Literary Tourism: Quimby's Bookstore in Chicago
Chicago is chock full of fantastic indie bookstores, but there’s a special place in my heart for Quimby’s.
[image description: the storefront of Quimby’s, approaching from the sidewalk. Their circular logo hanging sign and a sandwich board are present.]
To put it bluntly: Quimby’s is weird. Which is precisely what I love about it.
The weird vibes carry out the front door and onto the sidewalk, beckoning you inside. Books, magazines, curiosities, and a photo booth? I’m in.
[image description: the front window of Quimby’s advertising books, magazines, curiosities, and a photo booth. There’s a selection of their wares, including books and cards, as well as a large sculpture of an abstract person, life-size in height.]
Quimby’s feels like one of those places that will suck you in unexpectedly then you’ll meet a fortune teller that will lay out your whole life ahead of you or a wizard that tells you how to tap into your innate magic powers. That’s the vibe.
[image description: A sign on the wall that reads: Specialists in the importation, distribution, and sale of unusual publications, aberrant periodicals, saucy comic booklets and assorted fancies, as well as a comprehensive miscellany of the latest independent zines that all the kids have been talking about. Guarantee to satisfy the soul beaten flat by mainstream culture’s relentless insistence on dumb pictures and insulting syntax.]
Lest anyone be confused, I love that Quimby’s tells you straight up what you’re going to find in their one-of-a-kind bookstore. I was in Chicago to hang out with Harmony Cox, fellow writer, zine collaborator, and best friend, so we were all about the zines. Especially the ones all the kids have been talking about. :)
[image description: a photo of my feet in silver shoes standing on the store’s tile floor, which is a series of green, black and white geometric squares.]
A moment of appreciation for this gorgeous tile that I absolutely wish I had in my house.
[image description: a Google review that’s been printed out and hung on a self in the store. The review reads: 3 stars. Small choice of books. Store for teenagers who pretend to read books.]
Harmony and I had to laugh when we came across this review of Quimby’s they’d printed out and hung in the store. First of all, they do have a small selection of books because the majority of their offerings are zines and periodicals––which a sign tells you to expect when you walk in. Second, who are these teenagers who pretend to read books? I don’t think that’s a thing. And third, I can tell you that this person really missed out by not giving the zines and periodicals a fair shake because there are a lot of really good ones from Chicago and beyond on the shelves.
[image description: a wall of zines in the DIY, self-care, and health section of the store.]
What I appreciate about zines is that because they’re independently published, there are no rules or guidelines for them. There are prose zines, poetry zines, art zines, activist and anarchist zines, memoir zines, single-author zines, multi-author zines, you name it. They come in all shapes and sizes, all kinds of paper, and all kinds of bindings, including stapled, sewn, and glued.
As for Harmony and me, we prefer an old school 90s punk rock aesthetic.
And shocker, Quimby’s does in fact have books––and a damn fine selection if I do say so myself. I was especially thrilled to find a small press book called Small Town Skateparks by Clint Carrick. Though I gathered from the table of contents that he took a turn through the Midwest, I don’t think we visited any of the same skateparks, so I’m extra looking forward to reading his thoughts.
[image description: two sculptures on top of a bookshelf that appear to be made out of found objects like locks, door handles, screws, and other pieces of metal.]
Once again, my theory proves true: If a bookstore has quirky art, they’re going to have good books.
[image description: Harmony, who’s wearing a red beanie black leather jacket embroidered with red roses, looking at the “made in Chicago” zine selection.]
I love bookstores that proudly and unabashedly love their local people. Sure, pretty much every writer hopes to make it big, but making it big starts at home. Having a hometown bookstore champion your work is so rewarding and meaningful.
Since Kill the Gatekeeper sold out at Uncharted Books, we’re going to see how we can get our zine at Quimby’s. Since Harmony lives in Chicago, KTG is technically made in Chicago.
[image description: a former store mannequin that has been painted red and given a blue afro and a silver skull necklace. The mannequin is sitting on some steps that lead to a small elevated area inside the store.]
Another shout out to the cool art. It adds to the eclectic soul of the place.
[image description: the back corner of the store where there’s a section for notable small presses.]
Love the section for notable small presses! That was how I knew for sure Harmony and I were going to drop some mad cash.
[image description: an old school style photo booth where you get in and close the curtain, take four pictures, then it prints them out in a strip.]
Harmony and I had a lot of fun with the photo booth in the back of the store. It’s old and takes its sweet time, but it was well worth it! We took the most adorable pics together, which we included in volume 3 of Kill the Gatekeeper.
I gotta say, Quimby’s is probably one of my top 5 favorite bookstores now. Go check it out next time you’re in Chicago!
