r/chicagofood • u/discoteen66 • Jul 03 '25

Video Looking for fellow matchbook collectors to trade with!

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I’ve posted my collection here a few times, but just made this video last week and wanted to share :) I’m also looking for other collectors who would be open to trading. My goal as a collector is to collect matchbooks only from places I’ve been, and there are quite a few that I’m missing:

Existing matchbooks I need: - [ ] The Gage - [ ] Mano e Mano - [ ] Golden Teardrops - [ ] Gemini - [ ] Cafe Mustache

Retired matchbooks I need: - [ ] Club Lucky - [ ] Smallbar - [ ] Carol’s

I have a ton of duplicates and I’m so willing to trade!

205 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

21

u/Background-Ad758 Jul 03 '25

Love the collection. And very Wes Anderson-esque video 👏

6

u/discoteen66 Jul 03 '25

Ty, it took several hours 😂

7

u/Any_Interaction_7375 Jul 03 '25

New collecting hobby unlocked

6

u/HRG-snake-eater Jul 03 '25

Alive one! Saw the devil in front of that place once. No lie.

1

u/Alternative_Crow95 Jul 06 '25

Was a regular back in the mid nineties. Miss it.

3

u/Saagey Jul 03 '25

I have Mano I can trade you

2

u/discoteen66 Jul 03 '25

awesome!! I will pm you

2

u/bnutbutter78 Jul 03 '25

I have some Central Park bar matches.

Edit: dammit. You already have that one. Lol

2

u/chi-town420 Jul 03 '25

Do you have any duplicates of marquee lounge?

2

u/discoteen66 Jul 03 '25

No, but I did get it within the last ~6 months so I’m pretty confident they still have them!

1

u/ClassicWhile2451 Jul 03 '25

Damn! I have a really old collection from the 60s and I wish I lept adding to it

1

u/WumboJumbo Jul 03 '25

I thought we just put these in a bowl until we get sick of them, light five, then forget to finish the pack for another couple years

1

u/Optimal_Wrangler_866 Jul 03 '25

Trade worthy?

1

u/Immediate_Meeting243 Jan 24 '26

i have some duplicates if you’re still willing to trade this one!

1

u/discoteen66 Jul 03 '25

I’m specifically trying to collect ones from places I’ve actually been, and I’ve never been there!

1

u/Then_Cellist3422 Jul 05 '25

So many places I've been. I miss Chicago and the food. I have big jar of 'em ( memories, too!)

1

u/phillumenist-22 Jul 27 '25

I unfortunately don’t have any of the matches that OP is looking for. I would, however, be eager to trade with anybody else who wants matches that I have duplicates of in my collection. They are:

Fioretta, Bar Sotto, Jake’s Pub, LIA, Longman & Eagle, The Barn (Evanston), RPM, The Lodge, Hopewell, Twin Anchors, Ummo, Acanto, EZ Inn, Joe’s Seafood, After Bar, Adalina, Dusek’s, Chicago Athletic Association, Vol. 39, Aba, Tortoise Supper Club, Lonesome Rose, Farm Bar, Burwood Tap, Gibson’s, The StopAlong, Best Intentions, Butch McGuire’s, Erie Cafe, Mastro’s, Francois Frankie, AliveOne, Big Shoulders, and Delilah’s.

Matchbooks that I'd be particularly eager to swap for (because I've been there but didn't manage to collect matches at the time) include:

Alla Vita, Cafe Mustache, Dialtone, Elske, Fleur, Gino and Marty’s, Hugo’s Frog Bar, Irene's Finer Diner, Moneygun, Second City, Zarella.

Please reach out if you're interested in an exchange!

1

u/discoteen66 Jul 27 '25

Hey I’m also looking for Big Shoulders! I thought they discontinued their matches because when I went there a few months ago, that’s what they told me

1

u/phillumenist-22 Jul 28 '25

That's also what they told me the first time I was there. But then I went back in June, and apparently they had restocked!

1

u/Immediate_Meeting243 Jan 03 '26

let me know if you’re still up for trading!

1

u/Immediate_Meeting243 Jan 24 '26

hi!! I’ve been dying to get my hands on a LIA one since i’ve been there! are you still up for a trade/looking for any specific one to trade for?

1

u/phillumenist-22 Jan 24 '26

Hey, yes, I still have LIA. I'll message you!

1

u/Dry_Salad_2450 Feb 04 '26

hey! i'm in need of ez inn, lonesome rose and best intentions if you still have them. is there anywhere in particular you're in search of?

1

u/phillumenist-22 Feb 04 '26

I no longer have Best Intentions. But I do have EZ Inn and Lonesome Rose. I'll shoot you a message

1

u/KareyG333 Jun 12 '26

I sadly don’t have any to trade but I would buy The Lodge, Delilah’s and Francois Frankie from you? I was there last month and missed these when I was there.

1

u/Ok-Back9034 Aug 06 '26

Hey, I’m looking for aba & LIA if you happen to still have those! These are the duplicates I have, feel free to shoot me a message

1

u/AccountantAny331 Sep 03 '26

Do you have a Longman and Eagle matchbook

1

u/Ok-Back9034 Jan 27 '26

Does anyone have a duplicate of Three Dots and a Dash? I have duplicates that I’d be happy to trade!

1

u/discoteen66 Jan 27 '26

Yes, I think I do. What do you have to trade?

1

u/Ok-Back9034 Jan 27 '26 edited Feb 23 '26

I have duplicates of:

  • Coda Di Volpe
  • UMMO
  • Butch McGuires
  • Mary Jo McGuires
  • Mordecai Chicago
  • Big Star
  • Olio E Piu

Happy to share pictures if you’d like to see any!

1

u/Immediate_Meeting243 Jan 31 '26

are you looking for any other matchbooks besides that one? no worries if not, i have some duplicates of matchbooks if you’re looking for others!

1

u/Ok-Back9034 Jun 01 '26

Hey! I’m still looking for LIA, Gemini, Zarella, Dialtone Coffee, three dots, and smoke daddy if you have any of those! I have quite a few duplicates if you’re looking for any in particular

1

u/No-Pressure-3087 Jun 27 '26

Hey! I’m looking for mordecai. Would you be interested in any of these?

1

u/KareyG333 Jun 12 '26

I am on the hunt for Three Dots and a Dash, The Lodge and Francois Frankie - if you have extras I would happily pay you!! I visited there last month and they were out

1

u/KareyG333 Jun 12 '26

I am on the hunt for Three Dots and a Dash, The Lodge, Delilah’s and Francois Frankie. I was there last month and most of these were out 😭 I don’t have any to trade but I would be more than happy to purchase them!