Former location of Joe Zering's magic counter, inside Marshall Field's department store, on the 4th floor. (Now, sadly, a Macy's.) Although not a magic shop per se, there was quite a selection of good magic at hand.

The magic counter was started by Martin Gardner when he was a student at the University of Chicago. There were a number of demonstrators, but Joe was the cornerstone and worked there until about 1987.

Links: Noah Shlaes' essay "Downtown". Also, Norbert Blei's story about Joe in the book "Chi Town."

See also: "Around Chicago" by Frances Marshall. The Linking Ring. April 1987. Page 97.

Macy's
N State St & E Washington St

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