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Participating Stores

57th Street Books
1301 E. 57th St., Chicago 60637
773.684.1300 / semcoop.com
The South Side's neighborhood bookstore since 1983, 57th Street Books houses a substantial selection of general interest titles, including kids’ books, popular fiction, cookbooks, sci-fi, and mysteries. 

826CHI
1276 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773.772.8108 / 826chi.org
826CHI is a nonprofit organization that serves students ages 6-18 who who attend under-resourced schools, are from low-income families, or are English-language learners, by focusing on developing their creative and expository writing skills.

Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.
824 W. Superior St., Suite 100, Chicago 60642
312.944.3085 / https://alincolnbookshop.com/
Opened in 1938, the store specialized in books, autographs, photographs, historical artifacts, prints, and busts related to Lincoln, the U.S. Civil War, and U.S. presidents. Discounts earned from the ChiLoveBooks Challenge apply only to in-print books.
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Afterwords Bookstore
23 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611
312.464.1110 / after-wordschicago.com/
A massive, two-story shop with over 70,000 new and used titles and an equally wide range of subjects. One of the few independent bookstores left in downtown Chicago, and the only independent bookstore in River North. 

Anderson's Bookshop Downer's Grove
5112 Main St., Downers Grove 60515 / 630.963.2665 
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Anderson's Bookshop - Naperville
123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville 60540
630.355.2665 / http://www.andersonsbookshop.com

A cornerstone of the Naperville community since 1875, Anderson’s is proud to share our passion and knowledge of books with readers of all ages.  Plus a huge selection of events, gifts and toys!

The Book Bin Northbrook
151 Church St., Northbrook 60062
847.498.4999 / bookbinnorthbrook.com
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This 45-year-old iconic Northbrook bookstore is renowned for its friendly, personalized service. Not a superstore—just a super store!
 
The Book Cellar
4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 60625
773.293.2665 / bookcellarinc.com

What could be a better combination than books, wine by the glass, cozy couches and delicious café fare? Browse for the books you love to read at The Book Cellar in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, an independent bookstore featuring books by first-time authors, local authors, and more. The Book Cellar welcomes book clubs and discussion groups.  

The Book Stall
811 Elm St., Winnetka 60093
847.446.8880 / thebookstall.com
At the Book Stall you get great reviews, sage advice and recommendations, and personalized service for all ages and interests. If you love books, look no further than an indie store! 

The Book Table
1045 Lake St., Oak Park 60301
708.386.9800 / booktable.net
We are a fiercely independent, discount new and used bookstore in downtown Oak Park.
 
Booked
506 Main St., Evanston 60202
847.701.5707/ bookedevanston.com

Booked offers a carefully curated, diverse selection of new titles and classics for youthful readers of all ages. In addition to several special events at Booked and in the community, Booked offers weekly storytimes and space for group meetups. Stop by the store for the perfect kid-friendly book or activity any time!

Bookends & Beginnings
1712 Sherman Ave., Alley #1, Evanston, IL 60201

Bookends & Beginnings Gift & Stationary Store
1716 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
224.999.7722 / www.bookendsandbeginnings.com
Cozy eclectic store nestled in an alley in the heart of Evanston. New & used books, gifts, outstanding cookbook section, kids’ books in 28 foreign languages.

Bookies Beverly
10324 S. Western Ave., Chicago 60643 
773.239.1110 / bookieschicago.com
In 1989, Larry Kroff opened Bookie’s Paperbacks and More on the corner of 103rd and Western Ave. His mission was to supply the south side of Chicago with gently used books, providing a cozy, labyrinthine storefront with books from every genre imaginable.

In 2006, Kroff sold the store to long-time employee Allison Platt, who began stocking a larger selection of new books and updated the store with a more modern aesthetic, nearly doubling the clientele and making Bookie's a household name for southside residents.

In July of 2017, the current owner, Keith Lewis, moved Bookies from its original location to a new storefront right around the corner, and opened a second location in Homewood.
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Bookies Homewood
2015 Ridge Road, Homewood 60430
708-377-0789 / bookieschicago.com
Now in two locations, Bookie's has been providing books and gifts to readers of all ages on the South Side for more than 28 years. 

The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn
475 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn 60137
630.469.2891 / bookstoreofge.com
Social Media - FB, Insta, Twitter @Bookstoreofge
Hours:  Sun 11-4, M-F 10-6, Sat 9-5

Bucket O' Blood Books & Records
3182 N. Elston Ave., Chicago 60618
312.890.3860 / http://www.bucketoblood.com/index/index.html
Books - We specialize in science fiction, fantasy, horror, literary fiction, popular science, creative non-fiction and biographies. We're not interested in romances, computer books
Records - We focus on punk, indie, metal, 70’s and 80’s rock and new wave. 

Centuries & Sleuths
7419 Madison St., Forest Park 60130
708.771.7243 / centuriesandsleuths.com

Celebrating its independence in specialty bookselling for almost 30 years, Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore focuses on history, mystery, and biographies with a warm and friendly atmosphere. You won't "get lost in the stacks," but you can definitely get lost in the books.
 
City Lit Books
2523 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago
773.235.2523 / citylitbooks.com
Located in the heart of Logan Square, City Lit is a literary hot spot thanks to its well-curated selections of fiction, non-fiction, science fiction and children’s books, along with its rotating calendar of author events and book clubs.  

Da Book Joint
330 E 51st St #9, Chicago, IL 60653
(877) 726-6556 / www.dabookjoint.com/​

Exile in Bookville
The Fine Arts Building
410 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 210, Chicago 60605

​312.753.3154 / exileinbookville.com
We believe that books and music are synonymous. Read! Listen!

Lake Forest Bookstore
662 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest 60045
847-234-4420 / lakeforestbookstore.com
​Now in the historic James Anderson building, the Lake Forest Book Store continues its 70-year relationship with the community and looks forward to serving the residents and visitors for years to come. 
Madison Street Books
1127 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
312.929.4140 / madstreetbooks.com
Madison Street Books is proud to be a woman-owned independent bookstore in Chicago's West Loop. Our focus and vision is to be a community-minded space with something in store for everyone.

Newberry Bookshop
60 W. Walton St., Chicago 60610
312.255.3520 / newberry.org/bookshop
We have a stellar selection of books, notecards, and postcards; gift items by local artisans; and buttons featuring notable items in the Newberry collection.
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Open Books Pilsen
905 W. 19th St., Chicago 60608 / 312.243.9776
open-books.org/shop/open-books-pilsen 

Open Books West Loop
651 W. Lake St., Chicago 60661 / 312.475.1355, x100
westloop@open-books.org
Open Books is a nonprofit community bookstore that transforms lives through reading, writing, and the UNLIMITED power of used books.

A nonprofit focused on literacy programs and supplying books to schools and other literacy nonprofits throughout Chicago, Open Books is a community bookstore that funds it programming through the sale of donated books. 

Page 1 Books
1808 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.0130 / https://page1books.com/
The brick-and-mortar storefront for Page 1 Books, a personalized subscription program with a mix of both hardcover and paperback titles, plus extras with each delivery. Packages can be tailored to 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions

Pilsen Community Books
1102 W. 18th St, Chicago 60608
bookspilsen@gmail.com / https://pilsencommunitybooks.com/​
Hours:
12pm-7pm, Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays)
Instagram: @pilsencommunitybooks
Twitter: @pilsencommbooks

A used and new community bookstore in Pilsen, recently re-concepted as a worker cooperative and, thereby, Chicago's only employee-owned and -operated bookstore. New partners Mandy Medley and Katharine Solheim bring with them a collective 40+ years of experience and a collective goal to "unite their passion for bookselling with their belief that labor is entitled to all it produces." 
 
Powells Books Chicago
1501 E. 57th St., Chicago 60637
773.955.7780 / powellschicago.com
The largest used, rare, and out-of-print supplier in Chicago, Powell’s has offered the best deals on bargain books--all 20 to 80% off retail--since 1970. The store also buys used books from the general public. Located in Hyde Park, 3 blocks west of the Museum of Science and Industry.

Prairie Path Books
 255 Town Square, Wheaton, IL 60189
630.765.7455 / prairiepathbooks.com

Quimby's Bookstore
1854 W. North Ave., Chicago 60622
773.342.0910 / quimbys.com
Quimby's Bookstore specializes in small press zines, books, comics and ephemera, favoring the unusual and the aberrant.

Roscoe Books
2142 W. Roscoe St., Chicago 60618
773.857.2676 / roscoebooks.com
RoscoeBooks is a neighborhood independent bookstore for kids and adults who love books and love to read. 

Sandmeyer's Bookstore
714 S. Dearborn St., Chicago 60605
312.922.2104 / sandmeyersbookstore.com
Family owned and operated, Sandmeyer's Bookstore in historic Printing House Row has offered the finest selection of books since 1982.

Semicolon Bookstore and Gallery
1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
312.877.5170 / semicolonchi.com

Founded in 2019, Semicolon is Chicago's only black woman-owned bookstore and gallery space.

Seminary Co-Op
5751 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago 60637
773.752.4381 / semcoop.com
Widely regarded as one of the best academic bookstores in the world, the Co-op is located on the University of Chicago campus (next door to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House) and has acted as an epicenter of cultural and intellectual life in Hyde Park since 1961.

Town House Books & Cafe
105 N. 2nd Ave., St. Charles 60174
630.584.8600 / townhousebooks.com
An independent bookstore for all ages, with a friendly knowledgeable staff, located in historic downtown St. Charles since 1974.

Unabridged Bookstore
3251 N Broadway, Chicago 60657
773.883.9119 / unabridgedbookstore.com
An iconic Lakeview institution and Chicago’s go-to bookstore for LGBTQ literature. 

Uncharted Books
5140 N. Clark, St., Chicago 60640
872.208.7201 /  unchartedbooks.com
Uncharted Books is an independent brick-and-mortar bookstore in Chicago. We sell a highly curated selection of used books, zines, and rare titles, with a focus on the literary, the local, the strange, and the adventurous.
We are a small, scrappy, DIY business that has been serving our city since 2012. We especially pride ourselves on our eclectic selection, our unique and cozy atmosphere, our knowledgeable and friendly staff, and our busy calendar of community events.

Volumes Bookcafe
1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622

Volumes Bookcafe
Wicker Park: 1373 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622
773.697.8066 / volumesbooks.com


Volumes Bookcafe Gold Coast
Gold Coast: 900 N. Michigan Ave., Level 5, Chicago 
Hybrid bookstore/cafe catering to all of your boozy + caffeine needs amid a busy & eclectic neighborhood. 

 
Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Company
1276 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622
773.772.8108 / secretagentsupply.com
The Secret Agent Supply Co. has a not-so-secret mission. Every purchase supports 826CHI's free writing programs, which provide thousands of Chicago students a platform for self-expression. 
Store hours: Thursday 1-5pm, Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 11am-5pm
Social Media Handles;
IG: @secretagentsupply & @826CHI
Twitter: @agentsupply & @826chi

Women & Children First
5233 N. Clark St., Chicago 60640
773.769.9299 / womenandchildrenfirst.com
Chicago’s feminist bookstore since 1979, we are as political as we are literary. ​
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  • Stores
  • Independent Bookstore Day
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