There's one SW of Chicago I checked out a few months back.
Kole Digital Systems
Very high end - not your typical "for the masses" HA store but rather if you are building a 1-5 M dollar home and don't mind spending 250K on home automation this is the place for you.
Its unique showroom design is more that of a home with each room including HA at a price which personally is out of reach for most consumers.
But on the other hand the draw is to the HA non educated person with a lot of money that considers HA "magical" with technology light years ahead of the average consumer. (which it is not anymore).
IE: A lighting scene created triggered by a remote control I guess can be "awe" inspiring to someone not knowing basic powerline technologies.
Having a custom wood furniture store next door helps their business some.
Another place is:
The Little Guys
More of a "grown up" Stereo shop. Roots are the old "Musicraft" stores (chain) of Chicago. Their objective is to sell. A lot of publicity / adverstising helps them. They don't really push HA much but if its a selling point they will make it happen no matter what. Nothing really fancy with their showrooms.
I guess knowing their roots from the 1970's (Musicraft) purchasing a new stereo every 6 months while I was in college attracted me to their stores. My most recent experience with them was when they first opened in the 90's and I wanted to purchased a very small Panasonic portable DVD player. I went into the store with intentions to purchase it (believe it was around $500 at the time). Asked three salesmen about the device; noticed very little interest in a "sale" not answering any of my questions. I walked out of the store never having returned. Kind of funny though because around that same time would do a weekly golf thing with the owner. Today they "push" and "implement" whatever it takes for a sale; HA is part of that.
