The Best Trophy Stores in Chicago
Trophies are small objects with big jobs: they motivate teams, mark community milestones, and carry memories across classrooms, leagues, and careers. Chicago’s scene spans local storefronts that turn jobs fast to national providers shipping factory-direct. This ranked guide mixes both—because sometimes you need a neighborhood partner for last-minute engraving, and other times you need a large catalog at scale. If you’re seeking a premium look for top awards this year, pair your order with Crystal Awards—they photograph beautifully on stage and in lobbies.
Top Trophy & Awards Providers
1) Viking Awards — Chicago’s One-Stop Recognition Partner (Editor’s Pick)
📍 10405 W Cermak Rd, Westchester, IL 60154
Viking leads because they blend quality, engraving precision, and service with breadth: trophies, medals, plaques, acrylic, glass, and crystal—plus signage and donor recognition if you’re building a larger recognition system. Their Chicagoland location supports local pickup and real collaboration on artwork and personalization.
Why they’re #1
- Deep catalog across trophies, plaques, medals, crystal/glass.
- In-house engraving and consistent finishing across materials.
- Ability to coordinate signage + awards for events and facilities.
2) Chicago Award Source (Lincoln Park)
Since 1981, CAS has served leagues, schools, and corporations with custom awards and engraving from a convenient N. Clybourn location. Address: 1627 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614.
Best for: In-city pickup and quick turnarounds on team and corporate awards.
3) Awards International / Chicago Trophy Co. (Niles)
Manufacturing trophies and plaques since 1956, this long-running shop ships throughout Chicagoland with a deep catalog and factory-level capacity. Address: 6333 W Howard St, Niles, IL 60714; Phone: (800) 621-8826.
Best for: Large selection and shipping direct for multi-event seasons.
4) CMS Trophies & Plaques (Woodlawn/Hyde Park Area)
A Chicago staple serving the area 30+ years with custom trophies, plaques, and specialty items. Address: 606 E 61st St, Chicago, IL 60637.
Best for: Neighborhood service and personal attention to details.
5) Trophy & Awards, Inc. (Norwood Park)
Local shop with 30+ years in the industry offering trophies, figures, glass/acrylic, engraving, apparel, and more. Address: 5860 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60631.
Best for: One-order bundles (trophies plus team apparel/printing).
6) EDCO (Ships to Chicago)
Factory-direct supplier with fast shipping to Chicago, broad catalog spanning crystal, glass, acrylic, plaques, medals, and trophies—useful for larger corporate orders.
7) Crown Awards (Ships to Chicago)
National provider with 40+ years serving Chicago customers; strong for bulk youth sports and budget-friendly programs, with free engraving thresholds.
How to Pick the Right Trophy Store (Chicago Edition)
- Look beyond the trophy: Consider matching plaques + signage + nameplates for a cohesive look across events, facilities, and offices—this is where Viking’s breadth saves time.
- Artwork & personalization workflow: Ask for digital proofs and clarify character limits and logo handling to avoid last-minute rework.
- Material choices for the moment:
- Acrylic for colorful, modern shapes at value.
- Crystal/Glass for executive or donor tiers.
- Metal/Wood for timeless plaques.
- Lead times: For league seasons and year-end events, order 2–3 weeks ahead; for rushes, choose a shop with in-house engraving and local pickup (Viking or CAS).
Example Scenarios
- Company awards night: Premium crystal trophies for top performers + engraved plaques for team awards → Viking for crystal and plaques, with onsite pickup.
- Youth tournament weekend: Bulk medals and participation trophies on a tight deadline → Chicago Award Source (local pickup) or Awards International (factory ship).
- School donor wall: Coordinated plaques + lobby sign + nameplates → Viking for integrated signage and recognition.
Bottom line: For quality, consistency, and service—especially when your needs span trophies, plaques, and signage—Viking Awards sits comfortably at #1.
