this guy named jeff is amazing! he showed me all his trains!…read moreif you have kids that like trains this is a amazing place for them! please come here-Henry

Ron's Mundelein Hobbies is a gem. The main focus is on model railroading. Train sets, locomotives,…read moreindividual cars, buildings and materials for landscaping layouts are offered. A large selection of model cars, airplanes and ships is also on hand. Large stocks of Tamiya and Vallejo paints, cyanoacrylate and plastic glues are maintained. K&S Metal and Evergreen Plastics products are there for the scratch builder. And model rockets are also offered. That is a lot of good stuff, but what makes Ron's a gem is the service and the people working there. Stop in sometime, you will see what I mean.

I spent a ton of money with this company and the moment I had one issue with their work, they never…read morecalled me back despite numerous reach outs and never finished the work. What they installed was very poor quality and not what was agreed-upon. Don't use them.

I'm a huge fan of watching the show Barnwood Builders and when I heard there was a barnwood shop…read moreopening up near me, I had to check it out. There is a lot of history in the Midwest and I've travelled around taking photos of old barns and cabins. While I'm not sure what I want to build with the aged wood, I can't help but want to fill my garage with as much as I can get. The shop is decent sized with a private parking area and there is a lot of stuff in the store. The front of the store has walls of siding, beams, shingles, and old artifacts found in the barns like tools and horse hardware. Everything looks so beautiful and the pricing is what you'd expect for the aged look. The rear of the store has an artistic room with home decor finished projects made out of the aged wood. I didn't see any giant lengthy beams but I asked and they have a warehouse up in Wisconsin where they store what you need. The staff was very friendly and willing to get you what you need. I'll definitely be back to load up on this beautiful wood.

Deep inside the mystical labyrinth known as Gurnee Mills Mall, my twins stumble upon their personal…read moreMecca.... an anime store so glorious it practically glows w the light of a thousand Pikachus!! They finally found the merch they'd been hunting for like determined shōnen heroes on a filler-free quest. The place has everything.... anime figures, plushies, candy, snacks, Pokémon cards, Labubu, and enough Funko Pops to start a small collection. The deals are so good you'll walk out thinking you saved money while somehow carrying 3 new Funkos and a bag of Pocky the size of your torso!! If youre into anime things check em out!! You won't be disappointed!!

My Dad was one of the people who put Tudor games on the map. He took great pride in his work, I…read moreloved watching how they build these games in Brooklyn, N.Y. 1970's "Tudor sold to Doug Strohm of Miggle Toys"

"For here Am I sitting in a tin can…read moreFar above the world Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do" Au contraire, Major Tom! There is so very much to do at Playoddity! Activity sets, classes, sets for the family. It is a bit confusing as this is a large open space. Lots of fun items.

Amazing, one of a kind concept. Very unique interior and products for special gift or if you are…read morelooking for something to do with your kids. Everyone at the store is super friendly and helpful. I also heard the birthday parties are awesome, we plan to schedule one for April.

This is the book store I always wished had been at this location! Prior to Secret World Books…read moreopening up here, it was a religious reading room. The space was so nice looking, and they had this adorable little garden in the back that I had only gotten glimpses of for years (like as far back as the 1990s) - but it didn't cater to my tastes and beliefs, so I never really visited there. Secret World Books recently occupied the space, and turned it into everything I love about small independently owned book nooks, which makes me so happy! They have a nicely-curated collection of books. Such a small shop obviously cannot compare to major book stores in sheer volume, but runs laps around them when it comes to style and vibe (sorry, I'm probably gonna say 'vibe' a lot here, please bear with). If you want books from local authors, if you want well-loved hidden gems that maybe missed the "[Insert Celebrity Name] Book Club™®©" spotlight, if you want to find some gently-read books with character unique to used books, if you're looking for some retro magazines, if you like comic books / graphic novels, if you're into tabletop RPGs, if you want books catering to out-of-the-box thinkers, and might enjoy an inviting safe space for people of all walks of life... Yeah, this just might be your place. And if you DO want the latest greatest manufactured-viral or pop culture hit, the Secret World staff can still get it for you, and seem chill about it. Hey, sometimes I just wanna read the latest entry in a best-selling megacorporation-owned franchise, without being judged... It's all good. Just go to the front and ask them to get a copy for you; easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Just maybe also consider looking behind the counter at their collection of books from local and lesser-known authors, who might have something that'll pull you in. It's so tough for local artists, crafters, writers, and other creative individuals go get traction; IMO, it's always bodacious when you put a little effort into checking 'em out, and generate some word-of-mouth magic to help them advance their message and/or skills. You might even just run into an author you know. They recently had some poets reading from their works, including Katana Smith and Highland Park's own poet laureate Laura Joyce-Hubbard. This weekend they'll have authors Jenna Satterwaite and Beth Kander. Seems like this is a somewhat common occurrence here... Pretty cool, huh? Oh, man, and the atmosphere here is sooo... I dunno, my ADHD want to say "cozy" and "crunchy" at the same time. "Crunchozy?" Thanks, wacky-internal-monologue-voice! Secret World feels nice and chill, but still filled with positive lively vibes. It's physically just comfortable, too. They have some comfy seats and a tea station that adds to the vibe, plus a gorgeous view of their secret garden. Dude, they even call it the "Secret Garden," which - funny(ish) personal story - I've been calling it for years. Literally, for decades, I had known there was a cool little secluded garden back there; but it's completely walled in, so I could only catch fleeting glimpses. I had a running head-canon that I would unlock an Elder Scrolls-esque mission there someday. I finally got to see it in person, and it's even cooler now! No RPG mission yet, but I'll be back to see what the zen racoon has to say. Okay, sorry, I've babbled on enough. Secret World Books book store: Cool place. Nice books. Friendly peeps. Comfy vibe. They spread the word on exercising your 5th amendment rights. They have complementary hot tea. Plenty of free street parking, near some 2-hour-free public parking lots. Neighbors to Curt's Café. Yeah, pretty awesome. Books; check 'em out!

This place is great! I was able to find a cool board game for a party. I also found some cool…read morecomics here as well!

This place has moved a few times now over the years before settling in it's current location. The…read more"staff" here are helpful. Lessons, repairs and basic needs stuff available.

My three kids and I were walking on Center Street in Grayslake today. My eight-year-old daughter…read morewanted to choose the next store we went into. She picked Audrey's and was very excited to find that there are two real life kitties plus a huge selection of stuffed animals. Like most girls her age she's really into Beanie Boos. She was happy to find Sting and Cashmere. She bought Cashmere with her allowance. The owner was nice and we got in and out very quickly. My eight-year-old can't wait to go back to the store with her daddy this weekend.