I walked in needing a repair on my sewing machine. Benny didn't have the part on hand but he is skilled enough that he was able to devise a solution within a matter of minutes. While talking, he told me that he had a talent for reading minds and proceeded to read my mind. My face is very telling so I can only give him partial credit as a mind reader. But I was thinking if he rebranded his store to Reasonable Sewing Machines & Mind Reads, he'd have a much more interesting business. This is a small business dedicated to the trade. It is not the place for someone who finds comfort in corporate protocol or anyone with asthma. read more

Truth in advertising - that appeals to me! And Reasonable Sewing Machines does just that. It's not Super Sewing Machines, it's Reasonable Sewing Machines - sewing machines that are used, reconditioned, repaired and sold at a reasonable price. Reasonable Sewing Machines has a reasonable selection of table-top machines, sergers, and industrial machines and they also provide scissor sharpening services at - you guessed it - a reasonable price! Ahhhh, the Age of Reason...I guess there's still some evidence it still exists! read more

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The Great Halloween Costume Escapade of 2009 continues! Drama! Intrigue! Broken sewing machines! Tears! Anger! The throwing of bobbins! Crap, I need a sewing machine or perish. What to do? Walk it on over to Reasonable Sewing Machines, tell Benny my tale of woe and am then promptly shown a newer model Singer in my price range. After a quick tutorial on threading this particular machine and the exchange of money and compliments, as well as a promise to return if only to just say hi, I skipped home, machine in hand. I've found a new machine, a new repairman and a new friendly face in the neighborhood in under 30 minutes. Cash only though. The man is no sucker. read more

So, my sewing machine stopped sewing and despite all my research on the internet, I couldn't get the thing to work. So I picked this place because it was close and seemed decent from the reviews on here. I popped in on a Saturday. First off, be aware that the place is old school, and so is the owner, Benny. He's got random sewing machines and parts scattered about and it smells like smoke (but I don't mind--my mom smokes, I get it). He greets me and tells me to bring the machine to the back for him because he has a bad back. Not a problem, because I need my baby fixed and I'm hoping this gentleman is the Sewing Machine Whisperer. So, I explained the situation and then we exchanged some small talk. He's from Syria, and recommended I check out what I think is this (http://www.yelp.com/biz/middle-east-bakery-and-grocery-chicago) from his directions. Well, cool! A few days later he calls and says it's ready. I asked what's wrong with it, and he only says "many, many, things" and reminds me he's cash only. I stop in to grab it shortly thereafter and he's in the back at his desk and invites me to sit down. He offers me sesame cookies in the shape of an S (which, he tells me, are just called "S-cookies") and fresh orange juice, which I accept, and he begins to explain to me that the root of all the problems with my machine is that it is cheap and plastic. He knows I have been using heavy materials on it and tells me that's not what this particular machine is supposed to sew. He has me pull up the machine to his desk and shows me a bit of fabric with a bunch of stitches on it to prove that it works now. Yay! "So, what's a better machine, then, for heavy materials?" I ask. And he tells me if I don't want to go get a commercial machine, go to garage sales and look for an all-metal Singer. SINGER. METAL. Got it. Thanks Benny! And also for the snacks! read more

My sewing machine started getting the top thread tangled in the bottom bobbin in the middle of a project, so I brought it over to Reasonable. Since I'd spoken to someone on the phone before I drove over, I was a little confused that the door was locked and the doorbell broken, but a few minutes later someone came to the door. Benny told me he would take a look at my machine and give me a call when he knew what needed to be done. I was surprised that about an hour after I dropped it off, I got a call saying it was ready! I drove back over, and he had a swatch of fabric on which he had already tested out every stitch that my machine can do. I tested it out myself, and while I proceeded with caution with lingering fear that the threads would tangle, Benny animatedly urged me to sew as fast as the machine could go, and it worked beautifully. This was back in May I think, and my machine is still in perfect condition. I will definitely go back if anything goes wrong on my machine in the future. read more

After reading the reviews, I decided to take my sewing machine here to be repaired. I really, really want to give this place a chance, it seemed like the old kind of shop with people who actually know what they're doing. Except not. I took in my machine for a bobbin problem. The owner lent me a machine to use while he worked on mine, awesome. I took my machine home, and waited for his call. Week and a half later, I call him. He says, "Come get it." I come, and find my machine is still sitting there exactly as I left it. He tells me that he can't work on it, and he'll trade me the (low end, basic model) he lent me for my broken machine (for parts.) Seriously? I took my machine back and took it to the Singer dealer. $50 later, they fixed it. read more

I drive past this place all the time, and never needed my machine fixed until now....bummer. I called he told me to bring it in and he would check it out. He fixed my machine in a jiffy, seriously in about 45 min. Runs like new now! And the guy who owns the place is super nice! I would def. recommend this place! read more

I have been a designer and seamstress in Chicago for over 25 years, and I have used pretty much every repair service in town, and Benny is by far the most helpful, skilled, trustworthy, and reasonably-priced repair guy I have ever met. Goldblatt's wanted over $200 to repair my favorite Bernina (Linda Z's price was even higher) -- Benny made me a new part from a few pieces he had laying around, and charged me $25. He gave me a fantastic deal on a reconditioned industrial zig-zag, delivered and set it up for free, and, when I broke the thread guide, he scavenged me a new one, replaced it, and didn't charge me anything. I highly recommend Reasonable for repairs or purchases. Benny's shop now shares space with a dry-cleaners and has been remodeled (doesn't look like the photo anymore) but he's still there! Be sure to call ahead as well, as his hours vary. read more

I stopped by with my Singer sewing machine because it seemed like the needle kept hitting something in the bobbin case. Turns out, that's exactly what was happening, and the (plastic) bobbin gear was stripped. The guy was familiar with my machine and knew what the problem was before I could even tell him about the issues I was having. He said couldn't fix it (he advised me to take it to the Singer store), so I was disappointed but understood. As a side note, why would anyone make a gear made of plastic??? I might be in the market for a new sewing machine if it's too expensive to fix my current machine, which was free as a gift. Reasonable Sewing Machines sells machines at this store, so I might be back to make a purchase. read more

Just ok sewing machine repair. $75 and less than 24 hours to fix the broken feeder dogs on cheap little singer, but it works now. The owner was nice enough and very responsive. The cigarette smell did linger on my machine for about a day, but that doesn't bother me. Also it's right across the street from Kuma's. mmm. read more

This place is great! It seems like everyone goes to Goldblatt even though they leave feeling like the guy was a jerk to them and they got overcharged. I really wanted to find a different place to take my machine that wasn't too far from my Humboldt Park home, so a friend recommended Reasonable to me. They fixed and cleaned his machine for $35 and when he told the owner he would have trouble getting his machine there without a car, the owner told him he would send his son to come get it. I brought my machine in, and they replaced my broken bobbin case and cleaned and tuned my machine for $59. They close at six so he can "watch his Wheel of Fortune" but he sticks around till seven and he let me come late to both drop it off and pick it up. The machine purrs like a kitten now and I feel good about spending my money at such a wonderful, friendly, family-owned place. read more

Benny is an old school professional workman and works out of a small store-front. He is not YOUR old-school (early 90s through 00s) but the real old school. He can figure out the problem with your machine based on his experience and not the funny sounds we make trying to describe the problem. I dropped off a over-30 year old Kenmore sewing machine on a Friday at 6p. It was ready for pickup 24 hours later. Sixty-six dollars total for the repair, parts and service on the entire machine. The Kenmore is now good as new. Not expensive at all. read more

So I went to this place back in January and I just found the time to give this place a review. Back in January I had bought a brother sewing machine on ebay that needed some tuning. I googled away and figured the timing was off. I googled a shop and lo and behold this place came up. After a million of calls everywhere else about prices, this came out on top so I decided to take a chance on this place. Seriously glad I did. This guy was like the Godfather of sewing machines. Reasonable Sewing Machines fixes for reasonable prices. The guy was a nice man, got the job done within an hour and hooked me up with sewing goodies as well. I will definitely be coming back here and here only for fixes and purchases (since they have a buttload of sewing machines for sale). Definitely worth the time, trip and money! read more

GREAT service, SUPER fast (same day for a cleaning/ oiling and fixing the tension), and very friendly. I just picked up my machine and while I haven't tried it yet he showed me at the store that the repairs were made and reassured me to come back in in case anything wasn't right. He also gave me a bunch of oranges and told me a joke on the way out. Can't get service like that anywhere else! I'll definitely be a returning customer! read more

It's a repair shop so don't expect the shop to be fancy. Benny was quick and prompt; fixing my Brother sewing machine in no time. (Realistically in 2 hours after I dropped it off; the lower portion of my sewing machine got stuck and not moving with the top.) He clearly holds the expertise that not many American have, and he is a real charmer! read more

If you need repair on your sewing machine take it here. The owner is professional and worked very quickly on my repair, I had the machine back the next day. He has clearly been in this business a long time, very knowledgeable and I felt very trustworthy. The other plus side for going to Reasonable Sewing Machines is supporting local business!! read more

I couldn't get an answer on the phone number listed here. I talked to Benny about it and hopefully it's fixed by now... I'm really glad I ended up just walking into the storefront. It was quite an experience. read more

I went to this store two years ago to get my sewing machine fixed. I did not have a good experience and I am still upset about how Benny treated me as a customer. So I decided to re-post the review that was filtered out by Yelp. I very much regret getting my sewing machine fixed here. I was overcharged, a part was missing from my machine when it was returned to me, and the store was closed during posted business hours without any sign to let customers know when it would re-open. I will definitely NOT GO BACK to this place and I would NOT RECOMMEND it to anyone. read more

My Janome sewing machine was making this terrible noise. I have had it more than a few years so I thought maybe a tune-up would be a good idea. I drove up from Hyde Park and brought it in. The shop isn't pretty, but the guys are pretty friendly. I had forgot my foot pedestal (ie: what makes the machine go). He said he could fix it up anyway and promised to call me in 1-2 hours. 1 hour and 15 min later, he called and said it was ready for pick-up. When I got there he showed me how the machine worked soundlessly now (he had actually improvised the foot pedestal with these tiny jumper cables and by pressing the machine on and off-I was impressed) He also told me that I had satin thread in the bobbin and that it would break off threads and clog up the machine. Then he gave me some tiny scissors and cotton thread. He charged $70 (I wasn't expecting it to be that much) But I'm very happy it works so beautifully now and that he could get it done while I was out shopping. I will definitely go back in the future. read more

I bought an old really old Singer sewing machine from the back of a Dig&Save for $20. I brought it to Bennie and he showed me how much was wrong with it...it was supposed to have a leg armature to run it...and remember this is an old machine so no reverse, all metal, with the beautiful patina of a black metal Singer. So it had a plug in but no leg-pedal and I did not realize that when I bought it, I thought my dream of having one of these work-horse sewing machines was over. Also the poor light fixture needed repair. And the motor was shot. Bennie kept sayin, "I can fix it." He wired in a pedal and the light, how he did it was fantastic. It looks like it was supposed to be that way. It is a Singer, it has a new motor and new foot pedal and the old light is attached screaming out Singer! He resurrected this sewing machine project and told me how to polish the case which was made out of curved wood. He said that it is now worth $300. Sews through leather and everything. I have brought 3 of my sewing machines to Bennie at Reasonable Sewing for check-ups and tuning . I have 5 of them now. I owe him more than he charged, his expertise keeps me sewing and I like to do that almost every day that I can. He can fix anything your sewing machine needs...and sergers...and industrial machines. And I think that he can also order any kind of machine you want. He needs you to bring your machines in to him, he is on a cane. I like him so much I would bake him a cake! read more

If you have allergies or asthma, don't go here - 24-hour cigarette smoke factory. Also, I got taken on a sewing machine repair, $60 to change the bobbin case. Never going back. read more

machine was broken they fixed it quickly, good work