// CHICAGO // WEST LOOP, PILSEN // 

open books

come for the books, stay for the cause

Open Books is at its heart, a literacy nonprofit, it just so happens to be powered by a bookstore. With store locations in West Loop and Pilsen, Open Books operates a used (and new) bookstore through donations. They donate books to students and schools and sell the rest in store and online. The proceeds contribute to the various educational programs and resources that support the community. 

the details

Address Fulton: 651 W Lake St, Chicago Pilsen: 905 W 19th St, Chicago
Website http://www.open-books.org/
Hours 10am – 6pm everyday
Price $ – everything is very fairly priced
Aesthetic like a homey bookstore

good to know

Go here for: donating used books and buying used books, volunteering

Amount of time to spend: give yourself a solid 30 at least to peruse the many many shelves

When to come: any time

Getting here: 

  • Fulton: about a 4 minute walk from the Clinton station (pink, green)
  • Pilsen: not particularly close to any MTA station, about a 7 min walk from the Halsted Street Metra station, and a couple blocks from the closest bus stations on W 18th St and S Halsted St (18, 8, 62).

Other things to note: 

  • Everything is super organized, enough so that they keep inventory and sell books online.

Last visited: August 2019

Last updated: April 2021

while you're here

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