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New Balance Chicago
Categories: Shopping Fashion Shoe Stores Shopping Sporting Goods Shoe Stores, Sporting Goods [Edit]
2369 N Clark St(between Belden Ave & Fullerton Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighbourhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 348-1787
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 9 pm
Sat 9 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Validated
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
40 reviews for New Balance Chicago
Review Highlights
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"...customers so they can get the best pair of shoes possible." In 15 reviews -
"They're great for running and are very durable." In 2 reviews -
"After 3-4 months, she started getting shin splints." In 3 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Jahn Marie P.
Chicago, IL
Not only are the shoes high quality, the service here is incredible. Either being in the store, or just on the phone, you don't feel like you're being pushed into buying something. They truly care about getting you the right shoes for your feet.
Only parking sucks over here! -
Review from C M.
Chicago, IL
I have to give NB props. My husband got some of those shoes that change how you run (same concept as those hideous vibram ones, but normal shaped thank goodness). They lasted a good 6 months before part of the treading on the bottom fell off, and when he took them in to tell them, they replaced the shoes no problem (FYI, if you're thinking of getting them, don't let that stop you-they said they'd never seen that before). Sweet.
A few months after he got those silly things, I went with him to get new running shoes. It was time-I'd had my pair for 5 years or so (I'm not much of a runner, but we were starting Couch to 5k). I found a few pairs I liked and tried them on. The employees were pretty cool. Totally friendly and helpful, which was nice. In fact, even though it'd been a few months since he'd been in there, the associate who spent an hour helping my husband not only recognized him and said hello, but remembered his name. Nice!
Unfortunately, as I'm unemployed and these are super expensive shoes, I refused to let my husband spend that much on a pair for me. I don't run enough to spend that kind of money, but if I were more of a serious runner, I would've gotten them. I didn't really find any I really loved anyway, and I'm definitely not willing to spend extra on a pair I'm unsure about.
In the end, I did get a pair of New Balances, just at a discount place. The brand is great. I recommend them highly. Serous runners would benefit from coming here for sure. -
Review from Sharon B.
Chicago, IL
Excellent customer service! I had a great experience in this store. Walked out with an awesome pair of shoes!
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Review from Natalie L.
Chicago, IL
I'm not an avid runner by any means. I'm mostly just humoring my dogs a couple of times a week. So I don't feel like running apparel or shoes is an area where I should spend a lot of money. I came in here out of convenience and curiosity expecting a hard sell on ridiculously expensive shoes that far exceed my needs and also expecting that I would take whatever these guys told me about what shoes might work for me and head to DSW for the discount version. I was especially skeptical being the only one in the store. But my experience was great. I started with a foot measurement... apparently I've been wearing the wrong size shoe for some time. After stating my needs and activity level, I was immediately pointed to the shoes on sale. I found a great pair without being made to feel bad for being frugal. I asked about a jacket and was pointed to one on sale. And this is not one of those situations where they were just trying to move old product. They just recognized in me someone who didn't need to invest in gear and should concentrate more on saving a buck to get what I need. And I wasn't made to feel like I was any less valuable a customer than the die hard runner that came in looking for the best of the best running pants. They serviced my needs and budget, and I really appreciated that.
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Review from Jeff C.
Chicago, IL
You can buy a pair of New Balance just about anywhere that sells name-brand shoes. The purpose of a specialty store, however, is service.
As a city-dweller, I do a lot of walking, and I noticed after moving to the city that my shoes just weren't cutting it (they really hadn't been cutting it before, either, but it became much more apparent when I moved to Chicago). I even had a couple pair of New Balance in my pre-Chicago days but something just wasn't right. With that, I decided to throw caution to the wind and I headed up to Lincoln Park where one of the four area New Balance Stores is located. I did this in hopes that the staff there were more than just careless, minimum-wage sales goons.
As it turns out, they weren't.
Upon entering, I was warmly greeted and asked what, specifically, brought me in. In short order I was measured, fitted and trying on some of the most comfortable shoes I had ever worn. Why, you might ask, were they so comfortable by comparison? Because I had been wearing the wrong size shoes for an unknown number of years, and the shoes I was wearing over that period weren't made for what I was using them for.
Problem solved!
So now, whenever I need a new pair of skids, I'll hop on up to Lincoln Park and see the kids at the New Balance Store who always get me into a great pair of shoes in a very friendly way.
A quick caveat: You can find New Balance shoes for less money at other retailers or online. The prices at the NB store are generally MSRP and not discounted. Although they do mark items down when they begin to phase them out, I've never personally seen any sort of revolving Sale event there. Part of what you are paying for is the service, which in my experience, has been worth it. If you don't really care about the service, you may not be quite as satisfied as I have been. -
Review from Laura K.
Chicago, IL
I always feel like Cinerella when I go to this store. I don't even bother looking at the shoes on the racks on the walls because the sales staff are always knowledgeable enough to tell me which shoe is best suited for my feet (and how I walk, etc) and my needs (running, walking, whatever). And even though I suffer from plantar fasciitis (arch issues) and wear special orthopedics in my running shoes, the guy who helped me today knew all about the issue, had me walk up and down barefoot so he could get a good read on my foot, then brought me several pairs of shoes to try on with my orthopedic. He even measured my foot out - something that I've only had done here and when I was a kid with a growing foot. He even laced the shoes a special way to improve the fit.
Superior service.
Oh - and they offer a 30 day money back guarantee. You can wear your shoes for 30 days and return them no problem if they're not working out. -
Review from Lucy G.
Chicago, IL
Nicest people in the city! I went in looking for socks that I bought over a year ago last night. They are my favorites and I thought I would have a pretty hard time trying to figure out which ones they were.
Nope. She looked it up in the computer. The size the style everything.
She was so nice. Last time I was in there they even sent me a handwritten thank you for shopping there. -
Review from Julia T.
Washington D.C., DC
So I recently started personal training sessions (I can't decide if I am diong this because I love myself or hate myself) and needed some new shoes in the worst possible way. Finding the right kind of shoes for me is difficult. I have had surgeries on my right knee and still have a great degree of patellar instability - and now my left knee is getting in on the fun too. Lucky me!
Since I have really just been doing the elliptical trainer and a few machines for the past several years, shoes were not super important and I just got running shoes. Now that I am being put through a series of medieval torture moves (supposedly called "exercises"), I need some serious lateral support for my ankles and knees.
I went to two different Sports Authority locations. Lakeview was a waste of time. I got someone really knowledgeable and helpful and nice at the downtown location (I'd like to give a shout-out to Luke - you rock!) but the selection of cross trainers was not great. And I felt like Goldilocks. This one is too narrow and this one is too wide - but where the h*ll is the one that fits just right?
At the New Balance store, apparently. I was greeted right away when I walked in last night. The man helping me (don't think I got his name) asked questions about what I needed, what I do, etc. and then watched my gait as I walked toward and away from him. I tried on a few cross trainers and found the pair I liked best and then tried that pair with a few different inserts. Wow! I don't think I realized how much I over- pronate until I walked in the right shoe with the right insert. It's crazy! I went home and looked at the heels on all of my shoes and was kind of blown away.
So - I got the best fitting shoes I have ever had. The staff was knowledgeable and hepful and the place had a decent selection of cross trainers which are much tougher to find than running shoes. To top it all off, I had fun playing fetch with Sassy, the dog in residence.
What a great end to a truly frustrating couple of weeks looking for shoes. -
Review from Tom W.
IL
This store is awesome. It is located in the middle of everything and the prices are reasonable. They have a large selection of every type of active shoe that you are looking for. I bought a new pair of shoes today and the staff took the time to talk to me about what I was looking for, watched my walk to see if I had an arch or not, and recommended a few different shoes that would fit my interests.
This store also has a selection of active gear other than shoes. They have gloves, hats, coats, etc for the active person who has the guts to run outside. More power to you, the treadmill inside is just fine with me.
Great place, great staff, great prices. -
Review from Gladys c.
Los Angeles, CA
Great friendly service and good selection of shoes. Always walk out happy with new shoes.
**Closed Sundays** -
Review from Kariyushi C.
Chicago, IL
Echo everything the other reviewers said about these guys being laid back and very honest about what you need. I'm not a big fan of Sports Authority or Feet Fleet, too little attention at the first and way too pushy at the latter. So, when it came time for me to upgrade to a better running shoe, I decided to go to the source.
I admit that I was attracted to Feet Fleet's fancy tech and their promise to "analyze your gait" with their treadmill, etc., but I'm on http://FitnessMagazine... so often that I know that all you need is someone to take a good look at your walk and if you want to get fancy you can wet your foot and step on a paper bag to gauge your arch.
I went in to New Balance fully intending to force myself into the new hot pink 769s, regardless of whether they were the right shoe, because I like flashy things. But, I decided that I should at least consider addressing some of the issues I've developed from my Adidas (like shin splints and blisters on the lift of my arch.
I went in and explained the issues I was having to the sales guy, without making any mention of the flashy 769s that I was coveting. I told him I needed something super-light, without too much arch support. He asked me to walk barefoot across the store and measured my feet. Right away, he went to the 769s on the wall and said they were the best pair for me. Though the 1000s get better ratings by runners, offer a lot of support and cost at least $20-$50 more, he said they just weren't what I needed.
I liked that he really listed to what I said, and took the time to explain why the 769s gave me what I needed and why the other long-distance shoes just wouldn't offer those features.
There's no upsell here, which I loved. I was also happy that the shoes I wanted actually ended up being the ones I needed.
I'd give these guys five stars, but their inventory is somewhat limited due to the small store size. They make up for this buy offering to order the shoes and have them sent to the store or to your home for free. Shipping takes about a week, which I don't love, but in the end the whole experience was great. -
Review from Rodrigo D.
Des Plaines, IL
Although I wear orthotics to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis, my Nike running shoes were not getting the job done. I needed to pair my orthotics with a better pair of running shoes. I had read some of the reviews here and noticed that some flat footed people had some success with New Balance. To make a long story short, I came down here and got myself a pair. Once I received a high level of personal service, I did not bother to do any price comparisons on the internet. I bought the shoes right then and there.
I also came to find out that they have a store in Schaumburg on Golf Road, so that may be a better option for those that live on the NW Burbs. -
Review from Fabian B.
New York, NY
Great shop, and I did not even buy shoes. They guys in the shop did not want me to buy shoes but figured the current NB Shoes I have would still go about 100miles. They showed me the newest version of my current shoe, let me walk around, but did not push me to buy it but the fella ( knowledgeable, easygoing ,) just said, well, come back in 6 weeks and buy them then
Top service for top price shoes - now , the ones that I want cost 114$ in the shop, 85$ online....I guess you pay for the service you get. But that is def good service.
BTW: Sunday closed -
Review from Jason S.
Chicago, IL
Bought two pairs of running shoes here. Lived in the same building so it was quite a convenient location. First time, the service was okay. Second time, service was phenomenal - told them I was training for a half marathon so had them analyze my running/feet and got me some comfortable running shoes along with in soles for my flat feet.
Still on the second pair of shoes - they feel great and my knees don't hurt as much.
The store is on the smaller end and probably not as large of a collection as running shoe stores like Fleet Feet or whatever else is out there in the city.
I would recommend this place for anyone living in the Lincoln Park area. -
Review from Joy S.
Chicago, IL
I walked into the New Balance store and was completely ignored. I had to do the loud "cough" to get the sales rep's attention. He sauntered over like he was sleep walking and mumbled what shoes were the most popular..yadda yadda yadda.
While I am browsing the selection, I notice people following me as though I could possibly steal a size 7 display shoe. I wear a size 8 and I highly doubt it would be worth my while to steal one friggin shoe.
This store better feel lucky that they are the only New Balance store in the city that is convenient..because if not, I would have taken a dump in one of their display shoes. -
Review from Joy D.
Chicago, IL
The salesperson has you stand on a computer thing that shows the pressure points in color on a tv screen. They analyze this and figure out what style of show would work best for you. Then they have you put on both shoes and walk around the store, checking how the shoes work for you. Staff is well trained and exceedingly patient. I couldn't be happier with my shoes.
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Review from Josh G.
Chicago, IL
I'm a new runner and as such needed new shoes for my new endeavor (yes, I'll use any excuse to buy new things). So I Googled this and I Binged that and turns out that a particular style of NB shoe is fantastic for runners. I can believe it, I've been wearing the Classic 574 for about six years now. It's a pretty strong love affair, so I headed to the NB store to try out something new.
I think every consumer is entitled to have a few items on their list of things that they are exceptionally picky about. C'mon, everyone has them, you know you do! Shoes are definitely on my list of top five things that I'm a little crazy about when I shop. Let's be honest, men don't get that many great accessories they can wear fashionably unless you want to look like Adam Lambert. No thanks. Anyway, in this case I didn't need sneakers that were fashion forward but I did need form and function with a splash of style and I think New Balance pulls it off nicely.
Sarah, my New Balance superstar, was exceptionally patient with me. I tried on the same shoe in different colors, sizes, and width what seemed like 50 times until I finally settled on what I needed. Sarah was really great and if you want some good information, great service, and some tips from an avid runner she's the gal to see when you stop in. Since I ended up having my shoes delivered from another location and she had my address she even sent me a hand-written note thanking me for my purchase and I appreciated that personal touch.
As if my love for all things New Balance wasn't already solidified, they have a 30-day fit guarantee. I don't know that they advertise it much but you can actually buy shoes, try them for 30 days, and if they aren't right for you, return them and try something else. I'm pretty sure you can't destroy the shoes and expect a refund so don't abuse this policy. I don't know of any other shore store that does this so let's be respectful and not take advantage. I keep hearing how important shoes are for runners so that little policy is likely to keep me coming back time and time again.
Hats off (or maybe shoes off?) to New Balance! -
Review from Patrick P.
Chicago, IL
They are so friendly at this place. Very attentive and courteous.
They really take their time with each and every one of their customers so they can get the best pair of shoes possible. Plus, they have a wide variety of sizes and widths to accomodate any shape of any foot.
I love the 993's to pieces. My feet feel like they are walking on air... I hope you find a shoe that you like there... I -
Review from Lili V.
Chicago, IL
Feeling fleeced by Fleet Feet (say it ten times fast!), I was wary about New Balance. But my experience there was fantastic. The fellow who served me was attentive, thoughtful, and patient. He analyzed my gait, measured my feet, and informed me that because they are rather narrow he was going to look at overstock models that were on sale first.
He brought back a few models of differing price ranges. After I tried them all, he and I agreed that the shoes that were on sale were the ones that fit me best. I wound up with a $120 dollar pair of shoes for $80, not bad at all. He could have easily recommended a more expensive pair, but he was honest and seemed to genuinely have my best interests in mind.
All in all, a stellar customer service experience. And the shoes are working out wonderfully. -
Review from Angela B.
Chicago, IL
The staff here is fantastic. I got a pair of shoes for Christmas and showed up 6 weeks later (despite living 2 blocks away), and they still let me exchange them even with their 30 day return policy. The girl I worked with didn't judge me when I told her what I was looking for (something to run in occasionally but mostly cute shoes to look good with sweats and jeans), and after finding a great pair of shoes she demonstrated different ways of adjusting the laces to change the fit. There is more than one way to lace a shoe you say?? Oh yes, there is. They have a small sale rack with a good selection of shoes, and lots of gear. Try them 6 weeks after the holidays because EVERYTHING was on sale.
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Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
The staff here are so helpful and friendly. They display a lot of merchandise for such a small place! I'm sad they've discontinued the 991's!
Listed in: Runner's World
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Review from Christoph B.
Chicago, IL
New Balance is one of my favorite brands for running gear so it should come as no surprise that I love this retailer. More importantly the sales staff here are laid back, not pushy at all and they always have good advice. They really know the product. My only quibble is that because they deal almost exclusively with NB you won't find the selection that other running stores stock.
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Review from Soo L.
Chicago, IL
This store by far is the best! The staff are very knowledgeable and accommodating. I am definitely very finicky and I really do appreciate their patience as I have tried so many shoes but ended up returning or exchanging. I am by no means an elite runner but close to a sub3 marathoner so I am very picky about performance shoes. My favorites for Neutral runners is the 759's for daily training and recovery runs. Unfortunately I have not found a shoe from New Balance that I like for running full marathons. At any rate, anybody considering their new Minimus, here is my review on that shoe.
After buying these shoes, I was highly excited being that I am a huge fan of New Balance Shoes. I use the New Balance 759's for my daily training runs(8:00 pace) and recovery runs (9:00 Pace). I bought these Minimus Roads for my upcoming Illinois Marathon but after one of my LSD runs, I was doing 7:45 for the first 12 miles, then cranked it up to 6:55 pace for the remainder 8 miles. My knees never hurt, ache, or are sore. But after I completed my run my knees were sore, my Achilles were tender, and my calves were sore as well. The problem with these shoes is they are too flat, the cushion is too firm, and these shoes force you to run on your forefoot. Forefoot striking and Mid-striking is OK for 5K, 10K maybe 1/2 marathons, but any distance further than that you are asking for trouble and running the risk of injuring your Achilles tendon.
I have since bought the Saucony Progrid Kinvara's and I have to say these by far are way better than the Minimus hands down. They are not only 1/2 ounces lighter, they have more cushion, softer, grant it not as responsive, you can comfortably and safely wear them for a whole full marathon and not worry about a stress fracture or other malady's. The Minimus can be used for 5K and 10K but with so many lighter shoes on the market, it would be pointless to buy these for even short races. My only recommendation is Minimus is good for style and walking, or maybe non serious runners who just like the concept of "minimulist" where more serious runners like myself, I am more concerned with performance. -
Review from Elisabeth S.
Chicago, IL
After an irritating experience at Niketown, I stopped at New Balance for new running shoes. Sarah was wonderful! She helped me find the perfect shoe, gave me some helpful tips, and had me out the door in a timely manner. The salespeople are attentive, knowledgable, and laid back.
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Review from Brian H.
Chicago, IL
After struggling on various shoes the first few months of this season while training for the Chicago Marathon, I was still having bad shin splints. I decided to check out New Balance and see what they could do to help me out. They use the standard treadmill analysis of my gait and were able to clearly explain through video my problems. They also have another system that determines where on your feet you place the most pressure, which guides them in what support you need. They fitted me for a new pair of shoes and orthotics which was a bit above my price range, but I was willing to try anything to save my Marathon. It helped that they have a 30-day return policy in case my shin splints continued. I went with the shoes and they saved my season. I was able to get back on a decent training schedule and successfully completed my first ever marathon this weekend. Thank you New Balance.
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Review from Audra S.
Las Vegas, NV
I am a die hard fan of New Balance shoes, and I will forever purchase them from this particular store. When I was in need of some new kicks, I stopped in and was impressed with the amount of knowledge the staff had regarding running shoes. I ended up buying a pretty pricey pair, but didn't feel pressured into doing so. The best part was their 30-day trial period: you can actually go running in the shoes and try them out. If you hate them for whatever reason, bring them back and get something else or get your money back. Now that's a return policy I can love.
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Review from Hannah B.
West des Moines, IA
This New Balance is the only store I will buy shoes from in Chicago. I have never been disappointed with my purchase. The friendly and helpful staff makes this NB a must for the Chicago runner.
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Review from Lezah G.
Chicago, IL
I have had some of the best customer service I have received in years. They take their time, they make sure you are buying the right shoes, they will refund shoes that end up hurting or not fitting well if you buy them within a certain time, they try to talk you out of shoes that may initially feel wonderful but they know will kill your feet after awhile because of your particular shoe problems, and they work well finding the right shoes to go with your orthotics. If you were referred there by a doctor or a podiatrist you get a 10% discount for life.
The reason I am harping so much on customer service is because that store is always very busy on a street where it seems like half the stores are closed. They sell a product which can be purchased cheaper on line. Before I went in there the other day to buy shoes, I stopped in a gift shop...they sell cutesy signs, jewelry, books, knick knacks, purses,etc. They have a nice selection of things and I have bought numerous gifts over the years. They are closing next week. This is the last store they owner had left and at one time he had at least 5. He is in bad shape. People are always in his store browsing but nobody buys. They look for the stuff on line and buy it. Of course the level of customer service required in a store selling athletic shoes is different but in this store there was very little service. People working there were nice enough but didn't go out of their way to assist you. They did, however, do a wonderful job in buying for their stores and I am sorry to see them go out of business. I think they would have gone out of business anyway because of how retailing has changed--even if they had stepped up their customer service. This is a long winded way of saying---New Balance can exist even in an internet driven retail world because they do go over and above and I think that is what it is going to take to stay in business.Listed in: Lincoln Park Favorites
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Review from Marley F.
Chicago, IL
Best running shoes ever! Ever since I started wearing new balance shoes years ago I can't wear anything else!
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Review from Jeff N.
Chicago, IL
Since my first review, I returned to help my wife buy a couple pairs. After 3-4 months, she started getting shin splints. She went in to ask what she might do to alleviate this condition. Store manager was quick to recognize that New Balance had originally fitted her in shoes that were too wide, so he replace the shoes with the same shoe in a narrow width and the shin splints all but disappeared. Not only a spot-on correction, but replacing shoes this old for free was a sign of a great running store; a store that is guaranteed to get my repeat business for many years to come.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/2/2008
A very knowledgeable staff helps get you into the right shoe. I had a strange problem with shoes I… Read more »
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3/2/2008
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Review from Shawn K.
Chicago, IL
I love new balance shoes. They fit perfectly and are super comfortable. This store is perfect as they carry every model and color made by the company. I went here one time, didn't buy the shoes I wanted (I try to control my impulses) and then ordered them online a week later from the store. Their employees are very friendly and if you don't feel like going there, they processed and shipped them the same day I ordered online.
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Review from Dee W.
As a runner, I love New Balance - what I also love about New Balance is how they've teamed up with the Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer and some of their shoes have the little pink ribbon on them and a portion of their profits go to the foundation. Nowadays, I always buy my shoes with the little ribbon since 99% of my races are always for breast cancer.
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Review from Liliana S.
Chicago, IL
I love New Balances. They're probably one of my favorite gym shoes. They're great for running and are very durable. This store is great because they have so many different styles. Prices are reasonable.
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Review from Lee-Han H.
Chicago, IL
They are not cheap! Only when they are a sale then you can get a pair for like $30 when they cost like $75-$100
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Review from Reid G.
Chicago, IL
So i ran my marathon is the shoes prescribed by the people at New Balance and they worked perfectly! The marathon was a not a problem for my feet at all! My legs on the other hand....well thats an unrelated story :) But the shoes worked perfectly and the staff fitted me for the shoes that fit my budget and my foot perfectly! And I also got a friendly letter from them afterwards stating their appreciation, which i enjoyed. Thanks team new balance!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2010
This place is great for new runners! I hadn't run for a number of years but decided to run the… Read more »
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1/31/2010
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Review from Sandy J.
Evanston, IL
They sent me a thank you note, since I hadn't been there in 4 years. I also thought it was cool that they still had every pair of shoes I had bought since 2001 on the computer.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2009
I forgot about this store! Awhile back. I had foot surgery, and my feet were swollen for a whole… Read more »
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9/25/2009
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Review from Yvonne C.
Chicago, IL
Excellent service, great selection and decent prices. I love this place. And they have a beautiful border collie on staff as well.
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Review from Little G.
Chicago, IL
My girlfriend just bought a pair of NB's from this store. The staff's training and experience in addressing the failings of inadequate footwear as well as their ability to prescribe solutions for her mild pronation, was unrivaled.
The NB representative we spoke with, Dan, was very well informed and found her the perfect pair of running shoes without the typical marketing pitches to which I am accustom (Nike). Dan also diagnosed and recommended a pair of inserts for my NB's. Dan, pardon the cliche colloquialism, is the man. Great store and well informed staff! -
Review from Julia B.
Chicago, IL
New Balance is down the street from me and I love it. I don't always buy their running shoes because I am a fan of Nike's but if I did wear these shoes this would be the place to come. I have been in here twice and both times the customer service people were such a huge help! I felt like they had a great knowledge of what their products were and how certain shoes would work with certain feet.
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Review from I Q.
Chicago, IL
New Balance has some great, comfortable shoes for runners. I bought a pair from here a while back and I still have it and its in good condition. It is a bit expensive, but well worth the money. They carry many different styles and colors-- a favorite for everyone!
