My Favorite Bookstores In Chicago

I do love me some books, but even more than books, I love a good books store. Just ask my husband who practically has to drag me out of the store whenever I convince him to go in with me. I love browsing the shelves in bookstores to see what is new, old, or just interesting, even if I end up only buying a book or two. I love the atmosphere in most bookstores and the sheer amount of information at my fingertips. But not all bookstores are created the same, and I find that I am a bigger fan of some over others. In particular, there are two really great book stores here in Chicago that one must go to if they ever come visit.

Unabridged Books

The tales and stories of the failing LGBT bookstore sub-industry are wide and varied. Gay bookstores across the country are closing down at alarming rates and the business owners are struggling to find ways to stay relevant. In times past, gay bookstores served as social hubs where gay men could safely meet outside of the bar scene and where books and magazines that mainstream bookstores refused to carry could be found. It wasn't that uncommon that the Barnes and Noble's of decades past would refuse to carry a book like The Joy of Gay Sex, so LGBT bookstores served as one of the few places to get such books. The internet has changed that though, as it has many things, and many LGBT bookstores are struggling to maintain profitability as gays and lesbians can buy books and magazines online with ease and privacy and can meet and organize online just as easily.

Unabridged Books is one of the few LGBT bookstores that has found a way to stay relevant and open. Perhaps it is because they strongly support local and up-and-coming authors, or perhaps it is because their non-LGBT specific book section is just as well-stocked as their gay section, or maybe it is because they have made a very strong effort to maintain their LGBT-focus while also adjusting to the changing demographics in the gayborhood of Boystown. Whatever it is that they are doing right, they need to keep doing it because I absolutely love this bookstore.

I'll stop in to the store about once a month to see what's going on and check out the new stock and see what's on sale. Speaking of, they have one of the best Sale Sections of any bookstore I've been to. It's large and has plenty of books to choose from for the frugal reader (i.e. me). The store also peppers employee recommendations throughout the store, but unlike going to a Borders where there is one shelf of employee recommendations which is usually full of graphic novels, Unabridged puts their recommendations right on the shelf with the books themselves. They are detailed and often help me find a new (to me) or exciting author or book.

57th Street Bookstore

Buried deep in the heart of the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago and President Obama (pre-White House), is my other favorite bookstore in Chicago. Another independently owned bookstore, 57th has been around for years and years. The store itself is a bit unassuming when you approach it. Walking down the street, you may even pass it up unless you happen to see the garden level window displays and the small awning announcing the stores entrance. The half-in-the-ground piece of 57th can be intimidating, but once you're in the store you'll quickly get lost.

Being right next to U Chicago has it's benefits. Namely the myriad of authors that have come from the school and the all the academic publishings streaming from the campus. If you are interested in practically any academic pursuit, 57th is sure to carry some quality texts for you. If you're looking for the newest novel from that one guy you heard about through your friend, they probably have that too. If you're looking to get lost in a maze of shelf after shelf of books, they can certainly help you with as well. 57th is just such a great resource of information and community building that I would even venture to say that it is a staple of the neighborhood. Not that it's the only bookstore there either, I just found 57th to be vastly better than the others.

I don't get down to 57th often anymore. Living on the exact opposite side of the city and not being one to drive, it can take more than an hour to get down there on the public transit system. However, I stopped in quite a bit when I lived in Hyde Park. The staff always knew the best way to help you find what you were looking for and were almost always friendly.

And That's All He Wrote

If you make your way to Chicago, or if you live in the city and are looking from some great bookstores to check out, make sure to look up Unabridged and 57th Street. Sometimes a nice, independent bookstore is exactly what you're looking for and these two are some of the best. If you live in the area, you owe it to yourself to swing in to one of these stores: you're bound to find both popular and niche titles and a staff that is very familiar with both.