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    Exile in Bookville

    4.7 (71 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Exile in Bookville Photos

    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Inside - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Javier and Kristin in the fiction room of Exile in Bookville! - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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    Exile in Bookville - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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    Recommended Reviews - Exile in Bookville

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    Reviews With Photos

    Leslie C.

    I love this bookstore! Located on the second floor of the beautiful and historic Fine Arts Building downtown, it has incredible views from its large windows. So much natural light, high ceilings, and it feels so bright and airy! It's a pleasure to walk around and explore the different rooms. They also have vinyl records. It feels like a hidden gem and it's thoughtfully curated. Friendly service. I love the floor-to-ceiling shelves! I could spend hours here.

    Eugenie C.

    I was visiting Chicago on a work trip and decided to pop in, the book selection was great. Was surprised to hear that one of their most popular authors was Higashino and was able to purchase a novel there. They also carry some of my favorite stationery items- Midori and Blackwing. If you are a Chicago native, you are lucky! If you are visiting, check it out. Music was also on point.

    Hannah H.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE Exile in Bookville! This independent bookstore is located in the Fine Arts building inside Studebaker - Their selection is unbelievable - well-organized, and you will both find local and independent authors - a bibliophile's dream! Looking for pencils or pens? They have a wall of Japanese pens that will exceed those who have discerning taste! You can literally spend the whole day here, and the staff are super friendly and can locate or make great suggestions. They are open daily and have author/musician/bookseller events as well! Check this out when you're in the area - you won't be disappointed! +independent authors +amazing collection +friendly staff +located inside Studebaker

    Addie C.

    Nestled on the second floor of Roosevelt University's Fine Arts Building, Exile in Bookville is a public book store full of character and charm with a great selection. From a wide variety of contemporary fiction to narrative nonfiction, I left with book on philosophy, a graphic novel and musical analysis book I've been on the hunt for. I was impressed by their musical book collection. They has analysis collections of popular and culturally significant albums sold along with paired vinyls. At checkout, they threw in a bonus book of short stories! I'm not sure if this is a standard practice, but my friend received a horror novel with her purchase too. It is a great way to expose readers to new authors they may not consider and build customer relationships. If you are a book store lover, this is worth a stop when visiting Chicago!

    Ann-Marie H.

    This is a quaint and small bookstore located inside the fine arts building. It's not the most extensive bookstore I've been to but but they did have a good section of fiction and nonfiction as well as music too.

    Inside
    Courtney T.

    This bookstore is AH-MAZING...nestled on the second floor is book lover heaven. The store is quirky and packed with classics & bestsellers. I discovered the location while walking to my hotel. The service was friendly & helpful. I didn't need another book but I couldn't leave this location without making a purchase. It's literally a bookstore I could visit all day; everyday. If you visit downtown, Chicago be sure to check them out. Oh and the bookmark business card is adorable!!

    View while shopping.

    Wonderful space, super friendly staff, nice view while you shop. Can't recommend enough.

    Rachel B.

    Amazing, eclectic book shop! We loved the layout and the recommendation tags. There were such great suggestions! We were impressed with the variety of the collection. We were so tempted to buy a bunch of new books. I definitely recommend stopping by!

    Jay G.

    Shoutout to Kevin for giving me recs for a book for my hubby! This is a beautiful and well stocked book store. It's a bit hidden but they are 100% worth the visit.

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    4 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Kristin G.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Service needs improvement. Disappointing since this store is aesthetically very cute.

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    3 months ago

    Obnoxious owner. Very poor, limited selection of books. Out of the way; hard to find.

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    2 years ago

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    Kristin G.

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    11 months ago

    Really cute little store! Organized and laid out in a way that really helps you find something new to read.

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Love this place! They have a great selection and their Bookclubs are so fun and welcoming!!

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    Exile is a great place to discover a book or author you've never heard of. I have to limit my visits to protect my spending habits :)

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Hands down the best bookstore in all of Chicago, owners are kind and inclusive. Whenever I am in Chicago this is where I'll be!!!

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    5 months ago

    Truly the greatest bookstore I've ever been too. Great selection, awesome vibe, and the coolest owners. Couldn't recommend it more.

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    1 year ago

    What a great bookstore. The jams, the selection, the views.... Love everything about this place. Go.

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    3 years ago

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    Kristin G.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Exile in Bookville

    Review Highlights - Exile in Bookville

    Exile in Bookville is perfectly tucked away on the second floor of the beautiful and historic Fine Arts Building.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Sandmeyer's Bookstore - Books, books, and more books!

    Sandmeyer's Bookstore

    4.3(83 reviews)
    0.3 miPrinter's Row, South Loop
    $$

    Sandmeyer's Bookstore is a gem! Everyone who works there is so friendly and it makes for a great…read moreatmosphere. It feels really cozy inside and I could spend an hour or so perusing the book selection. They also have a nice variety of bookish gifts and cards. The best part is the sale corner in the back where you can find books of all kinds marked down to really reasonable prices. I'll always stop at Sandmeyer's when I'm in the area!

    What a gorgeous location to have a bookstore! Sandmeyer's Bookstore sits in Printer's Row and is a…read morevery lit and airy environment. The selection is not too bad, considering they are recovering from a flood. There are so many titles and a vast array of topics available. I found some classics, fiction, a wonderful selection in their non-fiction area, and translated books. They also provide you with lists of books that have won prizes or coincide with different regions in the USA and the world! I thought that was very helpful. It's a medium-sized store, but their displays are quite prominent. Everything is easy to grab (no ladders or staff needed to get to the high books). All the areas are labeled and it's visually pleasing. The staff was nice, too. Checkout was easy and they were friendly. Prices are standard of paperbacks and hardcovers. You are paying for an indie bookseller (I paid about $40 for two books, which includes tax). I wasn't at all disappointed with the price. They also have a loyalty program for those that are regulars. I really am happy I checked out this spot. It was beautiful and friendly. There was a lot of books and totes to chose from, it was hard not to leave with more in my bag!

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    Sandmeyer's Bookstore
    Sandmeyer's Bookstore
    Sandmeyer's Bookstore

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    Exile in Bookville - bookstores - Updated June 2026

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