Going To Chicago

Chicago is a rather large area so it depends on just where you will be at that time. For just a few hours not much you could probably look into. All the better, decent, reasonable coin shops are in the suburbs as far as I know. There is one really big one in the downtown area but that is the last place on Earth anyone should ever purchase coins from. If anyone tells you to go to the place on Clark Street, downtown, don't.
Also, to bad you don't have more time. One of the many coin shows is that Sunday, April 12, but don't know how good it will be due to the Holiday. Normally that one, in a place called Countryside, far Southside of Chicago, has from 80 to 100 dealers. Due to the Holiday I'll miss that one for the first time in about 5 years.
One friend of mine used to work, not sure if still there, at a coin shop in Niles. 7637 N. Milwaukee Ave, Niles, Il. 60714 and ask for Ron. Hopefully still there.
A dealer that is at all the coin shows in the area has a coin store at 944 Curtis Street, Downers Grove, Il. 60515 Phone 630-515-0930. At the coin shows they have some of the best buys.
Again, depending on where you'll be there is a flea market in Melrose Park, Il., just West of Chicago on Lake Street and Mannhiem Road. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is one coin dealer there that is almost fun to work with. After many years of selling coins he is just finding out about their values. Has bins full of foreign coins as well as bins full of US coins. He is usually there on Fridays and Saturdays. Opens about 7AM but many people are there at 6AM.
If driving, don't go to the far South side or you'll end up finding a place to rebuy your own car.

Harlan Berk is the place that just_carl was referring to above "There is one really big one in the downtown area but that is the last place on Earth anyone should ever purchase coins from. If anyone tells you to go to the place on Clark Street, downtown, don't." Personally, I think they are decent in that you will find better quality coins but you won't find any real bargains since they are located in downtown and their prices reflect that fact.

I second the place in Niles that just_carl recommended. I went there a few days ago (20 minutes before closing) for the first time and looked through their "junk silver" bargain bin. They STILL bent over backwards to help me out. Treating me the same as if I were buying thousands of dollars in coins. I ended up buying only $20 worth of stuff and they threw in a 2009 Lincoln Cent!

just-carl: Are you referring to Dave and Peter having some of the best buys. If you are, I completely agree. Very nice people to deal with, very patient and helpful, even if you only buy a few bucks worth of stuff from them.

Wow! I guess having always courteous service via phone and never getting a coin that was cleaned, over graded or misrepresented in any way from Berk, not to mention getting the coins I have ordered discounted from the list price doesn't translate to the Bricks and Morter operation. On the other hand It is hard for me to believe what Just Carl said about the place, but I have never been there in person. As to personal experience I have spent thousands with them and never been disappointed.

Consider yourself an exception. Odd though that you've spent thousands and don't know the address.

I too know there are those that have had decent, good or even great results from dealings with H.J.Berk via the web sites. However, my and many others in this area have had more than an occational problem with them in person. As I mentioned I've been by/or in that place possibly many hundreds of times as far back as when it was a different company called Rare Coin Company of America. So I'm talking about possibly over 30 years in that place.
Possibly you should visit them if your ever in the area. You too may walk out with a different idea of what they are like.
Possibly a problem with them in person is their location and the many other items they deal with. Being in an area where virtually millions of individuals stop or pass by may tend to make them rude, ignorant and not a requirement to attempt to make customers revisit.
Also, note that coins are not necessarily an important item for them which too makes them a little non interested in persons with a coin purchase.
As I've mentioned my opinion is based on many, many, many years with them.

What do you guys think of the place in Tinley Park (High Grade Coins I think it's called). I met them at a coin show in Madison and they seemed like pretty nice people with a pretty impressive inventory.