10 of Our Favorite Independent Bookstores in Chicago

Independent bookstores are having a renaissance within the U.S. The American Booksellers Association reported that after hitting a low of 1,651 places in 2009, indie bookstores rebounded to 2,599 places in 2022. Chicago has seen its personal enhance prior to now decade: Even although just a few shops closed in the course of the pandemic, there have been a number of openings and reopenings prior to now few years. Not solely are the retailers unfold throughout town, however they provide completely different experiences, some with cafes and bars and a few specializing in sure subject material. Here are 10 impartial bookstores in Chicago you need to take a look at.

outside of store, brick wall, sign, and red entrance — 57th Street Books

Elisa Shoenberger

57th Street Books

Based in Hyde Park, this nonprofit bookshop could seems like a backyard condominium, however don’t let that idiot you — this is likely one of the metropolis’s magical gems. Just like Alice, you may get misplaced in its cabinets as you go deeper and deeper into its seemingly endless rooms. 57th Street has an incredible kids’s part, in addition to a incredible choice of fiction and younger grownup books. It additionally has nice workers suggestion sections, and you may depend on mentioned workers to seek out many of the obscure books that you just want. It’s the sister bookstore to the extra academically minded Seminary Co-op just a few blocks away.

1301 E 57th St

Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

This Black woman-owned bookstore needs to offer again to the group in a giant manner. Its mission assertion: “We are booksellers devoted to bridging the literacy hole amongst minoritized communities by offering entry TO and constructing curiosity IN books.” Since Semicolon opened in 2019, the store has amplified authors of coloration in addition to specializing in literacy campaigns at Chicago Public Schools. Last 12 months, proprietor Danielle Mullen determined to revamp the bookstore right into a nonprofit. The store closed its bodily presence in late January 2024 unexpectedly however ought to open once more in August. Currently the bookstore is on-line and doing pop-up occasions round city.

515 N Halsted St

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Pilsen Community Books

This Pilsen-based bookstore presents an area for community-minded motion. It first opened in 2016, however in 2020, it turned the primary employee-owned bookstore in Chicago. While they promote a wide range of books, additionally they promote Chicago-made items and host fundraisers and even sign- and button-making. They additionally work with Liberation Library to offer books to youth who’re incarcerated. For of us who’d like suggestions from the workers, take into account signing up for one in all their two subscriptions: Seeds of Change or Bread and Roses.

1102 W 18th St

Exile in Bookville

Taking a cue from Liz Phair’s album Exile in Guyville, music and ebook lovers Javier Ramirez and Kristin Enola Gilbert have curated an exquisite bookshop on the second ground of the Fine Arts Building within the Loop. While they’ve a deep impartial fiction part, additionally they deal with music books and vinyl records. Plus, the constructing is a gem in itself, full of murals and a wide range of art-inclined companies.

410 S Michigan Ave

Volumes Bookcafe

Wicker Park-based Volumes has its personal phoenix story. Started by sisters Rebecca and Kimberly George in 2016, they needed to create a group area to rejoice and revel in books. Sadly, they closed the store in 2021 after losses from the pandemic. Thanks to assist from group members and crowdfunding, they determined to buy their very own area, and opened once more in 2022. They promote a pleasant choice of new and used books, and have a restaurant with espresso drinks, baked items, and native beer and wine.

1373 N Milwaukee

City Lit Books

Based within the coronary heart of Logan Square, City Lit is a type of nice bookstore comeback tales. Teresa Kirschbraun opened the store in 2012 however COVID-19 resulted in its closure in 2020. Thankfully, librarian and Logan Square resident Stephanie Kitchen bought the shop and reopened it in 2021. The store has an exquisite cozy environment, an excellent choice of up to date fiction, and plenty of creator occasions and ebook golf equipment. Plus, they’re dog-friendly!

2523 N Kedzie Blvd

Skunk Cabbage Books

Opened in 2023, this Avondale bookshop will get its title from a local plant identified for its pungent scent and emergence in early spring. Owner Ren Dean “hopes to foster an setting that helps new progress and interdependence in our communities,” in response to the web site. The store has a deal with nature books but it surely additionally has an excellent choice of fiction and kids’s titles. Additionally, the store shares native items by Chicago artists and hosts a wide range of workshops each month.

2826 N Milwaukee Ave

Unabridged Bookstore

This iconic bookstore, which has been serving the Lakeview neighborhood since 1980, is the place for LGBTQ+ books in Chicago. It hosts a number of ebook golf equipment, and has an exquisite choice of journey books on prime of its different sections of fiction, poetry and kids’s books. Plus, it’s identified for nice workers suggestions, so in the event you aren’t certain what you’re searching for, that is the right place to get some concepts.

3251 N Broadway

The Book Cellar

This woman-owned bookstore in Lincoln Square has develop into an establishment since opening in 2004. Owner Suzy Takacs has a eager eye for each books and wine (there’s a pleasant little cafe inside), and it’s an excellent common bookstore for fiction and kids’s books particularly. The store has the perfect workers suggestion cabinets within the metropolis. There’s additionally loads of programming, from a number of themed ebook golf equipment to creator readings and signings. They additionally strongly promote native authors, which is all the time a plus.

4736 N Lincoln Ave

The Understudy

Owners Adam Todd Crawford and Danny Fender opened their store in 2023. Both had a background in theater and determined to make {that a} focus of their bookstore/espresso store. Not solely have they got readings, however they host all kinds of occasions befitting a theater-focused store, together with play readings, live shows and even drag performances.

5531 N Clarokay St