Chicagoland Lionel guys, what LHS are you using these days??

Don't overlook Des Plains Hobby Shop, especially if you are interested in O scale parts and super detailing stuff for modifying diesel units. They also have the largest selection of railroad books in the Chicago area!

Where does America's Best Hobby rank amongst the Chicagoland shops?

Too far away for me, and it is mostly Lionel ONLY.

He needs to either move, expand the sales area, or start being realistic with prices so some of it sells now and then. The isles are narrow and the junk is piled everywhere. If you're looking for something specific, he may have it, but good luck finding it.

Sam

I agree, many of the TMCC locos from years ago are priced higher than the newer legacy versions.I don't get what the advantage is to hanging on to a 10 year old loco that Lionel has already rereleased and improved, the dust layer on the display locos is funny. IMO Berwyns is the nicest and for the most part the prices are decent or at least understandable for a local shop,more MTH than Lionel, but still a nice, organized, CLEAN, and well laid out store. The folks behind the counter could stand to be a bit friendlier but thats the case at every shop around "here".

Anything up North (Lake or Mchenry county) ?

I'm just getting back into it and I'm in the Cary area.

Woodstock had a shop in the square, I bought some cars from him last Christmas but he's gone now.

I have a "Hobbytown" in Lake in the hills but they seem to be more RC.

Down Northwest Highway from you (on NW Hwy) in Arlington Heights or maybe Mt Prospect is a bike shop. During the winter he sells trains. Well, he sells trains all year, but during the winter he really digs out the stock and pushes the displayed bikes aside. He has a pretty big layout too as of a few years back, but this past summer I noticed it was gone. Now that the poor excuse for what became of Hill's Hobby is gone, that's the closest shop I can think of to you.

The irony is that Tom from Berwyn's and - I can't think of his name - from America's Best used to be partners and ran the same store. The original shop was in Berwyn too, but a bit north from where Tom is now. I think it was still called Berwyn's Toy Trains back then too, but it had all of the clutter and mess of America's Best does now. Tom at Berwyn's really runs what I think is THE best hobby shop in the Chicago area.

Des Plaines Hobby is in second place. In some ways his selection is bigger depending on what you're looking for, but prices on used stuff can be reeeeeally crazy.

Sam

The guy at America's Best is Tony. His counter guys Tim and Howie are always real helpful, but he never has anything. Funny for a store packed to the ceiling with stuff. They didn't have a Legacy when I bought mine from Ro or the black modules when I bought mine from Hobby Haven on a trip to IA.

Berwyn has plenty of MTH but hardly any Lionel diesels or steam, 3-4...

What happened to the guy that was in Morton Grove?? 

Looks like it's back to DuPage...

It's Tony at America's Best. There is also Chicagoland Hobby on Northwest Highway in the northwest corner of Chicago. They have Lionel, MTH, Williams, as well as HO and N gauge items. About 70% of the shop is trains. 

I haven't been there yet, but I know there's a train shop in Antioch.

When I lived in Chicago years ago, my favorites were Hill's in Park Ridge, and Townhouse TV & Appliances in Niles, but there are gone.

I guess I did my homework pretty well prior to my visit last October. Hit all four on a Saturday, and bought something at each.

Hot water is right, didn't buy any trains at Des Plaines, but came away with a lot of train paper.

Ron's Mundelein Hobbies, in Mundelein. Its a general hobby store with Lionel and some MTH, not of the size of America's Best or Berwyn's or Chicagoland Hobby. He's got a lot of HO, and an HO layout in the store. Here's the website:

http://mundeleinhobbies.com/

Here's the website for the LHS in Antioch; I haven't been up there yet....perhaps this weekend:

http://www.antiochmodeltrains.com/About-Us.html

Wow you're beating up Tony at America's Best a little too much IMO. I love going there and find the staff very hepful. I'm mostly an MTH guy so I shop at Berwyn and Chicagloand more often after Tony had a falling out with MTH.

I was told that Tony's father in law was the owner of the now gone Downers Grove hobby. That was a nice store.

Town House TV and Appliance was my all time favorite. RIP Mike.

America's Best is the closest of the large LHSs to me, so I go there quite a bit, and enjoy my visits. I used to go to Berwyn's when it was on Harlem Avenue, before the partners split up...that would have been in the early '90's. I used to live a mile away....now its more like 50 miles from me.

We've lost a number of good LHSs in the last 10-15 years, but we're fortunate to have a good number remaining here in our area.

And then there's the monthly DuPage show, which is on Sunday, by the way.

Tony at Americas Best is  well Tony.

He is good guy but a tough negotiator so I know how that can rub some the wrong way.

He's in this to make money not like the rest of us. So deal with it because this is his livelihood. Again not like most of us.

I do business with all three.

Americas Best gets the most business as it is the closest, but Berwyn and Chicagoland are OK also. Not sure I can ever remember anyone complaining about a hobby shop with TOO much inventory, but I guess on this forum anything can happen.

Since Mizels closed, there is NO other store that has as much inventory out and available for inspection. This is a HUGE cost to Americas Best that none of the internet guys has to absorb, and I for one, will pay a little extra for that service.

Had a bad experience in Des Plaines Hobbies, "nothing good to say so I won't say anything".

Anyone of the three would be a good addition for many of our forum member’s towns, so we are indeed fortunate to have three good ones, and a few smaller ones to still choose from.

Plus, as has been mentioned, the monthly DuPage show is nothing like it used to be, but still better than any other monthly show that I have attended.

Charlie

I think this sums it up best. He really is....well, Tony. I don't think any post here so far is "beating him up", he just has...... an "interesting" way of running his shop. I never heard the he had a falling out with MTH story before. I wouldn't say he's over stocked, as much as it is an over priced dust collector. How many $24.99 starter set break up freight cars do you need piled in cardboard boxes sticking out into the walking isles? What good is having something for sale that a customer might be looking for, but there's no chance you'll ever be able to find it?

Hill's was really a great shop. Mike Hill saw that one guy coming from a mile away, took his money, and ran! Not that I blame Mike, but that second owner really didn't have a clue.

Mike from Town House TV & Appliance, and then his own shop in Morton Grove was a real class act. I was at a MWD TCA meet when they announced his passing and there really was a collective gasp of shock.

Every now and then doesn't Doug Swanson crawl back out of hiding and open a shop in the eastern Naperville or Lisle area? I drove past a store a year or so ago with his piles of Madison Hardware stuff in it, but maybe two weeks later when I went back it was a palm reader's shop.

Charlie is right, "we" still are lucky to have what's left, plus whatever you'd like to call the monthly Dupage show.

Sam

While on the subject, does anyone know what happened with that guy named Bill, who used to own Hobby City on Cermak Rd in Berwyn? He must've been there 30 years or so, and then it seemed like one day it was just closed.

I agree with Charlie that we are lucky to have so many good hobby shops in our area. I have lived in areas where there aren't any good LHS's and it is great to be able to get just about anything that you need locally.

You can call America's Best crowded or over-stocked, but I would call it great to have so much inventory available when I am looking for something. Usually if I can't find something there, I ask them and more often that not they have it. I like Tony and respect how hard he works at his business. Tony specializes in Lionel and has a very complete inventory.

Tom at Berwyn is a real gentleman and class act in my book. He runs a clean, well-stocked store, and stands behind everything he sells. If all LHS were run like Berwyn, there would be a lot more of them left.

Don't get to Chicagoland as often, but Greg runs a great store that is always fun to visit and shop at.

In my opinion you can't go wrong at any of these stores and we should support them so they can continue to give us great service and selection.

Art 

Hobby City had a "clearance / going out of business" sale about 2 or 3 years ago.  I managed to get in before he closed, and, while he had an interesting selection of used equipment, he had very little current stuff in O gauge.  We talked a little, and he mentioned retirement due to age and declining neighborhood business.  I remember a Lionel set in the window (Alaska something, I think) where the box was so sun-bleached one could hardly read it.

I forgot to mention one that I go to a lot because it is closer for me and that is Walt's in Crest Hill. He runs a very clean, well-stocked store. He carries all scales and while he doesn't have the big inventory that the other three have, he has all the paints, scenery supplies, and things that I am always running outto get at the last minute. 

Des Plaines Hobby is great for detail parts, scratch building supplies, decals, and books.

Art

I fondly remember Hill's back about 10-15 years ago,that was great shop.I had just gotten back into trains and I traded a collection of Micro Trains N scale I had accumulated for MTH. Hated to see them sell out and close.There was another store I remember going with my Dad to in the late 60's early 70's while he was in Chicago on business.The store had a massive train department located in a downstairs/basement area with 1000's of new in the box postwar Lionel and American Flyer.I bought quite a bit of super-O track and military rolling stock from them.I just can't remember the name. I have been to Berwyn's  a few time while in the area and liked the shop.

There is a hobby shop on the south side of Chicago, in Harvey. Called McCanders TV & Appliance. Really a junk store now. Very old and decrepit (sp?) shop. Some trains and all is old. Haven't been there is a couple of years but has old stuff. If you catch them (always call before going), and you find something you MIGHT get a decent price. I usually go there once a year or so.

There is another place, if it is still there, in Hobart, Indiana called York Trains. Tons of stuff and if you buy some volume can get a good price. Lots of trains...

Mike past away from a heart attack, I believe, a few years ago. He was a good "old fashioned" Lionel dealer, worked in a lab coat. He took warranty repairs no questions asked. There were posts on his passing, his store was another victim of the auction houses that grabbed his stock for pennies on the dollar.  I'll never forget when he told me " This hobby is an addiction, and the only way to treat it is with a credit card".

That lab jacket was his trademark. If he was in the store the jacket was on!

There was another store I remember going with my Dad to in the late 60's early 70's while he was in Chicago on business.The store had a massive train department located in a downstairs/basement area with 1000's of new in the box postwar Lionel and American Flyer

That was Chicagoland Hobby's predecessor Greg's dads store. 

Alan, I will politely disagree with your comment. There are many other people in business for themselves who choose to treat their customers in a polite and respectful manner. Their businesses are their livelihoods as well.

I choose to deal with it by spending my money, when possible, elsewhere.

Lived in Chi my entire life.

Berwyns has really changed over the years. The pro-MTH attitude and MAJOR lack of Lionel has turned me and others away. Haven't been there in years nor do I care to go.

A. Best plays the Madison Hardware theme well (paper thin aisles, crap stacked 50ft high, prices change by the customer, etc). Some people love it, modern day shoppers hate it. One bad expierence for me..haven't been there in years.

Chicagoland is nice, retail prices, never blew my skirt up.

These days, I have been doing much better online with no crook county taxes, better pricing and the specific selection I am seeking out.

Personally, I could careless if they went out of business.

When I was in kindergarten (~1981), I lived a few doors down from a hobby store in Park Ridge, in an apartment above a TV shop.  It was on Main St just across the tracks from the CNW/RTA commuter station. I'm wondering if this was the same Park Ridge hobby store you guys mentioned?

My Dad used to take me there quite a bit and I would drool over all the Trains, Models & Slot Cars.  My Dad said I was obsessed with doing odd jobs around the house to earn cash towards models & post cards.  My favorite part of the store was the display counter that had each different type of crossing signal that was wired to buttons for customers to operate.  Flashers, Gates, Wig-wags.  I can remember them like it was yesterday.  I still have a D&RGW F7 post card from there.

I went back to Chicago this last weekend before Christmas.  Stopped by Des Plains Hobby once again.  And while they do have a decent  selection....I was kinda disappointing by their prices.  Of course I was traveling light, so purchasing something was not an option. :\

I love Chicago.

Well now, isn't this a real boost for our hobby????

That was the original Hills Hobby!! My dad took me there all the time as well. Really miss that place.

And I second your "I love Chicago"!!

You might try making Greg an offer on something you want at Chicagoland Hobby. We started collecting O there in 2000 and never paid the price they had on it. 

Berwyn Hobbies

Working train layout in Berwyn Hobbies.

It is nice having three great hobby shops in the Chicago area.I try to buy all my hobby stuff from these stores whenever possible.

1.Berwyn Hobbies-my favorite to visit.Large selection of O gauge at decent prices.I do all my new catalog pre-ordering here.

2.America's Best Hobbies-Everything Lionel makes plus all the model building supplies I could want in stock when I need them.

3.Chicagoland Hobbies-Huge selection of O gauge items and model building supplies.

Dan 

Right down Ogden from Berwyn's is Past Time Hobbies, Has anyone ever been in there? I know I have seen O gauge trains advertised on their website.

http://www.pthinc.com/

 Also close is La Grange Hobbies on route 12 in downtown La Grange. Small store but nice owner and across the street from a restaurant that has specialty hamburgers and a world class beer selection.

Past Time Hobbies anyone?

Past Times Hobbies main categories are die cast cars and baseball cards.They have a large selection of model fire and police vehicles and also Corgi models.They do sell a few O gauge train items.

La Grange Hobbies is half the size it used to be,but still has a big selection of all hobby items.I have a old postwar Lionel sheet that lists hobby shops that were authorized to do repairs.La Grange Hobbies was the only one on the list,that I know of,in Illinois that is still in business.

Dan

I haven't been in Past-Times Hobbies in over a decade... I used to live a couple of miles from there. I think of it more  as a diecast store than a train store. They sponsor one of the better diecast shows in the area. It is in February, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.