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trueadrn
Comment King
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:24 pm Posts: 1352 Location: Portland
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 Any toy shops in Chigago?
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.
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:25 pm |
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toybotstudios
Die-Cast
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:40 pm Posts: 8096
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
rotofugi
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:44 pm |
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BloodDrinker6969
Die-Cast
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:13 pm Posts: 12024 Location: Chicago, Like R.Kelly
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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!)
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Last edited by BloodDrinker6969 on Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:53 pm |
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nefasth
S7 Royalty
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:46 pm Posts: 3505 Location: Morgoth
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
Quimby’s
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:23 pm |
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rotokirby
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:54 pm Posts: 240
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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.
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Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:08 pm |
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BloodDrinker6969
Die-Cast
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:13 pm Posts: 12024 Location: Chicago, Like R.Kelly
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
rotokirby wrote: I'll have to go check out Forever Young sometime soon, never been there. 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."
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Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:38 pm |
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trueadrn
Comment King
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:24 pm Posts: 1352 Location: Portland
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
Sweet! Thank you guys, i'll have a blast trying to find these places. Much appreciated.
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Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:56 am |
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rotokirby
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:54 pm Posts: 240
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:48 am |
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rotokirby
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:54 pm Posts: 240
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
And though not a toy store, per se, I always enjoy a trip to: American Science & Surplus 5316 N Milwaukee Avenue
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Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:51 am |
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BloodDrinker6969
Die-Cast
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:13 pm Posts: 12024 Location: Chicago, Like R.Kelly
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
rotokirby wrote: And though not a toy store, per se, I always enjoy a trip to: American Science & Surplus 5316 N Milwaukee AvenueThat place always has some hidden treasures too, awesome shop!
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Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:07 pm |
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hillsy11
Post Pimp
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:51 am Posts: 2981 Location: Seattle
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:58 am |
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the_z
Side Dealer
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:05 am Posts: 2148 Location: a Ukranian village
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
hillsy11 wrote: 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.htmYeah 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.
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:27 am |
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SmilingIdiot
Addicted
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:15 am Posts: 979 Location: Chicago
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
the_z wrote: I believe that J1 toys is still open. That dude that runs J1 is kinda nuts, but I bought some cool Godzilla toys last time I was out there.
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:32 pm |
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TrimmTrabb
Toy Prince
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:15 am Posts: 478 Location: Chicago!
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
I haven't been to Mitsuwa in years. Do they have that cool toy store there still?
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:48 pm |
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SmilingIdiot
Addicted
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:15 am Posts: 979 Location: Chicago
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
TrimmTrabb wrote: I haven't been to Mitsuwa in years. Do they have that cool toy store there still? That's J1, it's not actually in Mitsuwa anymore, but down the street at a strip mall around the corner.
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:00 pm |
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hillsy11
Post Pimp
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:51 am Posts: 2981 Location: Seattle
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
Have any of you been to the shop on Halsted I linked to? That opened after I'd left the area...
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:08 pm |
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rotokirby
Toy Prince
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:54 pm Posts: 240
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
hillsy11 wrote: Have any of you been to the shop on Halsted I linked to? That opened after I'd left the area... Never been, sorry. I wouldn't mind a CASK outing if someone wants to set a date and time.
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:59 am |
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vog_island
Addicted
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:33 am Posts: 727 Location: Chicago, IL
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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.storyRotofugi is awesome!
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:36 pm |
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hillsy11
Post Pimp
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:51 am Posts: 2981 Location: Seattle
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
vog_island wrote: 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. 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.
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:06 pm |
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the_z
Side Dealer
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:05 am Posts: 2148 Location: a Ukranian village
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
rotokirby wrote: hillsy11 wrote: Have any of you been to the shop on Halsted I linked to? That opened after I'd left the area... Never been, sorry. I wouldn't mind a CASK outing if someone wants to set a date and time. Hmmm....we will have to get this field trip planned.
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:20 pm |
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SmilingIdiot
Addicted
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:15 am Posts: 979 Location: Chicago
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
vog_island wrote: 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 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. vog_island wrote: Rotofugi is awesome! Roto is just "okay" rotokirby wrote: I wouldn't mind a CASK outing if someone wants to set a date and time. I'm down for a field trip if you guys are
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:37 pm |
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Ultra999
Post Pimp
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:05 pm Posts: 2633
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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?
Last edited by Ultra999 on Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:12 am |
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los507
Fresh Meat
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:48 am Posts: 6
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
Ultra999 wrote: 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.
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Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:50 am |
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BloodDrinker6969
Die-Cast
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:13 pm Posts: 12024 Location: Chicago, Like R.Kelly
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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.
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Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:33 pm |
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Ultra_Gigan
Addicted
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:38 am Posts: 815 Location: Illinois - (Monster Island)
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 Re: Any toy shops in Chigago?
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 
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Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:26 pm |
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