Great selection great people. Enjoyed it picking out our new set! We will be back again!

For a chess player (as I am), this is the coolest shop.  The friendly and laid back owners are the husband and wife team of Tom and Marguerite Paravola.  There aren't a lot of brick and mortar chess shops like this in the entire country and they have been at it here in Elmhurst for 20+ years.  It was a total blast to look, feel, and touch the various chess pieces and sets.  I ended up buying a magnetic wooden chess set and it was worth it to me to see and touch what I was buying.  Yes, you can buy sets via online shopping, but like clothes, I want to know what I'm really getting.  Yes, there is a modest premium for that but well worth it given the multitude of available choices.  Besides, while browsing, you get to chat it up with Tom who is a chess lover, and that's worth something too!  While browsing, I particularly liked the look and feel of some heavy metal pieces made in Italy, and I've never touched pieces that sturdy and heavy, and maybe one day I'll splurge the $400 for such a set of chess pieces.  They have limited hours as Tom actually still works another job!  Yet, he still has time to also run a free weekly Tuesday night casual chess meetup night in the neighborhood and all are welcome.  Keep it up, best wishes, and thank you! read more

See all

The owners, Tom and Marguerite, are very friendly and helpful. They showed us numerous chess sets and provided a useful advice. We were not pressed and very comfortable. There is a large number of chess sets for everyone's taste. The prices are very reasonable. read more

Make the drive here for your chess needs. You won't be disappointed! Very knowledgeable staff and beautiful inventory.

A perfect place for aspiring and experienced chess players! They have a wide range of chess sets for any budget, but I recommend buying more expensive pieces as the cheap ones tend to fall over, but you can get some high quality plastic pieces for around $25. The service was great and they are well informed, truly recommend this store for anyone in the chicago area that wants high quality chess sets. read more

The owner has a great sense of customer service. He was very patient and polite. He listened to our needs, and provide excellent suggestions. At the end we were very happy with our selection of chess set. I think in general the value of the set is reasonable and I loved it. Another part I loved: we had an amazing chat about chess, which added a lot to the shopping experience. read more

It's Good To Be King - Chess Set - Toy Stores Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Super friendly and helpful owners. I purchased a couple of non Chess board games that were very reasonably priced and well made. Like most people, I looked online first but I made the right decision coming into this small owner/operator shop in downtown Elmhurst. I think I'll be back to purchase a chess board at some point. So many to choose from and they just look so cool. read more

We were impressed with the variety of chess pieces and boards on display. Store was clean and organized. First time buying a Set so I was delighted to see the variety available. The price I paid for my set seemed fair and I am happy with the purchase. Staff were professional, friendly, engaging and helpful. read more

Exception experience. I recommend everyone visit this place. Welcoming, friendly, accommodating, understanding, and very knowledgeable. I can't say enough about this amazing place. My son and I have been looking to purchase a chess set, and as his interest grew, we stumbled upon this store. I went in without any true knowledge of how to purchase pieces or sets, etc. We spent a good amount of time speaking with one of the owners during our visit. She was extremely patient as we checked out a number of sets to pick what we liked. We eventually arrived at one while my kids ran around the store causing some chaos. I called back a day later to explain a missing item in the package and both owners were extremely understanding since it was also a set we opened to check all the items. They even offered to stay open later to wait for me to come back to fix the issue. Great people, great business. I encourage everyone to visit and make a purchase. I will definitely be back. read more

I've been looking for a chess piece that says, "damn that guy must really play chess." I'm not great at chess, but I figure if someone sees this magnificent chess board I recently bought, they wouldn't even ask to play because they're so scared of being beaten to a chessy pulp. Came in to this store while wandering around Elmhurst and left with a really big and cool wooden chess box. They have some amazing sets - and the owners were super helpful showing me around. read more

I would highly recommend this shop. Excellent customer service. Very honest about their product and very very professional about their business. I came to their shop to buy a tournament set and they gave me the best bang for my buck. Also they gave me a free book about chess puzzles which was nice of them. 10/10 would recommend. read more

It's Good To Be King - Toy Stores Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

I have a kid who is suddenly obsessed with chess, and we drove 40 minutes to get to this place. It was worth the drive! They have a great selection of everything chess-related you can think of, and a nice range of sizes and prices too. The store owner helped me choose a beautiful new board to go with a set of chessmen I've had for years that didn't have a matching board. He also helped my son select a more portable set for himself, and even threw in a book of chess challenges for him. Overall great service, great selection and it ended up being a good value too. I wish all shopping experiences could be this good. We will definitely return whenever we need more chess stuff. read more

Today we drove from Rogers Park to Elmhurst to visit the best chess store I've ever been to. The staff was so helpful and so kind. They had a array stock of beautiful boards, modern and classic styled pieces chess pieces, piece cases, and the best service I've had in a retail experience in some time, and the prices were so competitive. We went home with a lovely wooden chess set. I'll be back periodically for gifts and another board some day. If you love chess - this is where you should go to get your chess board and pieces in Chicago! read more

Came here to buy our son his first chess board. Tom and Marguerite were very kind and allowed us to try out a number of boards to find just the right one. Tom listened to our needs and recommended an option that fit perfectly. Price was fair. Can you buy a board online? Sure. But to be able to feel the materials in person, that's worth a couple extra bucks in my opinion. Plus, always good to support a local business! read more

I was needing 2 chess sets for my kids, I when to this great and very good customer service store, the lady at front desk was very kind and patient to explain me all the difference on a big variate of chess sets, this store is amazing. Unfortunately I was there for only 1 day, hopefully I can return to Chicago and visit again on Tuesdays because this lady told me that day the store sets some chess sets outside for to whom want to play in front at the store. Best regard, Daniel from Tucson Az. read more

This place I SOOO cool. The man and woman that were there let me hold the pieces in my hand to feel weighed chessmen. They helped me match pieces to my new board. I loved this little shop. I will definitely be returning to shop there. read more

We took our son on a special adventure here. The minute he walked in, his eyes lit up. This store is such a gem. Chess is the kind of thing you want to touch and feel to get a sense of what you like best. The owners helped us find a chess board for son based on our needs. Highly recommend! read more

I love this store! I couldn't find a magnetic board anywhere and not only did this store have it, they had lots of options. Every form of chess you can think of and beautiful boards and pieces. I will definitely be back! read more

What a wonderful store! They have a wide selection of chess boards and pieces. The owners were very helpful and I found 3 beautiful chess sets. Highly recommended! read more

I went to Its Good To be King today and I was treated like a king. Excellent customer service as well as an impressive and vast selection of chess sets. I recommend this store to everyone, it is truly amazing. read more

Straight up chess shops are pretty hard to find these days. Even here in a city the size of Chicago, there is exactly one, with IGTBK being it. Casual players looking to pick up a set can always turn to places like Walmart of course, but if you are wanting to step up to the big leagues, this place is really your only option for a non-online retail purchase in Chicagoland. I am an avid player and have several boards and piece sets, but I stopped in because I was wanting a really nice set to serve as a showcase in my living room chess table. Chess sets, at the highest levels of craftsmanship, are pretty much works of art in and of themselves. I have seen sets go at Christie's auction house that had signifiant historical prominence for hundreds of thousands of dollars. This place has pretty much all your bases covered if you are looking for anything chess related. As to boards and pieces, they have everything from very basic sets fit for teaching a 5 year old while he chews on the Rook, up to incredibly ornate and handmade sets crafted from exotic materials costing hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars. They also have all other typical accessories you would expect like chess clocks, official FIDE rule sheets, strategy guides, cases, etc. In my case I was wanting a bit of a hybrid. Essentially a set that would still look badass in my living room, but also one I can actually play on without having a heart attack if someone were to drop one of the pieces. The selection here is massive as you can see from the pics, and is a true chess lovers dream. I deliberated for quite awhile before I decided on one I wanted to go with. The clerk on duty, and I am fairly certain also the owner, was a very friendly old gentleman who chatted me up about chess while I was pondering my purchase. We nerds enjoy talking about playing almost as much as we do actually playing sometimes. This guy knows his stuff backwards and forwards, but he does run a chess shop after all. He offered to play me while I was there, but since I was on my lunch break I did not have that kind of time on my hands. This is a great shop for those into chess, or for those looking to pick up a nice gift for someone who is. It is located in downtown Elmhurst, so parking was a bit of a pain, but the area is quite walkable so it's not that big of a deal if you end up having to park a block or so away. My old analog chess clock is on it's last leg, so I am sure I will be back here at some point, and I will make sure to do it on a day when I can take the owner up on his challenge. read more

See all

Went in to get a chess clock for my upcoming tournament. They had exactly what I needed and the owners were super nice and helpful.

Absolutely delighted with our brief shopping experience here on Christmas Eve morning. Alas, a truly magical and pleasant local store that carried decent chess sets! We are novice players and for some reason I unnecessarily feared being shamed for not knowing correct chess board types, terminology, pieces, etc but we felt very welcomed! They truly are a store for all chess players. After helping two other paying customers, we were happily assisted within 10 minutes of arriving by the owners themselves. Thanks to Netflix and The Queen's Gambit, the store had been nearly bought out of complete chess sets save for a few plastic and magnetic options. My fiancé and I arrived just in the knick of time and were able to ad hoc a set for purchase. According to the owner Tom, what was available were weighted chess pieces with inconsistent staining not of the highest quality (but still a complete set) that he'd sell for $40. A broken chessboard that had been pulled from the back room earlier was next to those chess pieces just for show, and he was nice enough to offer throwing in that board for free for us if the pieces were bought. My fiancé and I were here to buy a Christmas gift for ourselves as we've been getting back into the game, and we were more than willing to buy it right then and there. But out of the corner of my eye I noticed a beautiful chess board and decided to purchase that in addition to the weighted pieces. Last minute we threw in a basic digital timer that was almost sold out as well, and Tom one-upped us once more by allowing us to choose a complimentary chess puzzle book for free. We left the store as satisfied and excited customers. We will be coming back later on down the road when they restock to upgrade our pieces and for all and any other chess related needs, but for now we're simply relieved to forget our plastic Lord of the Rings set and start playing with a great one! Thanks It's Good to be King! read more

Wonderful store! The owner, Tom, is very friendly and I enjoyed the experience of buying a new chess set. They have a wide selection of luxurious and inexpensive chess sets. read more

Friendly helpful and knowledgeable staff, thanks with help and patience with my purchase! Such a difference being able to touch and test out pieces rather than shop on line! read more

Tom and Marquerite are super nice and they were very helpful in deciding what chess set would be appropriate. When I called ahead and said that I was running late and won't make it before they close, I was reassured that they will be there when I arrive. read more

have shopped here for years - best chess sets! this time purchased cool backgammon set.

Wonderful place and friendly staff! A great variety of quality chess boards and very helpful.

I bought a beautiful set of chess pieces and a board. I wanted the set to be decorative and practical for teaching my kids how to play. ​​​This fine establishment delivered on both! I came back to purchase a magnetic travel set for my kids to use at school. They love it. I highly recommend this store! read more

Consistently good store with great selection and service..your move..

Tom was very knowledgeable. I'm newer to chess and wanted to get something quality, that wasn't going to break the bank. Tom talked me through all the options and made that happen. We will be back! read more

Beautiful store! Several unique chess sets to pick from. We picked a nice magnetic set for a beginner which has nice, wooden, carved pieces. There were a variety of historical sets that were filled with a lot of detail. read more

This store saved Christmas for my son! I went in the weekend before Christmas looking for a unique chess set for my son. Not only were they so helpful in putting together the perfect set for my son, but the prices were much cheaper than what I was seeing on the internet. This store is such a gem if you play chess. Highly recommended! read more

I wanted a well made wood chess board for Xmas for my son. I had hopes of finding one exactly like the board my dad and I played on when I was a kid. I was surprised to see how many choices, size and price points It's Good to Be King had to offer. I found the perfect set. The icing on the cake was the nice chat I had with the owner when checking out and mentioned my set was handmade from Poland........he turned over the box and what do you know? Made in Poland! 100% score, what a great experience it made my entire day! read more

I have lived in Elmhurst for 7 years....and this is the first time that I have visited IGTBK. With the grand kids in town I found reason to pass thru the door....and I am glad that we did. Chess boards/pieces and toy soldiers does not seem like the best business model but somehow this all works. Spoke with Tom (the owners father)....a really nice guy. Tom tells me that they have been in Elmhurst 15 years. IGTBK sells things that no one else carries. Things that I found cool were the various themed chess pieces you can get i.e. chess players with an American Indian theme (the tee-pee is the rook!).....a jazz band theme (guy on drums was the rook!). I would make Ella Fitzgerald the Queen. They had a chess set with 2 foot high pieces. Kinda cool. Some of the soldier sets were cool also. My toy soldier days are well past me....but it was fun to watch grandson Brayden be mesmerized by all the cool stuff. It's Good to Be PopPop! read more

Xmas shopping for a chess board brought us to this very cool emporium, specializing in, yep, you guessed it, cool chess sets and chess boards. Owners are super chill, and you can also check out a variety of historical stuff and other game sets. Very cool way to spend some time and indulge your nerdy side. A unexpected treasure in a neat suburban setting. Enjoy. read more

My grandfather and I visited the shop. I had been looking for a chess shop in the area to find a board for my pieces. Even though they were sold out of a lot because of the holidays they still had quite a bit! Every piece and board were unique. Both me and my grandfather left with a new board. Tom let us take a gaming book after our purchases. It was a nice place to visit and definitely will to back when they have more in stock. read more

I had a great experience wth this store. The owner and his wife were very nice. I always try give as much business as I can to small local shops. I purchased a Revolutionary War themed chest set from them, had a nice chat about history with the owner and then enjoyed a café au laite up the block. Perfect end to my day. If you're looking for a variety of themed chess sets or just the pieces, IGTBTK is the place to visit. read more

Drove nearly 40 minutes out of my way looking for a unique chess set as a present. Showed up and the shop was closed nearly an hour and a half early. Double checked the sign on the window and it clearly said they closed at 5 on tuesdays. No number to call or contact info other than the website which was unhelpful. Its a shame because from what i could see through the window they have some great looking sets. read more

I asked for help buying chess items for a school chess club and they seemed uninterested to help. I also asked about tournament clocks and was told whatever was there was it. read more