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It's Good To Be King Inc

"A Shop For All Ages"

About Us

We are the premier brick and mortar chess store in the Chicago area - located in downtown Elmhurst City Centre – offering strong product selection, competitive pricing, alluring in-store experience and quality personal service.

We are open and at present have many chess sets to sell.

While, inexplicably, chess sets have not been prioritized by the world in resolving supply chain issues, we currently do have more chess sets to sell than we have had in months. Having said that, we do suggest shopping as soon as possible- we have limited quantities of certain types of sets.

Please view our “Services” page as to the chess sets that we currently have in the store for sale as well as our customer services; and view our “Photos” and “360 Tour” pages for how we enjoy displaying and selling our merchandise.

We are an independent, locally owned shop open since 1996. We are purely a brick and mortar physical retail store, selling the actual chess sets customers are viewing and “hands on” examining while in the shop. We try to make shopping enjoyable and buying easy, and every transaction is a personal and social one for us.

We draw people from Chicago and all of the surrounding metropolitan area – to browse and, if desired, to purchase and immediately walk out of the store with chess sets for themselves or to gift. We regularly have customers coming out from the city of Chicago and coming into the store from suburbs including Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Downers Grove, Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Park Ridge, and Oak Park.

We do maintain limited store hours. This allows our owners, Tom and Marguerite, to always be in the shop when we are open – being the ones who will say “hello” when you come in, answer your questions and help you with a purchase.

What We Offer

Our Specialties include:

We sell a wide range of chess merchandise at all price points -including complete chess sets of pieces and boards (including folding and magnetic sets), chessmen of Staunton and figure design, chess boards of all sizes, and chess clocks and accessories.
While carrying mostly chess merchandise, we also sell backgammon sets and checkers as well as history type merchandise including plastic toy soldiers, historic replicas, bobbleheads and playing cards.

Our Services include:

Customers are greeted and helped directly by our owners, Tom and Marguerite. They are the ones who personally select all of our products and display our merchandise; and they will be the ones who talk with you about what you are looking for, consult with you on making your selection, and take care of you at the cash register and package up your purchase.
Because our customers purchase the chess sets that they directly view and “hands on” examine at the store, we have very few issues after the sets are taken home or given as gifts. However, if there are issues, we offer refunds and exchanges – all handled at the store in person by our owners.

Our Products include:

Listed below are the major groupings/types of chess sets that we currently have in the store:
Magnetic chess sets plastic and wood: $15.99 to $89.99.
Folding and cabinet wood chess sets: $29.99 to $139.99.
Plastic tournament chessmen and roll-up boards - $29.99 to $89.99.
Historic figure chessmen/sets: $79.99 to $189.99.
Wood weighted chessmen/sets: $19.99 to $299.99.
Metal chessmen from Italy: $89.99 to $379.99.
Wood and leather chess boards - $29.99 to $199.99.
Marble and alabaster chess sets: $199.99 to $399.99.
Chess clocks – analog and digital: $49.99 to $89.99.
Please call or e-mail the store as indicated on the “Contact Us” page for more detail as to what we have in stock “up to the minute” when you are thinking to come in.

Testimonials

On 8/20/2025 Heather Quigley had this to say:
Beautiful selection of chess sets which we looking for. Other items like miniature toy soldiers and bobbleheads too. We bought a backgammon set on sale and it's great! Would highly recommend the store and the owners are so nice and knowledgeable.

On 8/12/2025 Victor B. had this to say:
The owners, Tom and Marguerite, are very friendly and helpful. They showed us numerous chess sets and provided a useful advice. We were not pressed and very comfortable. There is a large number of chess sets for everyone's taste. The prices are very reasonable.

On 7/26/2025 Javier Artiles had this to say:
We drove over to look for a wooden chess set and were greeted by the owners. They were kindest and most attentive, guiding us through different options for the board and piece set. We bought a beautiful set which will be played by me and my daughter for years to come. Forget Amazon and just come over here to actually touch and see. Totally worth it.

On 7/26/2025 Dohbart1000 had this to say:
I bought the perfect pieces and matched them with he perfect board at It's Good To Be The King! Tom and Marguerite, the owners, helped me find the extra weighted wood pieces and showed me a sample of wood boards that compliment the set. I really appreciate how functional and beautiful the set is. If you're looking for your perfect chess set, make the trip to IGTBTK.

On 7/24/2025 CIARA GAMBINO had this to say:
I got a travel size chess set here yesterday! Loved talking to the owners. They were so nice and kind, and their products are such high quality. We had a wonderful conversation. Overall, an AMAZING store! ❤️

Contact Us

It's Good To Be King Inc
129 W. 1st St. Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone: (630) 833-5060
Email: contactus@goodtobeking.com

Kitty Corner Northwest of Elmhurst Metra Station. In The Middle of the Downtown Elmhurst Area.

Where To Find Us

Payment Types Accepted

Checks, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Debit Cards

Our Hours

Holiday Hours May Vary. Please Call For Details.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed