Shopping in Palatine

Originating as a bicycle-repair shop on Chicago's South Side in 1944, Kozy's Cyclery now consists of four store locations across Chicago, helping make it the city's premier bike store for the past 60-plus years. Along with a complete stock of bicycle clothing, accessories, parts—and, of course, bikes—the three-generation, family-owned store cares for its bicycle-riding customers by offering professional bike fittings, test rides, and two free tune-ups with every new bicycle purchase. Kozy's sells more than 250 bikes for each rider's unique needs, from mountain bikes and cruisers to fixed gears and multispeed commuter bikes.

For 45 years, Fantasy Costumes has supplied high-quality costumes for organizations and individuals for the likes of trade shows, holiday celebrations, and theatrical productions. Stretching an entire city block, the store loads its shelves with a multitude of historical, fairy-tale, and movie costumes and accessories for head-to-toe believability on any wearer. With the store's expansive selection, patrons can emulate most any decade, don Harry Potter robes, or paint whiskers on their cheeks with a selection of face makeup. The shop also customizes orders to fulfill unusual holiday and dress-up needs and can locate any rare items that appear only when a person repeats their names into a mirror three times.

The idea behind Shred Shop was conceived over cocktails after an intense snowboarding session in Jackson Hole, circa 1988. Since then, Chris Bachman has evolved the notion of bringing a snowboarding store to the Midwest from a tiny mail-order company into a 10,000-square-foot, all-encompassing snow and skate shop. Passionate shred masters help customers to choose from a massive inventory of gear from top industry brands such as K2 and Lib Technologies snowboards and Never Summer longboards. With an inventory dedicated to latest in shred capability and style, the two-story retail space stands as a colorful emporium of action sports equipment that also stocks up on gear for watersports and accessories for the futuristic realm of gaseous sports.

Designer and custom-made wedding gowns spanning from the 1930s to the present fill the racks of I Do Designer Bridal Consignment. Since 1994, the store has amassed an eclectic collection of gowns ready for their second step touch down the aisle, courthouse steps, or diving board. Within its confines, wedding-day accessories also call to future wives from their perches, with a selection that includes sparkly tiaras, veils, and jewelry. Helpful staff members are available to help to pair brides with flattering cuts, and they can recommend qualified seamstresses to create a tailored fit.

Authorized Schwinn retailer Marty’s Bike Shop, nestled behind the same Park Ridge storefront since 1954, packs its space with bikes from Schwinn, GT, and Haro, along with a complete line of parts and accessories. Cycles available for test riding run the gamut from road bikes to trikes, ensuring that riders and bikes merge seamlessly into one, just as jockeys and horses merge seamlessly into centaurs. Alternatively, cyclists can shop road necessities such as helmets, tire pumps, road lights, and durable water bottles. Comprehensive repair and maintenance services administered onsite complement the shop’s sales arm and rejuvenate over-loved cycles.

At Cargo for Boys, growing boys dress for playtime success in durable, colorful hoodies, polos, shorts, and swimwear from brands such as Wes and Willy. As lads entertain themselves with a host of video games or digital burping contests, parents peruse shelves stocked with masculine outfits of skateboard-emblazoned tops, rugged raglan shirts, and pocketed cargo shorts. The outdoorsy street wear withstands energetic roughhousing with its strong construction, and holds up to sudden growth spurts with its generous cuts.