I could be locked in Quimby's for days and not get hungry. This place is the quintessential mecca of everything published you had no idea you needed to read. From Zines to a book dedicated solely to photographs of people puking, this store is my dream. I mean come on, there is a black and white old school photo booth. How could you go wrong? And where else could you get a reading is sexy pin? I am in heaven in this store. read more

Even though I tend to get nervous asking the quiet guy who is behind the desk and deep in thought about where my friend's zines are located (the layout can be confusing), I really have no reason to get nervous and soon get lost in the brightly colored zines, great decorations, and books on specialized cultural topics. It's a great place to get lost in thought and think about all of the zines and books I want to buy, even though I can never go home with everything I would want. The staff is helpful, too. read more

Man. Been shopping at this place for almost a decade. It's still my preferred underground bookstore, even if the number of actual books has dipped in favor of comics over the last few years. No matter. Things have improved in other ways. Like, way back in 2001 or thereabouts, I recall they had an employee, this bespectacled and chubby character, who pretended to be a poet of some kind and treated the customers like shit. Thankfully, the kids working there now just seem like typical Wicker Park store clerks - you know, bored art students. But I can handle bored art types. They ring up your goods, slide them across the counter, and resume staring blankly into space or mumbling about Pitchfork. Anyway, this store is the only one that stocks Shock Cinema magazine on a consistent and timely basis. That alone gives it 5 stars. They probably have the widest selection of small-press comics you'll find within the city, and the Geek/Rapist factor is pleasantly low because they don't really stock much Marvel or DC shit. Good for you, Quimby's. read more

I love this place and always will. whenever i need to get my independent read on, this is the place. some of my more conventional friends get bored in this place, so if you're looking for a barnes and noble, this is not for you. but if you like art, erotica, music, and whatnot, stop by. read more

Odd shop with plentiful obsecure literature and local works. Mainly exploitation and art readings are found at Quimbys. One star off because of the standoffish employees. Quimbys is no doubt weird but thats what makes it cool. There is no other bookstore like it. read more

I want to love this place, it's so cute, supporting local productions and the exterior sign by Chris Ware... But it's a more a zines/bookstore, limiting their more substantial indie comics as well as general mainstream comics (I'm allowed to want an issue of Batman at a comic book store), which allows too little a combination for it to be anything it advertises. And try as I might, those mystery packs suck! They have a neat photobooth though. I like the idea of this place but I never find anything to leave with, satisfied by the trip. I'm just not hip enough to shop here I guess. read more

I loved this bookstore. I agree that it has a lot more zines and comics, which I am not into, but there are so many art books and other books that grabbed my attention. It is just a cozy place that I could spend hours perusing. They have a great selection of art and design magazines also! I am so glad that I stumbled across this place, it is definitely a gem in Wicker Park! read more

Do you love Bucktown/Wicker Park? Here's what you need to do to preserve its character: 1. Cash your paycheck 2. Spend 10% at Quimby's 3. Repeat Quimby's has a soul. You'll be smarter. The 'hood will benefit. Now do it for the good of us all. read more

QUIMBY'S IS THE AWESOME. God, the selection! all the random books you didn't know had been published! fun magazines like Found! lots and lots of Drawn & Quarterly! fun gifts like bacon band-aids! it's so much better than Chicago Comix. and they have great readings. and I love it. and that is all. read more

Man, I love this place. Why can't there be more places like this where I live in Florida. Oh, right. Because it's freaking Florida! Time to move! But back to the review, did I mention I love this place? And that I made the effort to visit it several times before I left Chicago. I particularly love this place because they house a pretty healthy collection of zines, but they have some of everything. I love that its not the type of stuff I can find at Barnes & Noble, it's way more alt. You could easily spend over an hour slowly shifting through everything in this store. Just make you sure you have enough money with you. Yeah. 5 stars. Love it, love it, love it. read more

One of the most extensive and stocked comic and graphic novel stores I've ever seen! I highly suggest going with a tote bag- as they have a new chicago paper tax on purchases by weight and volume read more

Fantastic selection of comics, zines, books and other things to make your money leap from your wallet. The staff were pleasant, attentive, happy-to-talk-'bout-recommendations, thoughtful, and kind enough to let me use the staff bathroom in a time of sudden need. Sail on, Quimby's, sail on. Recommended? = Yes, certainly! read more

This place is just plain cool. We walked here after browsing Myopic Books, to be pleasantly surprised when we opened the door at Quimby's. It's an entirely different ballgame altogether. My friends were a little miffed: "What are zines? Why are there weird statues of naked aliens? Are those actually aliens?" I, however, think this was far better. How many great voices and radical opinions and outrageous conversation starters are in those stacks and racks of zines? Answer: infinity. If you're looking to purchase mainstream stuff, don't come here. If you're looking for a legitimate, thought-provoking adventure, saunter in. Two more things: 1. Staff was not judgmental of us not buying anything. 2. The photo booth is a nice touch. Not gonna lie, this appeased my weirded-out friends. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this place and it isn't just me; I've taken so many people there and they agree. The vibe is unique, quiet, and young at heart. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. There's a wide selection of indie magazines, local (Chicago) literature, zines of all sorts, comics, and books. One of my friends recently found a couple music books there that she hadn't been able to find anywhere else so yes, the selection is top-notch. They have special sales too; currently there's a giant poster sale that I've grabbed a couple rad pieces from. The checkout area is crowded in the best way. Pins, grab bags, bookmarks, patches, and event posters abound. There is a photo booth toward the back of the store. This is one of my favorite places in all of Chicago. Each visit has me gushing. read more

Ok, unless you work hard to break the ice with any of the employees, they can seem like you're bothering them by being in the store. That being said, there isn't a better selection of weird, odd, COOL books anywhere within a four hour flight. Period. I can't even being to express how if you wandered through, sift through the shelves and let books attract your attention, you'll find a pile of things that you'll decide you can't live without!!! Like I said, the staff mean well, but I don't think in ten years I've ever had one employee verbally make a recommendation. But I suspect it 's more about being shy than anything else. And that hasn't stopped me from doing all of my holiday shopping here every single year, and from not escaping any visit ever without hundreds of dollars of books destined to become my new favorites... Art, Japanese Horror, Photography, Occult, Humor, History, Fetish, Comics; Police Training DVDs from the 1950s and unicorn action figures- everything from the very serious to the utterly ridiculous. If you go in here and can't find an ARMFUL of awesomeness, you're so beyond help it isn't even funny. read more

Quimby's is the best underground comic shop I've ever visited. They don't have monthly single issues of mainstream comics, which is good in my opinion, as I haven't bought single issues since I was a kid. They do have a good selection of "good" mainstream graphic novels (your taste may vary, but they were pretty spot on for me). Quimby's biggest draw is obviously its gigantic selection of underground comics, books, magazines and 'zines. I could have spent hours browsing (I'm now questioning why I didn't) and still barely scratch the surface. read more

I promised the guy behind the counter a 5-star Yelp review for letting me be 1¢ under. But in all seriousness, this store is amazing. From mainstream books to the most underground of underground of comics (some bound in duct tape), I could have spent hours in this store and I was happy to support it. read more

Quimby's is a very cool little bookstore with an interesting selection. I particularly like their graphic novel and crime sections. The staff is always friendly, the store is clean, and everything is well marked. I took one star away because things can be a little pricey. The truth is I sometimes go to Quimby's, find an interesting book, then buy it from Amazon for half the price. read more

Looking to laugh? To heal? To destroy? To learn? To burn? To have your mind blown? Quimby's is for you. Simply the best. No trip to Wicker Park is complete without a trip to Quimby's. Believe the hype! read more

Crazy independent books and publications. As a book lover, I gotta appreciate the passion of so many local writers trying so hard to be read! I browse more than I buy, but it's a fun place to stop in while you're in the WPB area. read more

I want to put this place inside of a Binny's and call it my home. If you've been in there more than 60 seconds and haven't found something interesting there's something wrong with you. read more

I am So, so, so, so, so, so very, very mixed on Quimby's. Their selection is so very good! Their staff has been so very knowledgeable... but the "No Cell Phones" thing? They mean it, and it is the perfect excuse for the staff to be a$$holes to customers. I just want to say, I follow the rules, and it has never happened to me, but I have seen staff go at those talking or even texting like snipers. This bugs me. I am not sure why this is a rule, as tons of people there yap, and yap, and yap, loudly... and I have seen the staff doing so.. but it is their store, and their rule... I just don't get treating customers so badly over it, even when the customers are being totally non disruptive! It is like bitter employees power tripping! This really skews my feelings about them negatively. read more

A friend was showing me around Chicago and was trying to think of places I'd like; he described this as a curated bookstore. I had no idea what he meant until I got there, at which point I knew exactly what he meant. Quimby's has the feel that every book they sell was picked with purpose and personal approval, keeping a certain audience in mind. The store is organized into very specific sections, and the books are ones you wouldn't find in a Barnes and Noble: stuff about how to be a cool parent, books of collected band names, roller derby coffee table books, 33 1/3 books, lefty political books, vegan cookbooks, and the zines and graphic novels...I don't know where to start. It was overwhelming. There are racks of zines throughout the store (from bound paperbacks of "Cometbus" to little hand-colored comics), I'm sure Quimby's carries several hundred different titles (there were also racks of sale zines in the back). I do wish the zines had been organized by subject - when possible - because I had no clue where to start, and I did so want to buy some zines. And/or graphic novels, but again, with the enormous selection, I ended up being unable to pick anything. This was dumb of me; I have a feeling the employees are well-versed in the store's wares, and could have found me a pile of stuff to buy if I'd listed my interests. I definitely felt like I'd missed something fantastic when I left without reading materials. I did invest in the black-and-white photobooth in back, because how could anyone not? But really, how could I also not buy something to read? Bah. read more

great selection of unusual and interesting books, zines, magazines, and comics. -1 star for the rather bad smell inside the shop. kinda like bad B.O. one can spend quite some time in the rather small shop looking through all the stuff they've got. i picked up some interesting magazines and spotted some interesting independent books as well read more

I dare you to go to Quimby's and not stop to giggle at the HUGE selection of erotic comics. Make that a double dare.

I was annoyed by cliche artsy yuppy but stil homely woman working there who was considerate enough to call a friend on the clock and disturb an otherwise quiet bookstore. It's like every good thing is ruined by some conformist dumbass. read more

Chicago's best indy bookstore, hands down. I challenge you to find a better selection of zines anywhere in Chicago. I'd go on, but pretty much everything has already been said about this fine bookstore. read more

Even on three hours of sleep, in the middle of taking two days off from driving across the country to partake in ridiculous Chicago debauchery, I managed to remember how much I wanted to go to Quimby's. There were so many great graphic novels and indie comics to choose from at the front of the store, I did not even notice that I was only in the NEW section. My friend promised me that Quimby's would take most of my money, and it is for this reason that I am glad I do not live in Chicago right now, because otherwise I would eat only rice but be perpetually surrounded by great books and comics and magazines. read more

Definitely a niche bookstore but it has a cool vibe and plenty of interesting reads.

Quimby's is one of the last treasures that the Wicker Park neighborhood has to offer which hasn't completely been overrun by yuppies. I rue the day I walk past their windows and there's a big display of "Shopaholic" novels in the window (or whatever it is that the Sex-in-the-City crowd will have been "turned on to" at that point...) read more

Pretentious it may well be (photobooth, aloof staff, ridiculous amount of poncey zines) but this place makes for the best book browsing in the Chicagoland area. It may not be as cozy/nooky as say Myopic (there's no bookshop loaf-cat) but unlike Myopic you'll actually be able to find what you're looking for. And not that I'm in the market... but if manga porn is your thing, this seems to be the place to get it and not be frowned upon because there's a massive rack of the stuff right out in the open. And I can't not like a place that has a shelf marked "(F)ART". Haha! read more

Combine your stereotypical comic bookstore with a bunch of hipster zine writers and you've got this place. I completely loved it. Where else can you find comics like "Trucker Fags in Denial"? Where else can you find bacon-flavored toothpicks and copies of old 70s gay erotica? I wish I'd gone to one of the readings held here while I was in town.... read more

Quimby's has the most extensive selection of gothic nazi milf bettie page fetish pornography in all of chicago. I think they also carry comic books? read more

Stars for staff, not quality of product. I love quimbys; I come in from the burbs and risk parking tickets for quimbys. I save my money so I can throw it at quimbys. But when I ask the main lady in charge for help it's always condescension. So the product I'm looking for is Si which is a comic from Croatia that I get every quarter (or so) from quimbys. When they don't have it I have to order it direct which takes forever but if my rather spend local anyway. I asked her if they moved them and very curtly she replied so you want me to show you where those are kept in the corner. I said I knew where they used to be in the corner but didn't see any. She then just gave me a look and repeated the same thing and did a kind of exaggerated hand waving gesture to show all the product by the company they do have, none of which is what I was looking for. They usually have a ton. She says maybe they're out. You'd think someone who lives and breathes the place would know if they were out or on their way in or discontinued but she couldn't provide any information. Gotta say people like her are what makes going to soulless places like BN and Amazon worthwhile. Quimbys will not go out of their way to help you. Thankfully there are other places to go to and thankfully their sister store Chicago Comics doesn't have the same customer service as this woman because I'd hate to have to stop going there too. read more

A local bookstore chock full of alternative works be they novels, graphic novels, 'zines, magazines, coffee table books and bathroom reading. If you're the type to memorize titles at local bookstores and buy them at Borders then forget about it. First, that hurts the store and second, you'll get a book thrown at you in Borders for requesting some of this stuff. Keep an open mind when you come in and you'll walk away with something all about your guilty pleasure. read more

every time i hit quimby's, i don't leave for at least an hour. it's like getting caught in a giant , hypnotizing maze. except the maze is actually made of super rad book racks and stuff... actually the main reason i come here is for the zines! if you're broke constantly like i am and can't afford to pay your atrocious library fines but want something to read on the bus, zines are the way to go. quick, interesting little guys about every and any topic imaginable. they delight you and depress you and teach you things. plus some of them are FREE!! read more

If you have visitors in town, no trip is complete without a stop at Quimby's. I love bookstores, especially weird bookstores, and that is definitely Quimby's. Sure, you could probably see something really cool there and then try and find it online for a couple dollars cheaper, but why not spend your hard earned cash at a Chicago landmark? We need places like Quimby's to stay open when there are a glut of Borders and Barnes and Nobles everywhere. I'm getting a hankering for some bizarre magazines right now... read more

A great place to go for any kind of off-beat artistic book (from poetry to graphic design). Even if I'm just browsing, I have a hard time leaving without buying at least two books I'd never heard of before. It isn't huge, and it has such a variety that they end up rotating their selection a lot. If you see a book you are interested in...you'd better buy it because it probably won't be there next time. Also a great source for anything related to Dave Eggers. read more

As many others before me have discovered, this place is awesome. The staff banter really made me smile--it's like the zine/bookstore version of Empire Records! I was more than happy to give them my (small amount of) money. I lost track of time so I'm not sure how long I spent in there, but it's a treasure trove that no mortal can explore fully in one visit. read more

HOLY SH*T! Do you guys have any clue what an amazing space this place is? I came here TWICE on a 3 1/2 day excursion into Chicago-if that doesn't say something about a bookstore when I could have gone to about 25 other places on my agenda, I don't know what well...well, except for this review. I read that Marjane Satrapi AND David Greenberger would stop by there that weekend, nerd alert code RED rang in my head-WTF? This place sounds magical. A much smaller space than I anticipated (Satrapi had sold out a movie theater in Boston), I was a bit off-putted by the clerk there that night when I asked where she would speak-and he just kind of exasperatingly told me in the back of the store where everyone was hanging out. I understand it is a small store? And there are women who normally don't go there to see her? But you were my first impression and it kind of sucked you gave attitude about me not being in your store before it. Check it, okay? BUT-even Mr. Sulky-Sulk couldn't deter from the fact that this place kicks major ass. Like asses. Like a zip code of asses. The selection of books, zines, comics, graphic novels, random art work, magazines blew my MIND, man.And while Satripi ended up only signing books instead of speaking, I ended up hanging out there for about an hour. I think if I lived here? I would be here like every week. The McSweeneys/Eggers worship-altar selection is killer. The talk by Duplex Planet author was great too, an intimate space that doesn't feel crowded-and the guy and women who puts on the events were cordial and lacked the 'tude the original guy did. Overall a really comfortable place, amazing selection and presentation, and very strict no-cellie-policy I strongly uphold. If you haven't come here...what the fuck are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Send me your address and it will be on its way promptly, stamped "lame ass". read more