Chicago Travel Forum

We will stay in Chicago in August 2009 and we wish to spend a day in a mall. I have noticed 2 malls :
- Chicago Premium Outlets
- Gurnee Mills home
which are rather far from Chicago but I plan to rent a car.
We are interesting in buying clothing (for us, our adult children and the grand son) and DVD records (films).
We cannot visit both malls.
1/ What is the best choice between the 2 malls ? We want also to make bargains.
2/ How long to go to the mall by car ? We will stay near Michigan avenue and Chestnut (downtown)and we foresee to be there at 10 AM and to leave at 5PM
3/ What other stores do you advice in downtown ? Is there a mall near our hotel ?

Thanks a lot for your answers.

I don't live in Chicago, and when I shop there it has been on Miracle Mile near where I worked - but I did find links for the malls you mention which have a transportation link on the left.

Chicago Premium Outlets:
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=63

Gurnee Mills sounds way out there
http://www.simon.com/mall/mall_info.aspx?ID=1251
- no public transportation - I would probably just use Google Maps or Mapquest (www.mapquest.com) to map directions between your location and the mall. Looks far and you'd have to drive.

There are many shopping options downtown chicago - these are not outlets - perhaps a local could direct you elsewhere as far as an outlet.
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago_magnificent_mile_shopping_map.htm

Hi Guyon. I haven't lived in Chicago since I was a teenager so can't help you with the malls. However, we purchased DVD movies in France a few years ago and they would not play on our DVD recorder when we got home to the USA. They use different formats. Since you are reversing it and buying DVD movies in the USA, are you sure you can play them when you return to France? You might want to check that before you buy any DVDs. Just a thought.

Enjoy Chicago. I hope you have scheduled the Museum of Science and Industry. It's really fun. There was a great ice cream shop too but it's been too long and I don't remember. Sigh . . .

I go to Gurnee Mills about once a year because I have family that live up that way and I never buy anything, it's my least favorite of all of the outlet malls, many of the stores are really just branches of stores you can find downtown like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Kohl's. Instead of renting a car and incurring the price of that and gas and tolls, I'd suggest staying downtown and shopping at some of the outlet type stores on State Street and on the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue). You'll find good deals on clothes at Nordstrom Rack (State Street), H&M (Mag Mile and State Street), Filene's Basement (Mag Mile and State Street), TJ Maxx (State Street) and Marshall's (Mag Mile).

If you just have to do the outlet shopping trip, you might give a look to Lighthouse Place in Michigan City IN, it's slightly farther than Gurnee Mills from downtown but it's outdoors and a much more pleasant shopping experience. Sign up for the VIP club and they will send you coupons or something so that you can pick up a coupon book once you get out there. Plus if you want to stop somewhere on the way back, you can stop at the Indiana Dunes state park, there's access to hiking trails and Lake Michigan and some of the nicest beaches in the area.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=18

Chicago Premium Outlet in Aurora is better than Gurnee Mills.

There are a couple of malls along the Mag Mile where you are staying, there is Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan and NorthBridge, this website has more info on what is around your hotel

http://www.themagnificentmile.com/

Ray, I asked the expert (my wife the shopper) and here is what she said.

Chicago Premium Outlets and Gurnee Mills - Both of these malls are about a 45 minute to 60 minute ride from downtown Chicago where you are staying. Of course that 45 minute to 60 minute would be after rush hour in Chicago. 10:00 a.m. is a good non rush hour time but 5:00 p.m. is in the middle of rush hour and you will find that the 45 to 60 minute timeframes could be as much as twice as long.

The Chicago Premium Outlet Mall is in a west suburb of Aurora near where I live, it is about 5 years old and you will go from store to store outside. It is more pricier then Gurnee Mills, but has more designer clothes. Gurnee Mills is in a north suburb of Gurnee right near a huge amusement park, so there are some additional potential for traffic. To go from store to store there you could stay inside.

A website to look at if you haven't found this one is
http://illinois-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/chicago_outlet_malls

There are some stores in downtown Chicago that you can check out. One is Loehmann's which according to my wife does not have children's clothes. You can check out this website.
http://www.businessfashionable.com/2007/10/store-review-loehmanns-in-downtown.html

Several other stores downtown that you could go to are Filene's Basement and Nordstrom Rack which are both located on State Street a little south of where you will be staying.

Nearest to where you are staying would be Water Tower place, but I don't think you will get much in the bargain area here. You are staying in the area of Chicago where all the high price shopping is at and it is called the North Michigan area.

If you have time of your schedule we could plan a VT dinner and/or drinks somewhere close by with other Chicago members.

I'll probably catch some flak from my Chicago friends for saying this (sorry Martin!), but if this is your first time in Chicago and you haven't done so before, you should pay a visit to the "Macy's" store on State Street in the Loop. I would say that it's worth a visit just to see what a grand old-style US department store looks like. (It was originally the major store for the local "Marshall Fields" chain of department stores, but was sold to outside owners a few years ago, and some Chicago people are still unhappy about loss of such a familiar landmark.) I always enjoyed the food selection at the old Marshall Fields store, especially the Walnut Room which is good for a quick lunch.

Certainly the Macy's on State is worth a stop, just to look at the grand Tiffany mosaic ceiling on the 7th floor and for the food offerings if you want a quick meal. I'm not, nor was I ever, a fan of the Walnut Room (sorry Chet) but I do like the offerings at the gourmet food court on the 7th floor, especially Frontera Fresco, Rick Bayless' express option (his other restaurants are the well know Frontera Grill and Topolobambo). I don't find that Macy's carries much in the way of bargains.

I entered a code on my DVD recorder in order to read all the zones.
Thanks for the warning.

Filene's Basement is a great place for bargains. Its in downtown right around all the big shopping stores...enjoy!

Chet's (yooperprof) advise about going to Macy's is a very good idea. I am actually quite happy now that Macy's has taken over Marshall Fields. Macy's is more inclusive to everyone whereas Marshall Fields slogan was "Give the lady what she wants." not to mention the fact that Marshall Field the founder was notoriously anti-union. The historic Marshall Fields building is still there on State street. It is just the high prices that are gone. A cultural advancement in Chicago as far as I am concerned. Hope you agree, too, Chet.

About 14 miles from your hotel is the Ford City Mall. It has many stores and the parking is free.

http://www.ShopFordCity.com/shop/fordcity.nsf/index