The Top Five Used Book Stores in Chicago

Chicago, as its Mayor Daley likes to say, is a city of “Big Readers,” and the presence of dozens of used bookstores on its streets certainly testify to that! Many of them are well-stocked, fun and dusty places, but if you only have time to check out a handful, these are the top five (in no particular order) you should explore.

1. Myopic Books (1564 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-862-4882) in Wicker Park is a biggie, crammed with used books, and doesn’t close until one in the morning. It’s the one place in which I can usually find what I’m looking for, and if they don’t have it, I’ll find something else just as good. Bonus: this is also a great place to sell your books, if you’re so inclined. Give them a call to find out when they’re buying; they’re pretty specific about dates and times.

2. Powell’s Book Store (828 S. Wabash Ave, 312-341-0748) is a great choice for people visiting the Loop or who don’t feel like driving up North! There’s a lot of scholarly stuff here, to accommodate local students, so serious readers will feel right at home.

3. Bookman’s Corner (2959 N. Clark St., (773) 929-8298) will probably fit a lot of people’s definition of a classic used book store. The aisles are narrow, the shelves towering, and excess books are piled on the floor. This incredibly fun place to browse has all the standard categories, including a decent selection of history books – local, national, world, you name it. Expect to get your hands dirty poking around this place!

4. Shake, Rattle & Read (4812 N. Broadway, 773-334-5311) is another fun, messy book store, the kind of place where you’re likely to see a cat roaming around. Its specialty is old magazines and comics and used music (that includes a lot of vinyl!) A lot of book geeks looking for very specific, rare goods hang out here.

5. Bookworks (3444 N. Clark St. 773-871-5318) is conveniently located in Wrigleyville and has late hours, so when the Cubs game is over or you need something to do after eating at the latest hip restaurant, swing on by. It’s a big place with a good selection of books and music. A real plus: in my experience, the staff here is very knowledgeable and polite.

Can’t get enough of Chicago’s used book stores? Here are a couple of runners-up to check out. Lovers of fine/antiquarian books should explore the plastic-jacketed treasures of Prairie Avenue Bookshop (418 S. Wabash). If you’re in the North Loop, swing by the After Words Cafe (23 E. Illinois St.); the basement level of this cozy bookstore is all used books. And if you’re planning to come to Chicago in early June, don’t miss the enormous Printer’s Row Book Fair held on Dearborn St. in the South Loop; it attracts used book sellers from all around the midwest!