The Printer's Row Lit Fest comes but once a year, so what's a reader in the City of Big Shoulders to do in the off season? The bargain prices, the indie atmosphere, and the thrill of discovery make used bookstores the life of Chicago's vibrant reading community. Loud Library checked in with employees at 5 popular used bookstores in Chicago to get the goods:
The Armadillo's Pillow Bookstore
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| By Loud Library |
Enter The Pillow and prepare to be greeted by the calmly penetrating gaze of an armadillo. Scattered throughout the store, armadillos of the wooden, clay, and stuffed variety lurk on shelves and around corners.
Purveyor of everything from shark teeth to incense, 50¢ paperbacks to a 1st edition copy of The Catcher in the Rye, The Armadillo's Pillow may just be, as employee Shannon put it, "the best shop in the world."
Interested? Drop in Tuesdays at 6pm for Open Mic at the Pillow or get involved with the Armadillo's Pillow Literary Support Group.
Address:
Telephone:
773.761.2558
- Learn more at The Armadillo's Pillow official website.
- Click here to like The Armadillo's Pillow Book Company on Facebook.
Myopic Books
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| By Scott Rettberg |
Located in an old jewelry shop, Myopic Books is, as bookseller Chelsea described it, "a treasure hunt and crazy maze of books".
Myopic's selection spans many disciplines, including architecture, mythology, philosophy, local history, and graphic novels. From locals to tourists and internationals, people go there to get lost in the shelves.
Myopic is also a bustling venue for a variety of events, including an improvised/experimental music series, semi-weekly poetry readings, and the Wicker Park Chess Club.
Address:
Telephone:
773.862.4882
- Learn more at the Myopic Books official website.
- Click here to like Myopic Bookstore on Facebook.
- Read on at Myopic's blog.
O'Gara & Wilson, Ltd.: Antiquarian Booksellers
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| By Natalia Wilson |
Carrying rare, out of print books, antiques, and old documents acquired at estate sales, O'Gara & Wilson, Ltd., is Chicago's oldest used bookstore, dating as far back as 1882.
Today, "stores like this are becoming rare, almost as rare as the books in them," says current owner Doug Wilson. He describes his customers as "people that still have a sense of adventure" and come in not necessarily knowing what they will find.
Just as interesting as the books is Wilson's history with the store, which began over 40 years ago with a chance apprenticeship. Be sure to visit and ask him about some of his interesting experiences, finds, and the store's resident monk [pictured above].
Address:
Telephone:
773.363.0993
- Learn more at the O'Gara & Wilson, Ltd. official website.
- Click here to like O'Gara and Wilson, Booksellers, on Facebook.
- Read on at the O'Gara & Wilson blog.
Powell's Bookstore
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| By Quinn Dombrowski |
Powell's is, according to manager Alex, a favorite bookstore of academics in Chicago, specializing in the philosophical, medieval, and classical since 1971.
Today, Powell's has expanded to two Chicago locations and a sister store in Portland, OR. The aisles between the bookshelves are narrow, but the highly selective stock is in-depth and extensive. Powell's is also the sole North American distributor for reprints by the Oxford University Press.
From the free book box out front to a history of Rome circa the 1400s, Powell's has something didactic for everyone.
Hyde Park Address:
Telephone:
773.955.7780
North/Lakeshore Address:
Telephone:
773.248.1444
- Learn more at the Powell's Bookstores Chicago official website.
- Click here to like Powell's Bookstores, Chicago, on Facebook.
- Read on at the Powell's blog.
Quimby's Bookstore
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| By Ramsey Beyer |
Back in 1991, comic book artist Chris Ware created the character of Quimby the mouse.
At the same time, friend Steven Svymbersky opened a bookstore and coincidentally decided to call it Quimby's.
Since then, the whimsically sadistic mouse has become a symbol for Quimby's odd assortment of new, consignment, and independently published books, comics, and zines ["independently published periodicals"].
Liz, manager at the store, mentioned Crap Hound, a schizophrenic zine collage, as just one of many wonderfully weird things to be found at Quimby's.
Address:
1854 W. North Ave.
Chicago IL, 60622
Telephone:
773.342.0910
- Learn more at the Quimby's Bookstore official website.
- Read on at the "quimblog."
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