Needle Doctor is a great place. Is "hi-fi" Kenny still with him??
I had a meeting once with Jerry (the owner) and I brought a VIP-type dude from Chicago who was a Regional Sales Rep with one of their vendors...
Jerry excused himself, went into the back room, and came out 15 mins later.... BAKED out of his mind!!
We were chatting with the other staff and Jerry came back in a purple haze.
When we left, the guy asked me if I thought Jerry had "taken" some marijuana in the back room (in a strong sout' side accent)... I had to laugh.
Music Direct is another great place
www.musicdirect.com , they are a Chicaqo based online and catalog seller. They have a cool warehouse and makeshift showroom in an old red brick building at Ogden and Lake near Union Park.