Zientek’s Model Trains

If you’re into model trains, a visit to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without a stop to Zienteks. Be warned, this isn’t your typical model train store. It used to be a neighborhood tavern AND model train store… Probably the only one in the world! Now, they just sell trains. Most of the inventory is upstairs in the «family room and bedroom». The rest is downstairs on the bar.
They focus primarily on HO, I didn’t notice any other scales.
They have a huge number of freight cars. There are brands that have been out of business for 30 years, brands I’ve never heard of and brands that are newly formed.
Plan on spending a lot of time there, there is a lot of stuff packed into a small area and some stuff is hard to find.
BTW they offer everything at a discount from retail and they don’t take credit cards.