Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology

Places to shop

Food shopping

There are many different places to shop for food in Champaign-Urbana. You can find just about anything you crave!

Grocery stores

Aldi, Save A Lot, and Deals stores are the cheapest in town. They carry generic brand food items. So, if you don't have to have a commercial name brand food item, this is where to shop!

Aldi

(www.aldifoods.com)

701 N Mattis (across from Kraft), Champaign

Save A Lot

(www.save-a-lot.com)

220 N Broadway, Urbana 384-6885

Deals Nothing Over A Dollar

245 S Mattis (Country Fair Shopping Ctr), Champaign

356-4036

County Market (www.countymarket.com) stores are probably the next least expensive grocery stores -- not part of Super Stores like Meijer, or Sam's Club (listed later). They generally have good prices on produce and have weekly specials, their own delis, and bakeries. This is where I do my grocery shopping.

Champaign County Market stores

Urbana County Market stores

1914 Glenn Park

(off Mattis, N of I-72) 356-8242

2901 W Kirby Ave

(at Duncan Road)

351-8600

1819 Philo Road 337-0210

Jerry's IGA (www.kirbyfoods.com) stores. They carry some hard to find items and have salad bars in their stores. I find the Jerry's on Kirby to be a bit pricey on most items, and the selection is somewhat limited, but it is the only large grocery store convenient to campus.

Champaign Jerry's IGA

312 W Kirby 352-0019 (near campus)

2110 Round Barn Rd 352-8715

If you can afford it, Schnuck's (www.schnucks.com) stores are incredible. They tend to be a bit expensive, but have incredible selections on produce, meat, and bakery items. You can find lower price items on sale. They even have a video rental store attached so you can rent a movie to watch after your grueling trip to the store!

Schnuck's in Champaign

109 N Mattis (south of I-72 exit)

351-2600

Schnuck's in Urbana

corner of Main and Vine

337-6016

During the summer months and early fall, there are farmer's markets that sell fresh produce from local growers. Several of the shopping malls will host these markets in their parking lots at various times during the week. For example, there is a regular Saturday morning farmer's market at Lincoln Square in Urbana. Check the papers for other locations.

You can also find roadside stands that sell Indiana melons, sweet corn, and tomatoes toward the end of the summer. Nothing is better than fresh off the farm Illini Double sweet corn or sun-ripe tomatoes, though they can sometimes be expensive. And Indiana melons are bigger and sweeter than the ones in the stores from California. They grow it better in the Midwest!! One stand is located on Springfield Avenue, west of Mattis, just in front of Lil Porgy's BBQ (listed later).

International/Specialty Food shops

International Shops

The University of Illinois draws students from all over the world. There are a few stores in town that carry international foods and spices, vegetarian foods, health foods, and gourmet items.

Art Mart

(www.artmart-food-toys.com)

300 S Broadway, Urbana 344-7979

At south end in Lincoln Square Mall

The Green Onion

(www.greenonion2004.com)

2020 S Neil, Champaign 359-5370

International grocery store

Common Ground Food Co-Op

(www.commongroundcoop.org)

403 S Wright, Champaign 352-3347

A non-profit grocery store.

World Harvest International & Gourmet Foods

(www.worldharvestfoods.com)

519 E University Ave 356-4444

Corner of University & 6th Streets

Strawberry Fields

(www.strawberry-fields.com)

306 W Springfield Ave, Urbana 328-1655
West of downtown Urbana, between Main & Springfield Aves. Natural & veggie selections.

El Charro Mexican Grocery

55 E Green Street, Champaign 337-6647

There are also Mexican grocery stores at 900 S Neil St in Champaign and near the 500 block of N Cunningham Ave in Urbana.

Bazaar (Indian food)

604 S lst Street, Champaign 355-8890

Am-Ko Oriental Foods & Gifts

101 E Springfield, Champaign 398-2922

Specialty Foods

Old Time Meat and Deli Shoppe

(www.oldtimemeatanddeli.com)

2018 S Neil, Champaign 355-0000

Great deli sandwiches made to order. Superior meat selection. Amish raised poultry.

Elliott's Meats Inc

1715 W Kirby, Champaign 398-3354

Meat trays and other party platters. Great brownies!

Trout 45

(www.trout45.com)

2006 S Neil, Champaign 378-7688

Wall of Fire & largest selection of hot sauces in C-U!

The Great American Seafood Company

1711 W Kirby, Champaign 352-0986

Fresh fish & seafood.

Drug Stores

Though not really a type of food store, these stores do carry quick to prepare foods and snack items. Drug stores carry personal care items (such as hair care products, deodorant, soap, perfumes, makeup), liquor, stationery supplies and greeting cards, along with over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, cold remedies, allergy medication, antiseptics, etc. They also have prescription medication services available. You can buy the commercial brands, which tend to be more expensive, or you can get generic or store brands at significantly lower prices. (Note: most of the grocery and super stores have similar items and services.)

Osco Drug Stores

(www.americandrugstores.com)

Walgreen Drug Stores

(www.walgreens.com)

107 W Green (at Neil) Champaign 352-4777

243 S Mattis, Champaign
352-7710

South Philo Rd, Urbana
328-4080

407 E Green,
Campus
344-0121

Mattis & Springfield, Champaign
356-0521

1809A S Philo Rd, Urbana
367-8359

Shop Til You Drop

There are several shopping malls are located in Champaign-Urbana, and all are on bus routes. Shopping malls are usually enclosed areas that house many separate businesses within their walls. In general, the stores located in malls are not inexpensive – unless you can find things on sale – though they do offer the advantage of convenience.

I will first list the major malls and some of the strip malls in town. Though I discovered while driving around town to locate the various strip malls that there are far too many too mention here. I will then address the cheaper places to shop – the super discount stores and special discount stores – where I do my shopping, since my dollar goes much farther!

Shopping Malls

Market Place Mall is the largest mall in town. It has clothing and shoe stores, jewelry stores, gift shops, specialty stores, music and bookstores, and a food court. There are several major department stores located in Market Place including Bergner’s, Famous Barr, JC Penney, and Sears, as well as a Victoria’s Secret, Aeropostale, The Gap, and Sam Goody.

Market Place Mall

2000 N Neil Street, north of I-74, Champaign

356-2700

These are some of the smaller malls in town. Lincoln Square was the first indoor malls in Illinois! Lincoln Square and Country Fair have no big name department stores right now, just a few specialty shops.

Lincoln Square Mall

Green St, Urbana 367-4092

Directly east on Green St from campus

Country Fair Shopping Center

Corner of Mattis and Springfield, Champaign

356-3717

Market View Shopping Center

South of Market Place Mall, Champaign

351-1055

Strip Malls

Strip malls are springing up all over and are very popular. They usually house only a few specialized shops, maybe a restaurant, and then smaller shops like a dry cleaners, tanning salon, or a cell phone company. Here are just a few:

Old Farm Shops

Kirby and Mattis Avenues, Champaign

Panera's, Talbot's, Villardo's, Checkered Moon, Paint Your Own Pottery, Glenn Poor's, Elliott's Meats, Great Seafood Company, Subway, pizza, and a Chinese restaurant, too.

Savoy Plaza

South Neil Street & Curtis Road, Savoy

Pages for All Ages, Body ‘N Sole, Friar Tuck’s, Savoy 16, Kentucky Fried Chicken, A&W, Spaghetti Shop, Dairy Queen, Animal Outfitters, Subway, BoRics, Curves for Women, Babyland

Stadium Plaza

1400 block of S Neil Street, Champaign

Subway, Espresso Royale, Cookies by Design, Gumby’s Pizza, Minuteman Press

Round Barn Centre

Mattis & Springfield, Champaign

Village Inn Pizza, Famous Dave’s, Original Pancake House, Blockbuster, Kinko's, Ace Hardware, Gold's Gym, Jerry's IGA

Hillcrest Center

2000 block of S Neil Street, Champaign

Trout 45, Old Time Meat & Deli, Green Onion.

Shops of Knollwood

2200 block of S Neil Street, Champaign

Biaggi's, Great Harvest Bread Company, Le Peep

University Centre

30-40 block of E Green, Champaign

Jimmy John's, Fasprint

Northgate Plaza

N Cunningham at Perkins Rd, Urbana

Dollar General, Bingo

Royal Plaza

500 S Neil, Champaign

Pickles, Piccadilly, Chang’s Oriental Market, Champagne Audio, Microsystems

Windsor Gallery

1100 W Windsor (near Galen), Champaign

Zelma's, Sun Singer Wines & Spirits, Sweet Indulgence Bakery, Champaign Telephone

Schnuck's Urbana Crossing

N Vine Street, Urbana

Schnuck's, Papa Murphy's, Quizno's, Wingstop

Village at the Crossing

Duncan and Windsor, Champaign

Subway, Nook & Cranny Café, Blossom Basket.

Super Discount Stores

These super-stores have a very wide variety of items, from clothing to electronic equipment to automotive supplies, with fairly reasonable prices on most items. Some are open 24 hours. The North Prospect/Baytowne corridor is the mega-shopping area for these stores, though some are opening up in different areas of C-U and surrounding areas.

These super discount stores are open 24 hours a day – and have grocery stores:

Wal-Mart Super Center

(www.walmart.com)

505 S Dunlap Ave (off S Neil), Savoy

355-5845

Meijer

(www.meijer.com)

2401 N Prospect, Champaign

353-4000

These super discount stores do not have grocery stores - though some do offer packaged food items:

Wal-Mart

(www.walmart.com)

913 W Marketview Dr

352-0700

Located off Prospect, behind Baytowne mall.

Sam's Club - Member's Only

(www.samsclub.com)

915 W Marketview Dr (next to Wal-Mart)

355-2223

You must be a member to shop here. They sell items in large quantities/bulk.

Target (One of Cindy's favorite stores!)

(www.target.com)

2102 N Prospect

355-3325

Kohl's

(www.kohls.com)

109 Convenience Ctr Rd (south of Market Place)

352-0431

Farm and Fleet

(www.farmandfleet.com)

2501 N Cunningham, Urbana 367-1354

A Midwestern shopping experience!

Special Discount Department Stores

These are really, really, really inexpensive places to shop.

Big Lots (I love this place!)

(www.cnstores.com)

2002 W Springfield, Champaign

355-1844

They sell "seconds" from the larger department stores - stuff the larger stores bought too much of or are closing out. Can find some great deals! It's a different store each week, with new bargains coming in every day.

Dollar General

(www.dollargeneral.com)

2004-B W Springfield, Champaign 351-3013

1506 N Cunningham, Urbana 384-2269

Southgate Plaza on S Philo Rd, Urbana 337-0127

You have to watch the quality here a little more closely, but can find some great bargains. Great place to pick up detergents, toothpaste, etc., very inexpensively.

Budget Clothing stores

There are many budget clothing stores around town. You may have to go through racks of clothing to find just what you want, but it can be worth it!

TJ Maxx

(www.tjmaxx.com)

21 E Marketview, Champaign 352-3435

Name brand items for 1/2 price or less! This is another store that buys "seconds" from the department stores.

Gordman's

(www.gordmans.com)

1901 N Market, Champaign 403-1434

Brand name for 1/2 price or less! Also is another store that buys "seconds" from the department stores.

Dots

(www.dots.com)

2032 N Prospect, Champaign 359-9420

Next door to Target. Nothing is over $10!

Fashion Bug

(fashionbug.charmingshoppes.com)

1901 N Market, Champaign 356-8569

Located near Kohl's

Goodwill Thrift Store

(www.goodwill.org)

1102 N Prospect, Champaign 356-4021

Second-hand clothes for less.

Salvation Army Thrift Store

(www.salvationarmy.org)

119 E University, Champaign 373-7827

Second hand clothes, furniture, etc.

Consignment Clothing Stores

Consignment stores only take 'slightly used' clothes, many of which are designer labels. They offer exceptional clothing at garage sale prices.

Karen's Kloset

231 S Mattis (Country Fair), Champaign

355-9395

Yours, Mine, and Ours
(children's clothing)

1824 Glen Park, Champaign (next to County Market)

356-0880

Bookstores (and Libraries)

Bookstores

There are several bookstores on campus. The following carry U of I textbooks, trademark items, memorabilia, t-shirts, calendars, class supplies.

Illini Union Bookstore –

the "Official" U of I bookstore

(www.uofibookstore.uiuc.edu)

810 S Wright Street, Champaign 333-2050

Follett's E² Bookstore

(shop.efollett.com)

627 S Wright Street, Champaign 356-1368

TIS College Bookstore

(www.tisbook.com/chbkstore/indexok.htm)

707 S 6th Street, Champaign 337-4900

Support your local businesses!

There are also many popular, locally owned bookstores in town.

Pages for All Ages
(Cin's favorite bookstore)

(www.pagesforallages.com)

1201 Savoy Plaza Lane, Savoy 351-7243

Have couches so you can leisurely browse through your prospective book choices. Also have a coffee shop/cafe.

Insight Metaphysical Bookstore (cool place!)

(www.insight-books.com)

505 S 1st Street, Champaign 352-5683

This store is internet only! The physical store is closed.

Sell new age books, tapes, incense, tarot cards, gemstones, etc.

G-Mart

(www.g-mart.com)

44 E Main St, Suite 101, downtown Champaign 356-7733

Comic books, great selection, very friendly.

The Dragon's Table

(www.dragons-table.com)

44 E Main St, Suite 101, downtown Champaign

359-0503

Fantasy role playing items, gaming tournaments.

Other Realm
506 E Green, (campus)
Champaign 344-5514
Fantasy books, comics, games

Used Books

Used bookstores are very popular. You can get older best sellers and out-of-print titles at reasonable prices. If they don't have the book you want, you can even place an order and they will try to find it for you.

Jane Addams Book Shop

(www.janeaddamsbooks.com)

208 N Neil, Champaign 356-2555

Old Main Bookshoppe

(www.oldmain.com)

116 N Walnut, Champaign 355-6400

Priceless Books
(www.abebooks.com)
108 W Main Street, Urbana 344-4037

Big Corporate Chain Bookstores

Big corporate chain bookstores are always springing up in town. Here are a few of them:

Barnes and Noble

(www.bn.com)

51 E Marketview Dr, Champaign 355-2045

Café, international newspapers, magazines.

Borders

(www.borders.com)

802 W Town Ctr Blvd, Champaign 351-9011

Café, music, etc.

Waldenbooks

(www.waldenbooks.com)

Market Place Mall, Champaign 356-7062

So you don't go in without being forewarned...these are adult bookstores (they sell pornographic materials): Urbana News; Illini Video Arcade; Holiday Adult Arcade; Fantasy's.

Libraries

If you want a good book to curl up with, probably the cheapest thing to do is to go to the local library and borrow a book for free!

The U of I boasts the largest public university library in the world AND the 3rd largest academic library in the country (just behind Harvard and Yale)! All registered students have access to the University library services.

U of I Main Library

(www.library.uiuc.edu)

1408 W Gregory

333-2290

There are also 2 public libraries in C-U. Library cards are free to residents of the city where the library is located. You can also purchase, for a nominal fee, a card that gives you access to the other city's library. You can borrow CD's, videotapes, books. Tax forms are available Jan-April, as well as tax assistance. There are also seminars, story-telling events, etc.

Champaign Public Library

(www.champaign.org)

505 S Randolph, Champaign

356-2072

Urbana Free Library

(www.prairienet.org/ufl)

201 S Race, Urbana

367-4057

Home improvement stores

Several home improvement stores are in the area as well where you can buy paint, tools, lumber, nails, lawn care products, etc.

Lowe's

(www.lowes.com)

1904 N Prospect, Champaign 373-7300

Huge store with lumber yard & garden shop and very good prices/selections. Have a little bigger selection than Menard’s, but can cost a bit more.

Menards

(www.mendards.com)

620 Town Ctr Blvd, Champaign 359-6100

Huge new store with lumber yard, garden shop, etc. - prices competitive with Lowe's.

Home Depot

(www.homedepot.com)

800 N Bloomington Rd, Champaign

Opening in 2005. Huge store with lumber yard, nursery, etc. Supposed to have the best prices.

Do It Best Hardware

(www.doitbesthardware.com)

107 W Springfield, Champaign 356-6454

A little more expensive. Also have a quality china shop, and a garden shop each spring.

Farm and Fleet

(www.farmandfleet.com)

2501 N Cunningham, Urbana 367-1354

Everything from overalls to paint to car batteries.

True Value Stores

(www.truevalue.com)

Round Barn Center, Champaign 352-1100

1303 E Colorado, Urbana 367-6458

Have equipment available to rent, like dollies, carts, etc.

Electronic equipment

For electronic items, stereo equipment, TVs, VCRs, CD players, DVD players; here are some of the lesser expensive places specializing in electronics. You can also find them at your "super discount stores".

Best Buy

(www.bestbuy.com)

606 W Anthony, Champaign 352-8883

Wide selection of name brands at good prices.

Circuit City

(www.circuitcity.com)

2006 N Prospect, Champaign 351-1100

Wide selection of name brands at good prices.

Radio Shack

(www.radioshack.com)

2020 N Prospect & most malls in town

Gadgets & gizmos for the electronically handy.

Here are the places for high quality electronic items. They tend to be more expensive,
but you get what you pay for!

Good Vibes

(www.gvibes.com)

1501 N Prospect, Champaign 351-0909

Very knowledgeable staff and excellent equipment.

Glenn Poor's Audio-Video

(www.glennpoors.com)

1745 W Kirby, Champaign 356-5456

Excellent brand name equipment.

Collectibles and Arts & Crafts

I love shopping for collectibles and objects d'art. For the most part, these are places I have been or have had recommended to me in my quest to acquire the largest hippo collection in the world! (Now you know where all my extra money goes...)

Collectibles

Prairie Gardens

(www.prairiegardens.com)

3000 W Springfield, Champaign 356-6532

In addition to collector’s items, they have plants and garden supplies. They also offer framing services and do artificial floral arrangements.

International Galleries

Lincoln Square Mall 328-2254

Art posters, pottery, jewelry, on-site custom framing services, elegant boxes, wind chimes, cards... Large selection of animal jewelry, figurines, and objects d'art.

Art Mart

(www.artmart-food-toys.com)

Lincoln Square Mall 344-7979

International foods/coffee, chocolates, kitchen gadgets, glasses, vases, cards, party lights, objects d'art... Separate children's store next door with toys, educational games, etc.

Cost Plus World Market

(www.costplus.com)

722 W Town Center Blvd, Champaign 352-7996

International collectibles and foods. Also have dishes, glassware, linens, and liquor.

Pier 1 Imports

(www.pier1.com)

2001 N Prospect, Champaign 355-9568

In Baytowne shop area. Large store filled with furniture, rugs, kitchenware, glasses, vases, pitchers, jars & bottles, gifts, candles, incense, napkins/placemats, jewelry, clothes, objects d'art, cards, posters, toys, etc. from all over the world.

Bogart's Casablanca

(www.bogartscasablanca.com)

502 W John, Johnstown Center, (campus) Champaign 328-2668

In my day it was called a "head shop". ;-) Incense, tie-dye clothes, t-shirts (Dead Head, South Park, & drug themes), candles, jewelry, beads, massage oils, tobacco/drug paraphernalia. Only place like it in town!

Tuesday Morning

(tuesdaymorning.com)

Country Fair Shopping Ctr, Champaign 398-3753

Another store that has department store items at 50%-80% off regular prices.

Marrakech Imports

404 E Green, Champaign (campus) 352-8258

Clothes, jewelry, posters, etc.