Make the Most of Your Indie Bookstore Crawl

Chicagoans love a bar crawl. Now, get ready for a book crawl. Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday and, naturally, Chicagoans are making it fun.

Fifty-five independent bookstores across Chicagoland are taking part in this year’s festivities. Hit 10 stores on Saturday, and you’ll receive 10% at all those shops for the next year. Hit 15 stores and get, you guessed it, 15% off.

Trying to narrow down which stores to hit? We’ve got some recs.

🎉 Best Party: Semicolon Books in West Town

In early 2025, Semicolon Books owner Danielle Moore announced she was closing both her nonprofit bookshops due to financial troubles — then a Kickstarter campaign saved the West Town store. Moore raised enough to build a coffee shop there to boost revenue. That means Semicolon will close for two months for renovations … but not before a blow-out book block party Saturday! Moore aims to reopen on Juneteenth.

🍷 Best Beverages: The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square

Let’s be honest, part of indie bookstore appeal is the romance of it all: getting cozy with a coffee, glancing at the other readers over the edges of your pages. At The Book Cellar, take the book lover’s fantasy one step further with a glass of pinot noir. Their cafe (with a patio!) is a longstanding Lincoln Square social hub as well as the perfect bookshop add-on.

💸 Best Deal: Open Books in Pilsen, West Loop, or Logan Square

Everyone knows used books are a deal. Open Books takes that concept to the next level. In addition to collecting and selling donations of used books, the nonprofit also sells like-new books at similarly cheap prices, thanks to its nonprofit business model.

🍭 Best Stop for da Kids: Da Book Joint in South Shore

Da Book Joint boasts a colorful collection of books for kids. This Saturday, children’s author Keenan Jones will be stopping by to share his debut work: “Saturday Morning at the 'Shop.” Jones’ picture book highlights the community of a Black barbershop for especially young audiences. Storytime starts at 1 p.m.

✍️ Best Place to Meet a Writer: Secret World Books in Highland Park

Secret World Books celebrates its one-year anniversary this Independent Bookstore Day. If you’re hitting the North Shore branch of the crawl, stop by and you just might meet (and chat) with some well-known authors. Owner Gayle Brandeis has published nine books, and I know for a fact her fellow literary friends like to pass through. I also know that she’s a fabulous writing teacher — she’s currently mine!