This is for the American Girl Store, not the restaurant. I'm giving this place 4 stars ONLY because my daughters (yep, daughter$, plural) had an amazing time and they love their dolls.
Minus 1 star......1 big, big star......for the sheer nickel and diming that goes on. Paying for the doll, their clothes, their V I O L I N.....ear piercings, purses, pajamas, braces, glasses....I half expected that we'd have to pay for their SMILE. (we did - it's $34).
The store itself is enormous, I don't know what I expected, but it was an impressive operation. Dads, start practicing your "glossed-over" look right now. There were so many men in zombie mode. So many....
I made the best of it by taking pics of the experience, and one thing that made it very, very tolerable: My wife was smart enough to use their personal-shopper service. The shopper was with us the entire time, walked us through all of the options, and cashed us out personally - no waiting in line for anything (that I can remember).
When we got the final bill, I literally LOL'ed.....whatever you do, keep track of what the item costs BEFORE your child has it in their hands (as with anything, actually). Â Good luck, happy shopping, and please win the lotto before you go. Â :-)
Giving 4 stars as an average between my rating for the store (5 stars) and rating for the restaurant (3 stars). Â
The store is amazing. Â Really an incredible concept, very well executed. Â Definitely worth a stop for any family with a daughter interested in American Girl. Â We make the trek every time we get to Chicago.
As for the restaurant, I have some mixed feelings here. Â On one hand, the setting and experience does what it's supposed to do -- charming and fun. Â On the other hand, the food is mediocre at best -- comparable to what you'd get in a museum cafe like at the Shedd Aquarium. Â I feel like with a little more effort and focus, they could (should) improve the food dramatically, which would make the Dads and Moms enjoy the experience a lot more and feel better about the price tag -- after tip, about $115 for a family of four.
This review is for the restaurant. Â My two little girls don't even like dolls, they are stuffed animal kids, but Mommy loves the comfort food they serve in the restaurant. Â So every once in a while I announce with excitement that we are having dinner or tea at the American Girl store. Â The restaurant is hidden away in the back of the top floor of the store, which is just smart marketing. Â You must make reservations and all the children and parents wait in a crowd outside the closed doors of the restaurant. Â For ten minutes or so you wait while the excitement builds...and finally, the bell rings...dinner is served!
After the seatings are announced, you are escorted into a dining room where someone dropped a femininity bomb that exploded pink everywhere. Â You are escorted to your table and everyone is offered a seat, even the dolls. Â Cuteness abounds. Â If you are at dinner, you will order an entree, which are surprisingly decent, but the real fun is in the appetizers. Â Warm cinnamon buns, and a tea tray of miniature sandwiches of "peanut" butter and jelly, pigs in a blanket, and scones. Â All the food that I have outlawed from my diet because I want to be healthy, and I need to stay awake during the day which is awfully hard after a carb overload. Â But, one must make sacrifices for the children. Â Desert is just as cute, with a strawberry mousse covered in chocolate "dirt" with a plastic flower growing from it. Â The flowers are yours to keep.
Finally, the beverages are great. Â Milk for the girls, tea for the dolls and Mommy can have champagne. Â
So far, my girls haven't asked for the dolls, so I will save that review for when we cross that bridge.
We have come a couple times this year since my daughter has gotten into AG. We did go and celebrate her birthday!! It was an awesome experience!! We went and had our coats checked (you can have your packages held there while you shop too). Then we went up stairs and the Cafe. We made reservations 3 weeks in advance, I had wanted lunch but it was already booked up. They called us in and brought us to our table. The bring honey croissants, bread, appetizers, and dinner. The dinner was divine for the adults. The dinner options for children are pizza or chicken tenders, American Girl signature pot pie. For adults they have Tilapia , stuffed shells, butternut squash spaghetti. My husband had the butternut squash spaghetti which was delicious, and I devoured the AG signature pot pie. That was GOOD!!
They brought out a delicious cake with vanilla and chocolate, let us sing and take pictures then took it back to cut it up. They brought it back with an ice cream in a pot with a cute daisy in the vanilla ice cream. What cake was left they boxed and brought to us.
Then we went out to shop. They have a snack area, t-shirt making area, hair salon and ear piercing for the dolls, Â and the doll hospital. Â This is all on the upstairs. You can find the just like me dolls (the ones that are suppose to look like you) and a larges selection of every day, causal clothes.
Downstairs they have like a museum set up with all the historical dolls and doll of the year. This year is Mckenna and she loves gymnastics. There is a area devoted to the books and crafts and a small shop called Itty-Bitty babies for kids 3-6.
There a connoisseur area, with a personal shopper available.
This store is very nice and such a neat experience for a little girl who loves dolls.
Glad I don't have to go to these type of places very often. I don't have children and no nieces (as of yet). I just go crazy when there are so many children running around unattended.
It was a nice layout with lots of dolls that made me want to be a kid again but it just seems like overkill. I wonder how families are able to afford a doll and all the accessories except for once in a while (such as their birthday or Christmas). I feel bad for those that have to tell their daughter that they can only get one thing and the little girl wants the hoodie and the shoes and a matching outfit like her doll and like all her friends... I don't know, I think it's a crazy idea but it's worth millions. Can't help but feel bad for the families that cannot keep up with the Joneses.
Being that my friend knew exactly what she wanted, she walked in, grabbed the doll (wasn't really greated thought) paid quickly and out the door we went.
This is a review for the restaurant only.
The food is meh, but at least is is outrageously priced. Seriously, it's $22 for a mini hamburger and a mini hotdog. The ambiance is great, especially if you are a little girl (who is the target audience). The service is good, they even bring out a high-chair for your AG doll to sit at the table with you, and they do give everyone a hair scrunchy and a daisy. The appetizer tray they bring out is very good, the entrees are very weak, the dessert is a sugar bomb and almost inedible (again, unless you are a kid).
If you have a little girl to treat to a very special occasion and want to spend some serious dough, they will LOVE this place. Just don't go there thinking that you are going to have, you know, good food. It's kid food for kids but at very adult prices.
Best AG store we have been to yet! We have been to the AG store in NYC and Washington DC (actually in VA) and the Chicago store is the best one so far. Very nicely layed out. Roomy floor plan for the great doll displays. Just great ambience. We covered every inch of this place and loved it. We brought our Samantha doll for the doll hospital and were given advice to take her to the salon instead! Great advice! She came out looking great for a reasonable AG price. She left with a new outfit. Ivy got her accesories she had been missing and all was well. Daughter of course loved ever minute of being in the store. I was happy she was happy and glad I spent under $100 for the visit!
Review Source:You wouldn't know the economy is bad walking in here. So many little girls doing the "experience" at $300 bucks a pop - doll that looks like you, matching outfits, lunch. Wall to wall girls and thier Mothers. I wanted to flee screaming...thank heaven most of the girls with me are beyond this and I was able to distract the little one with the Lego store next door. Budget intact...what was I thinking walking in here???
Review Source:I have to preface this review by saying that I'm personally not an American Girl fan. Â I think the books and dolls are great and made with quality, but...I just can't get past the price of everything. Â Though, I suppose it's worth the price if this is what you (or your children) are really into. Â It calls to my mind an incident in the 80s when my mom fought through a massive crowd at Service Merchandise to get me my beloved Cabbage Patch Kid and get herself a bruise on the head...so I really can't knock the AG love. Â Plus, the AG dolls have better names. Â My CPK's name was Edwina (not that there's anything wrong with that name...I'm just sayin it wasn't the first name I would've picked).
With that being said, I tried to hide my daughter from all things American Girl but last Christmas, she received the Ivy doll as a gift. Â Again, very cute, very well-made, definitely special, but as such, something I was worried about my 4-year-old playing with until she was older and could truly appreciate it. Â So far, so good, though...she takes care of Ivy. Â Wish I could say the same for her other dolls!
Anyways, first visit to American Girl Water Tower was earlier this month for my niece's 7th birthday. Â She is enamored with all things AG and we celebrated her bday here. Â We arrived and upon entering, my daughter was enthralled. Â She just stood there taking it all in with tiny gasps. Â That, and the absolute joy on my niece's face, were completely worth the trip. Â Not my niece's first time here, but she is just so happy each and every time she steps foot into AG. Â And because of that, I say AG really knows how to cater to their customers and fans.
The lower level is dedicated to the Historical dolls (shopping and a museum display setting) and the Bitty Babies. Â We wanted to look around, but my niece made a beeline for the upper level to get her Molly doll's hair done in the salon ($30! It turned out cute though, and they do offer different hairstyles at different price points). Â The salon was a clever set-up complete with beauty salon chairs. And you can get your doll's ears pierced here too.
We moved along to the café where we got a pastry (didn't dine at the restaurant here, but pastries were ok), then looked at the other shops in the mini AG city (hospital to have your doll repaired should she break or tear, AG concierge, Pet hospital/Vet, etc.).  And the next 2.5 (exhausting) hours were spent shopping.  Everything is cute...outfits, accessories (from tennis rackets to shoes to wheelchairs to dental gear, even mini-dolls a la 'a doll for your doll' - you name it, they make it!).  I just wish I could get past how expensive everything is!  After my niece picked out her gifts, we headed back downstairs and spent more time looking through the historical dolls displays and in the bitty baby section.
All in all - a great experience. Â It was a Saturday afternoon and a good-sized crowd, but not overwhelming or chaotic. Â The store is laid out nicely, well-organized, and has everything the AG fan could dream of. Â They have exceptional customer service - Sales staff were on the floor everywhere and ready to help at a moment's notice. Â
My niece had a great bday and my daughter enjoyed her first visit. Â And Ivy came home with a brand new 'summer' outfit (the poor thing hadn't changed out of her clothes since Christmas...which my daughter was quick to point out in the store). Â
Take advantage of their promotional items once you've spent over a certain amount here (easy to do in this place)...Ivy also got a complete ballet outfit which was the promo that day.
Will we be back? Â I'm sure we will, and I'm sure it will be every bit as enjoyable.....and expensive. Â Even the parking : )
Awesome store! Â Anyone who has girls or just loves dolls should visit this store. Since I'm not familiar with the line of dolls or the history the prices seemed very steep for me, but their were plenty of parents buying the line line for their children. I on the other hand will wait till my girls are a bit older before making that leap.
Needless to say, this is a must stop if you are visiting or live in the city. You have the history of doll line, as well as a full salon and customize area. Â It is amazing whether you are a spectator or buying. Â I've never seen anything like this.
HUGE HUGE HUGE!!! Overwhelming for an adult, no wonder why my 4 yo was confused. To many levels to see all in one trip. Way to expensive for their dolls but I'm glad we had the experience and my daughter hasn't stopped playing with her bitty baby since she got it. It's been carted around Chicago this whole weekend. So maybe it was worth the money!! Â Get ready to drop your jaw and your credit card when you check out. Not only for your own purchase but for the people next to you when their total is $300 and up. Happy doll hunting!!
Review Source:People who don't like this place are haters. Â The target audience is little girls, and they LOVE this place!
Their parents/caregivers/gift-givers might not like how it makes their wallet feel, but at least you know you're going to drop a good amount when you come here. Â Prepare ahead of time.
We came again (twice in three months!!) for my daughter's birthday. Â It.Was.Amazing.
When we first walked in, we already knew we were going to purchase the McKenna doll, the girl of the year. Â Our daughter didn't know it, and the sales people didn't know it, but we were treated all the same. Â It's very low-pressure. Â They don't follow you around and try to up-sell anything which is SO nice!
They had a couple crafts set up in the downstairs area for the girls. Â My daughter loved those! Â I guess there was also a scavenger hunt (COOL!) going on as well, but we weren't able to participate in that because we had dinner reservations.
Again, our dining experience was one of the best I have ever had. Â Our server for this evening was Keith. Â He was SO awesome! Â He joked around with my daughter and really got to know her. Â He was funny, friendly, and fast. Â The three F's that are positive!! :)
Since it was he birthday (they even had a special birthday sticker for her!) she was greeted by everyone with a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and that made her feel special. Â What was REALLY special was that they brought her out a cake and sang happy birthday to her. Â So sweet!! Â Also, they had a birthday crown ready for her AND for her doll.
It's the attention to detail that sets AG apart. Â They really go above and beyond in the customer service department. Â I haven't met a single surly person working here. Â Everyone is truly happy and seems to love their job.
I will take her here again and again!! Â The service and atmosphere is well worth the price!
Up until recently, I had successfully avoided going to this place. Â I imagined it to be filled with screaming little girls. Â I was forced to pick up a gift for my niece here and was dreading every second of it. Â Surprisingly, it was a mildly pleasant experience. Â There were not screaming children. Â The place was very clean, well organized and like others have said, the customer service was fantastic. Â The employee I spoke with was oddly enthusiastic speaking about all their dolls.
To be honest with you though, I hope I never have to return here. Â As nice as the store and employees are, the whole vibe is creepy! Â It's like a creepy doll museum! Â Admittedly, I'm not a doll person, but I swear all those dolls were staring at me! Â Their eyes were following me around the store! Â Has anyone else seen the '80's horror movie 'Dolls?!' Â Enough said.
Creepy....creepy....creepy....
I blame my best friend for dragging me in here, fueling my nightmares for the next week.
She said I had to go in because one day, I'll have a little girl that will become an American Girl....blah, blah, blah.....
I don't like that all the dolls have the same face and I think it's bizarre for a child to dress exactly like her doll...My best friend said I was just angry because there wasn't a doll that looked like me....LOL.
I suppose I just don't understand....I don't have kids....
But....
Seeing the excitement in the little girls faces and how attentive the staff was, I suppose it's okay....I may be singing a different tune soon, so I'll keep an open mind.
Dolls with eyes that blink still freaks me out; but, this store is worth a look through the eyes of a tourist because it crosses the line between toys and real girls. Like a museum, it's hot, crowded, I bored quickly and it's uncomfortablely noisy. I didn't want to buy or touch anything.
If you buy an American Girl doll, you may not want your child playing with it. Â It costs over $100 so it's best kept it in its box the way boys store their action figures and comic books.
There are clothes, pets, accessories and more for girls and dolls. You'll find a doll hair salon, doll hospital, toy pet shop and a restaurant for real people (reservations are required).
It was a relief that my Neice was less interested in a doll and more interested in the hamster cage w/ a tiny pet hamster included only in McKenna's $235 loft bed play set. There is a photo of it on yelp's survey!
The store's employees wouldn't budge on selling the hamster set separately so we left with one disppointed little girl.
I'm sitting in the middle on this one. Â Part of me says UCK and part of me says WOW. Â It was very easy for me to tell my daughter no when she asked for something in this store because I wasn't willing to pay those prices. Â I told her if she could keep it under $30.00 I would buy something. Â Needless to say that eliminated ALOT of things they offered. Â However, she found a dress for her doll that she was very happy with and I could afford. Â
Bottom line: Â I knew what I was walking into and devised a strategic plan to not get taken to the bank and that worked!!
This place is C-R-A-Z-Y!
My niece and I came here to visit the ear piercing salon-- FOR HER DOLL. Â We also visited the hair salon (same location) and had her hair done. Â Her doll came out looking like she had brand new hair. Â No more tangles! Â My niece loves changing out the earrings.
My younger niece had a blast looking at the baby American Girl Dolls and pushing a pink carriage all over the store. Â The salespeople were accommodating and nice. Â It seemed like a very hands-on store which I liked.
Next time we will make reservations for tea.
I gave it a mid score only because it was a little pricy for what you get but when you are doing it for your kids it's worth every penny!
I'll admit the food was good & at the time my daughter didn't have a doll & they have "loaners" ready for little girls to borrow. But it was odd not to have very many drink choices. I think it was perfect for my daughter when she was 6 but any girls over 10 will definitely rather hit up Gino's east or hard rock for a more fun atmosphere. Take your princess while Ed young
I really really want to hate american girl place. Maybe it's because of it's cult lik following or the fact that every time I walk in there to buy a gift for a family member, I walk out missing half my bank account. As bad as that sounds though, I just can't hate this place.
they really do it right. The entire process of purchasing an item here is organized and easy from start to finish. You can bring your little one in and they will greet her at the door, show her the collections, ask her what she wants. It's amazing. Then they offer different accessories, which they have tons of. They show the different products and everything that you can get. The dolls all have clothes and the owners can get matching sets. They have things such as beds, bathtubs, etc for the dolls. It's unreal.
You can take the doll to the salon and get it's ears pierced or hair done. You can put them in the hospital when they are sick or need repairs. You can even have lunch with them.
It's crazy but the joy that this place brings these little girls and their parents, can't be matched. I have yet to see someone walk out upset.
Stand by the register and it may be a different story for some though. However, I might be griping about the price but the fact remains that the products are high quality and well worth the price.
I took my 6 and half yr old niece there over Thanksgiving weekend,
LOVED IT!
SHe and I found so many dresses and accessories for her AMerican GIrl doll Emily,
and she got her hair done by the stylist Yvette, who even gave my niece a good talk about the history of the company and knowledge and made her feel special.
We had fun looking w/ her for a doll chair she also needed , i even made time to make a quick cafe reservation for a future date for my sister in law and other nieces to come w/ me another time for tea...
My boyfriend and I found helpful AG sales associates to find what we needed and check out.
Its worth the time and investment for your little girl(s) in your life and i never had this as a little girl, so at least for the Chicago Water Tower Place AG store, I had a great time!
I am a 28 year old woman giving a doll store four stars. What the hell? Imagine little Kiki as a 6 year old clutching an American Girl book. It could either be about Samantha or Kristen or Addy. She is a fan of the books and even discovered one of her favorite pastries, a petit four, from reading that series. She dreamed of visiting the American Girl Place store when, back then, the only store was in New York City. She could get a doll that looked just like her with a ton of clothing and accessories available. Kiki never made it and the dream lost fire.
My mom and I went to the Magnificent Mile just because we were in the area and tourists go there and browse all the expensive products in high end stores because they can. As we were about to turn around and head back to the station I see the sign for the American Girl Place. We HAD to go in since I had dreams of going to this store as a child.
This place is two floors of Pepto Bismol pink, giddy little girls everyone, and parents forking out plenty of dough to keep their rugrats happy. I could point out the dolls I read about when I was a girl and gawked at how many had been added to the line up and all the accessories you can get for the doll. Clothing, pets, housing, dishware, furniture. You could create a life for this doll! If it gets sick you can take the doll to the hospital to get better. If the doll needs its hair did you can take it to the beauty parlor. If the doll and its owner want to have a photo shoot it is possible at this store. So much to do!
Not only could you shop for toys you could eat at the cafe which I had asked about because I am living a childhood dream and I don't care about being the oldest person there. I was reading those books before these kids were even a glimmer in their parents' eye! The employee at the dessert counter (yes, there is a dessert counter and yes, I had a cookie) said they book up weeks in advance and you can have a tea party or a three course meal. He also listed off the areas that have American Girl stores or will be getting one soon. Seattle is a location that will be getting one and you can bet I will be getting my tea party, son.
The American Girl Store is more than likely a nightmare for parents. For girls it is heaven. I came full circle as I stood at that store remembering the books I read and the catalog I saw pointing out the doll I wanted and wishing I could visit a store. There I was 22 years later seeing girls feeling the same way I did at that age. It was amazing to witness that and seeing little girls carrying dolls that looked just like them regardless of their skin color.
I tried to shield my daughter from American Girl but she found it...
It truly is amazing. Everything that little girls use/wear/experience - you can do that here with your doll.
Hungry? Make reservations at the Cafe while your doll sits in her own chair and "dines" with you. Injured? Better visit the Doll Hospital. New 'do? Get in line at the salon. As it relates to the dolls and accessories - super, super cute. They have everything!
As an experience - absolutely FIVE stars! As a parent - absolutely FIVE dollar signs. This place is EXPENSIVE.
I love seeing my little girl so happy, though. I fall for this place every time.
My girl of choice growing up was Kirsten, but it was also the doll i never got because it was too ridiculously expensive for my parents to ever afford (even now, 15 years later). Â
The store itself is impressive; so much to look at and i especially admired the miniature furniture for the dolls. Â
This is also where i learned that my favorite doll, Kirsten was archived.
I now understand why people reminisce about the good ol' days. Â When I was young, there was no American Girl store. Â Instead I had a catalog that I would look through all the time to see what was new. Â Every year around Christmas, I would circle everything I wanted for my doll Samantha and would give the catalog back to my grandmother. Â I loved looking through the catalog dreaming about what I wanted almost as much as I loved getting things for my doll.
Now little girls just go into this massive store and everything is right there at their fingertips. Â For me this takes some of the magic out of it, however I'm sure they still make catalogs so little girls can still dream the same way I used to.
This store does have it all though. Â I think any little girl would be thrilled to go here. Â However, I did see a few outbursts while I was here. Â For some of the little girls in the store today, picking out just 1 thing was torture. Â After all, they are in a huge doll paradise, with friends for their dolls, new outfits for their dolls, accessories, pets, etc in addition to clothes for them, and sweets! Â This could be heaven, or this could be hell depending on how well a little girl handles temptation. Â
I'm glad I choose imaginary objects from a catalog, and didn't have to see all of the things I wanted in someone else's hands.
Having no idea what American Girl was, I curiously entered their enormous flagship store in Chicago. Â I was astounded by the history and American pride that surrounds this bizarre culture of doll collecting -- however, it's not even 'collecting', so much as it's a lifestyle almost. Â For the dolls alone are (on average) $95-$125 per doll + all the additional clothing, cellphones, and little accessories to buy for her.
Around the store there were wide-eyed little girls bouncing from shelf to shelf finding the perfect things to trim her new doll/bff with. Â Heading up to the 2nd floor was where the obsessiveness and completely ludicrous stations were...
For example:
A doll hospital: Â If your doll is sick (head falls off) bring her into the hospital for a 2 weeks stay. Â When she is released, she's in a hospital gown and bracelet, with a get well soon balloon and a certificate of 'good health'. Â All for a hefty fee. Â Anything for your daughter, right?
A doll hair salon: Â Bring your dolly by the salon for a new hairdo. Â For a simple ponytail and ribbon is $20. Â WHAT? Â My mom would have taught me how to style my girls hair, and probably laugh in my face if I asked to take her to the dolly hair salon.
All in all, it's a total phenomenon that I don't quite understand, but absolutely appreciate.
Pure HEAVEN on EARTH!
NIRVANA !
Land of Canaan!
Total Shangri-la!
That is if you are my absolutely fabulous 5 year old niece coming to celebrate her birthday with her two deep pocketed grandmas, doting mother, and loving but broke Aunt #1 (me) and Aunt #2 (from the other side of the family- but also broke).
Yes, it is a given that my loved niece has EVERY SINGLE bitty baby produced by these shakedown experts- and she loves them all!
And yes, she has the bitty twins.
And yes, she has the medical kit,
the wheelchair, casts, crutches and all that jazz.
And yes, she has clothes.
And yes, she has the doll named Samantha.
BUT- she did not have a pet,
or a pet carrier,
or another doll with a REAL name,
or all of the clothes in the store.
Lets just say that I was fortified with some pain meds to get through it- and I did not need them! She shopped, and due to the magic of catalogs picked her doll quickly (Ivy) and grabbed coconut the dog in record time, picked her accessories out- and was done, lickety split! Then we had to wait for lunch. Meanwhile, she decided to re-clothe the dolls. Since she had picked a new doll with jeans ( and our princess hates jeans) the new doll ate lunch with us in her undies- and why not?
Lunch was actually pretty good. I had the Mac n cheese (when dining at a kids establishment- go with their food). It rocked. My mom had the quiche. My SIL and others had the salad. The desserts were good too! The waiter (HOTNESS!) was great with my niece, shared many high fives, and treated her like it was her day! She glowed with happiness- and that was our goal.
While this is NOT a place I will frequent- I will never be a member of the red bag crowd- it served us well!
Ok. Â So it was the niece's 7th birthday & she was in town to visit. Â The ONE place she was most looking forward to going?
Yeah.
We spent the better part of the day in this store. Â Two floors & a zillion tiny outfits later, we walked out with 2 bags full of stuff & her "first" doll's hair all done up ($20 ... TWENTY DOLLARS! Â Sh*t, I wouldn't even pay that much to have a trained professional put three rubber bands in MY hair).
It's hard not to trip over some little suburban girl dressed fancier than I do when I go out for New Year's Eve & her gaggle of friends. Â It's hard not to vomit when you take a look at the price tag. Â It's hard not to scream incredulously when told aforementioned $20 hair-do has a waiting time of TWO HOURS.
But it's also hard not to smile at your niece's excitement over the stories behind the dolls. Â It's hard not to be happy that your niece recognizes that it's "pretty cool" that the dolls can have a wheelchair if they have some unfortunate thing happen to them. Â It's hard not to appreciate that even though they do this day after day, snobby little girl after snobby little girl, the staff there is incredibly cordial & even downright friendly.
So while I'm still all -grr argh- about the consumerism of it (hell, 2 bags & my folks' -who paid for it- were one of the less extravagant ones) ... seeing my little niece's face light up when she was told that she was getting another doll for her birthday was worth every penny of that little hair-style.
Stopped in here today because my mom said my 1 yr old cousin would like a baby doll that looks just like her. She can't talk yet, but knows she wants a doll that looks like her. Child prodigy i tell ya...
While i want to hate this store I have to admit I'm a bit impressed with the way they've turned dolls into a million dollar market. Â Chances are if you're walking in this area you're bound to see a little girl dressed exactly like the doll she's carrying. Â And she's probably off to visit the hairdresser at American Girl Place for a new do. Â Impressive, yet frightening...
Once inside it was a little overwhelming. So many dolls to choose from! I thought it would be easy to find one that looked like my cousin, but then I was having trouble matching her dirty blonde hair. Should I go with a blonder doll or maybe more of a light burnette? Aahhh! Â And so many children (and dolls) everywhere!! Â
I left doll-less deciding this is an activity I will be saving for my mom when she's in town next weekend. Who knows? Maybe we'll even get our hair done at the salon and then eat at the restaurant...
Nicole: Â [After witnessing a gaggle of 7-year-olds file out of a charter bus and swat each other with lip gloss key chains and Hannah Montana purses to get into the automatic revolving door first] Â "Have you ever even been in there?"
BFF: Â "No."
Nicole: Â "Wanna go?"
BFF: Â "Yes."
***
We entered a world of wonder - we oohed and ahhed at the $35 Victorian Era nightgown costumes and strawberry flavored nail polish (?). Â We sauntered about the first floor noting and complementing the varied ethnic dolls. Â We vowed that we shall never have a girl child so as to save our future selves $90 on a doll, reassuring each other it'd be put to much better use by bottles of Rogaine or subscriptions to Cat Fancy (respectively). Â We laughed the day away.
Then, from the distance, we notice a quaint booth resembling a Sears Portrait Studio. Â Could it be? Â No! Â It couldn't be! Â But it is! Â What better way to encapsulate a perfectly sober Saturday afternoon on Michigan Avenue than to pose with your 25-year-old gay best friend and two lucky American Girl dolls!?
Cashier: Â "Well, it's $19.95 for a 5x7 and 4 wallets..."
Nicole: Â "OK."
She stares at me.
Nicole: Â "I'm serious."
***
Learn this from American Girl Place: Â this city has hidden gems around every corner. Â Only boring people get bored.
This place is intriguing. When I worked at a cafe downtown I would often see tourists come in with the tell-tale bags from this store.
So, I had a friend visit and he suggested we do something neither of us would conceivably do on our own.
Hence our visit.
This place was somewhat freaky, to be honest. We could see the appeal for a younger girl, but even then were rather disappointed at the choices. Even the equestrian outfit screamed of sensibilities that irked us.
However, this place is amusing to peruse and contemplate what is being sold young girls (or even boys if you wish to be so progressive--but I doubt you'd think of this place, then), and as a cultural phenomenon I would recommend at least one visit. How many places can you go where they have doll hair stylists (the friend actually contemplated what requirements one must possess for the job, and whether he had the necessary skills--it seems a demanding job, seriously)?
While I would not take any child I have to such a place, I can see its appeal. If you are slightly uncomfortable with mass media archetypes being marketed as 'unique' and then being slapped with a rather ludicrous price, however, I would not recommend it.
For two people who expected to absolutely despise the place it was worth a trip just to see and examine about what all the furor was, though.
To all of you who gave this place a 3 stars or below, a couple of things to say.
This place is a place for girls to go have fun. Â Yes, the dolls are expensive and there are lots of things to spend your money on... but guess what... that's why they are on Michigan Avenue. Â
I hope that everyone who had a problem with this adorable store, where girls can get their dolls hair done, have a tea party, or watch a play, isn't allowing their children to rot their brains away playing video games. Â
Are we really that petty of a society, when adults can't just appreciate a quaint doll store? Â You don't have to buy everything there... they are not pressure sellers...
Wonder why I like it so much??? Â Well, my little sister decided to spend some of her Christmas money taking her doll to the American Girl beauty salon. Â She had so much fun, but one of her doll's curls fell out. Â They told us that we could mail the doll in for repair or they would just replace the doll with a new one right then and there. Â
We didn't want her to go home with a "broken" doll, and she didn't want a "new" doll, because she was so fond of this one. Â Well, the staff dressed up like a doctor. Â Came out and told my sister that they would take her doll to the doll hospital to get her curl repaired. Â They then replaced the doll, put on the exact clothing and fixed her hair without my sister's heart being broken.
That's why they deserve 5 stars!
I was bamboozled into taking my niece here for an American Girl doll. Â After the experience I just felt compelled to write a review of this place to warn all the intelligent people about what a complete and total absurdity this place is all about. Â I'm still trying to formulate the sentences in my mind because I can't seem to think straight after returning from this place so please stay tuned for much more.
This is the type of place tourist from foreign countries come to to make fun of Americans with small minds and screwed-up priorities who feel the need to feel superior who shop here.
American consumerism at its very worst folks!
The thing that gets me is that the dolls are manufactured in China! Â $90 bucks for a doll made in China?!?!?
Yelp better enhance its site very soon to give places negative stars!
I consider myself to be a forward thinking man. Taken as a long term investment, fringe tastes warrant incredibly valuable social capital. Sure, there's the Stuck Up Snob stigma, but it's mere envy--at least that's what Hummer drivers frequently tell themselves. Interpol were much better as a Chameleons cover band playing in my old roommate's basement. La Jetee? I thought the picture book version was far superior. And I prefer David Sedaris' 8th grade diary myself, thanks. Who can deny the power of condescension?
I'm far too young to be creepy at the local Hooters, but that doesn't mean I have to settle for mainstream mediocrity. One would much rather brag to my neighborly middle-aged insurance salesman that while Crystal over at The Admiral is some hot shit, it's nothing compared to when she was an 8-year old sucking on a milkshake over at the American Girl Place.
Think about it. Hundreds of girls, running around, grabbing plastic facsimiles of themselves as if they're dragging around their very own blow up dolls. What's not to like?
It's not just all budding virgins, either. Someone had to drive the minivan, so there's plenty of MILFs abound. Either way, everyone's hopped up on Trix or anti-depressants, urgently shrieking for male attention.
As far as the merchandise, I don't know. I tried on the dresses with little success, as they run quite small and have rather unflattering cuts. But I've purchased a number of dolls, only to give them away that evening during my trip to Chuck E. Cheese's.
Really, if you click "Useful" on this, Chris Hansen just might be at your door.
I am going to avoid the judgements you see in a lot of other reviews re: the kind of message/example that AG Place sends to the young gals of America, and instead will try to comment from the perspective of a casual shopper.
American Girl Place is huge. Â It's excessively cutesy. Â It's excessively expen$$ive. Â Pre-teen girls seem to love this place, some a little bit too much. Â I recently stopped in one morning just 5 minutes after they opened, there was already a huge line of little girls waiting to get their doll's hair "styled". Â I felt tempted to suggest that they could get the job done cheaper at Supercuts, with a much shorter wait. Â I've heard that the food at the cafe is tolerable.
The American Girl experience is far less cute when you are a single male shopping for your niece. Â You will feel very creepy & out of place amongst all the moms & girls. Â I recommend renting or borrowing a pre-teen girl for your visit so you will blend in better with the crowd. Â Equally discomforting is having to haul your big red American Girl Place bags on the bus or train. Â Oh, the stares and/or comments those bags will elicit. Â Would be nice if AG Place made available a less conspicuous bag for the easily embarrassed - maybe an off-white bag that says "Bruno's Army/Navy Surplus", or something similarly masculine.
Ew. Is this whole concept even about the books anymore?
I tried to give this place a shot...even though I had prefixed notions about it. I used to (and still do) cringe inwardly every time I'd see a little girl with her mommy carrying 2 or 3 of these scary effigies along with 4 or 5 holiday shopping-sized bags of their accessories. I also had it in for these little punks because they'd take up all the seats on the train because their dolly needed a place to sit. Asses.
So, despite all of this, I went in to the store one day. Huge mistake. HUGE mistake. Instantly, the smell of putrid urine burnt my nostrils and I had to swallow a few gags of sickening vomit before entering into a throng of hundreds--THOUSANDS of disgusting little girls screaming and pulling at who knows what. Somehow I got lost in my entrance and ended up in the "tea room", desperately seeking pure oxygen and a way out.
I hauled ass, and I mean I really BOOKED it as fast as I could out of there. Luckily, I'm probably one of the few survivors and my only war injuries are a few scratches around my ankles and the horrible nightmares of the screaming bratty faces of spoiled little girls.
Seriously, who would pay, like, $90 for a stupid nightgown for your kid's doll? What is wrong with these people? What happened to good old-fashioned Cabbage Patches that you could buy at the local Venture for 15 bucks?
All I have to say is, thank God I read trashy teen novels like the R.L. Stine Cheerleaders series when I was a kid, and NOT the American Girl books, or I could have ended up like *one of them*.
OMG...F'ing kill me. Â First off, I love TOURISTS and out of towners. Â Why? Â Because they help to pay for all the nice things in the city, like the tulips on Michigan Ave in the summer. Â Ahhh...the tulips.
Having said, "I love TOURISTS" I equally hate one type of TOURIST...and that is the American Girl Place Tourist (AGPT for short). Â These women (no men, no man should be caught dead in this place) and their daughters tote around Michigan Ave with their big ol' bags of HUGE, RED MONSTROSITY and bang the sh*t out of your legs, arms, etc. Â AGPTs should only be allowed inside this store and should have a like a bag check on Michigan Ave. Â "uh maam...you are an AGPT, and you have a big ass red shopping bag...you'll have to check that bag before entering the streets of Chicago. Â uh maam stop looking at your recent botox shots on your face, and pay attention to your child that is running across the sheet...uh maam? Â maam?" Â
i can't even bear to go into the store! Â well, just because i wrote this, i'll end up with five daughters and spend my entire salary on this place. Â gotta love it.
The ultimate consumerist spectacle! A must stop for all social anthropologists, marketers, and pedophiles visiting Chicago (and now NYC!). Â
If you are the type who can't keep your eyes averted from car crashes, bloody noses, and surgery tv shows, you will delight in observing American culture at its most base.
And Yippee! Spectacle provided free of charge by the folks at Mattel!
I'm not feelin' it. Â No way.
Wendy McClure's AG satire is absolutely amazing - "American Girls Gone Wild" - sort of an American Girl meets Springer: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gapersblock.com%2Fdetour%2Famerican_girls_gone_wild%2F&s=dca4d7837ad38b47e9d9e742912e9bb630cc3c81ff4a745bfb0f5c3e278239f0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.gapersblock.c…</a>
Whether you love or hate the place, McClure's piece will bring joy into your life.
Nothing like perpetuating female stereotypes. Â For every little girl who ever wanted to be a princess, this store is perfect: you have shopping for overpriced dolls, an overly expensive restaurant where your dolly can "eat" too, and the chance to practice adult and/or "mommy" skills. Â Also, a hair salon, outfits to match your doll's, and velvet rope outside for the long lines (it may be velvet, but a line's a line).
Avoid at all costs!
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
