Wonder Store Brings 135,000 Square Feet Of Stuff For Baby

 may have the aura of a large national retail chain, but everything about the 135,000 square foot children’s megastore that opened Saturday at the is local. 

This is the first and only store open thus far, according to Director of Marketing Michelle Goldstein. But not for long--or so the owners hope.

“We plan to go national,” Goldstein said. Even before more stores are open, a website will be established to offer the store's products over the Internet. 

The location at 250 S. Waukegan Road offers an expansive array of products for children from birth through age 7 as well as accessories their parents may need. Among other things, there is baby gear, furniture, bedding, clothing and toys. 

There is also party space and 1,600 square feet dedicated to a baby registry.

Ownership is local as well. Founders Shane Christensen and Bill Colaianni are from Lake Forest. The other originator of the company, Joe Milano, is from Deerfield, and the corporate offices are situated in the Deerbrook Mall store. 

“The Wonder concept is unlike anything in the traditional children’s retail environment today,” Christiansen said in a news release. “As a company comprised of parents, we decided to create a destination where you could buy everything you could ever dream of for infants and young children.”