seanymc

Hi

My first post on this site. I have been here a year now but went home for Christmas last year. Any advice on where to shop for christmas stuff, xmas pud, mince pies, crackers etc. There is a Brit shop near to us in Long Grove but the selection is not great. Locally Sunset and World Market have a few british brands but I was wondering if any of the big department stores in Chicago may be worth a look.


Sean

BigDavyG

World Market does indeed carry some stuff.
if you live near Long Grove there are a few British Shops there which may also carry a few bits and pieces.

Good luck

Tracym

What's the name / where is the shop in Long Grove?

Crackers are all over the place these days it seems - I've seen them in world market (of course), and even Dominicks and Jewel I think. I think I saw some in Pier One too.

I'm afraid when we want a Christmas Pud, we start cookin'

BigDavyG

No idea.
There is an oirish shop on the main street near the covered bridge that carries some food.
A Brit shop round the back of some other buildings near the crossroads that carries nothing but food and actually isn't that expensive to be honest - loads of crisps, sweets, drinks, beans, hp sauce, bisto, tinned soups - stuff like that.

Bob

Wholefoods have x-mas pud, x-mas tree store has them too.

Home Goods store has a bunch of the usual like crackers etc, but you'll also find a lot of the stuff at Cosco, BJ's etc these days.

oh and welcome to BE

Tracym

Thanks.

Oh yes, and of course - welcome to the OP.

kittie1823

I would not have a clue about small places in Chicago, but World Market is good. That's where I get my stuff from. Jewel is good for Christmas crackers as I found some there last year before all my local Jewel/Jewel-Osco/Osco Drug were all sold and bought by other companies.

DollyLlama

The shop at Long Grove is called 'The Irish Boutique'
There was an Irish guy who had a shop in Spring Hill Mall,West Dundee and he also had one at Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg.
They were called Blarney's.
Not sure if he still has them now though.

BigDavyG

Yeah - I remember an Irish shop in Woodfield - either it has shrunk dramatically in size or it's completely gone now.
It was pretty expensive for food and the like though, and only carried a limited range.

By the way, if anyone likes their lucozade a few jewels round here carry it along with other brit products like robinson's barley water

kittie1823

Where is it you live? Our local specialty Irish/Brit store closed down through lack of business and now I can't buy Lucozade. I'd kill for some, even if it means travelling over state lines

DollyLlama

Last time I was there I couldn't find the shop in Woodfield mall.
I heard that he just has a stall now in the mall.
Not sure if he has a shop somewhere else now.

Tracym

Oh thanks - I've been to that store. It has some beautiful stuff.

I didn't equate Irish = British though, I thought there was another one also - which Big DavyG seems to be saying.

Glen Ellyn Service Crew

Just picked myself some barley water up from Jewel yerterday, $5 not bad I don't think.

seanymc

The British store in Long Grove is called British Accents but they are hinting that they may have to close. There is also a small chain locally called Sunset Foods with stores in Libertyville and Lake Forest that stock Robinsons, Heinz beans, Heinz tomato soup, Marmite, T & L golden syrup and some British & Irish biscuits and for us as we are vegetarian Quorn Roast. Thay take your trolley from you when you are finshed, unpack check out, pack and if you want take it to your car. You notice the service in the bill but we only go there for the speciality items.

BigDavyG

It is the best brit store I have been able to find, but for the life of me I can't see how they stay in business.
mind you, they have been hinting about closing down for quite some time now. I usually go 2 or 3 times a year to get some treats. They have decent bacon and passable sausages too.
I would go more often if I didn't bring about $150 of sweets back with me every time I take a trip home