I do like me Quimby's. There's something nice about going into a local bookstore. Actually, there's something nice about having the option to go to a local bookstore these days. And if you're lucky enough to have that option, do make the short trek to Quimby's. They have a vast selection of 'zines, comics and unknown authors, as well as a selection of more somewhat known authors. Be sure to check out the glow-in-the-dark skeleton pirates up by the register and buy me one since I spent my last $15.45 here on a book and didn't have enough left over for the $1.38 glowing skele-pirate. I really want one. Bad. read more

A Chicago institution! Really a browsers paradise for underground comics, lowbrow art books and magazines. Bonus points for actively promoting local artists. read more

This place gets a fiver because they sell zines! They sell a ton of other cool stuff, too. I can't step foot in here without buying something. I feel obligated because they have so many obscure art books and magazines and back issues that I missed the first time around and...yeah... read more

Love it. I can always walk in here and find something new and amazing to read. Great selection of anything and everything you won't find at any of the big chains. Hell even most of the indie stores won't carry half this stuff. nobody else like them in the city read more

I was more into this place when I was younger and collected a lot more zines and comics, but a great selection and they are very good about selling other people's work. I sold them some stuff here, which they did willingly, but if you do sell to them be warned that they are very very slow about paying you for them. I got a check dated two years ago for $18 for said zines. But they have a photobooth now, and Bob Odenkirk was there recently, which is good enough for me! read more

This place is awesome! there are just so few truly independent places with a true 'alternative' seletion, Quimby's is great for finding truly off-the-beaten-path books, comics and other fun stuff. read more

I don't go to stores to get reassurance of my place on the social ladder, so I could honestly care less about the level of snobiness a store clerk gives me. If I did, I would have stopped shopping at the Broadway Reckless Records years ago. I've read many a review for Quimby's that says "the people who work here are snobs and rude." Who cares? The store is always well stocked and I've never left there without buying something. They have every kind of independent and underground press you could imagine. I personally appreciate their local zine rack. There is always something there that grabs my attention. Panic Attack, Jinx Removing, Milk Milk Lemonade.... I get all my fav's here or at their sister store, Chicago Comics (depending on what neighborhood I'm in.) Do yourself a favor and go to Quimby's. I can guarantee you'll find something there. If the staff is rude to you, go cry about it in your blog. read more

These guys are great! I dig their selection and definitely dig their dedication to selling self-published comics and zines. They have great events here (Harry Potter erotica? Yes plz!) great toys and a really great atmosphere. Recommended! read more

This place has any magazine I would ever want to buy. I can come here and just walk around looking at stuff for like an hour. They have cute cat postcards, (that cat in the shark attack halloween costume is priceless. i want that costume.) crispin glover books and all the creepy/awesome things I could ever hope to see in one place. I always feel lucky to have a place like Quimby's in my neighborhood. read more

I'm so glad I wandered in, because this is one of my new favorite places EVER. The collection of limited run books/zines here is phenomenal - I left with a pretty hefty stack of gorgeous risograph-printed booklets, a zine by an animator in London, and a book by Matthew Hoffman ('you are beautiful'). If I had less willpower, I would've gotten a stack of magazines and postcards too. The people working there are super friendly, and there's even an old school photobooth in the back! Be prepared to spend some time perusing because there is some seriously interesting and unique stuff here. read more

What wonderful things can I say about Quimby's that hasn't already been said...humm... nothing. Just check it out; grab a graphic novella, some erotica, or your favorite D.I.Y mag and chill for a spell. Oh, the clerk was very helpful too. read more

Yay Quimby's! I visit Quimby's every time I'm in Chicago and spend hours browsing through their books and zines. Excellent selection, friendly staff. read more

Quimby's is the quintessential independent bookstore. They carry all of the great zines, hard to find gems and the international, erotica crossword puzzle you never knew you always wanted. If they don't have something I'm looking for, they always try to find it for me and that's why I'm giving them 5 points. Places like this are the best part of the neighborhood. Here's to hoping they don't get pushed out of Wicker Park and replaced by a LensCrafters. read more

I have a hard time going in to Quimby's and not buying anything. It is far too easy to lose all your money in there, which is why I try to only make the trip on special occasions. read more

Quimby's is not for the faint of heart. They have a large selection of zines, indie magazines, comics and books ranging from more well known authors to the more obscure and hard to find titles. The staff is super friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and at times, even a little quirky and they are able to answer all of your questions. I think what I love most about this place is that even though the Wicker Park neighborhood where Quimby's resides has become more and more gentrified, Quimby's has stayed true to its punk rock roots and hasn't lost sight of their audience, in spite of the change in neighborhood demographic. read more

I found a job ad for them that requires one year of experience and a four year degree for $1 above minimum wage. Don't support businesses that require 4-year degrees but don't want to pay appropriately for it. read more

I moved back a week and a half ago (lived here on and off in the past) and Quimbys was the first place I made myself go to. It's still one of the best bookstores in the universe. read more

If you're into independent publications then this is the spot. Plain and simple. Great selection of zines, comics, and random odds and ends. Scope it out. read more

I would never go to Quimby's if I were looking for a specific book. Allah invented Amazon for that. But if I am ever in Bucktown and have to kill time, or really if I am ever near any train that could potentially transfer me to Damen/Division and need to kill time, I seem to end up here. They've got Jodorowsky comics, all kinds of local authors, porn that you didn't think would turn you on, and these impossible-to-assemble architectural postcards that are mind boggling fun. There is a couch in the back by the bargain books, stay awhile. Oh, and I heard you can buy all that stuff, you don't just have to hang out until your show starts....not that I ever (always) do that read more

Cool little bookstore. Really enjoyed the local artist comic books.

I dont know why people say they dont sell books. Take 15 steps inside and its bookselves filled with books. They also have zines and independent publishings, this place is great when youre looking for a new great read and to look into some culture or find novelty items. If youre looking for a specific book I would say call ahead, or go to barnes and noble. The have an arrangement from graphic novels to books to zines to even games. read more

The best bookstore on the planet as far as I know.. You can find the coolest zines and strange books! I often browse their sale rack, and end up with 5 books, 3 zines for less than fifty dollars. They are super helpful at hunting down whatever you want as well! read more

This place was the store that didnt exist anywhere but our dreams in high school.Art books,art cards,occult section,comic books,graphic novels and loads of bizarre nick knacks perfect for the hard to shop for.I could have stayed here for a week,picked up some signed art cards and a Hellboy novel ive never seen.Its like a miniature version of the soap plant in Hollywood. read more

great book and zine store. goos selection of graphic illustration and photography books. Might not be for everyone but good for me.

I love Quimbys!! Everything from the location to the books they carry. As someone else said they have great finds you won't see being sold at Barnes and Noble and their collection of obscure authors is incredible. I love the no cell phones sign on the door because it allows me to browse for books in peace! read more

I heard about this store recently from a blog post by a cartoonist. Interested, I came to see what all the fuss was about. The store was filled with unknown publishers and zines, varying in many shapes and sizes. The clerk was attentive and helped me find a handful of comics. It's unique, cozy, and fun. I recommend this store for comic fans, especially if you're in to the Indie stuff. read more

for those hard to find novelties books this is the place to stop. i had spend months trying to find sam flores book with out paying for shipping or it being over pice and there it was in this very store! made my day. i suggest going by yourself so that way it easier for to browse with out friends trying to rush you unless they like to browse as much as you do! friendly staff as well A+ read more

You'll tip your hat at this one. I could have spent hours here, if my traveling companions would have allowed as much. The place in fascinating, but of course, to find it fascinating, one must be fascinated, and I certainly was. If you really want to understand the spirit of our time from an artistic, political or societal perspective, Quimby's Bookstore will be your guide. Their local and collected zines are categorized according to the special interest that they represent or speak to. Many of them are very small production and hand-crafted by young, articulate American men and women who have a genuine voice and aren't too oppressed or afraid to use it. It felt like an important discovery, being from Dallas, where anything that breaks away from static traditions or social norms is largely frowned upon. There was revolution in the air and enlightenment on every piece of paper, no matter if it was printed by a large publishing house or on a xerox copy machine in the basement of some beat down apartment in Wicker Park. read more

Best bookstore in Chicago. Easily in the top five best book stores I have been to. They have author readings here pretty frequently and are part of Chicago Zine fest, which is awesome. I saw Craig Thompson speak a few months ago, and was pleased to see that the place wasn't ridiculously crowded. read more

Fell in love. So much to choose from, staff is really cool and helpful. Great to get lost and discover new art.

i don't remember the bacon flavored mints (yeah, i missed out), but this was a fabulous store nevertheless. lots of reviewers have already talked about their great zines selection. i'll second that, and add that they also carry several pepin press/agile rabbit editions for those of you who are into design (how to fold; display; etc.). i also love this store b/c it's hard to find others like it elsewhere in the country (at least among the cities i've lived in/visited), thus making it truly unique. read more

I got routed to Yelp/Quimby's when I searched "Moleskine in Wicker Park". It was misleading. Of Moleskine's wide array of personal notebooks, Quimby's stocks only two. Mostly they have "Field Notes" brand. Yeah, they had 3 1/2 X 5 1/2 lined, but they are not Moleskine and they are not as good. (Yes, I have tried them). I would not regard Quimby's as a Moleskine dealer. read more

Don't use your cell phone while you're in there and this will be the best comoc book store ever.

While it's not the back issue collector's store I'm looking for, they are unique in that they're not just your basic fanboy store. It was great to see a more diverse selection and I found a few interesting things I wasn't looking for. read more

Quimby's is straight up one of the best places in Chicago. I love seeing so many handmade DIY zines, and they have a great book selection as well. Employees have always been helpful. read more

This store has an amazing selection of books. There are not only comics, but literary journals like Granta and McSweeney's. There are great zines like Found and there are a ton of local and not so local zines that on in the store on consignment. They have a wide variety of books as well as in store events. You can also pick up your copy of the anarchist cookbook here! read more

Great selection of fiction, comics and pop culture books. And they have great events. They have very friendly staff. In this day and age it's awesome to have a bookstore that has its own distinct charater. I always buy something when I am here even if I think I am just going to browse. read more

This is the definition of a good bookstore. It's selection is exclusively indie and obscure, but that is exactly what you want to see at a small bookstore. Everything interesting and outside the mainstream that isn't at Barnes and Noble. Love this place. Wish books were cheaper on the whole, but I know the bookstore has nothing to do with this. read more

Great spot: fun vibes, super collection of zines, and friendly staff. Would definitely check it out if you are in the area!

If you want to read some weird shit, Quimby's is the place. They've got all sorts of cool indy mag, some comics, and books. Lots of neat alternative lifestyle stuff. Their products are awesome. If I had any complaints at all its that the staff is fantastically snooty and if you look at all like you're not a trendy hipster, expect them to treat you with a bit of disdain. read more