I saw some at Golden Aquarium on Halstead St. when i went to buy some worms the other day. They also have some of the smallest firebellies i have every seen. I dont know if they were a shipment or if someone brought some in. A lot of Local people give them turtles, leopard geckos, and frogs/salamanders, soemtimes even plants. Yes, I have seen it first hand...I really do not go in many petstore in the city because this one is by my house. Maybe some could tell you another place also, you can visit all the petstore. I once saw some at the aquarium store in Park Ridge, but that store is too expensive and i havn't been there in a while.
Good luck on your Chicago Tarichas hunt, dont really see much of the salamanders/newts arround here.