I going to be spending a week in Chicago in May (yes, I’ve already ordered my Cubs tickets). One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to browse through used book stores. Most places I go, I’m lucky if I can find a Half-Price Books (which isn’t too bad, I wish we had one here in St. Louis.) My main interests is in popular science and in history. Chi-towners, can you recommend your favorite used book stores?
Thanks in advance.
Powell’s is amazing.
Yep, i second the Powell’s recommendation.
Make sure you check out all three locations.
A few years ago, when my partner and i spent a couple of weeks in Chicago doing research, we raided all of the Powell’s locations and sent two or three boxes of books home by mail.
The Half-Price Books up in Skokie is by far the best used bookstore around the Chicagoland area. Powell’s is great, but even it falls to its knees when compared to the Half-Price Books.
There’s a pretty good store almost right across from Wrigley Field - maybe a block or two south - that I can’t remember the name of. Pretty great selection and a lot of esoteric stuff, but the prices are higher than they should be.
I think you may be thinking of Aspidistra, which used to be on Clark Street, but I think is closed now.
Seconded. I spent hours in that place.
If you’re hitting a Cub game, there’s a place called Bookworks. It’s on Clark within a couple blocks of Wrigley, and it is another nice place to blow a couple hours.
There’s also Bookman’s at Clark and Wellington. I’ve gone in there within 1 hour of closing and left with an armful of fluffy pink chick-lit. Which I know isn’t your genre, but if I remember correctly fiction is only one aisle of the store. You have to dig, but the prices are great, IMHO its definately worth it if you’re already in Wrigleyville
That’s the one I was talking about in my post. Great selection, kind of inflated prices. But really great selection.
Thirded. Great selection, open til 1 am, close to the blue line, restaurants, etc. I go there every chance I get.