This bookstore is the creation of my wife, Nina B., and the store's devoted and talented staff--just to make clear my conflict of interest at the outset of this review! I have watched over the years (since 2014) as Bookends & Beginnings has morphed from a dream into beautiful reality, but it is still the product of Nina's mind and her dreams. The new location next to Fountain Square was cut from whole cloth. It began as a large empty piece of real estate all painted in white--a blank canvas!--and was transformed into what it is today: a carefully planned and executed space on two levels painted in dark teal, gold, and white, with a hand-picked selection of over 10,000 books arrayed attractively and intelligently. (Not to mention a reak carousel horse and a giant paper-maché giraffe.) The striking floor-to-ceiling mural, the work of her two graphic-artists sons, presides over the store and is visible day and night. You really should check out Bookends & Beginnings, if you don't know it already! read more

It was a nice surprise that the bookstore was still open after our post-dinner treat. It's always fun to browse, and the store is very attractively laid out, with book covers gleaming and beckoning like inviting gems. I found a new book from my to-read list, coveted a cute display of Studio Ghibli merch, smiled at the witty cards, and soon my companions and I amassed a stockpile of items to purchase and so they gave us a nice tote. Maybe next time we'll skip dessert and head straight here (must check hours to see when the bar is open). read more

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This bookstore does not support local authors. A local bookstore should. They are very rude and pompous as well. We don't need that behavior in Evanston. read more

Such a cute book store! They have a great selection of books AND book related items like games too!

Have attended a couple different events and enjoyed them immensely. People are always helpful, kind, and knowledgeable when talking about books. I like their little bar and coffee corner. It's just a great bookstore. read more

Bookends & Beginning is the hidden gem in the community! When people think of a bookstore they automatically think of Barnes and Noble and those other typical stores. However, this was much different! To start, there are two locations - the first is the stationary store that's on the Main Street. This store featured tons of great notebooks, cards, city themed games and items and more! However, the true home of the place is actually located at the alley behind it. When you walk towards the alley you'll see signs pointing towards the alley and it was super fun to walk a bit more and see the bookstore on the right side and a stunning art gallery on the left. Once you walk into the bookstore, you're greeted by the friendliest staff that are working the registers at the front. You'll often hear them recommending books for people as they come in and ask, along with their staff recommended sections. As you walk around, it feels like home. You get the sense of belonging and comfort. Towards the back of the store there is a small lounge area followed by the kids section which is of decent size as well! We took a look around and ended up finding a few books that catch our eyes and will add to our collection of books! We will be coming back soon to stock up on summer reads! read more

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What an amazing place! This bookstore is all but little. Hidden in an alley, you walk into the narrow wonderland of new releases hardcover books. They have all the genres you need to help you quell your story magic, true or fiction. I was looking for a book that isn't sold everywhere and found it in the fiction section. I also found some great new releases, but had to contain myself and not spend all my money there. The staff is helpful and kind. We found some great non-fiction books and gift ideas for the holidays, too. It's an indie bookstore and has everything you need. If you can't find it, they'll order and ship it to you. You can also order online. I loved it here and can't wait to go back! read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I hadn't popped into Bookends & Beginnings since they got the new shop on Sherman for just gifts and such. I enjoyed examining the cards and book-related items, and picked up some things. Yes, the gifts are expensive, but it's worth it to me to support local, and they have some very cute things. I grabbed some old-school library socks for my dad, some cat stickers for my friend (they're so cute! she's wearing glasses and reading), and some Chicago picture postcards for me. They have a nice set of 16 postcards for $10 of Chicago and Evanston themes. I am looking forward to sending the one of Wrigley Field to my pal who loves baseball and some of the quirky neighborhood ones to friends who've left the city. Shop local! Avoid Amazon! When you're in Evanston, definitely check out both Bookends & Beginnings shops! read more

Stumbled upon this hidden gem in Evanston . This bookstore is located in a small alley and at first glance looks small, but extends alot further than I expect. It has a cozy, comfortable vibe and staff are so welcoming. They Has a large variety of books, many genres and informative notes posted on some books indicating staff picks. They have a decent selection of gift and stationary items. Spent more time than expected browsing the wide selection of books. Definitely support this independent bookstore. read more

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Take a casual stroll down the alleyway to find this cozy little bookstore. As you open the door, there will be a rush of the familiar smell of the musk of various book pages old and new. I loved this bookstore as soon as I entered it. There are main book-related gifts to peruse such as shirts, notebooks, cards, ​and pins. They also have a great collection of used books to purchase. The staff does​ a great job of making book recommendations which are seen scattered among the shelves on papers with handwritten messages. read more

A great selection of used and new books! Staff is great and helpful. A big store so there's lots to choose from!

Great local bookstore. It's impossible not to be its supporter. Go local I did all of my Christmas shopping here December 2022 and it was the best feeling to spend my money here and not on Amazon! read more

This is a cool amazing store for you and family members to visit together. Family members of all ages and such and the like. Book section for kids with kids furniture. Public Parking right in front. They had the best bookstore price of my nephew's favorite book series: "BRAVELANDS: CURSE OF THE SANDTONGUE #1" read more

Great. Over the years, I have purchased many wonderful new and used books. The store is well curated, is nicely laid out and has a powder room, libations. It also carries an excellent selection of paper goods, eye glasses and jewelry. I have enjoyed plenty of friendly, enthusiastic customer service. read more

Adorable store with unfriendly borderline rude staff. I will not be returning which is a shame since it is great to support independent bookstores but not with staff like this. read more

Lovely bookstore in Evanston. Two floors of books sorted into categories of interest and genre. The staff members are helpful and kind. Go downstairs for a snack and a beverage (adult too!) to keep you going. Cicada swag is available while it lasts. My purchase? When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. I was pacing myself on Independent Bookstore Day but I will return for more! read more

Small but cozy bookstore tucked down an alley. Love all the great staff recommendations and the friendly staff eager to help you find the type of book you are looking for. read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Bets hidden gem in Evanston!!! I love coming here with my kiddo! They have the bets selection of books.

Really charming bookstore with a lot of awesome books. I like their new location a lot and am excited to try the bar sometime!

Why are there no recent reviews? I feel super bad for them in this new place. I won't complain about the austere feeling of the new place etc. I wanted a book on astrology, but their astrology section is Tarot cards. Not one single book to read. read more

I bought a puzzle at the gift store and two books in the bookstore. It's great that they have a wide range of products, but the book I had wanted happened to be out of stock. Staff was friendly. read more

Support your local bookstore please!! Bookends & Beginnings is wonderful -- part adult candy shop for book lovers, part gift store, part general refuge and place to browse in peace for a happy hour or few. I was very happy with their philosophy section and have found unique titles there that aren't available elsewhere. I also would recommend their writing/writers section where I found the latest Writers' Market that I had been searching for. Their cards, chocolates, souvenirs etc. are also lovely and perfect for gifts of all types. I also want to put a special word of appreciation in for the used book racks they have started putting out on the street. It reminds me of older times walking by The Strand and browsing books on your way home along with everyone else in the neighborhood who's suddenly hanging out at the book racks. Evanston badly needed a used book store since the other one closed. It would be great if the used book selection were actually expanded even further. read more

Through the alleyway, you'll find this treasure trove of a bookshop. For those who remember the good old days of Bookman's Alley, you'll be delighted to know another bookstore took it's place, and it's just as wonderful. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by one of the lovely shop owners behind the counter, who told me what has changed since the prior owner and where to find used books, the kids section, and their prized cooking books. If you'd never been to Bookman's Alley before, that's okay. In fact some of the visitors behind me were students who didn't have a clue what was there before. They also received the same history lesson and explanation, which I thought was very cool. Step inside to discover a cozy wonderland of books and findables. I was immediately drawn to these fun reading-themed buttons at the register and picked up a few of them for a friend. Then I noticed the jewelry, some cool yarn gifts, cards, magnets, and then the cooking section, and then further on back the kids section stopped me in my tracks... or maybe it was the giant stuffed giraffe. Memorable Finds: - Kids section features a selection of books in other languages - My new favorite spaghetti book in the cooking section. Skinny like a box of noodles. Advice: Do not come here in a hurry. It's a place to come and stay. read more

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This is a nice bookstore, a worthy successor to the long-beloved Bookman's Alley which retired from this space in January. It's not really a used bookstore, more like a medium-sized independent bookstore with a few remainder tables and a sprinkling of some used volumes among the regular stock. That is my only complaint--that there are not many used books, maybe only about 10% of the inventory. If I want a new book, I would rather buy from a place like this than a corporation, but then again, when list price for a two-hundred-page paperback runs up to fifteen or sixteen dollars, that seems kind of steep to me. Anyway, it's a great store for browsing. They have familiar bookshop features such as a section highlighting new items and bestsellers in the front, a children's nook in the back, and numerous staff recommendation cards. For the most part, you can expect all the usual sections but bizarrely there is also an entire case of early twentieth-century German books. Also, they boast a large cookbook selection for the size of the store. One cool thing about the remainders is that a whole table is devoted to New York Review of Books publications. I love that series, but on this particular visit, they did not happen to have any in which I was interested. However, most were favorably priced at $7.50. Near the front there is a display table of really handsome book boxes, which are not real books with the pages cut out to form a hollow compartment (thus making a cramped and flimsy container), but wooden boxes formed and decorated to look like books. They feature beautiful artwork such as celtic knots, maps, various abstract patterns, Japanese prints, a few recognizable works such as Le Chat Noir; they come in three sizes; and they snap tightly shut with a magnetic closure. They are very sturdy and quite handsome. My wonderful wife gave me one of these decorated with ships for an anniversary gift. Magnifique! And one more note: Bookends & Beginnings offers a membership rewards program, in which one receives a $5 coupon after every $100 spent. read more

This is a really adorable book store. I came for an event with a group I'm a part of and Nina, the owner, went through a bunch of recommendations on books she carries and loves. She clearly knows her stuff when it comes to books, so if you're looking for something new to try, definitely ask her for suggestions. There are tons of options in terms of books - both "hot and new" as well as books that are more unknown. She also carries a lot of really great gift books, particularly if you're left-leaning and feminist. It has a really cozy feel and I definitely recommend going. The entrance is in the alley behind the main street, so keep an eye out for the sign on where it is! read more

Best bookstore. Very customer-oriented, prompt orders, charming, bright space, I'm ready to move in. Can't wait to take some of their writing classes!!! read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Truth be told, I mistakenly had gone into their offshoot, more of a gift shop for book lovers than an actual bookstore. Truth is, I'm not a big fan of trinkets though I often succumb to that kind of stuff. If I'm going to go to that darker side this is the place to do it! If I recall, immediately to the right of the door is a hefty collection of all things Evanston and Chicago area, followed by a wall of intriguing games and beautiful puzzles. On the opposite wall is a huge collection of lovely cards and stationary. There is much of the usual: gift books, calendars, bookmarks, book related stuff, some jewelry, "Out of Print" merchandise and the like. They also have one of my favorite things, "blind date with a book"! I had a delightful and somewhat lengthy conversation with the person working. Frankly, I'd much rather shop where the employees are friendly and personable so this is one reason I very much liked this shop. I did then stroll over to the actual bookstore and simply struck out in terms of finding anything new or getting assistance or kindness from the employee over there...likely it was just an unusual experience. read more

Awesome bookstore in Evanston. Gift shop on the main street and bookstore is tucked behind it. Got some bargain books on the sidewalk shelves and another book inside the store. Lots of staff recommendations, which I love. read more

Called to see if they had a book in stock and the man on the phone said they did and that he put it on hold for me. I had already looked for the book everywhere and nowhere had it. I traveled 30 minutes out of my way because he told me they had the book on hold for me. I arrived and he then proceeded to tell me that the computer was wrong and he didn't actually look for the book when he told me they had it. All the bookstores are now closing and I need the book by tomorrow so I essentially wasted my time when I could've looked somewhere else. I didn't even get a call back afterwards when he realized they didn't have it while I was on the way. Extremely frustrated with the lack of communication on their part. read more

This place is so cute! They deal mostly with newer, more recent books, so I can't understand why this place smells so musty. But I love the little descriptions they put under some of the books; announcing that such-and-such novel is an employee's personal favorite really makes me want to read it! I would drop by frequently, but probably in short visits, because I am hypersensitive to that smell. read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Helpful personal insights everywhere! - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The entrance of this small, locally-owned bookstore is tucked away in an alley off Sherman Avenue but relatively easy to find thanks to the directions I pulled off of the RTA's web site. This bookstore isn't one that I would normally visit, but made a trip here for the launch of local author Christine Sneed's new short story collection. The area in which the reading took place was cozy, and I was able to purchase the book without any difficulty before the event took place. One of the owners introduced Christine and helped facilitate the discussion, which lent a personal touch. For this event (not sure if this is the case every time) an assortment of food and drink made the gathering that much more convivial, and helped me feel like I was at a dinner party, in the best possible way. read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Author appearance by Christine Sneed at Bookends and Beginnings - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I wish I could give them 6 stars! I love this place. They have an eclectic collection of books and some very cool other stuff that you won't find in any other place around. There is an extensive collection of food / cook books. I found out during a bookstore tour that began at that location that the owner, Nina, lives cookbooks! That's so cool to carry what you love. It shows throughout the shop. Even though it has a vast collection, there is also a personal touch feeling to it. And it is set up to feel very cozy and inviting. Please check it out. These indie shops really suffer against the book giants. I make it my first stop when I'm looking for something different. read more

first of all, comparing it to a shuttered bookshop seems pointless to me. just because a bookstore is an "indie," does not mean it has a favorable ambience. I will not name names, as that would be silly. I found the selection to be terrific. I had a long chat with the woman who co-owns the shop with an old colleague from new trier h.s. days. we talked about a little known poet, and she said she wanted to find out more about her. I like the facts they sell a number of items beyond books. bought a couple of books. then I went back later, as I needed to buy a greeting card for an old friend who put me up (or put up with me) for a couple of nights. a young man named Jeff, from England, and I had a good conversation. one more note: just b/c someone works retail, in a service-oriented business, does not equate with the necessity of them having a bubbly personality. these folks, owners and employees, work hard, in a business (i.e. indie booksores) that is fighting to survive. having read yelp reviews for years, I am always stunned by how petty reviewers can be. and often stingly with stars, even when they give the business a good review. this is one of the finest indie I have ever visited. read more

I love this book store!!! With the pictures I took you can't see how big it is but it is pretty big and has a great selection. They host events regularly (as you can see from the picture), and bring interesting authors to speak. This was definitely worth the visit on independent bookstore day! read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Am I wrong because even though I WANT to like this store, I don't, because the employees at the front never listen or pay attention to what you say, hardly ever say thank you, yet expect you to pay full price for books? I am a reading addict (writer), but I gotta say, I'll be shopping at Amazon in the future. Or at least at a place where they value an actual in-person customer. Wherever that may be... read more

A cool, small, and locally owned book shop! How could I not stop in? I had finished up shopping and attending a gallery opening at the conveniently named Alley Gallery when I noticed this little treasure. Hubs was hungry, but I convinced him to make a quick stop. The gentleman working the register was very friendly and greeted us promptly and asked if we needed any help. While the store is much smaller that the well known chain book stores, you can easily get lost in the aisles of tall bookshelves. They had a great selection as well as cute literary themed greeting cards, t-shirts and puzzles. I love little gems like this place! read more

my fave bookstore in evanston. half the charm is the location, tucked away in the alley. i love to wander around the different sections and read the staff reviews (have found a few good reads from them!). staff is very kind, nothing negative to say about the place! read more

My husband and I stopped in here looking for a baby Christening gift - didn't feel like going to a big box store. We found a great little blanket, a fantastic book and a gift for his older sister as well (introduction to Picasso for the under 5 set). It's a small-medium sized store, and as others have indicated it has a fun jewelry selection as well. I highly recommend them if you're looking for a good cookbook; I literally had to pull my husband away from the racks - there were at least 10 we almost bought. I also liked the small section they had on local lore/books, the wonderfully cozy feel, and the handwritten reviews. As another reviewer wrote, they were very helpful if you don't have anything particular in mind. They also have a frequent customer program, and you don't even have to keep a piece of paper or card in your wallet. Shop small - stop in! read more

I love this gem of a bookstore, which is tucked in an alley in downtown Evanston. They sell used and new books, as well and some jewelry. I've heard that they're known for their cooking books. But for me, the real treasure is the children's section. It's curated well, with a fantastic selection of beautiful books I haven't seen elsewhere. They also have children's books in several languages and in translation. Plus, a cute reading spot with little rockers, etc. The people who own the store are very welcoming and helpful. They also gift wrap books. read more

Over time I have done two reviews. This shop still impresses me so much it deserves an additional high five. I had been in the store and picked up a couple books for gifts, and ordered others for a couple weeks later. All went well. This is the easiest holiday shopping one can experience. read more