Century Pens In Chicago

[Kit4pens]

Hi everybody. I'm new to this forum and wondering if anyone here had the same wonderful experience I had while visiting Century Pens in downtown Chicago. Actually, my visit was over one year ago. My purchase was the limited edition Pilot M-90 fountain pen and a Think roller ball pen. Anyway, it was a pleasant experience browsing through the myriad of beautiful pens and shooting the breeze with the owner, Mr. Ed Hamilton. I will be visiting Century Pens again in the near future. Nice place if you're looking for that special pen purchase for yourself or as a gift.

[heineda]

I have been there several times.Amazing selection of pens!!! Someday I am going to buy that pen in it's own case that has a picture of Chiel Sitting Bull on it!! (when i''m rich LOL). Very nice people and the perfect location. Right around the corner is The Berghoff. An old Chicago bar/restraunt that has been open for over 100 years. Great food, really good beer and draft root beer to die for!!! My favorite place to eat in Chicago!!

[gfcallobre]

I'm also a fan of Century Pens and it's owner, Ed. My company relocated to the same building as Century Pens last year, and I pop into the store at least 2-3 times per week. How can I resist!

[Kit4pens]

I'm also a fan of Century Pens and it's owner, Ed. My company relocated to the same building as Century Pens last year, and I pop into the store at least 2-3 times per week. How can I resist!

 

 

Wow! lucky you Nice to be able to pop in at anytime. I'm planning a trip downtown, perhaps at the end of this month of March or 1st week of April and I'll definately be visiting Century Pens

[Kit4pens]

I have been there several times.Amazing selection of pens!!! Someday I am going to buy that pen in it's own case that has a picture of Chiel Sitting Bull on it!! (when i''m rich LOL). Very nice people and the perfect location. Right around the corner is The Berghoff. An old Chicago bar/restraunt that has been open for over 100 years. Great food, really good beer and draft root beer to die for!!! My favorite place to eat in Chicago!!

 

I enjoy taking trips to downtown Chicago every once in awhile. Unfortunately, some of my favorite haunts are no longer in business; take for example: Kroch's & Brentanos book store and Tower Records, which used to be Rose Records at one point in time. Spending time in those stores on cold wintry days, browsing through books & records was like heaven Yes, indeed! I've had lunch at the Berghoff restaurant in the past as well. Good food :clap1: I forget the name of the old deli once located next next door to the Chicago theater, which was a movie theater at the time. That place is a thing of the past as well. Great roast beef, pastrami sandwiches and good beer.

[mejdrich]

There is, as far as I am concerned, only ONE pen shop in Chicago - and that is Century Pens. I have know the owner, Ed Hamilton, for many years - probably since '97 or so...

 

He is a complete gentleman, an honest businessman, and a budding entrepreneur. (Well, based on the 2nd year of success he has had with his own name on the door, I think it is fair to conclude he is a successful entrepreneur.)

 

I have purchased many pens from Ed, and I will continue to do so in the future - Ed is fine writing instruments in the Chicago market.

[Kit4pens]

There is, as far as I am concerned, only ONE pen shop in Chicago - and that is Century Pens. I have know the owner, Ed Hamilton, for many years - probably since '97 or so...

 

He is a complete gentleman, an honest businessman, and a budding entrepreneur. (Well, based on the 2nd year of success he has had with his own name on the door, I think it is fair to conclude he is a successful entrepreneur.)

 

I have purchased many pens from Ed, and I will continue to do so in the future - Ed is fine writing instruments in the Chicago market.

 

 

I agree, Century Pens is tops and so is Ed Hamilton the proprietor. Can't wait for my next visit.

[Zek1]

Can't beat Century Pens...it is hands down the best penshop in Chicago. I've known Ed Hamilton since the early 1990's and when he was at Stevens & Maloney. Ed is good people.

[karana]

I need to go hunting for this store. I am moving to a suburb of Chicago in a few days/weeks and will certainly be paying a visit.

[Zek1]

I need to go hunting for this store. I am moving to a suburb of Chicago in a few days/weeks and will certainly be paying a visit.

 

 

Century Pens is located at 231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604 across from the Chicago Board of Trade. Check it out, you'll like it.

Edited March 20, 2012 by Zek1

[noctrl02]

Late comer to the game. Century is in the Bank of America building and is tops for service. Only problem, he isn't open late (being in the loop and all) - so plan accordingly.

 

Andy

[LtRoss]

I need to go hunting for this store. I am moving to a suburb of Chicago in a few days/weeks and will certainly be paying a visit.

 

 

Century Pens is located at 231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604 across from the Chicago Board of Trade. Check it out, you'll like it.

 

 

 

My recent visit to Century Pens in Chicago wasn't a good experience to say the least. I decided to purchase a very nice pen and asked one of the sales men to please show me the one in the glass display case, that's until another customer walked in and he completely forgot about me and went over to the other customer, which seemed he knew quite well, according ton the conversation they were having. I waited a few minutes longer and asked the other salesman if he could please show me the particular pen I wanted to purchase. He said sure, then guess what? he goes over and joins in the conversation with the other customer. I decided at that point, enough is enough and walked out of the store. I had better luck and received much better-courteous service at The Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC. I'll never visit Century Pens again.

[GHCHambone]

I live in the suburbs of Chicago when I am not in school, I will have to check it out next time I am downtown!

[gfcallobre]

My recent visit to Century Pens in Chicago wasn't a good experience to say the least. I decided to purchase a very nice pen and asked one of the sales men to please show me the one in the glass display case, that's until another customer walked in and he completely forgot about me and went over to the other customer, which seemed he knew quite well, according ton the conversation they were having. I waited a few minutes longer and asked the other salesman if he could please show me the particular pen I wanted to purchase. He said sure, then guess what? he goes over and joins in the conversation with the other customer. I decided at that point, enough is enough and walked out of the store. I had better luck and received much better-courteous service at The Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC. I'll never visit Century Pens again.

 

You might want to give Century Pens another chance. It is a friendly, easy-paced store, so you may have just caught them when they were greeting someone they know well. I stop in fequently, but I'm patient and always get excellent service and answers to my questions. Visit when you have some time to explore, and don't go at the Lunch hour if you're in a hurry. I think you'll be pleased.

[Chi Town]

Man you folks are so lucky to be able to visit a nice store like Century. I was born and raised in Orland Park, Illinois until I moved to Albuquerque on a job transfer in 1996. On my last trip to "Chi Town", LOL, I stopped in at Century, but it was a Sunday and they were closed. I was just heart broken as I traveled all the way from the South Suburbs. Oh Well, next time when I'm in town I'll hit them up.

Edited April 16, 2012 by Chi Town

[Dlpens]

Hi everybody. I'm new to this forum and wondering if anyone here had the same wonderful experience I had while visiting Century Pens in downtown Chicago. Actually, my visit was over one year ago. My purchase was the limited edition Pilot M-90 fountain pen and a Think roller ball pen. Anyway, it was a pleasant experience browsing through the myriad of beautiful pens and shooting the breeze with the owner, Mr. Ed Hamilton. I will be visiting Century Pens again in the near future. Nice place if you're looking for that special pen purchase for yourself or as a gift.

 

Ed Hamilton is a great guy who I have known for about 30 years. We met when he worked for the Flax Company handling their pen counters. And Ed is a sponsor of the Chicago Pen Show. Ed has had enormous experience in the world of retail pen sales and is and has always been, a great pleasure to deal with and I am happy that you happened upon his store. Ed will be set up at this year's Chicago Pen Show, May 5 and 6. Don Lavin

[kenny]

My recent visit to Century Pens in Chicago wasn't a good experience to say the least. I decided to purchase a very nice pen and asked one of the sales men to please show me the one in the glass display case, that's until another customer walked in and he completely forgot about me and went over to the other customer, which seemed he knew quite well, according ton the conversation they were having. I waited a few minutes longer and asked the other salesman if he could please show me the particular pen I wanted to purchase. He said sure, then guess what? he goes over and joins in the conversation with the other customer. I decided at that point, enough is enough and walked out of the store. I had better luck and received much better-courteous service at The Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC. I'll never visit Century Pens again.

 

You might want to give Century Pens another chance. It is a friendly, easy-paced store, so you may have just caught them when they were greeting someone they know well. I stop in fequently, but I'm patient and always get excellent service and answers to my questions. Visit when you have some time to explore, and don't go at the Lunch hour if you're in a hurry. I think you'll be pleased.

 

George, maybe YOU were the guy they ignored LtRoss for?

[Kit4pens]

I need to go hunting for this store. I am moving to a suburb of Chicago in a few days/weeks and will certainly be paying a visit.

 

 

Century Pens is located at 231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604 across from the Chicago Board of Trade. Check it out, you'll like it.

 

 

 

My recent visit to Century Pens in Chicago wasn't a good experience to say the least. I decided to purchase a very nice pen and asked one of the sales men to please show me the one in the glass display case, that's until another customer walked in and he completely forgot about me and went over to the other customer, which seemed he knew quite well, according ton the conversation they were having. I waited a few minutes longer and asked the other salesman if he could please show me the particular pen I wanted to purchase. He said sure, then guess what? he goes over and joins in the conversation with the other customer. I decided at that point, enough is enough and walked out of the store. I had better luck and received much better-courteous service at The Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC. I'll never visit Century Pens again.

 

 

I say go back and give Century Pens another chance....I guarantee you'll change your mind. Ed Hamilton is one of the nicest and helpful people one could possibly meet.

[David R Munson]

I'm going to bump this topic and voice my positive experiences with Century Pens. To be fair to the poster above who didn't like his experience there, when it gets busy in there on the lunch our, Ed and his other guy (whose name I don't know) can get a bit frenetic, bouncing around trying to serve everyone that comes in. If LtRoss fell through the cracks, that's unfortunate, but it certainly isn't typical of the establishment.

 

In any case, I've been probably a half dozen times now, always found them quick for conversation and demonstration of pens, as knowledgeable as one could hope, in possession of a great selection of new and vintage pens, and very accommodating. Most recently, I had been looking for a red/orange ink and had decided on Diamine Sunset based on reviews here on the forum. I knew they carried Diamine and I emailed Ed through their web site. He got back to me very quickly and let me know that he didn't stock it usually, but had just placed an order with Diamine and would see if it wasn't too late to add Sunset to the order. The ink came in about a week later, he sent me an email to let me know as much. Picked it up today and was again pleased by the warm, accommodating service the shop provides.