Trade Winds Cove

My favorite local skate shop.
Back in 2012 my friends and I would make our parents drive us here just to look at the huge selection of skateboards and longboards. For my 15^th birthday my mom brought me here and said I can choose any longboard I wanted. I remember buying the board and Dave, one of the wise old owners, allowed me to swap out the wheels for some different ones that are meant for free riding. I just thought it was really cool to do that because most shops would’ve have done that, or they would have for a hefty fee.
Now it’s 2015 and I’m getting back into skateboarding; If you stop skateboarding for a while you know how it is. Your board gets all gross, your wheels become unusable, the only salvageable part are the trucks.
Trade Winds Cove is a place that sells skateboards, longboards, birkenstocks, clothing, shoes, and more. My recent visit there really changed how I look at local businesses.
So I go in there and I’m greeted very nicely and I tell her I’m here to look at the skateboards. She points me to the area and allows me to shop in peace. After looking at a bunch of decks I choose a blank, since I was never a fan of brand-​name decks. What’s cool about the boards there is they come with free grip tape, which is the black sand-​paper-​like sheet on the top of a skateboard. I also needed wheels and I bought blank wheels for a very affordable price tag. Finally I purchased bushings and I was ready to check out. I swiped my card through their machine and I was on my way. But before I left I asked about these stickers that said «Buy Local» as in buy at local skate shops. I asked if I could take one and she said take a few.
Just a few months earlier I was at Zumiez, a well known franchised skate shop. I was so close to buying a skateboard but what turned me off was you had to pay for the grip tape separate, pus I wouldn’t be able to ride it for a month since I was going on vacation. Now that I think about it, I’m glad I didn’t purchase that board because Zumiez is a multi-​million dollar company that can hold it’s own.
The sad reality is, I’ve seen two local skate shops close in my life because of money issues. Local stores are harder to come by, and most of these stores have unmatchable customer service. Trade Winds Cove is a genuine store with genuine people and amazing prices. I will continue to support them as long as skateboarding continues to be my hobby.

I was looking for a very specific pair of men’s Birkenstocks and after much searching I happened across Tradewinds Cove. I called them up and they had the item I needed, unfortunately, I was an hour away and they closed in an hour. Cindy actual kept the store open a couple minutes in order for me to get my shoes, they were awesome! Excellent customer service!
If you are searching for ANY pair of Birkenstocks, check out Tradewinds, it is likely they have what you are looking for.

Before going to Trade Winds, you need to know this is one of the long-​standing, much-​loved institutions of Crystal Lake. Us locals have a loving place in our hearts for the husband-​wife owners of this shop. Many of us have been shopping there for years. The owners are the super friendly hippie grandma and grandpa you’ve always wanted. They will make sure you get the shoes, clothes or accessories you need and that it’s top quality. It’s the place to go for Birkenstocks, hippie clothes, trendy patches, hippie jewelry, etc. Basically, if you don’t like the Grateful Dead and sweet hippie grandparents, you may want to shop elsewhere.

Terrible service!!! The manager Tom offered sale price for an earthwing long board. The board looked used, it had some nicks and scratches but my daughter loved it. We got to the counter and he charges $ 208. What??? I corrected him and said 108. He apologized and said he made a mistake. Yeah a $ 100 mistake. I felt cheated. The sales person confirmed he said $ 108. I would have bought the board had he not offered a sale price and backed out of it. What kind of business is that? I can’t do business with a shady person like that. He lost a customer and disappointed a little girl.

Trade Wind Coves always has the cool kicks in stock that all the kids are sporting these days! My daughter had me take her there for years for her Birkenstocks and various other shoes of the running and tennis variety with and without leds that light up upon impact. The store has a plethora of heady threads, skater gear, jewelery, and incense. BTW Dave (co-​owner) was my 5^th grade science teacher way back in 1972 (you do the math), and for that i thank him; Rock on Dave! #EnjoyYourLife

I’ve been a loyal Birkenstock sandal wearer for years, and it’s been great having a place so close to get new pairs when I wear them out.
They have a GREAT selection, with tons of colors and styles to choose from. Last time I went in, I was all ready to buy «the usual», but after striking up a conversation with the staff, I tried a new style that I LOVE even more than the ones I wore before.
I will definitely be back.

This place has a great selection of long boards, mine broke about a week ago and no other store that I went to had what I was looking for. The owner was incredibly helpful and enthusiastic about his job. He was also incredibly knowledgeable about his products! I would recommend this store to anyone who needs a long board! Also while the owner was taking the trucks and wheels off the deck I took the time to look around. Trade winds also has an amazing selection of mocasins, clothing, jewelry, and other various products! If I had more time I would have looked around more and bought something else! This place is definitely a treasure!

I grew up with the head shops of Rogers Park and Old Town in Chicago, places like Four Heads, Adam’s Apple, The Alley, and Uno’s Bizarre Bazaar. Tradewinds is definitely not one of those, and it also isn’t the typical Deadhead shop like Sunshine Daydream in Lake Zurich either. What it offers though are cool, hippie style clothing, plus gear for the skateboard crowd. It is a store difficult to peg. It is also a store that is difficult to navigate because they have packed quite a bit of stuff into not-​so-​quite-​a-​big space. That is not necessarily a bad thing, it just is what it is.
A fun little store that you will enjoy.

Tradewinds is a cool little store located near downtown Crystal lake. I think what Tradewinds is probably best known for is their birkenstocks collection. With in the past five years they have rented out a store front next to theirs to cater to nothing but birkenstocks. So if you are in the area and in the mood for some new sandals– definetly check this place out.
Tradewinds is a bizarre little store– but in a good way if that makes any sense. I hope it does– I don’t want to give off a bad impression– I highly recommend patronizing this establishment. They have a large selection of jewelry from Caribbean inspired necklaces to body piercings. I’d also like to note that if you are there for a new piece for pierced body and they don’t have what you want– 9 times out of 10 they are more than happy to order exactly what size or style you are looking for.
You’ll also find a huge selection of hippie inspired clothing and skater type clothes. A giant selection of back packs and usually ten or twelve different snow boards. I can honestly say this place more than likely has something for everybody.
The prices are decent and the employees and owners are very helpful and polite. If you are in this neck of the woods give it a little look around– you will very probably be surprised.