Shopping in McHenry

Divided into two distinct realms, Sugar Fly Studio & Boutique's 3,000-square-foot space stocks fashion-forward clothes and accessories, as well as nail and hair services in a spa and salon. The boutique’s urban gear keeps feet clad in stylish shoeleather and torsos clad in graphic tees that shield skin from the judgmental eyes of passing tour guides.

Inside the sleek, spacious, and minimal salon-spa, nail techs apply no-chip manicures as seasoned stylists clip and blow-dry manes. Beauticians gussy up nails with gel overlays and designer nail wraps, treating fingers to add-ons such as dips in mineral-packed paraffin and supportive high-fives from celebrity finger puppets. The spa-salon’s aesthetic services also include depilatory sugaring and threading, as well as visage-rejuvenating facials.

Back to Bed is a trusted source for sound sleep, growing from a single store in 2000 to a mattress empire with more than 45 locations across the Chicagoland area. Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Simmons Beautyrest mattresses await rigorous testing at each of their show rooms, where sleep-savvy employees can help shoppers determine if they're more suited to a firm or soft mattress or to creamy or chunky peanut butter. Back to Bed also induces relaxation in a nonhorizontal form with a selection of plush massage recliners and Human Touch's Perfect Chair, which cradles bodies in a muscularly neutral position.

Lisa Busch—a jeweler, beader, and crafter—often left her local bead shops unsatisfied by their paltry inventory. When most people would have accepted the status quo and started making jewelry out of upcycled banana peels, Lisa took action, opening 1 Stop Bead Shop as a haven where she and other beaders could find all of the materials they needed under one roof. She started stocking the necessities and more, including tools, books, semiprecious gems, Swarovski crystal, glass, wire, and findings. In less than seven years, her inventory grew fivefold, requiring the shop to lay down roots in a shiny new 3,200-square-foot facility.

In addition to supplying self-sufficient beaders, Lisa shares the art of crafting with newcomers through her roster of classes. A staff of 26 instructors teaches approximately 100 lessons each quarter, ranging from beading and crocheting to wire wrapping and girls’ night out parties.

Play It Again Sports doesn’t just arm players with gear for sports such as lacrosse, snowboarding, football, and golf. It also rewards the owners of the same gear sold in the shop, from hockey sticks and baseball bats to helmets for cyclists and chess champions. Trained personnel curate the shop’s stock of quality equipment, then present the seller with the option to take cash or apply apply a credit toward a purchase at the store. The Wrigleyville location, owned and managed by Charles Kaminsky, boasts a staff of five dedicated employees, all of whom help connect customers with quality sporting goods.

Since 1935, Roberts Cycle has been peddling cycles and enhancing rides with professional repairs and accessories. The friendly staff stocks the shop with accessories and bicycles from renowned brands such as Raleigh, Diamond Back, and KHS for novice and advanced cyclists alike. The expert technicians specialize in every type of cycle, servicing BMX bikes alongside racing and mountain bikes, with fixes including tune-ups and tightening brakes. To help customers learn to maintain their cycles themselves, the knowledgeable staff doles out tips for problems such as flat tires, squealing brakes, and pessimistic, unmotivated chains.

Lakeshore Bike's crew of passionate cyclists embodies more than 45 years of combined experience pedaling and rehabilitating bicycles. Riders can bring home a new bike from such brands as Argon, Fuji, and KHS, or rent a two-wheeled steed for a jaunt on Chicago's lakefront. Lakeshore Bike's tune-up packages may include drivetrain lubrication, brake tightening, and an attitude adjustment—a boon for cyclists out of mouth soap.