an agency saying "we do headless Shopify" be enough. A real architecture for what you're describing should generally demonstrate experience with some combination of:

• React / Next.js or Shopify Hydrogen
• Shopify Storefront GraphQL API
• Server-side rendering / streaming
• Headless CMS integration
• Shopify Functions and Checkout Extensibility
• Preview/draft content workflows
• SEO and structured data in a headless environment
• Vercel/Oxygen deployment and caching
• Analytics that still work correctly across the decoupled architecture
• Cart/session handling
• Search, filtering and merchandising
• Automated testing and CI/CD

There are agencies outside downtown that I'd actually put ahead of some of these if technical execution is the primary criterion. For example, Caxy is Chicago-based and explicitly describes Shopify Plus headless, React, Node.js and senior US engineering, with its Chicago HQ at 212 W Van Buren. www.caxy.com

Also worth noting: some agencies will tell you not to go headless if the business case isn't there. That's actually a good sign. Headless creates a permanent engineering surface area; you want an agency capable of explaining exactly why React is worth that cost.

How I'd rank them for your specific project

My first three calls would be Praella, 1Digital, and Caxy. I'd make the RFP explicitly require a named senior React/Shopify engineer, an architecture diagram, and examples of production headless Shopify—not merely screenshots of Shopify stores. www.1digitalagency.comwww.caxy.com

If you tell me roughly your annual online revenue, SKU count, current platform, and whether you need a headless CMS, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually invite to bid and give you a technical RFP checklist.

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field quite a bit. You want an agency that can actually own the architecture—not just a Shopify theme shop.

My shortlist

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Best overall downtown fit.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist with a downtown office.
   • Strong choice if you want UX/design + Shopify engineering in the same engagement.
   • I’d specifically ask them to show recent Hydrogen/React headless implementations, rather than accepting generic Shopify case studies.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr
   • More technically oriented than a typical creative agency.
   • Shopify Plus, custom development/integrations, and headless/personalization experience.
   • Worth considering if your React storefront needs to integrate with a CMS, ERP, PIM, personalization platform, etc.

3. Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr
   • Very strong commerce engineering/integration profile.
   • Particularly interesting if this is an enterprise implementation involving ERP, complex catalogs, multiple systems, or a migration.
   • Their heritage is heavily Adobe Commerce, though, so I'd verify how much of their recent Shopify work is actually headless React/Hydrogen.

4. Wunderman Thompson Commerce & Technology — 71 S Wacker Dr
   • Enterprise-scale option.
   • Better suited if you're talking about a substantial transformation rather than a relatively straightforward Shopify build.
   • Likely considerably heavier/expensive than a specialist Shopify agency.

5. World Headquarters — 24 E Washington St
   • Interesting if the project is as much digital experience/product architecture as it is commerce.
   • They specifically position around composable/headless commerce, B2B/B2C, product data and product configurators.
   • I'd investigate their actual Shopify/React delivery depth before putting them ahead of the Shopify specialists.

One important caveat

There are agencies outside downtown that may actually be better technically for this exact stack. For example, Commerce-UI explicitly lists Hydrogen, Next.js, React storefronts, Oxygen, Shopify Plus and custom API integrations, and describes itself as specializing in Shopify's headless stack. commerce-ui.com

Likewise, Caxy is Chicago-founded and has a particularly strong engineering orientation: it says it has 40+ senior US engineers, has shipped headless Shopify Plus implementations, and uses React/Next.js among its technologies. Its Chicago HQ is at 212 W Van Buren. www.caxy.com

So if technical execution is the priority over literally having a downtown office, I'd expand the search beyond the Loop.

What I'd ask each agency

Don't ask simply "Can you build headless Shopify?" Almost everyone will say yes. Ask:

• Show me 2–3 production Shopify headless sites you've launched using React/Hydrogen or Next.js.
• Who actually writes the frontend code—your employees or subcontractors?
• Are you recommending Hydrogen/Oxygen or Next.js/Vercel, and why?
• How do you handle Shopify Storefront API, webhooks, caching, ISR/SSR, cart state and preview environments?
• What CMS would you pair with it?
• Who owns the DevOps/deployment infrastructure?
• How do you preserve SEO when moving from a conventional Shopify theme to headless?
• What happens after launch—do you provide an engineering retainer?
• Can we interview the actual technical lead before signing?

For comparison, agencies publicly describing this level of implementation include Sigma, which specifically says it builds headless Shopify with React/Next.js + Storefront API, and DTN, which lists Hydrogen, Oxygen, React, GraphQL, Shopify Functions and Checkout Extensibility in its stack. www.sigmainfo.net

My first calls would be Praella, BlueBolt, and Caxy, then I'd add Commerce-UI if you're willing to consider a non-downtown specialist. If you tell me your rough budget, annual online revenue, B2B vs. DTC, and whether you want Hydrogen or Next.js, I can narrow this to the 3 best agencies and compare them on technical depth, likely cost, and location.

For a headless Shopify + custom React storefront, I’d focus less on “Shopify designers” and more on agencies that can handle Shopify Storefront API, React/Next.js or Hydrogen, CMS architecture, integrations, performance, and deployment. In downtown Chicago, these are the ones I’d put on a shortlist:

A few Chicago-area specialists that may be worth considering even if not strictly downtown:

• Uncap — Shopify-focused ecommerce engineering, especially B2B, migrations, and integrations.
• Ethercycle — Shopify-specialized consultancy in the Chicago area; more Shopify-centric than a broad digital agency.
• Magneto IT Solutions LLC — not Chicago-local, but has headless Shopify/React/Next.js capabilities if you’re open to a larger commerce engineering firm.

When interviewing them, I’d ask specifically:

1. “Have you shipped a Shopify Hydrogen or Next.js storefront in production?”
2. “Can you show a live React storefront you built where Shopify is only the commerce backend?”
3. “Who owns the frontend architecture: senior React engineers or Shopify theme developers?”
4. “How do you handle checkout, subscriptions, search, CMS content, analytics, and ERP/OMS integrations?”
5. “What is your post-launch support model?”

For a serious headless build, I’d probably start conversations with Praella, BlueBolt, and Atwix for enterprise-grade delivery, then compare against Uncap if the project has complicated B2B/catalog/integration requirements.

Yes. For headless Shopify + a genuinely custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field considerably rather than choosing a generic Shopify/web agency.

My shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Best overall fit for your brief.
   • Downtown/Loop presence and strong Shopify/Shopify Plus specialization.
   • Their positioning includes custom Shopify implementations and headless commerce.
   • I’d put them near the top of the RFP list if you want a Shopify-specialist agency rather than a general digital shop.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr
   • Particularly interesting if your project has complex integrations, CMS/personalization requirements, or enterprise architecture.
   • They work across Shopify Plus and other commerce platforms and advertise custom development/integrations.
   • I'd specifically ask them to show a production React/Next.js or Hydrogen storefront, rather than accepting a conventional Shopify-theme portfolio.

3. Atwix — 20 N Wacker Dr
   • Very central and technically oriented.
   • Their Chicago office focuses on complex ecommerce implementations and integrations, with Shopify/Shopify Plus among their supported ecosystems.
   • Stronger candidate if your headless build involves ERP/PIM/CRM or other enterprise systems.

4. SeedCart — 222 S Riverside Plaza
   • Downtown and ecommerce-focused, with Shopify Plus development, APIs and custom development.
   • I'd consider them a secondary candidate: their publicly visible positioning is broader than the first three, so I'd validate their actual headless React experience before engaging.

5. PlanetX Technologies — Merchandise Mart
   • Very close to downtown/River North and strongly Shopify-oriented.
   • They advertise Shopify Plus custom development and integrations.
   • One caveat: their delivery appears to include an India-based team, so I'd clarify exactly who will architect and write the React frontend.

One important distinction

For your particular project, I wouldn't simply ask, “Do you do Shopify headless?” A surprising number of agencies mean custom Shopify theme development when they say that.

I'd require the agency to demonstrate all of these:

• React + Next.js or Shopify Hydrogen
• Shopify Storefront API
• Headless cart/account/checkout architecture
• SSR/SSG and Core Web Vitals
• CMS integration such as Sanity/Contentful
• Vercel/Oxygen or comparable deployment
• Shopify webhooks and custom apps
• SEO architecture for a decoupled storefront
• A live production headless Shopify site they actually built
• Clear separation between frontend engineering and Shopify configuration

For comparison, agencies explicitly advertising this technical stack include firms describing headless Shopify with React/Next.js/Hydrogen and Storefront API, rather than merely custom themes. 100xelevate.com

If I were sending the RFP

I'd start with Praella, BlueBolt, and Atwix and ask each for 2–3 comparable headless Shopify projects, including the frontend stack, Shopify architecture, CMS, hosting, integrations, team composition, and approximate project size.

If you want, I can also dig into these agencies' actual case studies and identify which ones have demonstrably shipped React/Hydrogen storefronts, rather than relying on their marketing claims.

If you specifically want downtown Chicago and the brief is Shopify/Shopify Plus backend + custom React storefront, I’d narrow the field considerably. A lot of Chicago Shopify shops are good at themes and migrations but don't necessarily have deep headless engineering experience.

My shortlist

Praella is the one I'd contact first. Its project portfolio explicitly includes headless/PWA and Shopify Hydrogen builds, and it has a substantial Shopify Plus practice. praella.com

BlueBolt is particularly interesting if your storefront has serious backend/integration requirements. It describes itself as a long-standing Shopify implementation partner and has delivered custom Shopify Plus implementations for both B2C and B2B. www.blueboltsolutions.com

World Headquarters is worth considering if this isn't just a "make our Shopify site headless" project but involves sophisticated product discovery, configurators, content, or B2B workflows. Its positioning is much more around digital-product architecture and composable commerce.

One caveat

I wouldn't automatically choose an agency just because it says "headless Shopify." For your particular architecture, I'd ask each candidate these five questions:

1. Show me 2–3 live Shopify headless stores your team built using React/Hydrogen or Next.js.
2. Who actually writes the React storefront—the agency's employees or subcontractors?
3. Would you recommend Hydrogen/Oxygen or Next.js/Vercel for our project, and why?
4. How will merchandising/content editors manage the headless storefront without developers?
5. Who owns the frontend after launch, and what does ongoing React/Shopify maintenance cost?

That's important because headless adds a real operational burden compared with a well-built Shopify theme. www.iwdagency.com

If you're not strictly tied to downtown, I'd actually expand the search to the broader Chicago market. There are a couple of technically stronger candidates outside the Loop that specifically advertise React/Next.js + Hydrogen + Shopify Plus, and they may be a better fit than some of the downtown agencies. 100xelevate.com

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the Chicago market quite a bit. A lot of downtown digital agencies can do Shopify themes, but that’s different from having a team that can architect a decoupled React/Hydrogen/Next.js frontend, Shopify APIs, integrations, and the deployment stack.

My Chicago shortlist

Praella is the one I'd contact first. Shopify currently lists them as a Platinum Partner based in Chicago, with custom application development, integrations, migrations and Shopify Plus work. www.shopify.comthecreativelabs.io

BlueBolt is another particularly interesting option because Shopify identifies it as a Plus Partner and specifically lists custom apps/integrations alongside its enterprise Shopify work. www.shopify.com

If the requirement is specifically React rather than merely "custom Shopify," I'd make that a screening question. For example, ask:

“Can you show me 2–3 production Shopify headless implementations where the storefront is React/Next.js or Hydrogen, and tell me which parts your team actually engineered?”

That's important because “headless Shopify” can mean very different things between agencies. Shopify's current ecosystem includes agencies explicitly doing Hydrogen/React headless work; for example, Creative Labs describes Hydrogen as a React-based headless storefront, while Caxy says it has shipped Shopify Plus headless implementations with senior engineers based in Chicago. thecreativelabs.io

One more Chicago specialist I'd investigate

Riess Group is worth putting on the RFP list even though I wouldn't call it a downtown-shop requirement. Shopify lists its primary location as Chicago and identifies it as a Platinum Shopify Plus agency with a 4.8/5 partner rating from 30 reviews. www.shopify.com

And Uncap is another serious Shopify engineering shop, particularly if you have B2B, ERP, wholesale, or complicated catalog requirements; Shopify lists it as a Platinum Partner and explicitly includes headless commerce among its services. Its Chicago office is in the northwest part of the city rather than downtown. www.shopify.com

If I were selecting 3

I'd start an RFP with:

1. Praella — strongest combination of Shopify Plus + UX + engineering.
2. BlueBolt — technical Shopify/integration orientation and actually downtown.
3. One Design Company — if the custom React experience and design quality are especially important.

For a large enterprise / complex integration project, I'd substitute Americaneagle.com for One Design.

I would not choose an agency merely because it says “Shopify expert.” Your RFP should explicitly require React/Next.js or Hydrogen, Storefront API/GraphQL, headless CMS integration, CI/CD, performance/Core Web Vitals, preview environments, Shopify Plus extensibility, and ownership of the frontend codebase.

If you tell me your approximate budget ($100k, $250k, $500k+) and whether you need Shopify Plus, ERP/PIM integration, or a CMS like Contentful/Sanity, I can narrow this to the 3 Chicago agencies most technically appropriate and compare their actual headless case studies.

Yes. I’d narrow the downtown/central-Chicago field considerably for a Shopify headless + custom React storefront. The important distinction is finding a real engineering shop—not an agency that mainly does Shopify themes and marketing.

My shortlist

1. BlueBolt Solutions — River North

Strongest technical fit. BlueBolt explicitly lists Shopify Plus, headless commerce, Hydrogen, Next.js, API-first storefronts, and complex ERP/CRM/PIM/3PL integrations. It also describes its engineers as U.S.-based and senior. www.blueboltsolutions.com

Why I'd talk to them: your requirements sound like their sweet spot—custom frontend architecture rather than a customized Liquid theme.

2. Praella — The Loop, 203 N LaSalle

A Shopify Plus Platinum Partner with a downtown Chicago office. Their Shopify work covers migrations, systems integrations, custom applications, UX and conversion work. www.shopify.com

Why I'd talk to them: more of a full-service Shopify Plus agency, so potentially a good choice if you need strategy/UX/design alongside the engineering.

3. Atwix — The Loop, 20 N Wacker

Very technically oriented and particularly strong if the project has enterprise integrations, B2B, complex catalog/order logic or replatforming. Atwix is a Shopify Plus Partner and explicitly offers headless storefronts and custom integrations. www.shopify.com

Why I'd talk to them: I'd put them high on the list if your React storefront has to connect to ERP/PIM/OMS/CRM infrastructure.

4. World Headquarters — The Loop

Interesting option if the project is as much digital product experience + commerce architecture as it is a Shopify implementation. Their capabilities include composable/headless commerce, product configurators, search/filtering, B2B/B2C and product-data systems.

Caveat: I'd specifically verify their recent Shopify/React implementation portfolio before putting them on the final RFP list.

5. Dom & Tom — Michigan Avenue

More of a digital product engineering agency than a Shopify specialist. They have a downtown office and strong full-stack/product-engineering capabilities. Dom & Tom

Why consider them: if the React storefront is going to behave more like a sophisticated web application than a conventional ecommerce site.

One important caveat

I wouldn't restrict the search to agencies that advertise themselves as "Chicago Shopify agencies." For this particular architecture, React/Hydrogen/API engineering matters more than proximity.

For example, Netalico has Chicago market coverage and explicitly says its engineering stack includes React, Hydrogen, Node.js and Shopify Plus/headless architectures, although its primary listed location is Miami rather than downtown Chicago. netalico.com

Also, Shopify's current headless tooling supports React-based custom storefronts through Hydrogen/React, as well as using another React framework with Shopify's Storefront API. shopify.dev

If this were my RFP

I'd send the same technical brief to BlueBolt, Praella, and Atwix first.

I'd ask each one to demonstrate:

• A live Shopify headless/React storefront they've shipped—not a mockup.
• Whether they used Hydrogen, Next.js, or another React architecture, and why.
• Their approach to Shopify Storefront API, customer accounts, cart, checkout and Shop Pay.
• SSR/streaming, caching, CDN and Core Web Vitals strategy.
• CMS integration if you're using Contentful, Sanity, etc.
• ERP/PIM/OMS integrations, if applicable.
• Who actually writes the React code—Chicago senior engineers vs. offshore/subcontracted developers.
• How they handle Shopify platform upgrades without breaking the custom frontend.
• A named technical architect who will stay involved after launch.

My initial ranking for your specific requirement: BlueBolt → Atwix → Praella, with World Headquarters as the more experience/product-design-oriented wildcard.

If you tell me your approximate annual ecommerce revenue, number of SKUs, current platform, and whether you need Shopify Plus, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and give you a much more meaningful fit assessment.

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field pretty aggressively. The technical requirement is much more demanding than a typical Shopify theme build.

My shortlist

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Probably my first call if you want a Shopify-specialist agency rather than a general digital agency.
   • Shopify lists Praella as a Platinum Partner, with experience in Shopify Plus, custom applications, integrations, migrations, UX and development. Their Chicago team is their North American HQ. www.shopify.com
   • Praella

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle St
   • Best technical fit on paper for your exact requirement.
   • BlueBolt explicitly lists Headless Shopify, Hydrogen, Next.js, API-first storefronts, Shopify Functions and custom integrations. They also have a substantial Shopify Plus portfolio, including headless CMS/commerce work. www.blueboltsolutions.com
   • BlueBolt
   • I'd put them at the top of the list if your project has complicated ERP/PIM/CRM or custom commerce logic.

3. Avatria — 150 N Michigan Ave
   • Stronger choice if this is an enterprise/composable-commerce architecture project rather than simply a storefront redesign.
   • They explicitly offer Headless/MACH Commerce, commerce implementation, Shopify, and complex B2B/B2C commerce. www.avatria.com
   • Avatria

4. Caxy Interactive — 212 W Van Buren St
   • Worth considering if you want a serious software-engineering shop behind the storefront.
   • Caxy says it has shipped Shopify Plus headless implementations and uses React/Next.js, Node.js and AWS, with senior US engineers. Its Chicago HQ is at 212 W Van Buren. www.blueboltsolutions.comwww.avatria.comwww.caxy.comwww.blueboltsolutions.com
   • Caxy
   • Their published project range is substantial—roughly $150K–$500K—so I'd consider them more enterprise than boutique. www.blueboltsolutions.comwww.avatria.comwww.caxy.comwww.blueboltsolutions.com

5. Always Coded Fresh — 155 N Wacker Dr
   • Interesting if you want a React/Next.js-heavy development team in the Loop.
   • Their listed technical stack includes React, Next.js and custom software/ecommerce development. However, I found less direct evidence of deep Shopify-headless specialization than with BlueBolt or Praella, so I'd treat them as a secondary bid.

How I'd rank them for your project

If I were sending out three RFPs, I'd start with BlueBolt, Praella, and Avatria. BlueBolt is the one I'd scrutinize most closely for your specific architecture because they explicitly document Hydrogen/Next.js + Shopify APIs + headless + custom integrations, rather than merely saying they "do Shopify." www.blueboltsolutions.comwww.blueboltsolutions.com

One thing I'd ask every agency before hiring them: “Show me two production Shopify Plus stores where your team owns the React/Next.js/Hydrogen storefront architecture, and tell me what your team—not a subcontractor—implemented.” That question should eliminate a lot of agencies that market themselves as “headless” but mostly build Shopify themes.

If you give me your rough budget ($50K, $100K, $250K+, etc.) and whether you need Hydrogen vs Next.js, I can narrow this to the 2–3 most appropriate Chicago firms.

Yes. For a headless Shopify + custom React storefront, I’d narrow the Chicago field considerably. You want an agency that can actually engineer the commerce architecture—not just design a Shopify theme.

My downtown Chicago shortlist

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Best local fit overall.
   • Chicago-headquartered Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist with a downtown office.
   • Strong choice if you want Shopify architecture, custom development, integrations, and ongoing optimization under one roof.
   • I’d specifically ask them for recent Hydrogen/React storefront examples, rather than accepting generic Shopify case studies.

2. Kin + Carta — 111 N Canal St
   • Best if the project is technically complex/enterprise.
   • More of a digital-product and engineering consultancy than a Shopify specialist.
   • Their strengths are React/product engineering, integrations, cloud architecture, and large-scale digital transformation.
   • Since Kin + Carta is now under Valtech, I'd confirm exactly which team would staff a Shopify engagement.

3. Half Past Midnight (HPM) Consulting — 111 W Jackson Blvd
   • Very local and engineering-oriented, but I'd put it below Praella for a serious Shopify Plus/headless build.
   • Their profile indicates e-commerce, web development and systems/API integration capabilities.
   • Better candidate if you're looking for a smaller, hands-on technical shop rather than a large agency.

4. 1o8 — 231 S LaSalle St
   • Good for Shopify + growth/marketing, but I wouldn't make them my first call for a deeply custom React architecture.
   • Their strength appears to be the combination of e-commerce, creative, content and performance marketing.
   • If marketing/growth is a major part of the engagement, they're more interesting.

Agencies I'd also put on the technical RFP

They're not necessarily downtown, but their publicly documented technical capabilities make them worth considering:

• Makro — specifically advertises Shopify Plus, headless commerce, custom apps, B2B and complex integrations for Chicago businesses. www.makroagency.com
• IWD — explicitly describes React/Next.js headless commerce, Shopify Plus, GraphQL/Storefront API and Hydrogen. Their published portfolio includes 300+ brands and substantial ecommerce experience. www.iwdagency.com
• 100xelevate — explicitly offers headless Shopify with React, Next.js, Hydrogen, Storefront API and CMS integrations. www.iwdagency.com100xelevate.com
• Commerce-UI — particularly interesting if the priority is a sophisticated frontend. They explicitly specialize in Hydrogen, React storefronts, Next.js, Sanity and Shopify headless. commerce-ui.com

What I'd ask in the first meeting

Don't just ask “Do you do headless Shopify?” Almost anyone will say yes. Ask:

1. “Show me two production Shopify headless stores you built with React/Hydrogen.”
2. “Was the frontend Hydrogen/Oxygen, Next.js/Vercel, or something else—and why?”
3. “Who will actually write the React code on our project?”
4. “How are you handling Shopify's Storefront API, cart, customer accounts and checkout?”
5. “What CMS would you recommend for non-product content—Shopify, Sanity, Contentful, etc.?”
6. “How do you handle SEO, SSR/streaming, redirects and structured data in the headless architecture?”
7. “What's your plan for preview environments, CI/CD, monitoring and post-launch ownership?”
8. “What Shopify Functions/Checkout UI Extensions or custom apps would you expect us to need?”

That will separate a genuine headless engineering team from a conventional Shopify theme agency very quickly.

If you want a genuinely technical shortlist, I'd start with Praella, IWD, Commerce-UI and Makro, with Kin + Carta as the wildcard if this is a large enterprise transformation.

If you give me your approximate budget, current platform, annual ecommerce revenue, and whether you prefer Hydrogen or Next.js, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually put in the RFP and compare their likely strengths.

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d focus on firms with demonstrated Shopify Plus/headless engineering rather than general-purpose web agencies.

Strong downtown options

1. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Probably the most directly relevant downtown option.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus is a core specialty, with implementation and migration experience.
   • Worth asking specifically for recent Hydrogen/React builds rather than assuming a standard Shopify theme team can handle headless.

2. Avatria — 150 N Michigan Ave
   • Strong choice if your architecture is genuinely headless/composable, not simply a customized Shopify theme.
   • Their positioning centers on API-first/composable commerce, digital engineering, and decoupled architectures.
   • I'd put them high on the list for a technically sophisticated integration-heavy build.

3. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr
   • Downtown and explicitly focused on ecommerce, including Shopify/Shopify Plus.
   • Particularly interesting if you need custom integrations, personalization, experimentation, or other systems around the storefront.

4. Kin + Carta — 111 N Canal St
   • Much more of a technology/digital-transformation consultancy than a Shopify specialist.
   • Good candidate if the Shopify storefront is part of a larger modernization program involving APIs, cloud, data, or multiple enterprise systems.
   • Note that Kin + Carta is now under the Valtech umbrella.

Worth considering outside the Loop

Bounteous is technically one of the stronger options I'd investigate, even though its Chicago office is in Ravenswood rather than downtown. It explicitly identifies itself as a Shopify Plus partner and says it has delivered complex Shopify Plus implementations, including very large catalogs. www.bounteous.com

For a more specialized headless build, 100xelevate explicitly describes Chicago headless Shopify work using React/Next.js/Hydrogen and the Shopify Storefront API. 100xelevate.com Makro also advertises Shopify Plus, headless commerce, custom apps, and complex integrations. www.makroagency.com

My shortlist for your particular project

I'd interview Praella, Avatria, and BlueBolt first if the requirement is specifically Shopify backend + custom React frontend. If the project involves ERP/PIM/OMS integration or a broader composable architecture, I'd add Avatria and Bounteous very seriously.

One thing I'd insist on during the RFP: ask each agency to show you 2–3 production Shopify headless sites where they personally built the React/Hydrogen/Next.js storefront, identify what their team actually owned, and explain why they chose Hydrogen vs. Next.js. That will separate genuine headless engineering expertise from agencies that mainly mean “custom Shopify theme.”

Yes. For headless Shopify + a custom React storefront, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field quite a bit. You want an agency that can actually own the architecture—not just a Shopify theme shop.

My shortlist

1. Avatria — 150 N Michigan Ave, Loop
   • Probably my strongest fit if this is a serious/complex commerce build.
   • They explicitly work with composable/headless architectures, API-first commerce, Shopify, CMS platforms, and enterprise integrations.
   • Their background is more technical commerce consulting/implementation than conventional marketing-agency work, which is a plus for your project.
   • Best for: complex integrations, enterprise architecture, B2B/B2C, larger catalogs, teams that need technical architecture leadership.

2. Praella — 203 N LaSalle St, Loop
   • A particularly strong Shopify-specific option. Shopify currently lists Praella as a Platinum Partner, with custom application development, integrations, migrations and Shopify Plus work. www.shopify.com
   • Their downtown location makes them a good candidate if you specifically want a local agency rather than a remote Shopify shop.
   • Best for: Shopify Plus implementation where UX/design and engineering both matter.

3. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr, River North
   • Strong technical/ecommerce orientation and Shopify Plus expertise.
   • Particularly interesting if your headless build will involve personalization, experimentation, CMS, or other enterprise systems.
   • Best for: technically sophisticated ecommerce + integrations.

4. PlanetX Technologies — The Merchandise Mart
   • Very Shopify-focused and has a Chicago presence right in River North.
   • Their work includes Shopify/Shopify Plus implementation, custom development, apps and API integrations.
   • Best for: a Shopify-heavy implementation where you want a development-oriented team.

5. Doejo — 444 N Wabash Ave, River North
   • More of a general digital product/development studio than a Shopify specialist.
   • They do full-stack development, APIs and digital products, so I'd consider them if the React application itself is unusually custom.
   • I would, however, put the Shopify specialists above ahead of them for this particular project.

One important caveat

I wouldn't select an agency merely because it says "Shopify Plus" and "headless." For your project, I'd ask each candidate to show you a live production example of a Shopify store where the frontend is actually React/Next.js or Hydrogen, rather than a heavily customized Liquid theme.

For example, Shopify's own partner directory confirms that Uncap offers headless commerce, but its office is in northwest Chicago rather than downtown. www.shopify.com And some agencies advertise headless capabilities without demonstrating that it is a substantial part of their delivery practice.

What I'd ask in the first call

Give them this exact technical brief:

"We're looking for a Shopify/Shopify Plus implementation with a decoupled React storefront. We want the agency to own architecture, Shopify Storefront API integration, frontend development, CMS integration, performance/SEO, checkout integration, deployment and post-launch support."

Then ask:

• Hydrogen or Next.js? Why?
• Can you show 2–3 production headless Shopify sites you've built?
• Who will actually write the React code?
• What CMS would you recommend—Sanity, Contentful, Shopify metaobjects, etc.—and why?
• How will you handle SEO, SSR/ISR, structured data and redirects?
• What is your approach to Shopify's checkout extensibility?
• What systems have you integrated with Shopify—ERP, PIM, OMS, search, subscriptions, loyalty?
• Can you provide the proposed technical architecture before signing the full implementation contract?

If I were shortlisting three for an RFP, I'd start with Avatria, Praella, and BlueBolt. Avatria is the one I'd investigate first if the architecture/integration side is difficult; Praella if Shopify Plus expertise and storefront experience are the priority.

If you tell me roughly your catalog size, current platform, Shopify vs Shopify Plus, and whether you want Next.js or Hydrogen, I can narrow this to 2–3 and compare their technical fit and likely project size.

Yes. For downtown Chicago specifically, I’d shortlist these based on the combination of Shopify/Shopify Plus, headless architecture, React/Next.js/Hydrogen, and actual local presence:

The two I'd interview first

1. Praella — They're headquartered downtown and are heavily focused on Shopify/Shopify Plus rather than being a general web agency. Their local presence makes them particularly worth talking to for a substantial implementation.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — Their downtown office is on LaSalle, and their offering is closer to the architecture you're describing: Shopify Plus, custom development, integrations, and headless digital experiences.

One caveat

I wouldn't select an agency simply because it says "headless Shopify." Your requirement—Shopify backend + genuinely custom React storefront—means I'd specifically ask each candidate:

• Are you building with Shopify Hydrogen or Next.js, and why?
• Show me 2–3 live headless Shopify stores your team actually engineered.
• Who will architect the Storefront API / GraphQL layer?
• Do you have in-house React/TypeScript engineers?
• How will you handle SEO, SSR/SSG, redirects, structured data and Shopify Markets?
• Will you use Oxygen, Vercel, or another hosting architecture?
• Who owns the code after launch?
• Can you provide the proposed architecture before signing a large implementation contract?

For comparison, agencies explicitly advertising the exact stack include 100xelevate, which describes React/Next.js/Hydrogen + Shopify Plus, and Mejix, which advertises Hydrogen/Next.js headless storefronts. 100xelevate.com Those aren't necessarily downtown firms, but they're useful technical benchmarks for what you should expect an agency to be able to demonstrate.

If you want, I can also rank 5–10 Chicago agencies by technical depth, estimated project cost, and likely fit for a $100k–$300k headless Shopify build.

If headless Shopify + a custom React storefront is the requirement, I’d narrow the downtown Chicago field quite a bit. A lot of agencies advertise “Shopify,” but far fewer demonstrate actual headless/React/Hydrogen engineering.

My shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — 203 N LaSalle St
   • Best overall downtown fit.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus is a core specialization rather than an incidental service.
   • Worth interviewing for a full implementation if you want strategy, UX, Shopify engineering and ongoing optimization under one roof.
   • Downtown Loop location.

2. BlueBolt Solutions — 415 N LaSalle Dr
   • Strong technical/integration candidate.
   • Positions itself around Shopify Plus, custom development, migrations and integrations, with broader headless/personalization expertise.
   • Particularly interesting if your React storefront has to integrate with ERP/PIM/CRM or other enterprise systems.

3. Americaneagle.com, Inc. — 200 W Jackson Blvd
   • Best for a larger/enterprise implementation.
   • Their Chicago operation handles complex ecommerce, development, integrations and ongoing digital work.
   • I'd consider them if this is a substantial replatform rather than a relatively straightforward DTC storefront.

4. ISKPRO — 400 W Erie St
   • Interesting if React engineering is especially important.
   • Their published stack includes React/Node alongside Shopify and other ecommerce platforms.
   • I'd put them behind the Shopify specialists above because the evidence points to a broader development agency rather than a headless-Shopify specialist.

5. WPrime Agency — Merchandise Mart
   • Convenient downtown/River North option with Shopify plus React/Node capabilities.
   • However, I'd require concrete examples of production headless Shopify before putting them on the final shortlist.

One I'd interview even though it's not downtown

Caxy Interactive is particularly compelling technically. Its Chicago HQ is at 212 W Van Buren, and it explicitly describes Shopify Plus headless, React, Node.js and senior US engineering. It also says it has 20+ years of production ecommerce experience and 40+ senior US engineers. www.caxy.com

That makes Caxy arguably a better technical fit than some of the more conventional downtown “digital agencies.”

Also worth a look

Makro explicitly lists Headless Commerce among its Shopify Plus services and focuses on complex Shopify implementations, integrations and enterprise/B2B commerce in Chicago. www.makroagency.com

Mejix explicitly offers headless storefronts using Hydrogen / Next.js, plus Shopify Functions, custom apps and ERP integrations. www.caxy.comwww.mejix.comflux.agency

What I'd ask them before taking a meeting

Don't just ask “Do you do headless Shopify?” Ask for:

• 2–3 live headless Shopify stores they built, preferably using React/Hydrogen or Next.js.
• Who actually wrote the frontend architecture—not just the design.
• Whether they recommend Hydrogen/Oxygen vs Next.js/Vercel, and why for your case.
• Experience with Shopify's Storefront API, Admin API, checkout extensibility and Shopify Functions.
• How they handle SSR/SSG, caching, SEO, structured data and Core Web Vitals.
• Their approach to CMS integration (Sanity, Contentful, Shopify metaobjects, etc.).
• Examples of complex integrations with your likely ERP/PIM/search/subscription systems.
• Who will be your actual senior React/Shopify engineers, versus the sales/design team.
• Post-launch ownership and SLA.

One important point: headless isn't automatically better. For a conventional catalog and checkout, a well-built Shopify 2.0 theme can be substantially cheaper and easier to maintain. Headless makes much more sense when you genuinely need a highly customized experience, unusual merchandising/content architecture, sophisticated integrations, or significant frontend performance/control. Even headless specialists explicitly make that distinction. flux.agency

If I were issuing an RFP, my first calls would be Praella, BlueBolt, Caxy, and Makro/Mejix, with the final choice based heavily on who can show the strongest recent, production React + Shopify headless work rather than who has the nicest agency portfolio.