Motherhood Maternity
The Motherhood Maternity shop is adequate. They have cute clothes and a selection of apprpriate lingerie and accessories for wizes upto 16. In their plus sizes however, they are incredibly lacking. The average American woman is now a size 14, but they aren't the only ones requiring maternity wear. I found the tiny selection of choices for the plus size shopper appalling and disappointing. The prices are fairly high, but, do to the necessity of the items, they still attract business. I think they should reconsider their selection and make themselves open to all potential customers.
Bubbleland
When Bubbleland opened it was definately what I would refer to as a "world class" laundromat. They had a great children's area with lots of climbing toys and children's movies playing to keep the kids happy and entertained while the parents did the laundry in well maintained machines. 6 years later, the children's area is all but gone, there are no toys left there to play on, just a carpeted area and a broken TV that doesn't play movies anymore. The last time I went there to wash comforters (we no longer need a laundromat regularly), the large $6.20 machine smelled terrible of mold, many of the other washers had "out of order" signs on them and the patrons were standing by the dryers advising each other on which ones don't get hot anymore.
With proper maintenance and a little upgrade, they could be what they once were, but if they don't get on the ball soon, they won't be worth visiting.
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute
If you end up in the unfortunate situation where you have suffered an injury or had to have joint surgery, this is THE place to go for your therapy. It is immaculate and the therapists are EXCELLENT. They accept a variety of insurances, you would have to call to check if your is among them. I had to take my 13 year old daughter for therapy for an ankle injury and the therapists were personable enough to keep a 13 year old interested in her therapy. I would highly recommend this office.
JCPenney Department Store
This large, well lit store is one of the large corner stores located in Gurnee Mills mall. It has all the basics you expect from JC Penney..linens, bathroom rugs, towels, shoes, and clothing. The nicest thing about JCPenney is that they regularly have staple clothing. If you need a nice pair of slacks or a basic sweater you are sure to find it here. The downside is there is very little trendy clothing there. It is hard to find clothing there that the teen in the house will love. The prices in this store are pretty good and sometimes even excellent. Worth the trip!
American Taxi
There are alot of taxi options in our area. O'hare airport and Midway in Chicago keep the competition for our transportation dollars hot. I find the best cab company in all of the greater Chicagoland area is American Taxi. I even have a favorite driver, whenever he is available, I like taxivan 880. It is one of many of the can opportunities. When taking the family to the airport the taxivans provide plenty of room for everyone to sit and all the luggage too.
Payless Shoe Source
Payless Shoe source is always a good choice for children's shoes. Their prices are excellent. The quality of the shoes is not very good. Tthese are not shoes that will last forever. T hey are great for children that are going to outgrow them quickly anyway.
This particular location is small but that is fine for me. It is easier to get the kids in and out. I do like the way the store is displayed with all the shoes they have of the same size presented together this is very convenient as well.
Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts
Whenever the kids have a project for school, we pack them all up in the car and head for Jo-Anns fabrics and crafts store. They have everything you could ever need for the never ending projects the teacher's assign. The only problem with this particular store is the lack of help from the staff. With such a huge selection and being such a large store to navigate, we frequently need help finding the specific item we are looking for. In my experience, asking a Jo-Anns staff member usually result in a vague description of where it is located and a wave of their hand in that direction. It would be much more helpful to take us to the item so we can get it quickly. From sewing supplies to wind chimes, Jo-Anns really does have it all!!
Walgreens
I like Walgreens for all the free after rebate offers they offer each month. The prices of regularly priced items at Walgreens are very high...but if you know how to shop, there are a lot of opportunities for good deals. They have a clearance end cap and weekly sales that more than make up for the high everyday prices. This particular store is not a 24 hour store which many of the Walgreens are and that is a downside to this site. When we need a prescription later in the eve or very early morning we have to drive a bit further to another location.
Pizza Hut
The best thing about his Pizza Hut is that it is nearby. The worst thing about this Pizza Hut is that our order is quite regularly wrong and we have to wait for the pizza to be remade or go all the way back to take the wrong order back. It is almost a household joke. The last pizza I picked up, I forgot to check the pizza, so, my 6 year old did halfway home, and I ended up turning around to get the right one made. They are an okay deal. Probably priced about the same as any other Pizza Hut. I do like the Monday Special (one large pizza for $6.99).
Dollar Junction & More
The Dollar Junction located on Lewis Ave is pretty average. It does offer a large selection of items for $1 (healthy and beauty items, housewares, dishes, candles, office, school supplies, toys and others)..as well as some higher ticket items for over $1. The price is right if you need the items they have in stock. The store itself though needs to be cleaned. If you can look past the rough and slightly dirty exterior, you may find a bargain.
