After Gurnee Mills we decided to get some pizza for dinner. Well every time I go to Chicago I always go to Giordano's Pizza. I had this pizza for the first time about 1 1/2 year ago and I loved it. About a year ago I heard that this pizza was Richard's favorite too. I couldn't believe it. Anyway we found a Giordano's in Waukegan, IL. I had read somewhere on the net that Richard drives a Land Rover and it was a dark color. So as we're pulling in the pizza restaurant I see a vehicle that might be it. I about have a heart attack as I open the door to the place. I immediately walk in the restaurant and start walking through the place looking for Richard. Well it turns out he wasn't there, and that wasn't his car.
I asked the waitress if they get any famous people in there, like Richard Marx. She said that she had never seen him there. I asked if this was the closest Giordano's to Lake Forest (where he lives). She said yes. As we were waiting I looked at the map and saw that we had to go south, through Lake Forest, to get home. I happened to remember the name of the street that he lives on, and I saw it on my map. It's a real long street. I had my picture taken outside the restaurant, because it's the one Richard probably gets his pizza at, then we left.
It was real dark out as we drove down this road in Lake Forest, but we could see all these huge houses with 10' electric gates in the driveways. This was definitely where the elite live. We stopped by a Shell station in town to get directions to Jewel. I asked the clerk if any famous people come. He said that Mr. T lives about a block away, and he started giving me directions. Also that Jerry Springer lives in the neighborhood. Billy Joel lives down the street and that he tried to have a helo-pad put in his yard for helicopters, but the city said no to it. Anyway, he didn't know who Richard was : ( I did get directions to Jewel anyway.
The reason that I wanted to go to Jewel was because when Richard performed in Naperville in April, he said that he was like any ordinary guy, "When we need milk, I go to Jewel". Well I immediately picked up on that and I said "Which Jewel?", Richard just smiled. After Naperville I looked it up on the net, there's only one Jewel in Lake Forest.
So we get to Jewel. I took a picture of the outside of the store and then head inside. We go to the milk section where I get my picture taken in front of the milk. This store clerk sees me and starts smiling, so I ask her if she has ever seen any famous people in here. She replies "Richard Marx is in here all the time." I about faint. She knows his name and she has just confirmed that this is in fact "Richard's Jewel". WOW!!!! So we walk through the store and realize that "Richard Marx has probably walked down this isle". On the way out I stop by the service desk and ask the girl, who I think is the manager, if any famous people come in here. She immediately says "Richard Marx". I can't believe it!!!!! I could feel his greatness in the store. We end up talking to her for about 20 minutes. She said that he comes in often with two of his sons, he has a T-shirt and jeans on, and he acts like it's no big deal. I then ask when he usually comes in, weekdays or weekends. I'm hoping like heck she says every Saturday night at 8PM (that's the current time). She says that he just grabs a few items sometimes in the evenings. She also told me (or confirmed with me) what type of car and the color he drives. We exchanged business cards, and she said that next time he comes in that she will get his autograph for me and tell him that one of his bigggggest fans from Michigan was here.
We walk out to our car and in pulls this car.... yep! It's just like the car he drives. I start shaking and then I see it's not Richard getting out of the vehicle. : ( I was sort of let down, but what's the chance we would see him? I think we just worked ourselves up into a frenzy thinking we would see him. As we leave, in the darkness of night, we try to watch every car on the road thinking "Is that him?" It's cool as heck knowing that we were in the store where Richard shops.
The next time I go to Chicago, I'm going through that neighborhood and to Jewel in the daylight. Not that I would go to his house, I wouldn't. I would just hope that I ran into him at the gas station or at Jewel. I wouldn't mind a picture of his house either.
Hope you enjoyed the story. All I can say is WOW!!!!!
Jim Marx
Now which of the following things on the ad do you think he purchased that week? LOL.