hey guys i'll be in Chicago for a bit and was wondering if there where some shops i shouldnt miss? Best food? Let me know whats up.
Not kaiju but I'm sure they might have something related. All weird crap, a lot of older toys, my 3 favorites: Uncle Fun (on belmont) Quake (on southport) Forever Young (not actually in Chicago, but right pass the border, also on belmont but waaayyy farther west than uncle fun, still worth it though!)
I'll definitely second Quake, Uncle Fun and Quimby's (though Quimby's is more book store than toy store). I'll have to go check out Forever Young sometime soon, never been there. And, of course, I'm a little partial to that Rotofugi place.
It's awesome! A really nice lady runs it and it's in the neighborhood it's in is nothing but dentists offices and retirement homes. Very low-key, but it has treasures and gems. Talking Freddy dolls, Wrestling Buddies, even vintage clothes for kids?! I went in once looking for Madballs and she said a week earlier she sold them all to some Japanese woman! I try to hit it every trip. It's also worth it, since you'd be a bit farther west, to hit up Gene and Judes for some hot dogs and "orange drink."
Rotofugi 1953 W. Chicago Ave Uncle Fun 1338 W. Belmont Ave Quake 4628 N Lincoln Av Quimby's 1854 W North Ave Forever Young 7701 W Belmont Avenue, Elmwood Park
And though not a toy store, per se, I always enjoy a trip to: American Science & Surplus 5316 N Milwaukee Avenue
I don't know if it's open anymore, but there was a Japanese toy store (Bandai type stuff) on Golf Rd near Mitsuwa...JP1Toys or something. I'll have to dig a bit, but there is a newer store that sells Godzilla vinyls (again mostly Bandai), but I have to find what area it's in. Unfortunately, I think House of Monsters is closed. Edit: Found the Godzilla store...it looks fun: http://www.monsterislandtoys.com/storefrontnews.htm
Yeah House of Monsters is closed...I believe that J1 toys is still open. Of course Mitsuwa is worth a mini road trip to check out the food and books.
That dude that runs J1 is kinda nuts, but I bought some cool Godzilla toys last time I was out there.
That's J1, it's not actually in Mitsuwa anymore, but down the street at a strip mall around the corner.
my friends tried to go to J1 and said the guy wouldn't even let them in! Apparently you need to pay for a "membership" (?!) just to enter the store. Monster Island toys is way down on South Halstad. I haven't been there but the Tribune just ran an article about it: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 2023.story Rotofugi is awesome!
That is a little strange, but I don't blame them. Every time I'd go in there (before they started to "id") it would be packed with kids just there to use the DDR machine, not to buy stuff. Easier answer to me would have been just to get rid of the damn DDR machine, of course. Seems they went with the baby and the bathwater route.
Weird (as in weirder than usual for that place)...I've heard about this "membership" rule before from other people, but I've gone there numerous times and have never had to pay a membership fee to get in. There have been times where the door was locked during regular business hours, and when I looked through the window, the guy came to the door, stuck his head out and asked "Are you buying anything?". An answer of "Yes" usually gets me in. Roto is just "okay" I'm down for a field trip if you guys are
monster island toys carries mostly bandai but no sofubi. outside of g-fest, though, i've never seen such an impressive wall of bandai toys lined up shelf after shelf like that. loris, the owner, is very friendly and open to suggestions on carrying more japanese imports. he isn't familiar with m1, marusan, etc, but he's now doing his research. i'm not sure why the tribune article paints such a dreary picture of the surrounding neighborhood -- yes, it might be "low income" but it's certainly not a barren landscape of nothingness as it implies. if you guys are planning a field trip, do it soon because he will close down the current location in january. then he will open a new shop near mitsuwa, closer to his customer base. if you make the visit, be sure to ask about his mancow story. kuma-san of j1 is quite angry and frustrated these days, especially after getting kicked out of yaohan/mitsuwa. he's still a nice guy, though, way down deep underneath his embittered exterior. he'd rather do faceless transactions over ebay rather than in his store now. i wonder if monster island's invasion into his territory will push him over the edge?
Ultra999 is 100% correct. Kuma-san (J1toy) is just angry with the young punks that stole and loitered at his store when he had the DDR machine. He's all about ebay now unless he knows you. J1 still has great stuff in that mess of a store and he has a good heart behind the harsh exterior. When he was located at Mitsuwa, he used to hold Tomy BitChar-G races and gave out prizes. I need to check out Monster Island.
Man, I always wondered what happened to that shop! I'd go to Mitsuwa just for them sometimes, than one day - GONE! I noticed they relocated according to a sign but I was never able to find it again.
Yeah, Ichiro's 'membership' thing for his story is crap really, he put that sign there to deter people going in and browsing. In all the years of retail I have under my belt I know never to turn anyone away, they might be the one that drops $100... I've never had a problem in there (but then I am usually buying), and he always engages me in conversation which rapidly degenerates into his vehement hatred of Anime stock that he keeps getting undercut on by competitors. I haen't been in there in months, mainly due to the fact that he never seems to get anything new in. I miss the glory days of the House of Monsters, my friend Damien was one of the guys who worked in there. I used to love the smell of the vinyl when you walked in there It was convenient for me, as my tattooist was in the building at that time too. Good days
