Although it doesn't look like much from the street, they have a fun selection on books and graphic novels. It has the independent record store but actually a bookstore vibe, which is very, VERY refreshing. I plan to head back here for gift shopping real soon! Prices are on par with anything else in the genre. Although you might not get the Borders 20% discount, you leave feeling like you supported one of your own Wicker Park/Bucktown businesses. read more

On more than one occasion I have made a trip into Chicago from the burbs for the sole purpose of visiting Quimby's. It is hands down the best bookstore I have ever been in. I have spent countless lost hours perusing the perverted and depraved as well as the subtle and sublime under the watchful gaze of Quimby the Mouse. Speaking of which, Quimby's is where I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Ware and Dan Clowes at a book signing. It's a magical place that I regret not being able to visit more often. read more

This is the perfect place to trek to if you're looking for some interesting independent 'zines or any kind of niche literature. They have a wide selection of art and non-fiction books as well as goofy vinyl toys and stickers. This really is one of the most fun places to browse in Wicker Park. read more

I'm suprised I haven't written a review on this place. I love it here! I do not have nearly enough money to frequent here, but they do have everything under the sun that is AWESOME. Definetly a cool place to find books and zines that are rare/hard to find. read more

The selection here is extensive and various, the vibe is totally laid back, I love it here. Culturally this is truly one of the greats this city has to offer. Keep it up my dudes. read more

If you are looking for unique or cutting edge in music, underground comics, fanzines, books, magazines this is the right place to go! They carry Robert and Aline Crumb, Chris Ware (who did their signage), Daniel Clowes, and lesser well knowns (sorry if I offend anyone by excluding!). Music review titles, some sex titles, social commentary, humor. Plain heaven. Send them your email address and they will send you a monthly bulletin with artists who come down and read from their works, music performances, performance art. I am just a customer - not an employee, but I must rave about this place - the best in Chicago. I go down promising myself I will only spend $40 but end up spending $70 'cause there's so much damned good stuff! You must check it out if you haven't yet and consider yourself hip. read more

Awesome alternative bookstore with great magazines, comics and terrific counter-culture books. Good source for lesbian comics. Their best sellers are not likely to match the NYT list, which is fine by me. They get cool authors to read live, like Michelle Tea and Stephen Elliott. You can hear real audio clips of their in-store events at http://quimbys.com/live.php. read more

One of the best book stores. They are likley to not have what you are looking for but you will walk out with something. Alot of good atrist books, tons of comics, and an amazing selection of magazines. read more

Seriously what and amazing bookstore....great books and great gifts! Staff was friendly but not in your face. They have some really niche books and gifts! read more

I end up coming here multiple times whenever I am in Chicago. Quimby's is that rare independent bookstore filled with strange items for those of us outside the mainstream. Do you want a book by John Waters about people in his life who he's admired? How about Julia Serano's recent transfeminist piece? Art books filled with body modification photos? Do it yourself guides or vegan cookbooks? They have all of this and more, and their zine section is second to none. Staff are friendly and helpful and everything is laid out well. Quimby's is a reason to move to Chicago, or at least to visit frequently though they will happily sell you stuff by mail. read more

I just love browsing in Quimby's. They've got so many cool books, zines, comics, and magazines. I always take a look at the table they have right when you walk in, there's almost always a book I want. I've found many people's birthday presents here. Its a great way to spend a few hours checking out a lot of stuff you've never heard of or even known existed. read more

Some sections have better selections than you think even after reading these reviews. They really cute being all Gestapo with the cell phone thing. They didn't stop me, though, when i started reading from the Buckland handbook in a deep booming voice for some goth girls. I tried to make it sound all evil, but i couldn;t keep from laughing. Plenty of sneers but they didn't stop me. read more

In some book I read a while ago, the author suggested that to keep the mind nimble, you should visit a bookstore once a month and buy several magazines you have never read before. No better place to do that than Quimby's. It's the only place I know to find "Found" magazine (one of my favs). But I always find many other books and mags to stretch (and maybe even offend) my sensibilities. I always find at least one good selection one the front table (usually more), and even though I am not an aficionado of underground comics and such, I have found several here that appealed to me: on a recent visit I was pleased to find a hardbound collection of "Herbie" comics from the 1960s. I suspect that Quimby's is not well known as a place to endulge in nostalgia, but this volume brought back many many memories of a misspent adolescence. Go to Quimby's only if you have an hour or two of browsing time ahead of you. read more

Lots of great stuff, that's harder to come by than your normal merchandise. I found a 'zine that I never thought I'd find anywhere other than online, and bought the whole series. This place is awesome. read more

I like Quimby's. Pros: -Photobooth! -awesome collection of zines -a good selection of magazines Cons: -Not a very huge selection of material -The staff is never cheery or mean. They're just... there. read more

LOVED this book store! They had some really cool and unusual books, and TONS of zines! Some of the zines were kind of high, but I'm pretty sure Quimby's doesn't set those prices. They had a decently priced clearance section, but I wish they would come down in price for some of their other books as well. read more

Zines, comics, and plenty of new books you haven't heard of but want to read. Beautiful.

Great bookstore. Cool stuff that you will never see anywhere else. Off the beat and path magazines, books, zines, etc. Plus you can hang out there and relax without feeling rushed. I can easily lose 3 hours and still not get passed thumbing through the front of the store and I like that they have an eclectic mix of patrons. They were playing a stand up comedy CD last time I was in there and it had everyone in hysterics. Fabulous place. read more

Ahhhh, finally a place to get my indie and mini comic fix...

So I took my first trip to Wicker Park today from the south side, and this was one of the stores that drew me in, mainly because I love bookstores. What a disappointment. I know I am going to upset some of you, but this place was a joke. There are very few books, and those that are here were not worth my time or energy to explore. It is rare that I enter a book store and cannot wait to get out. Their selection was limited, to say the least, and the topics are those that scream "look how strange and creative I am trying to be." Not my thing. A much better bookstore is about half a mile away at Myopic, which is another place I visited on my trip. If you come away with anything from this review, it should be that this is not a bookstore. read more

The greatest underground/counterculture book/media store in all the underground and counterculture. Quimby's originally thrived as a 'zine and alt-comics outlet--and heroically, they still carry hundreds of self-produced print missives and wacko comic books--and has evolved with technology to remain the definitive powerhouse for free thought literature and outre concept making. Superhuman customer service. The best readings anywhere that readings happen in the world. read more

I walk by everyday but never been inside. Never really had the time. I don't even do 'the yelp' but joined to give it 5 stars. A package of mine was accidentally delivered there and they dropped it off hastily within minutes of my returning home after a long workday. Good stuff. read more

This review is for people like me, who wonder if "zine" means the same thing as magazine, but figure hipsters will roll their eyes at us for asking. If you just rolled your eyes, you should probably read the other reviews. :-) I had fun browsing this shop for an hour or two. There are lots of quirky books, magazines, and toys that are tempting to buy for coffee table display or bathroom reading, if only they weren't always just a little more than you're willing to pay for such frivolity. I was pulled into the shop by the brightly colored, seemingly hand-sewn, absurdly awesome stuffed monster in the window. It would have made a great gift if it weren't $50 or so -- art price, I guess. Anyway, my favorite part was the collection of books featuring many of the works of Charles Bukowski, Phillip K. Dick, etc. I bought a copy of William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch, based on my appreciation of Hunter S. Thompson and the vast hype surrounding it. I finished reading it a week ago, but it's going to take me a few more weeks to fully figure out what I think of it. Lots of clever turns of phrase, poetic imagery, and philosophical insight, but a few more instances of inter-species gallows sodomy than I thought was necessary to make any sort of point about anything... Yeah, it's that kind of book and that kind of store. read more

I am a dork with a capital D, so finding this place was a little slice o' heaven. I got a book about people who clean up after crime scenes (you know you've wondered about that). They have a great selection of Chicago specific books, and by that I mean the seedy underbelly of Chicago, not travel books. They have a huge selection of comics and zines, and also comic book porn! Sweet! Who doesnt love a little hand drawn poon every now and again? I really, really, really wish this place had a store in Denver. I would never leave. read more

I was worried when we took a picture in the photobooth and it didn't come out for ten minutes. I almost went to go ask the cashier if we could please have our money back because we accidentally fed five dollars into the photobooth, yeah, the one in the back, yeah, the one that is clearly broken and For Display Purposes Only. In the end it came out fine, as all things do. I think I'm glad the photobooth is broken. If it wasn't broken -- if everything had worked as we expected it to -- if we hadn't had to wait much longer than we wanted -- if all went according to plan, I wouldn't remember that afternoon so clearly, would I? read more

I haven't been to Quimby's in a while. I remember when I discovered it when it was located on Damen many many years ago. I was really into zines then, so Quimby's was my heaven. Now I stop in once in a while to get my fix. The space is great and big. Every once in a while they have readings by local writers. Not enough good stuff can be said about Quimby's. It is such a great alternative to the mega-bookstores. read more

The best bookstore I have found so far in Chicago. Such character and such a wide variety of things to offer. A great selection of graphic novels and zines (both mainstream and independent) and some interesting books thrown in for good measure. read more

Places like this make me so glad to be in Chicago. Be fascinated by their insane array of handmade local zines, periodicals, books, comics, and other printed media. Things can get risque in here, so I wouldn't recommend bringing your 8 year old brother or grandma. You just might meet your soulmate when you both reach for the 400 page illustrated bible of Japanese bondage techniques! read more

Cool bookstore with a wide variety of Gender and Women's text. I haven't been to too many bookstores, but this one has a nice ambiance. I bought a book and the cashier gave me a neat little bookmark. They also have zines, and comics if you're into reading material other than books. Overall, cool bookstore that I would return to. read more

I would be immediately suspicious of a person if I found out they would give Quimby's anything less than 5 stars. I mean, this place is fulfilling. It has a selection of local zines, in great variety. And their indie magazine stock--WOAH. I usually walk out with a new one when I already have two in my backpack from the last time I stopped by. The owner and other folk behind the counter are always friendly, and are not gawking at you peruse through the store. read more

Quimby's is awesome. A total chicago gem, that needs to be protected as it's neighborhood gets taken over. Named after Chris Ware's Mouse character...quimby mouse. It has the best collection of local and non local zines in the city. And even you, yes YOU, can sell your little creation there! I once saw a little 7 year old boy with his mom, ask the guy working if he could sell his comic there! The table when you first walk in, is an great place to get you started in the store, the books on it change and it usually has some of their newest, or maybe...most impressive books on it! read more

I hit up Quimby's every time I'm in Chicago. I just wander around and find things I didn't even know existed. Lots of awesome independent books and zines. Easy to lose track of time(and money) hanging out in there. read more

If you like words or art or zines or DIY or good stuff to tease your mind, this is the place to go. If you can find parking.

For it's small stature, I could spend an entire day at Quimby's! There is just so much to look at from different types of genres and who doesn't love an independent book store? Service is personable and great and you can't beat the variety and uniqueness of it all. They have a little nook in the back with mark-downs and there are even places to sit down if you were wanting to take a few minutes to sit down with a book or a 'sine. I just can't get over the variety--you can even find local artists and authors as well as the "mainstream" stuff. Not sure what to get into? The recommendation shelves are helpful and sure to tickle anyone's fancy. read more

I just discovered my new favorite bookstore! Quimby's takes the better elements of good bookstores and combines them into one unique shopping experience. Plenty of titles you can't find anywhere else, which makes for a wide assortment of gift ideas for people who might otherwise be hard to shop for. Browsing the magazines, comics, art books, and fiction is a great way to pass the time and to discover gems that you never knew existed. read more

The best bookstore ever. I always come here when I am in the Chi. You can always find some weird comic, toy or sexy book to purchase.

My favorite book store. It reminds me of all my favorite nooks in San Francisco. Supports local writers/artists and extremely helpful and knowledgeable staff. Love. read more

This is a nifty bookstore with a slight touch of comic books. I was directed here to look for comics and was pleased to find many of my Indies (and not the Doctor Jones type). However, I would say that this is more for those of a BOOK adventurer. Many good titles and interests abound here. Great art and feel to the place. This is definitely not your Barnes and Noble type place. I am sure I will be checking out their selection again. read more

It's a good thing I don't go to Quimby's often. I'd end up spending far too much money there. Awesome selection of books and magazines in an easy to browse store. Also a good place for unusual gifts. read more

I go to Quimby's to look at their great selection of comics, and I always end up pouring over the rest of their inventory from art and design books to magazines to independent comics and zines and other things. This is one of those places that I can't help but love, even though every time I'm there I want to figure out some get-rich-quick scheme so that I could have enough cash to purchase everything here. read more