Best Places To Buy Father's Day Gifts In Chicago

Mothers are wonderful, however, dads and their support often come in under the radar. Why not surprise him with more than a giant vat of caramel corn or another set of cheesy grilling tools? Doesn't he deserve more than a last-minute "as seen on TV" item from the nearest pharmacy? Show dad how much you love him with one of these great Father's Day gifts from Chicago-area shops.

Photo Gallery: Father's Day Gift Ideas

Abt Electronics 
1200 N. Milwaukee Ave
Glenview, IL 60025
847 967-8830
www.abt.com

Dad has been attracted to cords since he cut yours in the delivery room oh-so-many years ago. You may as well as get some new ones at the electronics playground, Abt, one of the largest independent, single-store appliance and electronics retailers in the country, with a 100,000-square-foot showroom on 37 acres. Product categories include appliances/custom kitchens, gourmet cooking, home comfort (HVAC, power generators and sump pumps),TV and A/V, computers, watches, fitness, sunglasses and luggage. He'll also love the consummate customer service in case he wants to exchange something - the store boasts a team of 1,100 expert staff members to help him out. Green dads will like that Abt has its own 12,000-square-foot recycling center, too.

Who shoved you off on your first two-wheeler? That's right, now thank him with a gift certificate or actual gear from Performance Bicycle in Lincoln Park. The sleek shop features over 3,000 cycling-related products like bicycles, helmets, gear, apparel and other accessories. Perhaps Dad already has a bike but it's in need of a little fine tuning? Performance Bicycle boasts a Spin Doctor service to fix and repair all bicycle models, no matter where they were purchased. Dad will love how smart you've gotten when you tell him that Performance Bicycle has a lifetime purchase guarantee so if he's unhappy with your purchase, he can return it at any time for any reason

Marcel's Culinary Experience
490 N. Main St.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 790-8500
www.marcelsculinaryexperience.com

If your father has admitted to staying in the office for lunch to watch "The Chew," you need to turn him on to better food shows and buy him something fabulous from Marcel's Culinary Experience. Marcel's retail side stocks a full line of specialty foods and cocktail mixers, cooking gadgets, grilling accessories, bar ware and all other things culinary at all price points. Perhaps he fancies himself as adept in the kitchen as Batali. Marcel's also sells gift certificates for a full schedule of classes for cooks at all levels of experiences. He can choose from Middle Eastern Mezze, French Country Summer Kitchen or A Night in Havana, among many other classes. Just be sure you invite yourself over for when he whips up the twice-fried plantains with Mojo sauce and rum custard and banana tart in cashew crust.

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Dad may have nosed around this shop in the late 1960s when he sported hippie tresses and the store was known as Uncle Dan's Army/Navy Surplus. The bell bottoms and black light posters may be gone but this Chicago stalwart still stocks the finest gear for camping, backpacking, hiking and travel. If dad still dreams of a little adventure, help him out with the proper outdoor clothing and gear, whether a new fleece for a neighborhood stroll, anti-theft bags for his European foray or some rad board shorts for a little body surfing - this locally born and bred place has him covered. Dads appreciate great customer service as much as quality and the each of the three Chicagoland locations offers scads of both.

Club Champion Golf
216 W. Ohio St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 846-1197
www.clubchampiongolf.com

If he's continually complaining about his golf score, tell him it's not his fault. PGA Tour pros don't use 'off the rack' clubs but rather clubs that were fit exactly for their idiosyncratic swings. That same technology and club-building ability is available for your dear old dad at any of three Chicagoland locations of Club Champion Golf (downtown/River North, Northfield & Willowbrook). In business for 15 years, Club Champion Golf has become the top club fitter and builder in Chicago, using cutting-edge technology for club fitting. His eyes will spin as he gazes upon the colossal selection of demo equipment with more than 15,000 clubs from which to choose. The company's fitters are highly experienced and every club is built from scratch.

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