Chicagoland members, other than Merz.B&M stores?

[Toothpick]

i've lived in Aurora pretty much my whole life, and took up wet-shaving last year while i lived in TN. Well now i'm back in Aurora and wondering if i have to go all the way to Chicago to Merz for a good brick and mortar store. Any place closer? closer to me is Batavia, St. Charles, Geneva, (straight up Randall road or Rt. 31 and Rt. 25) as well as Naperville within driving distance.... or any town along the BNSF railway from Aurora, to Union Station? (downers grove, Lagrange.....)

even better... anywhere right here in Aurora?? i know my way around the whole city, just never lived here while i've been wet-shaving.

Thanks!

 

[TheRoamingGastroGnome]

Sorry, I'll bet one (or three) of any malls out there has an Art of Shaving in it but you probably don't want that. Living less than 8 blocks away from it I can say the Merz store in Lincoln Square is pretty damn awesome. Lots of good food places around there too so if you did have to come all the way in you can at least get a good meal.

 

[Wid]

I know of nothing in the Joliet area.

 

[Toothpick]

the only mall close is Westfield (formerly Fox Valley mall) and no AOS there, but you are right i dont want that. Woodfield and Oak Brook have an AOS store but i'd just rather take the train to Chi and experience a store with a greater selection than fight traffic going to either of those places. I knew it was pretty much a long shot but ya don't know if ya dont ask. The weekend pass for the train is $7.00 and could make a day out of it with the food places you say have great food. the Lincoln Square is the original right?

 

[the_edski]

Whole Foods has KMF, Aubrey Organics, and Thayers to name a few product lines. Most Bed, Bath and Beyond stores in the area have the personal items section. The shaving aisle has Wilky blades, Clubman prodcuts and TendSkin to name some products.

 

[Toothpick]

The shaving aisle has Wilky blades, Clubman prodcuts and SkinFood to name some products.

you mean the shaving aisle at Bed Bath and Beyond? Clubman and SkinFood are on my wish list, and a BBB is very close.

 

[the_edski]

Yes, sorry for any confusion. I was indeed referring to the shaving aisle at BBB. I was incorrect about one thing, it is TendSkin, not Skinfood. But it's still good stuff.

you mean the shaving aisle at Bed Bath and Beyond? Clubman and SkinFood are on my wish list, and a BBB is very close.

 

[Toothpick]

Yes, sorry for any confusion. I was indeed referring to the shaving aisle at BBB. I was incorrect about one thing, it is TendSkin, not Skinfood. But it's still good stuff.

awesome, thanks! still worth checking out.

 

[TheRoamingGastroGnome]

the only mall close is Westfield (formerly Fox Valley mall) and no AOS there, but you are right i dont want that. Woodfield and Oak Brook have an AOS store but i'd just rather take the train to Chi and experience a store with a greater selection than fight traffic going to either of those places. I knew it was pretty much a long shot but ya don't know if ya dont ask. The weekend pass for the train is $7.00 and could make a day out of it with the food places you say have great food. the Lincoln Square is the original right?

Yes, I believe so. I could hang out there for an hour inspecting their wares. Can read a little about it here: http://goodbeerhunting.com/blog/201...merz-apothecary-the-great-shave-event-of-2012

Good butcher shop/general German & Polish goods on the same street (Gene's Sausage Shop) which has a rooftop beergarden in the summer months, as well as an old school German restaurant (Chicago Brauhaus), there's an awesome Vietnamese bakery (Nhu Lan) with about 18 different kinds of banh mi's (most for under $4) a few blocks away on Lawrence Ave, good Thai restaurant (Opart) by the el station.

 

[Toothpick]

Good butcher shop/general German & Polish goods on the same street (Gene's Sausage Shop) which has a rooftop beergarden in the summer months, as well as an old school German restaurant (Chicago Brauhaus), there's an awesome Vietnamese bakery (Nhu Lan) with about 18 different kinds of banh mi's (most for under $4) a few blocks away on Lawrence Ave, good Thai restaurant (Opart) by the el station.

Thanks for the info! seems worth the treck now.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Thanks for the info! seems worth the treck now.

Oh yea, it is. We were at the recent The Great Shave 2012 and for the umpteenth time ate at the Brauhaus which is just a few doors down from Merz - great hearty fare I can assure you. You don't know how hot food can be until it arrives steaming. Go to Gene's, beer upstairs you can't get anywhere else. They are known for their pretzel sandwiches - a soft pretzel cut in half in place of the bread.

I have been on the road in the metro area over 25 years. Believe me I don't know of anyone other than Merz. The Lincoln Square location is harder to get to but has easier and cheaper parking as well as a true neighborhood feel. Funky bookstore / coffee shop in there as well as Marbles which has some cool gifts and a new ice cream store in the square. The only blight is a Potbelly, otherwise it is all local. Go, you won't be disappointed.

 

[the_edski]

+1, the Brauhaus has A-MAZING food!

and for the umpteenth time ate at the Brauhaus which is just a few doors down from Merz - great hearty fare I can assure you. You don't know how hot food can be until it arrives steaming. G

 

[Toothpick]

I went to Woodmans grocery store in North Aurora they have an OK selection of items, it was cool to see Thayers WH and Williams shave soap. Williams was on sale for .79 so i bought 2 and a puck of VDH Select.

Decent prices on Thayers WH nice selection too


5pk Wilkinson for .99 couple SE brands


VDH and Williams


big selection of basic AS too


idk whats up with the Burts Bees pic, but as you can see they carry just about everything, Shave cream and AS by Burts as well.

 

[DrColossus11]

You really can't beat Merz in Lincoln Square. I know there was another B&M on Halsted IIRC. Can't remember the name right now though.