Paddy's on the Square — Local services in Long Grove

Paddy's is a multi-generation boutique that truly earns the boutique name. I started going as a teenager with my parents during Long Grove festivals, when the current owner's father still graced us with that smirk tucked at the corner of his mouth, watching everyone shopping like they were old friends he was waiting to catch up with. Now, in my 30s, it's still my favorite place to go for UK/Ireland treats. In recent years, they bought and converted a different section of the building for clothing, jewelry, and other gorgeous items that are hard to find in the US. Yes, the prices can seem a bit much, but for what they carry, the quality and how sometimes you can only find these items in equally (or even more expensive) stores in Chicago, I never bat an eye when paying at the till. The original owner's son can now be seen making his rounds, checking in with customers like an echo of his father, and relieving other employees at the cash register to help finish purchases. I hope they keep this place going as long as they can, because I'll...

My daughter & I love the shop! We were going to spend well over $200; however, the older lady with the short brown hair was really nice at first then her nasty true colors came out. I was trying to give her some perfume without my daughter seeing it and she wouldn't take the box from me. She just kept staring at me. So I kept gesturing to the box and she kept staring. Then she says loud enough for my daughter to hear do you want that too? I looked at her and said, "for real?" She replied "You don't have to be rude." We didn't get the 2 $50 pictures I wanted, we didn't get the 2 bottles of perfume, the shirt and the other little things I wanted. We put down our stuff and left! And now I won't get my earrings I wanted for Christmas!...

We were there for the strawberry festival this weekend. I haven't been to Paddy's on the square in years. It used to be a must stop when we used to go there back in the day. Now you could pretty much find everything online and cheaper. Also, if you see a young girl there with blonde hair and about 14 or 15 years old working the counter, You might want to leave. She clearly didn't want to be there and made sure that the other people who worked there, who she's probably related to, knew that as well. She made snarky comments about the things that I was buying. I chose to ignore it but definitely made a decision that if I ever walked in there again, ever again, and I saw that girl I would turn right...