Stranger things pop up chicago 2022

Stranger Things is the ultimate cultural phenomenon. It’s broken Netflix records, brought back those iconic ’80s vibes to a modern audience, helped bring Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” back to the number 1 spot on iTunes after so many years, and so much more. There’s no denying the effect this series has on the world!

Some might say the show is overrated, but I don’t think so. It really does deserve all the hype it receives. From its fun, relatable characters, the unique story, great writing, the visual effects, this series is certainly one of a kind.

That’s why whenever there’s an experience or merchandise, you know fans will flock right over. And their might be a very awesome store in a major city!

Is there a Stranger Things store in Chicago?

If you’re in the Chicagoland area, then you’ll be happy to hear that there is indeed an official Stranger Things store! It’s not actually in the city, but in a surrounding suburb called Oak Brook.

Those who live in the area most likely have heard of the Oak Brook Shopping Center. The mall has lots of nice stores, including the recent addition of Stranger Things: The Official Store – Chicago. It’s located at: 100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523.

The retail store takes you on a journey to the Upside Down as you visit some of the show’s most known sets. You can take a seat in the Byers’ living room with the letters and lights surrounding you, shop in Starcourt Mall, play in the Palace Arcade, snap a photo at the Snow Ball of ’84 and so much more!

How much does it cost to enter the Stranger Things store?

If you want to go into the immersive experience, it will cost you… nothing! To enter the store is absolutely free, as well as taking all the Upside Down photos you want. The one thing that will cost you is the merch. And there’s A LOT of items you can get your hands on. From clothing, to ’80s boxed cereal, figures, and so much more.

Thankfully it’s summertime so if you need to travel from another state, now is your chance! You can either just walk-in, or you can grab “priority access” tickets (which are free) on the Fever website.

The “Stranger Things” pop up store hits Chicago and Dallas this weekend just in time for fans to prep for the release of Season 4 of the NetflixNFLXhit, which is also an Emmy darling.

The show is set in fictional Hawkins, Indiana, but the pop up Hawkins fits squarely inside of Oakbrook Mall, located in the western Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. It’s a Netflix official, unique retail experience for the super fan that is full of exclusive merchandise, much of which is only available in stores and not online.

Upon walking into the space - for which fans can register for timed, free tickets - you are greeted with the signature Stranger Things banner and instantly know that you are welcomed into an immersive Hawkins experience complete with about five distinctly Instagrammable backdrops including a stop in Joyce’s living room, working bicycles that you can ride, a full and free Palace Arcade, Starcourt Mall, the Hawkins National Laboratory, the Snow Ball and a photo op with a demogorgon if you dare.

The experience takes you on a trip through core themes and scenes of the show, plus it delivers some Easter eggs to those who choose to take a deeper look at the clothing offered and the toys that line the walls.

“The Stranger Things Store will send guests right into the heart of Hawkins, in a truly immersive retail experience totally stokes with 80’s vibes,” says Greg Lombardo, Head of Experiences at Netflix.

MORE FROMFORBES ADVISOR

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Amy Danise

Editor

Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans

Amy Danise

Editor

You can visit the Palace Arcade and play Galaga and Dig Dug at the Stranger Things pop up experience ... [+] store.

Let’s take a detailed tour.

The first thing that hits you is the music. John Cougar Mellencamp. Wham. Teena Marie. Folks of a certain age will find themselves humming from the moment they arrive. Folks younger than a certain age will find themselves also humming the music they already heard on the show.

You walk in and turn the corner into Joyce’s Living Room, complete with the 80s couch, Dungeons and Dragons game sitting open on the wooden coffee table and a few boxes of Russian Cheerios lining the walls, along with an old-school black and white television, new vinyl albums (for sale) of the Stranger Things soundtrack and an assortment of things that will bring any 70s or 80s kids straight back to the memories of their nostalgic childhood.

Yes, you can sit on the couch, right under the alphabet lights, and take a picture.

After wandering around the living room, the Palace Arcade is my next step. There, I enter a blacklight party room with plenty of merch (hello desktop Pacman!) and the holy grail of 80s things: upright, authentic arcade games GalaGALAga, Dig Dug, Centipede and Ms. Pac Man are there, ready to be played. No quarters needed. The games are free.

I check: Mad Max hasn’t been playing just yet, so the top spots are still available.

After the arcade, you can visit the Hawkins National Laboratory, where you can push buttons, take even more pictures and peruse a wall of t-shirts and demogorgon toys, including a gorgon plushie. Some higher priced things are there as well, collectible sculptures of key movie moments with a price point starting at $200.

The Starcourt Mall is in attendance at the Stranger Things pop up experience in Dallas and Chicago.

After walking through the lab, the demogorgon appears out of a wall. Some folks will stay and take a picture, but others might skeedaddle quickly to the hallways of Hawkins High, look at a few lockers, see a few boxes of Eggos laying about and have the opportunity to buy a Hawkins gym outfit before heading to the Snow Ball, a scene stealer that was the highlight - and end - of Season two of the series.

Naturally, the Snow Ball path leads to Starcourt Mall, Scoops Ahoy and an assortment of neon items - perfectly on trend with 80s gear. And there is another photo opp with bicycles and a doomed backdrop so you can try on either your “Stranger Things” cosplay dreams or perhaps even picture yourself in “ET: The Extraterrestrial.”

Every detail was accounted for, from the Big League Chew gum and Ring Pops for sale at the counter, to the rats in the locker to the Thinking Cap and viewfinders for sale at Starcourt Mall and the arcade. If you wanted, you could suspend belief for a while and really think it was 1984.

Some Easter eggs: Hellfire Club gear was front and center, and since they figure prominently in the first episode of the season, a Netflix representative confirms that the group members have a high profile role in season four. Also, a collab between Netflix and iam8bit led to Ecuadorian artist Chogrin creating a vinyl sculptural piece on display named “Elegorgon. This Elegorgon piece offers the answer to the question: “what would a half Eggo-eatin’ tween, half teeth demogorgon look like?”

Fun fact: many of the items in Joyce’s Living Room are super glued to their surfaces to prevent sticky fingers from taking some of the Upside Down home with them.

Don’t miss this part: A customizable apparel station that allows you to place your photo alongside the key characters and print a t-shirt. Allow extra time for this customization option.

This isn’t the first Stranger Things store. The concept first came to New York City and L.A. in 2021, where lines wrapped the block as folks waited to get inside. The story is produced by Netflix and managed by Three Ten Merchandise with store design by Black Sky Creative. Licensing deals abound, including the Bandai-built Stranger Things Hawkins action figures and recreations of key board games from the 80s. Tickets are limited, but free at strangerthings-store.com

For the Chicagoans who are reading, the Stranger Things pop up store is in front of the StarbucksSBUX, just around the corner from LL Bean, close to Hollister and about a half block walk from NordstromJWN. The parking area closest to LL Bean and Seasons 52 is your best bet.

Stranger Things returns to Netflix on May 27, just in time for Emmy consideration. The first half of the season will release on May 27 with the second half releasing on July 1.

Where is the Stranger Things pop

Will Stranger Things experience come to Chicago?

How long will the Stranger Things store be open in Chicago?

How much is Stranger Things pop