Shopping
The Skokie area is home to a vast array of interesting businesses and, often, the people that own them are as unique as the products they carry.
Memories And More
From the moment you enter the store, Magazine Memories makes quite an impression. The owner, Bob Katzman, refers to his shop as a “museum of print.” Here, one can find magazines, posters, newspapers and more, some dating back to before the civil war. The store itself is a slice of history.
Katzman’s life has been intertwined with periodicals since he was a young man. He began collecting in 1963 when he was 13 years old. “It was the day that Kennedy was shot,” he recalls.
Katzman was also the owner of a chain of newsstands, which he operated for more than 20 years. Over time, his collection grew to 100,000 magazines, and he decided that he would open a tiny store in Chicago and see how things went. The business grew, and he eventually relocated near Skokie in the city of Morton Grove, his current location.
The store boasts magazines of every kind imaginable—everything from Time to the New Yorker and more. Katzman’s store is the only place that has the complete collection of Playboy magazines—653 in all. He also has a collection of 50 Life magazines that highlight every significant event in World War II. If you are looking for a particular item in print, this is the place to go. “I help people complete collections,” says Katzman.
People from New York often call him for fashion magazines, which he has dating back to 1880. He also carries car magazines and sports magazines that date back to the mid-1900s.
Magazines are not the only items Katzman has on hand—he also stocks a significant number of newspapers, some dating back as far as 1680. Fashion ads, comics and sports headlines are just a few examples of the items that are contained within the pages, and Katzman says that they make a great gift. “People often buy old newspapers to frame,” he says. The store also has approximately 40,000 posters. “We have 48 different categories,” says Katzman. Some are old movie posters, while others range from advertisements to pin-ups.
Katzman is a writer himself, and he has published four books. Having such an appreciation for the written word makes him the perfect person to run this unique store. Magazine Memories is located at 6006 Dempster and can be reached by phone at 847-470-9444 or via the Internet at www.magazinememories.com.
A Feast For The Senses
Oil & Vinegar is another unusual store in the area. Carrying everything from imported olive oils and vinegars to pesto, sauces and honey, the idea for this specialty franchise began in 1999 in the Netherlands. It has been so successful that there are now stores located in 13 countries. “We were living and working in Amsterdam when we discovered Oil & Vinegar and just fell in love with it,” says Debbie Gokhan, owner of the store in Old Orchard, along with her husband, Hakan.
“The store is a total experience when you first walk in,” she says, adding, “There is a very European feel to it, and the smell when you walk in is just wonderful. The music is from the countries where our products come from, so you really feel like you are in a unique place.”
Gokhan says that the first thing most people do when they walk into the store is say, “Oh—it smells so good in here!” as they take in their surroundings.
Gokhan believes that the atmosphere and service really help the store stand out. Customers are allowed to sample almost anything before making a purchase, and the Gokhans also share special recipe ideas with them, as well. Gokhan says, “Our products are from all over the world—mainly Southern European countries, Africa and a few from Australia. Our most popular items are from our ‘On Tap’ section.” She explains, “You can choose whatever size and shape bottle you like and we fill, seal and label it for you.”
The system turns out to have “green” applications as well, as customers can bring in the empty bottles to purchase a refill. “It helps to recycle and it’s what we can do to go green,” says Gokhan.
The couple loves their location in Old Orchard Mall, and Gokhan says, “It is so beautiful here; the flowers, landscaping and water fountains really give it a special feel, almost like you’re on vacation.”
With the visually pleasing set-up, good music, terrific smells and delicious tastes, Oil & Vinegar is a feast for the senses. Visit this unique store at its location in the mall or take a look at their products on the Web at www.oilandvinegarusa.com.
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