This cozy and cluttered bookstore is a bibliophiles funhouse. With patience, and a desire to dig thru book piles and inadequately labeled shelves, you'll find a treasure or two. Mind where you walk and sit, many books are haphazardly piled in aisles and against shelves so you will have to move items, lamps etc in sections of the shop. Something to note: if you are sensitive to dust or mold or respiratory challenged, you may want to limit your visit. Old books, too many piles to clean around and strong incense equals poor air quality. read more

What a gem! I was staying at a nearby hotel and dropped in. So glad I did! Found a rare book I have been looking for and visited with some other very friendly patrons. The gentleman working here was so nice and helpful. Could spend hours here looking through everything. Left with some vintage sketchbooks too. Definitely recommend! read more

I find this used bookstore to be very charming - can find myself lost amongst the shelves for hours! Additionally enjoy the tchotchkes, postcards, etc to peruse. A lovely mainstay of Rogers Park, especially in a time where bookstores are far and few apart! read more

Very cozy bookstore. I've been here a few times and I think it's a nice place to look for some good books, they also have some cute post cards. It's decorated in a way that your eye is always wondering, so many details and little things. read more

I made my way to Rogers Park today to visit XO Marshmallow. I arrived an hour before it opened and wandered into this gem of a bookstore. They offer a really unique space with fun art on the walls. It feels like an old book shop. It's charming. The shelves are packed with books on many different topics and some of the corners are too. It's fun to dig through the stacks as you never know what you'll find. The gentleman at the counter was kind and bent over backwards to help. There is also a great kids section if you want to bring the family. This is a really great local bookstore, inexpensive, great service... a good place to support. read more

Armadillo's Pillow - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you like the older and a bit musty bookstore then this place is for you. A great selection of older books for sure but you are unlikely to find much newer publishings here. read more

DISHONEST -- I brought in OVER 100 hardcover art books ($50-75 new) in excellent condition and asked them to take a look and see if they'd like to purchase them for a small nominal price (I was hoping 5-10 cents each). The woman looked at the books and said they not worth anything. "All this information is available on the internet". There's no interest in this subject matter. I told thanks for the review and I'm just going to throw them out. She then went on and said, don't throw them away -- give them to us -- we have a $1 fire sale bin -- and I'll price them at $1. I thought for a minute, sure why not help a small local business and give them these worthless books for free. They'd make $100-$150 - money they could really use. I left the books at Armadillo's Pillow and left feeling very good about myself in doing a good deed and helping out a small local business. A week later I went in and saw my books were being sold NOT FOR $1 but with prices of $12, $15 and higher. Had I known they were not being honest and put prices over 10x's higher than discussed I would instead have taken the books the the thrift shop at Rogers Park Church. The church is desperate for money to fund their food programs. My experience with Armadillos is that they are NOT HONEST. I asked the man at the front desk about why they mislead me into thinking these books were worthless and he shouted back "We do not buy books!" Armadillo's Pillow made me feel instead of someone doing a nice deed into a dumb sucker. read more

I knew nothing of book stores until Loyola University friends took me there in 2001 and I have been coming here since. I love books, and learning and enjoy finding new treasures in this shop. There is really no other book store like this in the area. I love everything about this shop from the moment that you step your foot in its magic you are in different world so calm and peaceful. read more

Unique used book store. The furnishings and rugs and art on the walls give off cozy vibes. It fits perfectly in Rogers Park.

Love this store. I was in town visiting my son and found this charming bookstore with little odd curiosities and miniatures that my daughter in law fell in love with. We easily spent over an hour and a half just wondering through and looking at all the unique books. The more I find rare little charming stores like this one the more I want to relocate to Chicago. Highly recommend visiting here. Staff was so friendly and even gave me a "pin cushion" that was decoration only on display shelf. Super sweet and unexpected. read more

I returned to Armadillo's Pillow after a few years, and was happily reminded of how great this bookstore is! It seems cluttered when you first walk in, but I actually found this store to be quite organized (compared to other used bookstores). Yes, you have to scour a bit, but that is the fun of coming here! The prices are fair, and what I would expect and hope for at a used bookstore. I found quite a few books that I have been looking to stock my bookshelf with, and a few that I wasn't looking for that caught my attention. I had to narrow my purchase down to 3 books, but I can't wait to return and buy more! I love supporting local used bookstores, and will now return to Armadillo's as a regular customer. read more

Organized Chaos. Love the little trinkets and art they have on top of the large selection of books they had to offer on about anything you could think of. They had incense, sage, beads, some toys, etc. Personally I didn't find any books, but it was relaxing being in the atmosphere. read more

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I cannot even put into proper words how much I ADORE Armadillo's Pillow. The first time I came in here, I was just astounded by the amount of books and the incredibly warm atmosphere. Whenever I need a personal reset, I end up in this shop and I spend hours here. I almost never leave empty handed, because you just can't! Every employee I've spoken to is always friendly, and the shop is obviously taken care of in that quirky, "let the books tell their own story" kind of way. I am a D&D player too, and I have purchased some of the coolest (and best rolling) dice here! Highly recommend exploring every nook and cranny or you'll miss things! The glass case in the back has some very neat rare items to peruse. Best practice? Grab a cup of coffee from the Starbucks on the corner nearby, and allow yourself a few hours to just zen out in Armadillo's Pillow. You will NOT regret it. read more

This store is certainly one of the bright spots in Rogers Park. I could do without the incense smell, and they need to cool the place more efficiently on hot summer days, but those are minor details. As used bookstores go, this lies on the "neat and well organized" end of the spectrum. It's not a large store, and consequently the selection is not vast. However, I can usually find at least one book worth buying, because their prices are so reasonable. Usually the organized places with limited shelf space exhibit higher prices. Not so at Armadillo's Pillow. The highest price that I've seen in here is $6.95, for good-quality recent paperbacks or some hardcovers such as Harry Potter 5. (Disclaimer: they have a large selection of art books here which I haven't examined, so perhaps they cost more.) Most volumes fall in the $4-$6.50 range, but small paperbacks are $1.95 or $2.95. On my most recent trip, I was perplexed and delighted to find a pristine 1953 hardcover volume of five short novels by John Steinbeck--for $6. They take credit cards, the store is never crowded, they stay open until 8 every night, there are a handful of comfortable places to sit...this is a pretty good one. read more

You REALLY have to want to go to this store to go here. Unless you go to Loyola, you are making quite a pilgrimage north in the city to this little bookstore. And it's a cool little shop...but very much like many used bookstores I have been in my life. A lot of them tend to blend after a while. There's the incense! The weird art on the walls! The strange global music! The uncommunicative clerk! The collection does seem to be chosen with a good eye. Overall, if you're in the area this may be a good spot for you to frequent, but I don't think it will warrant me making frequent trips from my home. read more

Small, intimate, cozy, eclectic, a must if you are a book reader and like all of the things I just mentioned. Coming here reminds me of Guy Montauge in Fahrenheit 451 finding the hidden book room in the women's house. A very large collection of fiction with a very impressive sci-fi collection as well. Plus pretty much anything else one cares to read. You can spend some serious time here but bring your list with book and authors name and see if that book you've been trying to find is here. My visit here a few weeks ago brought me a couple of sci-fi books and a reason to return. And by all means ask at the counter if you couldn't find what you were looking for. It just might have come in. And to re-quote Montauge's supervisor in a positive way ;" We've got to read all the books Montauge." This place is a treasure; support local book stores,read physical books, and tell Jeff Bezos NO you are not my new mommy. I'll decide what I read. read more

Armadillo's Pillow - A few sci-fi books to read - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Armadillo's Pillow gives me hope for the future of mankind. How, you say, can a small independent bookstore in Rogers Park achieve such a thing? Because the mere fact that this kind of bookstore stills exists and thrives makes me think that there still are some intelligent, curious people in the world capable of living without being continually attached to their phone. Armadillow's Pillow is about the joy of books, of the written word, in all its glorious profusion. Books are piled from floor to ceiling in three rooms. Shelves and shelves of them, with chairs and pillows scattered throughout so shoppers can sit down and explore at their leisure. Books are to be savored and explored, after all. Fast food is throwaway culture; books are gourmet meals. Jazz music played softly in the background. The scent of books filled the air. I explored every shelf, took books off to leaf through them, and put them back carefully. Well, not all of them, of course -- I did end up purchasing three. Everything is used, so you don't pay First Edition prices. This allows the shopper to indulge her curiosity and pick up a few tomes that sound challenging and interesting. Or just plain fun. You can buy some earrings and jewelry and other trinkets at the cash register. Buy those, and you can look cute while curled up in your armchair, reading literature or science fiction or philosophy, or maybe with your child in your lap while you read children's tales. I am glad Armadillow's Pillow in not in my neighborhood. I would be spending much too much time and cash there. Instead, it is now a destination for me, and it can be for you, too. Indulge. Buy a couple books. Then go across the street to Royal Coffee, drink their delicious drinks and leaf through your new purchases. That is my definition of a perfect afternoon. It should be yours, too. read more

Attempted to stop in but upon entering the attendant after speaking to her, I was greeted with a nasty look and half assed "hello". It's important to consistently have a set standard of customer service because I entered with the intent to purchase a large number of books for a film but here we are...the store didn't make a sale today because the woman with the glasses and hair decided to make my first impression of the store a terrible one. read more

What can I say? A throwback to times people read books and not screens. I could spend my life in coffeehouses and bookstores. Packed with all types of interesting books, with Satie as the soundtrack, and a cordial owner, I wish everyone would support these little gems in college towns and non gentrified neighborhoods. I certainly will.. read more

Cool environment and hidden gems, nice incense selection and the person at the counter was nice and helpful. I bought some zines and incense obviously but I could've looked for hours. read more

I felt like I was in the library at Sunnydale High, with the addition of incense and cushy ottomans. Which is a huge compliment. Every wall is lined with shelves overflowing with books. Books stacked on the floor because there's no more room anywhere else. Books stacked on books stacked on books. So awesome. There's interesting art all over the place.... paintings, posters, sculptures, masks... All sections are clearly marked and pretty much arranged by author. I came in to aimlessly browse and was very pleased; however I could understand coming in for a specific title and being confused or irritated at the chaos. It's not Borders. On the plus side of "not being Borders"...every book I looked at was between $4 and $9. I even spotted a few autographed copies so if you see an old favorite, check inside just in case. :) read more

By far, this hidden gem of a bookstore is easily one of my favorite places to hit up in Rogers Park. It looks small from the street, but has a much greater selection of books than you could initially imagine it has. Won't deny it doesn't have the selection of say, Myopic, but it definitely still has a very above average book selection. The interesting looking chairs in their side and back room add a nice touch to this place, along with an elevated section up a few stairs in the side room. And finally, I love that the discounts on books here are often above 50% off(and are anywhere from 66% off to greater), unlike Myopic's more limited discounting of books. (mostly only 50% off there, unlike here) They also do sell various things in the main room, such as miniature dice, incense, etc. in the main room, and am a fan of their quarter postcard bin in the side room. As for its lack of A/C, I don't think this problem is that bad, due to the fact there is a small A/C unit above the door in the main room, and the back door is often cracked open to address the problem on the warmest summer days. Located across the street from Village North and Starbucks, and open 12-8 everyday, except on Mondays when its closed. read more

This is where you should go for the ultimate used bookstore experience. From the outside it's a small, unassuming storefront on sunny Sheridan, beside a legendary music store (Flatts and Sharpe), across from the old 400 theater that is now the New 400 Theater. It's Roger's Park and it's rockin' out. The Armadillo's Pillow has some distinct advantages over classic used bookstores. 1. Air flow!! They keep the front door open and the back door open to keep the air fresh and the patrons breathing. No oppressive miasma here. 2. A lack of funk / dust / animal spoors. The air flow I mentioned above helps disperse the natural musty odor of older books. While I'm sure it also helps with dust accumulation, there must someone taking time to wipe down shelves and dust off stacks, because this place is well-kept. Also, no 40 cats lounging around, turning the shelves into their own private scratching post/bathroom nor driving me away with their hateful histamine-enraging dander. 3. The shelves/stacks are clearly marked and almost completely alphabetical. This almost never happens in used bookstores. It's inevitable that you get one or the other. You either get clearly-demarcated areas of interest and the books are a crazy mishmash, or you get an alphabetical line-up but no indication of what genre you are looking at. 4. Staff interaction by request, not by force. After a greeting, the staff will let you browse and wander the stacks to your heart's content. They don't follow you around demanding to know exactly what you are looking for or offering you random books they want to get rid of. No pestering, but plenty of knowledge on hand should you need them. 5. Low prices, high satisfaction. Ok, I get that the used book market is a wildly variable one and that profit is never guaranteed. But that being said, if I'm finding books that are 1) more expensive than their original prices and 2) not rare in any sense, I think the used bookstore concept is failing. The Armadillo's Pillow has pricing down pat. The books were approximately 1/8th to 1/2 the list price on average. Though I left with a mighty stack of books ranging from "Algebra For Idiots!" to an obscure Robert Heinlein pulp novel from the 1960s, I did not feel overcharged in the slightest. 6. There are chairs, couches, benches and spots to sit all over the place. You + your curiosity about a book + abundant furniture = a likely sale! They get this. They get what the whole experience of being a bibliophile is about and try to create a comfortable nest for us. And that's why they're my favorite used bookstore in Chicago. read more

I have only been here once but I definitely want to go back. This bookstore is such a cute quiet spot to go to to read, relax, or explore book options. the staff were very kind and greeted me as I entered and exited. read more

:o) I think that should just be my review... No? Ok then... This is your typical used bookstore, not gonna lie. It definitely does not have the enormous amount of books that Myopic has, but every time I've gone there with a specific book in mind, the AP has had it. (C'mon, when you need the complete version of The Canterbury Tales the day before class and the used bookstore has it...how can it NOT rock?) Once you walk into this store you definitely forget you're in Rogers Park...cold, scary Rogers Park. You know those places that you never notice before -- but you walk down that street everyday? And once you walk inside, you ask yourself "What's a pretty girl like yourself doing in a place like this?" Um...I mean "What's a great store like this doing in a neighborhood like RP?" It becomes your refuge...especially during all 13 of those winter months in Chicago when you get cabin fever -- and want to leave but can't think of a place to go... The prices are definitely nice on your wallet (especially if you're a student trying to buy your school books at an affordable price...since you're only gonna use them once and sell them back for $1). There are only a few places to sit down and read...aside from the floor (which I've done...although I'm sure people around me didn't really appreciate it). I think it's cool that they have a coffee maker in the corner for you to use. And that they sell not only books but earrings, incense...the like. I know they also buy books, but only when the owner is in the store. Overall a great place...worth the walk from the Loyola stop if you're ever in the area... read more

Armadillo's Pillow smells a little like incense. But mostly it smells like books. And I'm into that. This place is adorable. It's crowded (as a good bookstore should be). Books on the wall, books on the ceiling, an elevated platform rises from the sea of paperbacks... climb the steps to thumb through fiction titles. The prices are decent. You know those places that sell grimey old books that aren't rare or valuable but the staff tries to pass them off as such? Yeah, that's not what the Armadillo is trying to sell you. The most I've paid for a book here is $6.50 for a hardcover collection of essays. The staff is friendly. (I'm into that too). Down-to-earth friendly, not that Borders-I-hate-this-name-badge-I'm-wearing-hi-how-are-you friendly. I have never left this store empty-handed. Whether I'm in the market for David Sedaris or Gabriel García Márquez, lit mags or feminist rants, religion or nihilism, the Pillow has got my back. read more

Oh Yeah- just what I need to make me behave a little bit longer! Another bookstore within walking distance of my house. To be honest, I have been here before but it has been awhile. The incense smell used to really bother me and I hated walking around sneezing my head off. However due to circumstances beyond my control, I no longer have to worry about smells! The armadillo's pillow- besides having an awesome name- also has a great selection of books. You can indulge your inner- or outer- nerd to your hearts content. You can twist through the book cases, bending and stretching seeking your favorite authors- Lose your sense of time searching for the elusive lost book in your collection, Or go back a few years and find some of your favorite childhood tomes. My magnificent pound friendly pooch was allowed to shop with me, she attempted to make herself comfy on one of the reading spaces and was not chased off by the staff. Credit cards are accepted- 5$ minimum read more

There's an awesome selection of records here, just so you guys know. I came in looking for light books to read on the train (and I found the same 70s copy of The Bell Jar that got me through high school and beyond), and I left with five or six records. They're not organized, and I personally don't think they're priced very accurately (I paid the same price for singles and full-lengths, regardless of condition/rarity), but it was a lot of fun finding the buried stuff. Also it smells so good. I walk past this place every day on my way home and it definitely draws you in. The staff I've talked to aren't totally "into your needs" or anything. They're sort of distant, but I kind of like the idea that you have to earn their respect. It would be cool if they got more alternative comic books like Daniel Clowes/Craig Thompson stuff. read more

I dream of a room for myself where all the walls are lined with books, from floor to ceiling, but for now I will settle with the occasional trip here. The books are reasonably priced, there is a nice ambiance and plenty of seating, the staff seems to be friendly and quiet. No one yells welcomes at you when you walk through the door or comes up beside you, scaring the shit out of you just to ask you if you need help finding anything when you haven't even had time to look around, like most places. My only complaint is that it can get a little stuffy in the summer heat. read more

I moved into the area back in June and have been less than impressed with the number businesses around us. Sure, we have a Starbucks, Chipotle, and CVS but that's about it. No real stores. Honestly, the area is a bit weird. Anyway, I'd seen this place from across the street a few times when taking my little one out on a walk by the lake, but I'd never ventured down to check it out. Yesterday my friend and I taking my son on a walk to the lake when we decided to check it out. It sure doesn't look like much from across the street, but when we walked by and looked in the door...WOW! It was my kind of place! Books from floor to ceiling..knick knacks, incense. I'm in love. =) Hard to navigate w/ a huge stroller so I'll be going back sometime soon w/o my little guy, but I will definitely be back! Also, I'm wondering if they buy used books...I would assume so, but forgot to ask. Anyone know? read more

This is one of those places that an old fashioned bookworm just LOVES! If you live in the Rogers Park area or are just visiting, it is well worth a trip to Sheridan Rd. to check it out. It is cute, cozy and has a good selection of books in a wide range of areas. It may not have a huge selection, the space is rather small, but you can find anything from philosophy to interior design to biology to a biography of Sean Puffy-what-is-he-going-by-now-Combs. No knock on him, I just can't keep track. I'm old. :) Heh! Heh! Of course they have a decent selection of what I consider "The standards", sci-fi, crime drama and bodice-ripper romance novels. You name it, they probably have it. If they don't they are willing to take your name and number and let you know when they get it. You will find seating scattered around the store, ranging from cushy "settle in" chairs to barstools in some of the cubby areas. There is also a Starbucks across the street, so you can get your java and drink it while you browse to your hearts content. They also sell a variety of other goods, mostly jewelery by local artisans, incense and other cool stuff like old skeleton keys. It ranges by what they have that week. In an age where a lot of small businesses are being pushed out of the market by the corporate mega-store it is refreshing to see a cool, personal place like this still hanging in there. Good for them! I hope you find this useful and will take the time to support one of the little guys. read more

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This is one of those places book lovers dream about finding! Its like something out of a story or on a movie...just as you would imagine a bookshop in "The Neverending Story" or somewhere in Diagon Alley from the world of "Harry Potter." As cheesy as it sounds...this place is magical :) There are books everywhere. From the floor to the cieling, organized but still pleasently dishevled. There are chairs, sofas, etc for the customer to sit and sample their possible purchases. The many interesting nicknack and faint smell of insense add charm. The prices can't be beat. Some books are as low as 50 cents, most seem to be around 5 or 6 dollars....ranging from classics to recent and popular titles! The doors were left open when I visited, and the owner was ouside gardening. One of the most refreshing things about Armadillo's Pillow is that the owner/staff allow you to browse as long as you want without interuption or constantly asking "How may I help you?" This is not to say they won't help you if you ask, in fact the owner seemed very frienly! Armadillo's pillow is a little piece of heaven! read more

Love this place, it's where to go to get away from those who need getting away from. It's in the best neighborhood on the northside of the city. That is, of course, if you aren't some wussy, whiny, transplanted bug boy or girl. There's art to buy, books to trade, comfy places to sit and it's beverage (java) friendly. Have a walk down to Ennui, grab a cuppa to go, and make your way to the pillow. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :) read more

Marvelous. So many interesting old books, scores, and all sorts of other things. Incredible small trinkets for sale. The way great bookstores USED TO BE. read more

So I was exploring my new neighboorhood- feeling a little bit down as that now that I moved here, I can see how not nice the neighborhood is- But I have a GREAT apartment for a GREAT price which is why I guess the neighborhood sucks... but I digress (what else is new?). So I am walking back to my apartment after lunching at Chipolte (which also doesn't taste as good up here), feeling a little sorry for myself when I do a double take at a window I was passing. "My-My, what do we have here?" I said to myself. "Well if it isn't a little used bookstore!- Let's see if I can find some pre WWII books in German! as a test!" So I walk in and am greeted by the typical hippie smell for sandlewood incense (I'm not complaining... I just used some today to try to help with the "old wood" smell of my apartment.- I just don't like hippies!). My eyes adust and I am greeted with the site of a very charming little bookstore. I smile,for a moment, forgetting that Roger's Park seems to suck. I look around- Good selection of books at decent prices. Thinking I know most of what I need to know about the place, I walk up to the counter, read with my most difficult question: "Excuse me- do you have any pre-WWII books in the German language?" "Why yes we do- over here. Not a large selection." I glance over, not terribly impressed at the small selecton but decide to give it a look over anyway. Anyway, the way this tale ends is me walking out with a book from 1918, written in the old german typeface for $6. Walking back to my apartment got a little cheerier. As Arine says, "I'll be back!" read more

I sat here for a few minutes, trying to think of why I should only give this place 4 stars... and I couldn't really find one. Sure, it's not as big as someplace like Myopic, but it's not in Hipster Park. So I'll call that a tossup. Yeah, it smells like incense, but it also smells like a bookstore. Good selection, broken up by genre and pretty well alphabetized. Prices, while not "cheap," necessarily, are pretty reasonable. I see a lot of paperbacks in the $2-8 range, and I can always find at least a couple I'm willing to drop a few bucks on. Plus, they have assorted trinkets and gewgaws, and if you're lucky a big ol dog wanting to say hello. I seem to remember hearing the lady tell a girl coming up to check out that they do take cards, but a $10 minimum... read more

Luckily, books don't retain incense smell the same way they retain cigar smoke, otherwise I couldn't recommend this place. Pretty good collection of books, especially for a somewhat neglected neighborhood. Prices are fair; I wish they were more negotiable, because it's hard for me to imagine some of those books selling in that location. read more

What a delight of a bookstore... Lots of little nooks and crannies to explore, and neat little gift knick-knacks. Krazy bin of used postcards section, i went through all of them, even purchased one of a graveyward of Sharon Tate's! Yikes! This is a USED BOOKSTORE, that are stacked high (this place has high ceilings, so in turn have quite have a selections of books), they have this oversized antique lock and key i want... might go back to get it. read more

One of my favorite places to spend an hour on an otherwise boring afternoon. Wide selection of books in just about all topics; you never know what you'll find just wandering around. Very well organized, which can be a problem at many used book stores. And the prices are sub-Amazonian. Only problem: parking in the neighborhood can be a hassle depending on the time of day, so be prepared to look around a bit for a spot. read more

Very nice, independent bookstore filled with many used and hard to find books. Located 5 minute walk off the Loyola stop, this is a great place to spend a lot of time browsing for your next good read! There are a few small rooms that each contain different types of books from fiction, non fiction, classics, sci-fi, you name it! It's best to come here without a title or author in mind as this place allows you to further explore your interests when it comes to reading. You can test drive any book you want as there is a good amount of comfortable seating to relax in. The prices are fairly reasonable as the books are used, although some books I found in the non fiction area were very outdated and some weren't in the best condition. If you have an open mind and enjoy browsing without being bothered, this is a great local business to support. This is truly a 'book purists' paradise. read more