Oakton Street Antique Center — Local services in Elk Grove Township

I've been going here for a few months now and haven't had any super notable experiences until yesterday. My mother and I are not from Illinois, but we were in town and decided to stop in since she's never been to it. We get in at about 5:30ish and I noticed they close at 6 that day so we decided to do a relatively quick walk through just to get a feel and see if we can find anything we like. Terrible idea. for at least half the time we were in there we were followed around by an employee and while I've had that happen before, it was almost like he was deliberately tailing us for absolutely no reason. I was contemplating on buying something but ultimately decided against it when we were kicked out literally 10 minutes before closing time. Don't advertise that you're open until a certain time unless you actually PLAN on being open until then, store hours are posted on doors for a reason. About half of the staff is very rude and unwelcoming (except for the women who wrap up your fragile items for you), especially the women working the check out counter. The lady with the bob seems like she hates being on the clock and working and it definitely shows. I don't think I've had a positive interaction with her ever. It also feels like you can never hold onto your items physically without someone basically demanding that you hand over what you plan to purchase which makes me uncomfortable any time I plan to buy something. I'm not sure if the people at this store automatically assume customers plan on stealing their semi overpriced items or what, but maybe consider getting carts or baskets for people to carry around with them to hold onto their items. Maybe I'll return here in a few months because I have found and purchased quite a few items here. Oh and P.S., whoever is replying to all these negative reviews is very unprofessional in the way they respond ... I hope I don't get an insult hurled at me for simply stating my own personal opinion of this place...

First and last time I visited. The booths were average, but I didn't care for their confusing checkout process. They have employees walking around taking your items you'd like to purchase, then giving you a ticket. I suppose that's ok since you won't have to carry the item while you continue browsing. Maybe they're concerned about theft too. When ready to checkout, you stand in a strapped off area to get to the register. When your turn, someone gets your ticket, walks back over to where your item is, puts your ticket in a little plastic bin, walks it across the aisle to the register. Then the cashier checks you out. Then you turn back across the isle to pick up your bagged item with your ticket number taped to the bag. If there was multiple bags there and you didn't look at or remember your ticket number (I didn't), how would you know which bag is yours? You'd have to shuffle through the bags. It's ridiculous. Luckily mine was the only bag there. In my opinion, the owner should stop this back and forth nonsense, get another register and each have a bagger. They certainly had enough employees walking back and forth for nothing. I never saw such a weird checkout process. In my opinion its senseless. Very average stuff, average prices, lots of clutter. Pictures of Nicholas Cage in almost every booth. Must be an inside joke. My curiosity has been satisfied about the place, but wasn't worth the drive for me. If you want great antique stores, go to Geneva, Winfield or St. Charles. Personally, I would not recommend this place...

This place makes a bad name for antique stores.

To start, I am an antique dealer. I've always treated customers with respect. It's good business, period. YOU are in it for the customer - not yourself. Only top-end dealers can make a great living selling collectibles.

First, I was followed around like I was a thief. No one ever asked if I needed help. They were either following me, or busy starting (what seems) their weekly morning cookie-and-coffee club. Most of the items were WAY WAY WAY above book price - damaged or not (most damaged). You cannot sell a common piece of Roseville for 3x book value! You cannot sell new Fenton for old Fenton prices.

I walked out, stating, "This place should be closed!"

It's, roughly, just a club for junk collectors. They are unfriendly as can be - rude and obnoxious would be adequate words. The place is in an industrial area, just north of the hangars at O'Hare. Most of what they have is new, or straight from Goodwill. It's quite small and very cluttered.

There are many other antique malls well worth visiting. Skip this one completely!BTW- Hey, Patricia, who posted above on 7.17.10, I HAVE been there, and you are merely someone who either 1) is a dealer there, 2) works there, or 3) is a friend of someone who works/deals there. So before you say someone hasn't been somewhere, make sure you can back-up...