Gear store near Chicago?

[daisoman]

Heading down there for the long weekend to visit my grandmother. Wondering if there was any good stores to drop by. She lives in oak brook IL but I will be driving to Chicago as well. I googled but all the stores seem the same. Would like to have first hand experience if I could.
Thanks

 

[regder]

Might be worth a visit to Iron Pony in Ohio? According to google maps it will add about four hours to your trip.