State Street Market Shops — Attraction in Elgin

Worst experience today. Browsed the booths. Found an item I wanted to purchase that was hanging on the wall. I took several small items off of the piece and took it down off the wall. I walked it up to the counter since it was a bit heavy and asked if I could start a pile Rather than carry it around the store. The old woman at the counter was on the phone but made eye contact with me as I put it up and acknowledged when I said I was making a pile. I then began to walk away to look for more and she said oh. You can’t buy that. The gentleman standing over there is going to buy it. I explained I took it off the wall and walked it up there myself so how could this gentleman be buying it. She just said well he is, he was talking to the owner about it on the phone? Why in the world would this buyer watch me take everything off of it and walk up to the counter and not say one thing to me … like ohh, I’m planning on buying that or anything of the sort. As a dealer myself, if a customer doesn’t have something in their hand or in their cart. Then it isn’t theirs. Incredibly unprofessional and sketchy. I will never shop at this store...

Large selection of interesting things to buy. Only if one could actually shop. It's a horrible experience. I don't need to be stopped every 6 ft by an employee. Was looking for a gift item. You can't hold an item walk a bit and look at another. You can't think about a possible purchase. Most of the items are highly priced. I can't buy all that I would like to so I have to look around AND SHOP. Again, which you can't do. And don't ask any of these "employees" any questions about any items for sale unless you enjoy short aggressive replies. If the owner of that particular booth is not the person you look for info from, you are SOL. Once asked the lady working the jewelry area a particular question as I was looking for military themed items for my daughter. She should be working a bar door off Rush Street. You can buy many of these same items in Elburn being sold by the same vendors in a much more pleasant environment...

It has gotten better over time. There has been a lot of turn over here. A great place for unusual gifts and supplies. There was a themed bridal party in progress while I was there. The bride to be had lost her engagement ring 💍 , and the staff recovered and started looking for her, and returned her ring to her before she had even realized it was missing. That alone rates a five star review in my opinion. One more thing, the jeweler at the heart of the retail space is quite honest in how she prices her wares. My wife has entrusted to repair quite a few pieces of her jewelry...