It’s Good to be King is a dedicated chess store and curiosity emporium. Open since 1996, the shop carries an extraordinary selection of chess sets ranging from traditional Staunton designs to elaborately themed pieces depicting everything from American Indian figures to jazz bands to Revolutionary War soldiers. They also carry toy soldiers, replica weapons, and unique gifts and collectibles. This is strictly a brick-and-mortar experience with no online store, so every visit is hands-on and personal.
Origin Story
Tom Paravola opened It’s Good to be King in 1996 with a simple premise: chess deserved a dedicated retail home in the western suburbs.
He believed chess sets, objects that are equal parts game, art, and heirloom, should be chosen in person and held in the hand. He found the perfect spot just steps from the Elmhurst Metra station on First Street and filled it with sets sourced from craftsmen and manufacturers around the world.
His wife Marguerite joined him in running the shop, and together they’ve built a business that has quietly thrived for nearly three decades by doing the opposite of everything modern retail suggests.
No e-commerce, no social media marketing blitz, no extended hours. Just two people who know their inventory intimately and treat every visitor like a guest in their home.
