Chicago Magnificient Mile Pen Shops?

[AndyW]

Hi all:

 

I have to be in Chicago next week for business and will be staying and meeting in the Magnificient Mile area. Can anyone recommend a Pen Shop in walking distance?

 

Thanks, Andy

[EventHorizon]

I've been there twice and for the life of me, can't remember a pen shop. I can recommend the Capitol Grill however as one of the best steak places around with a huge wine selection (a little pricey though). It's across from the Hilton I think.

[omasfan]

There was one in the vicinity of the Newberry Library, maybe about 10 minutes by foot from the Magnificent Mile. They had a boring selection of some Parkers, some MBs, and some standard Pelikans. No great ink selection either. So I wouldn't go their a second time. Unfortunately I forgot their name.

[JMAN]

Hi all:

 

I have to be in Chicago next week for business and will be staying and meeting in the Magnificient Mile area. Can anyone recommend a Pen Shop in walking distance?

 

Thanks, Andy

 

I haven't been there but there is a listing for Century Pens at 231 S. Lasalle - sounds interesting.

 

There is a great one whose name escapes me will get the address when I get home tonight and post tomorrow!

 

 

[DrPJM1]

Gilbertson Clybourn Fine Writing

55 E. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 573-8075

 

Century Pens

231 South LaSalle Street

 

Macy's in Michigan Ave. and on State Street has a Levenger's Store

[AndyW]

Thank you for the help. Just curious, if you had a choice between Century and Gilbertson C., which one would you pick?

 

Andy

 

 

Gilbertson Clybourn Fine Writing

55 E. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 573-8075

 

Century Pens

231 South LaSalle Street

 

Macy's in Michigan Ave. and on State Street has a Levenger's Store

 

[kazoolaw]

If you are travelling with your wife or daughter (sexist that I am), Gilbertson is a few doors from the American Girl Doll store, which should buy you lots of time looking at pens.

More seriously, check (scroll down to Chicago)

http://www.marcuslink.com/pens/review2b2.html

There's also a Montblanc boutique on Michigan Ave, within a block or two of Water Tower mall. It's small, but the staff still managed to ignore me on my last time through.

gary

Edited September 25, 2007 by gary

[TEG]

century pens is no doubt the best store but its way on the other end of the loop - a good cab ride. also dont wait for the weekend because its closed on weekends. there is a nice little cranes stationary store in the watertower mall at around 900 north michigan - i think second or third floor. thats in the area where youll be. they have a better than decent selection - cross, waterman, visconti, lamy, conklin and a bunch others. the staff wont know much and the prices are strictly retail but nevertheless fun.

 

t

[DrPJM1]

Andy:

Which to choose? I would find time to go to both, of course!

 

Gary:

Don't feel bad about the MB boutique customer non-service. I have also been ignored. That's why I pulled out one of my italic nibbed pens and started writing on their pads. A customer asked about if my pen was a Montblanc and I said no. I asked the salesman to get the customer to get a MB that wrote like my pen. In his defense, he sure tried with almost every pen in that little damned store! LOL!

[Pintrok]

Dan is the owner of Gilbertson. He is a very nice guy, and is open on Saturday. Pretty good selection - some Pels, Parker, Pilot, Scheafer. I bought my Delta from him earlier in the year. The owner of Century is very knowledgeable and pleasant as well. Pretty broad selection. As already noted, he is a cab ride away, and only open Mon-Fri.

 

The Crane store in Water Tower is only worth going into if you are trying to kill time while your wife/significant other is shopping. Limited inventory and totally worthless uninformed help. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to try a VP to see if the clip annoys me or not. I asked if I could dip the pen, and they told me no - it is against their policy. The Levenger store in Macys (Watertower) now only sells their own pens. Ironically, I got into this goofy hobby becasue of them. I was there at Christmas last year and they were fire selling their Pelikans. My first one was a 215 for $59. Now I am hooked. Good luck and have fun in the best city in the US.

Edited September 26, 2007 by Pintrok

[HLeopold]

Andy:

Which to choose? I would find time to go to both, of course!

 

Gary:

Don't feel bad about the MB boutique customer non-service. I have also been ignored. That's why I pulled out one of my italic nibbed pens and started writing on their pads. A customer asked about if my pen was a Montblanc and I said no. I asked the salesman to get the customer to get a MB that wrote like my pen. In his defense, he sure tried with almost every pen in that little damned store! LOL!

 

My, my, how evil! I like that.

[JMAN]

I finally found the card I was looking for!

 

The shop I really like downtown is Stevens.Maloney at 2 North LaSalle Street.

 

Their card says Chicago's largest and finest pen shop.

 

I have been there many times and allways got great service!

 

The business card I have is from a Charles Gasparon - but haven't been there in a while.

 

Good luck ! And if you get a chance don't miss Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Due and 619 N. Wabash!

 

 

 

[TEG]

I finally found the card I was looking for!

 

The shop I really like downtown is Stevens.Maloney at 2 North LaSalle Street.

 

Their card says Chicago's largest and finest pen shop.

 

I have been there many times and allways got great service!

 

The business card I have is from a Charles Gasparon - but haven't been there in a while.

 

Good luck ! And if you get a chance don't miss Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Due and 619 N. Wabash!

bad news. stevens maloney is closed. charles now works at levenger on state.

 

t

[Busyfingers]

I'll put in my recommendation for Century Pens! Not long ago I had meetings near the Mag Mile and hoofed it to Century Pens in the financial district on a day when I had some free time. It was a nice 20-minute walk from where I was (I walk quickly!).

 

The shop is surrounded by glass walls in a retail corridor in one of the financial buildings. I loved the jewel box feel of the store, and chatting with owner Ed Hamilton, as well as seeing the wide variety of pens he has, including some vintage pens. If you ever want to see lots of the over-the-top Krones, here's the place!

 

For anyone in the area, Ed said he is scheduling "pen days" in which a rep from a pen company will come in and display that company's wares. If I remember correctly, he's aiming for the third Wednesday of the month.

[JMAN]

I finally found the card I was looking for!

 

The shop I really like downtown is Stevens.Maloney at 2 North LaSalle Street.

 

Their card says Chicago's largest and finest pen shop.

 

I have been there many times and allways got great service!

 

The business card I have is from a Charles Gasparon - but haven't been there in a while.

 

Good luck ! And if you get a chance don't miss Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Due and 619 N. Wabash!

bad news. stevens maloney is closed. charles now works at levenger on state.

 

t

 

Thanks for the heads up! My wife will be disappointed. Sorry to pass on bad information!

 

[LouisA]

Great info. I am going to be in Chicago the first week of November and hope to drop by the location mentioned.

[TEG]

I finally found the card I was looking for!

 

The shop I really like downtown is Stevens.Maloney at 2 North LaSalle Street.

 

Their card says Chicago's largest and finest pen shop.

 

I have been there many times and allways got great service!

 

The business card I have is from a Charles Gasparon - but haven't been there in a while.

 

Good luck ! And if you get a chance don't miss Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Due and 619 N. Wabash!

bad news. stevens maloney is closed. charles now works at levenger on state.

 

t

 

Thanks for the heads up! My wife will be disappointed. Sorry to pass on bad information!

youre right though, that was a great shop. the main guy there was ed hamilton who is now the owner of century pens. so century will seem familiar. its also fun to talk to charles at levenger. those two guys really know their stuff.

t

[AndyW]

That's all. Since I am a long distance runner, Century sounds like a great choice. I'll report back on my findings!!!

 

Andy

 

 

Hi all:

 

I have to be in Chicago next week for business and will be staying and meeting in the Magnificient Mile area. Can anyone recommend a Pen Shop in walking distance?

 

Thanks, Andy