The Container Store

I love the elfa displays… not much else about the Container Store thrills me. I get really overwhelmed here. The staff, however, are fabulous. Especially the lady that helped me with designing my closet with the Elfa!

Bought a couple of spice racks to organize my pantry. The screws they came with were FAR too short to be useful for wall mounting. So I used one rack as my test subject and since I had ripped the label and packaging off, I knew I’d be out at least one when attempting to return it. Fair enough. That’s not the point.
I have my receipt misplaced but came in with my ID and the card I used to pay with to return the other racks I purchased. I knew that without a receipt I’d likely only be able to get store credit. Not even. They won’t even bother to look up by card, SKU, name or anything, unless you’re a member of their spammy rewards program.
Look, I worked in retail. I know how the POS works. I know you can look up my purchase. This is 2015, not the dark ages.
What a waste. Jill, the associate… you’re not nice. So I just left the racks there. You can make some more money off of another unsuspecting customer. Overpriced merchandise, restrictive return policy, unfriendly associate? Useless. I won’t be coming back.

Went to The Container Store in search of some roll-​out cabinet shelves. After calling and being told that the size they had would fit our necessary dimensions we went to pick them up at the store. We waited in line for one cashier who decided to chit chat with the man in front of me for about 5 minutes. Then another cashier came up and went to open her station and skipped over us because the lady she had been helping only had 1 item (versus our 4). After the poor service, we went home to find out that the shelves were too long. Had much higher expectations for this new store.

Literally THE container store. If you need a container, it’s here.
All the staff members seem really friendly. But I think it’s a bit too much. Because I had to wait for maybe 5 – 10 minutes just to checkout. There were a lot of chitchat with each customer, and there were two lines for checkout, but no signs on where to stand to checkout.

We stopped by after catching a movie at the Showplace Icon. This store is so spacious, clean and organized! Of course there were lots of containers, storage bins, and bags made of every material. But they also had a section of bath room products and products made for other rooms in a home like a closet or an office. They even had travel gear as well! The staff here was very friendly. Prices are competitive and they have sales too. Make sure to check out the cool items by the cashier area.

Very happy to have one closer to my home. Such great products here.
Every staff member has been super friendly and kind… one of the check out ladies double checked that every elfa piece I purchased was correct, fit together, and took time and care to ensure I had everything I needed.
I was lucky as there was no car in front when I ‘picked up’ but could see how it could be a real challenge.

Visited this new Container Store about ten days after Christmas, on a Monday at 3:00. There were more sales people than customers, so apparently few have discovered it yet. The inconvenient parking doesn’t help… underground in a confusing dark maze, and I still had to walk outside in freezing weather to enter the store.
It’s a typically gigantic CS, staffed with happy sales people eager to help. Container Stores have some of the best-​trained people in any chain. But I didn’t see anything that would differentiate it from any of their other locations.
My goal was to buy a storage container for my new artificial Christmas tree, since I couldn’t fit it back into the original cardboard box without smashing it. If you’ve ever had an artificial tree, you know what I’m referring to. (I think Fox Mulder would agree with me that this box thing is a conspiracy. They make the boxes so small, everyone is forced to buy a container to store their trees.)

This day, everything related to the holidays was 50−75% off… except the tree and wreath storage. Just my luck. CS refused to tell me when the $ 50 fabric container I wanted was going on sale. (Does anyone really pay $ 50 for a fabric artificial tree container? Apparently not many, as there were still dozens on the shelves long after Christmas, waiting patiently for sale shoppers.)
I pointed out that I was registered with them, and that I’d spent over $ 1,500 on one of their excellent Elfa shelving systems last summer. I really love my Elfa adjustable system! (They have a 30% off Elfa sale twice a year.) No one cared, and they still wouldn’t give up the sale date. Or perhaps corporate doesn’t empower them to reward loyal customers.
So I drove home and ordered something similar online (not at CS online), for half the price, with free two-​day shipping and no sales tax. It came today, and it’s perfect.
Considering the parking, the number of alternative CS locations… and especially their attitude… I’d only shop here again if I was already parked for an Icon movie. But if you live nearby and don’t have a car, this is probably your most convenient CS location.

As a professional organizer I am so excited to have a Container Store located in the South Loop. Excellent service, great products and stimulating environment!

Finally closer to my house. Friendly and helpful like their other locations. Not too much new, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as I always spend way too much here. I need to stay focused and get the garbage can I need.
This is a big store for the Roosevelt Collection and it will give some competition for Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.
I ended up buying the trash can with the green stick, it was a reasonable priced 79 $ compared to a Simple Human one of similar size, plus it’s the exact one I have now. Since our neighborhood finally got recycling we need to separate the trash, so either two cans or a ridiculously priced Simple Human dual trash can 179 $ with a tiny blue insert. If I go with that one I’d have to switch how I use the trash inserts. We recycle more than we have have of regular trash, I can also see guests throwing stuff in the wrong side. Modern day problems!
They were well staffed, and for as busy as it was there weren’t any lines. You can pull up to the front doors to load up, but you’re warned to have someone stay with your car. I parked in one of the pay spots above ground and took the cart to the spot and back. I got lucky as the meter boxes were broken and security told me they’d be out for two hours. Parking is 6.75 for 45 minutes. I don’t know if the garage below is any cheaper or free? One could hope.