57th Street Books

This bookstore offers a delightful variety of books, very organized, and I found their handwritten book recommendations very charming. The bookstore was far more spacious than I expected, and I was impressed that they had such a broad array of genres. They have options for all ages as well.

This is no Barnes & Noble. This is a twisting, turning basement of floor to ceiling books. You will not believe how far back the place stretches; it goes and goes and goes. They have a wonderful children’s book section which they upgraded to be more comfortable fairly recently. My only complaint is that I find it difficult to find anything specific. You’re better off coming in if you don’t know what you want – which can be fun too.

Unbelievably great experience. I was shopping for children’s books for a gift and the woman who helped me (don’t remember her name, sorry!) was so knowledgeable and quickly gave me incredible options that were just what I was looking for. Even better was the enthusiasm she had for children’s books which was 100% clear as soon as she found out I was looking for recommendations!

Always a good place to get into some trouble. Their book selection is really good and I love the getting cards.

Super cute store… like something from a movie. Like the book version of the music store from High Fidelity. Or like the non-children’s book version of the bookstore The Shop Around the Corner. They have a cute section of local books, local authors, postcards, and basically anything you’d want and expect from a bookstore. At non-​bargain prices, as would be expected.

The 57^th Street bookstore is my favorite bookstore in Chicago! They have books that I would never see in other shops and, in my opinion, BROWSING is very important. This is the place to indulge in that and come away with a stack of exciting reads to stow beside your bed. This place is a treasure box!

This place is dope. Though it’s easily overlooked (I was parked right in front and still looking around), it’s stacked FULL of all kinds of books. It’s huge inside. It like a huge basement, and consequently has this kind of basement smell. Nonetheless, I will definitely be back.

Cute and quaint neighbor hood treasure. I will definitely be back!!! Thank you Hyde Park!

Mixed review. I love their book selection — and have had great experiences with folks working in the stacks helping me find books. If I was rating it based on books alone it would be 5 stars — but I’ve consistently had bad experiences at check out. Condescending and dismissive folks — most recently as if it was an annoyance to the man and woman up front to answer my question about a book and check me out. Inquiring about a recent publication the worker sighed as I asked for a particular title. Too popular for you dear sir? It must be painful wasting your grand intellect on lowly book store patrons.

I have a special place in my heart for the small, neighborhood bookstore, so I support them. They are always willing to special order books. They have a very diverse collection of books, including a wonderful children’s section.

57^th Street Books is perfect. They carry a wonderful selection and I’ve never had a problem finding a title I need here. Also, their staff is extremely knowledgable. I once asked a staff member if they could they could help me find something that my professor recommended and the only information I gave the shopkeeper was «it was something about headaches, probably by Joan Didion,» and she knew exactly which book I needed. A true gem.

57^th Street Books is a wonderful bookstore, deceptively large with an underground book nook atmosphere and a huge selection of titles. I visited both 57^th Street and its sister store, the Seminary Co-​Op on a visit to Chicago and I loved both stores. This one was cozier and less academic, maybe slightly higher in my estimation.
I am definitely biased by the fact that 57^th Street carries my books and Seminary does not. I write noir, and genre fiction is much better represented at this lower brow branch of the Hyde Park bookstore family. I spent a lot of time browsing the fiction, which coiled back deep into the store. Almost every title I thought to look for was in stock. There was even a Two Dollar Radio book on the main display table.
I bought three paperbacks, including a copy of The Shining Girls for the friend we were crashing with, since every Chicagoan and Chicagophile should read The Shining Girls. The staff was friendly, and I had a great time looking around. I’ll come back to 57^th Street Books whenever I’m near Hyde Park. I’d recommend it to every reader in the neighborhood.

Trent J. who wrote the review down below is obviously a moron. There is nothing remotely hipsterish about 57^th Street Books.
It is one of the best book stores in the country and I have been too many of them, amazing selection and if they do not have it, they get it for me 99% of the time.

The best bookstore I’ve ever patronized. Awesome range in selection, super intelligent and helpful staff and the store layout is so cool. I’ve spent many blissful hours in this store.

Have been there a few times. Great collection of books and artifacts. Anything you can’t find on the internet i was able to find here!

One of the best bookstores in the world, it’s the dialectic (other) half of a cooperative along with the scholarly Chicago Seminary bookstore. The co-​op is one year younger than I am. This was the first place I was allowed to shop on my own, I saved up my allowance, walked here after school, and bought a copy of Phillip K. Dick’s The Game-​players of Titan. I hadn’t thought about that day for I don’t know how long, until I wandered in here the other day and while I was shopping a little Asian-​American 5^th or 6^th grader came in by herself and bought a book (not a children’s book), presumably with her allowance savings. Only in Hyde Park.
The workers are very literate, they can be quite helpful if you’re looking for something, and they are completely unobtrusive when you’re not. All sorts of University of Chicago types (homeless or humanities grad student?) frequent the place, it is a store for readers and thinkers. If you’re visiting the University of Chicago for any reason, make time to stop in here and in the Chicago Seminary Co-​op Bookstore. Have you heard of the «dumbing-​down of America?» That’s not happening in here.

Wonderfully charming bookstore that’s large and well-​collated. Bibliophiles will love to wander the stacks.
It’s an independent shop, so don’t expect to pay Amazon prices. It’s the local institution and brick and mortar that you’re paying for – support your local businesses!
I will say that the staff is a little odd. We were stared at the whole time we were in the front area, then when I arrived at the register with my selections, I had to play an awkward game of 20 questions with the cashier. Maybe he was trying to be funny, but I found it off-​putting.

Sigh of contentment, we got to visit another book store. And yes, I loved this one also. It’s the ying to the yang of the Seminary Co-​op Bookstore, the other sister who is a bit more light hearted. I adore them both.
Today I bought a book here for no reason, just because I have been eying it and thinking about it. I also got a Jane Austen mug that said hello to me. These were slightly frivolous purchases in a glorious playground for book lovers.
Now I have two problems, do I read this book first or the ones I got from the Co-​op Bookstore and what hot beverage do I put in my mug?
Thanks to Hyde Park bookstores, even my problems are enjoyable.

I’m very glad bookstores like this still exist, as I’m probably one of those people who probably won’t get an e-​reader or Kindle/​Nook like device (lol) for a good while, if ever. Great selection of books, and agree that I like the balance between casual and more intellectual stuff.
Was nice to return here, after years of not having a chance to stop in a few weeks ago. And to the credit of whatever employee was working (though I doubt they do this too often for most customers, and moreso ones who don’t live in the neighborhood), she didn’t require me to check the very small bag I had the 2^nd time I went in the store that day. The bag check rule is slightly annoying, but it won’t stop me from visiting here.

If you want a place that has employees that aren’t just working for a paycheck and trying to upsell you every time you’re there, but just love & know books. This is it.
Not to mention it’s got the cool underground super secret spot feel to it.
They don’t have. They’ll get it.
Books you didn’t know you wanted to read. They’ll find it for you.
Cool events. Check.
Places the president of the United States would go to. He has.
Ability to buy a book, walk a block and find a cool place to eat & read and not feel like some wanna be hipster. Yep that too.
Basically all around awesome-​sauce as far as book stores go.
I gladly buy my tomes here instead of the big boxes or Amazon. The world would be a worse place without this store & of course; it would make pandas cry.