I'm not sure if I'd heard of The Book Stall before. I learned that the children's author Sherri Duskey Rinker, who happens to live in the suburbs, is doing story time events at several suburban bookstores to celebrate the release of her newest book. My daughter is a big fan of her Construction Site and Steam Train Dream Train series, so I was excited to bring her here for the event. We got here a little too early--about five minutes before they opened, and 35 minutes before story time--but I wanted to make sure we got a spot! The area where they hold story time was really large for an independent bookstore. After the story was over, the author personalized her signed books for the kids. I'm glad we went to this event because in addition to it being fun, we picked up several books and one of them has so quickly become a new favorite of my daughter's that she already can recite pages from it three days later. The bookstore is nice, and larger than I was expecting to be honest. It was fun to wander, even whilst trying to keep an eye on a toddler. They have various events, story time, fundraisers, and so on. I think it has the potential to be kind of a madhouse for some of their bigger events... it seemed a little unorganized getting folks in line for this signing and they don't really have a lot of space for folks to queue up so some people were cutting in front of folks so it might be kind of messy when there's a big event happening. But still, worth a stop if you like bookstores! There's lots of parking around on the street and even a municipal lot. read more

See all

The Book Stall is a treasure. You can always find a great book from just browsing the shelves. If you check their inventory on-line for a special book and it shows as being available, it will be! The author events are more than readings; they are intimate conversations. The Book Stall takes its role as an independent bookseller seriously and it does its job well. Writing this makes me want to visit again soon! read more

My kindergartener really wanted to go to a bookstore yesterday where he could get a book he didn't have to return. He's apparently anti library right now. :) We made our way to Barnes and Noble in Old Orchard and was bummed to see they have closed. A quick Yelp searched reminded me about The Book Stall. We spent some time there looking for books and picked out one for himself and a few bday presents as well. The women who work there were super helpful and even tried to help my son find an Arthur the Ardvark book (his new obsession that doesn't really exist anywhere). They didn't have and luck finding a book, but a star for trying. It doesn't seem like there are many bookstores around these days so this was a good reminder to visit this one on a more regular basis. We had a really fun day of sports, bday parties, etc. However, when I asked my son his favorite part of the day he said "visiting the fun bookstore." And as a big reader myself I loved that! read more

So I thought I would give this store just one more shot. Being my local bookstore and all, just steps from my house, I meandered in on a sunny afternoon. Again, no greeting was offered (although they were busy). But as usual (since this was my umpteenth time in this place), even when I approached the counter to look closer at the featured books, no one said a mumbling word. But the final, most obvious straw was when I was in the back room, with an armful of merchandise, and an empty-handed white customer was helped, then in short succession, another one spoken to, and asked if she needed help. While I, YET AGAIN, was left to my own devices. I then dropped what was in my arms and started walking towards the door. It was then, FINALLY (one would say at the 11th hour), that the aforementioned older, white saleswoman said, "Can I help you with anything?" I replied, "I was wondering when you would get to me." Silence. Then I said, "Seems like you only wait on the white customers here." Well, you should have seen her scurry away! And mind you, an exit is not an explanation. Or an apology. I had all the evidence I needed. SHAME SHAME SHAME. In the year 2023, why does garbage behavior like this continue to exist? Thrive, even, right in the light of day? read more

They have top notch authors but you'll never actually get to see them. A tip to the owners: Maybe you can commission the New Trier Woodworking class to build a little platform because 80% of the seats have no view of the artist. Or have them on a lectern. read more

They made arrangements some weeks ago for a book tour for Tom Felton and advertised it on social media. They have since cancelled the meet and greet due to restrictions. While understandable, the proprietor did not update the audience until after everyone paid for the book and their spots. Due to outrage, they just deleted the post and the action made it seem that they would rather close the topic out than have a discourse and even option (if this was made avail to the purchasers) to refund and cancel. On the night of the event, they were not clear about where the entrance line is. Then we saw their staff get a meet and greet, photographs unmasked with the author, while the paid audience didn't get this chance. It's really disappointing and the lack of communication needs to be improved. I hesitate in the future to buy books or purchase events with them because of this. read more

This is the best book store I've ever been to. The selection of books is fantastic! The children's section, middle school, and young adult books are all filled with wonderful books. The staff are all avid readers and are happy to recommend books if you give them some information about your interests. This my favorite place to go for books for myself, my family, and for gifts for friends and relatives. I highly recommend it! read more

The Book Stall is an adorable book shop attached to Peet's Coffee in one of the main drags in Winnetka on Elm. If you find a book you'd like to read, it's a perfect scenario to buy then hang in the coffee shop next door sipping a latte. They have a wonderful selection of books, well organized out. They also have a good selection of adorable gift items for readers and non-readers alike. There were a few people working when we walked through and sadly none acknowledged us. Well, I could feel them looking at us but they didn't greet us. They were engaged in their own conversation and kept on with that instead of saying hello to us. It's unfortunate to see such service at a small bookshop as usually the service is what keeps customers coming back...not their low prices! Ah well. Sadly even with their collection of signed books and other fun items, I won't be back to The Book Stall. read more

The Book Stall - Bookstores Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

See all

I love the Bookstall! It's comfy. Staff is very helpful. They wrap gifts. I love their game selection. It's not often I buy gifts for kids, but when I do, the selection is always thoughtful, but also, engaging for the kids. They also have great little notebooks and a lovely card selection. read more

Have I seriously not reviewed The Book Stall yet? My bad. The Book Stall is the preeminent book store on the North Shore; it's been in business since 1940 and has won best national independent book store before. The Book Stall has everything and something for everyone. If they don't have it they'll order it and call you when it comes in. They carry all the books district 36 and New Trier English students are reading in a special section, they have staff favorites, book club selections, and a great stock of fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, history, sports, young adult, kids, psychology, parenting, travel, cooking, etc. They carry stationery, cards, journals, small gifts like scarves, pens, novelty socks, bookmarks, and toys, they run a weekly book club, they host dozens of authors and book discussions every year, they gift wrap, and they know what they're talking about when it comes to books. They host a publishers rep night that shouldn't be missed and they work with local schools to raise money. Simply put, all bookstores should be just like this one. It's a hub in our community and I'd much rather shop here than at the big chain stores. read more

I love this place. Such an amazing assortment of books and games. They are always programming writers to come to the store. Sign up for their newsletter to keep in the know. Independent bookstores are the heart of communities. What a great place. Love their current Pride display. read more

Cute little book store. Good book selection and impressive schedule of authors coming in to talk. Find a date to come when you want to see a specific author you like! read more

This is such a great bookstore. If you are someone who grew up reading and feel that your happy place is among books, I would make the trip up to the Book Stall for a glimpse of the pre-amazon takeover world. The location is on Elm and there is parking in a lot across the street or street parking. The Book Stall holds author signings and gets big names like Hillary Clinton. They have a section of autographed copies and an extensive selection of well chosen books. Staff here is extremely knowledgeable and have pointed me to some of my favorite authors. I love looking at their tables of recommended books. The have some kind of book subscription available that friends have enjoyed, I just haven't subscribed to it yet. There is a coffee shop next door as well as little nooks to sit and enjoy your next read. I would highly recommend this place and hope that it stays in the community forever! read more

About a 2-2.5: The Book Stall is a bookstore located in the heart of Winnetka. They have various events in which you can check their website for more information (such as a Paper Airplane Workshop, cupcake parties, etc.); it lists both that are held at the bookstore as well as at the local Evanston Public Library. While I appreciate a great local bookstore, this place seemed a bit tad unorganized, and the staff was a little unfriendly in offering any type of assistance T___T I was a little disappointed in their children's section, as the selection seemed to be at a minimum. Make sure you check out their autographed books, which they seem to have a good handful. +limited children's selection +events listed for on-site and at the Evanston Public Library +unfriendly staff T____T read more

Updating my review, as I had them special order a book for me (one that their website has available through their distributor, but they don't readily carry in store), and it was super easy. They were great and responsive to my initial emails and then I just had to come to the store when it arrived to pick it up. Easy peasy, and there's something to be said for interacting with an actual human, even with an online ordering process. read more

Very fun local book store. They have many authors visit and are very active in the community. Love this place. read more

See all

Are you kidding me with this place? What a gem. The store is adorable, and I was actually really surprised by how much stock they have. Lots of top sellers, but even some lesser known stuff--which gives the place more personality, makes it feel less like walking into Barnes and Noble. They have a good gift section, too--cute stationary, notebooks, and pencil pouches, etc. The kids section is huge, and I loved that I didn't immediately recognize every single book on display. Plus, there are a lot of autographed copies, which is always fun. I see a lot of shade being thrown in other reviews for how stand-off-ish the employees are, but I didn't get that vibe at all. I was left alone for a while, and then people talked to me and were friendly when I checked out. I thought the atmosphere was casual, calm, and cozy. My only complaint is that the gardening section is meh at best. Not many titles, and definitely not many practical planting/flower/fruit and veggie guides. I was surprised that there weren't more gardening coffee table-type books either. I would have thought a store like this would have had a bunch. No matter. I loved this place, and I will definitely be back with my kids. read more

The best seller, middle reader, and cookbook sections are fairly extensive. However, make sure you get there early enough to find what you want without help and leave BEFORE the posted closing time. The last time I was there, the gentleman working turned the lights out 7 minutes before closing time, while I was seated and reviewing a few books in the cookbook room. When he realized I was there, he said, "Oh, I didn't know anyone was in here," even though I had been seated in plain sight. He neither apologized nor turned the lights back on, leaving me feeling unwelcome and definitely in the way of his mission to leave ASAP. To compound the absurdity of the situation, there had been no announcement that closing time was approaching. I left empty-handed and made my $90 book purchase elsewhere. On my previous visit, the woman working informed my that I needed to, "make my purchase or leave," 15 minutes before the posted closing time. I work in retail. Closing time is NOT the time staff should expect to walk out the door. read more

The selection isn't that great, but locals have not yet realized this. The staff think they are quite something. Erudite. Yes, I am sure your New Yorker cartoon caption is still pending approval. It's cute, cogent and congruent with the stylings of the local shops. And that's about it. read more

I like independent book stores. I'd rather shop at one for books than Amazon or one of the big chains. That being said, this one gives indie book shops a bad name. The staff is way to self interested to help anyone. They act like unemployable librarians. Melvil Dewey would be so pissed, and would probably huddle in the corner and cry. The store is also strangely organized, however, I have a feeling that part of the issue is their actual store space, which is a bit of a community staple, and will never move. The single redeeming factor is that they do have an interesting handful of autographed books. However, I find those 7 shelves just barely warrant the star I'm awarding the store. In my heart, I really, really, really wanted to like this shop. However, because of the could-care-less attitude of the workers, I expect to avoid this place like a paper cut: carefully, until I accidentally walk into the shop again. If that ever happens, I hope they prove me wrong. read more

A wonderful independent bookstore! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They were great at making recommendations in various genres. The store is spacious and has a large stock for an independent bookstore, but if they don't have a book in the store, they will order any book for you and it takes only a few days to get in. The store's mission is not to give the lowest price, but the best service. Love it! read more

Reading the reviews of this place, I'm torn. It is exactly what everyone says it is - independent, knowledgable (somewhat opinionated but in a good way) staff, a surprising number of signed books, and a nice location. It's also expensive and the selection, while larger than expected, can't compete with the large chains or, of course, the internet. There's a romanticism to the small independent bookshop. I conjur smells of ancient, semi-dusty novels and over-cooked coffee...books creased and battered from decades of use and with prices written delicately in pencil on the inside cover. A place where the owner treats the books as children and whose only priority is that they go to a good home. This romaticized place in my mind, though, is a used book store not trying to turn a profit. The Book Stall is trying to turn a profit, and they sell new books at above market prices. Yes they are knowledgable, and yes they are fierecly independent, but it's just doesn't fit the image in my mind. Maybe they could add a used book section for us romantics? read more

Nice little indie bookstore. The ladies are nice and helpful. They were happy to order anything I wanted. Not priced like amazon, but why would you expect them to be? You pay for helpful, knowledgeable brick and mortar stores. They add flavor to a neighborhood. Worth a couple of extra bucks in my opinion. An to the OP, shocker that an indie bookstore might be liberal. geez! read more

A wonderful neighborhood bookstore. My 4 year old son is in love with the 10:30 Saturday storytime reader and guest authors. We are there almost weekly. They have great games for kids of all ages in addition to books. I also love the layout. Easy to find books or gifts. read more

This is a wonderful independent bookstore in the heart of Winnetka. It's been here for as long as I can remember and its always fun to come browse and get suggestions from staff on their favorite reads. They have various guest speakers and events and a great children's selection. They also have fun gift items and sell books from local authors. It's always enjoyable to stop buy from time to time and pick up a good read. read more

Fantastic selection. Recommendations of the staff are plentiful and labeled clearly. They also have a small but carefully curated collection of greeting cards. There are some areas to sit and read. They are very active with author visits--the front window is full of books and dates! The staff is friendly and informative. Adjoining the bookstore through an indoor connection is the Peet's Coffee. What an asset. Each can focus on what they do best, but also take advantage of the natural marriage between books and coffee. Street parking is available, although by with the lot near the post office. read more

As an epilogue to my previous review, my wife called the Book Stall and left a message regarding our experience at the store on the store's answering machine. John the manager called our home in the morning and left a message (12/5/2011) stating that the Book Stall website stated the sale ended at 5:00 PM and he didn't see a problem. I called back in the evening (12/5/2011) and John was not available. I explained the situation to the clerk on the phone stating that the Book Stall's December event calendar on the back of the newsletter I received in the mail and as well as their online newsletter stated that the sale on Sunday was from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. She said she was sorry, but we always close at 5:00 PM on Sunday's. Then she proceeded to tell me that the problem in allowing us to shop for a few minutes when we arrived just before closing was that all of the cash registers were shutdown. Why would you lie to a customer? What is going to be gained in that? We arrived at 4:57 PM and there were people still checking out at the cash registers. I know the time because I checked the time on my cell phone as we walked in to the store as the store seemed a bit empty for a sale day. I thought I had the wrong date when we first walked in. The clerk again said she was sorry and hope that they could help us in the future. My expectation is that Book Stall at a minimum would have allowed us to shop at a future date and receive the 20% discount offered on the sale day. I'm under the impression that Book Stall has such a greate business that they do not to extend the least amount of courtesy and understanding to their potential customers. I'll agree that the misprint in the newsletter was an honest mistake. My issue with Book Stall staff is that Book Stall staff doesn't seem to care. Obviously they are too tired to care. read more

I love this book store. Everyone is so accomidating! My favorite part of the book store is the notes that they post on the books to summarize it in the words of everyday readers. For me personally, I love the feel of a book in my hands better than an electrical device. It's something about flipping the pages of a book and the feeling of the bindings that ruffle my feathers. There prices are what you'd expect out of a book. Oh and they have book clubs that they organize that I'm needing to attend. read more

A great local book store! Friendly staff, great selection of book and non-book items, attached to a Peet's coffee so you can sip a hot coffee while reading your new book. There are also lots of great author events all year--nearly one a day! read more

Sadly, not at all what it used to be... I just left The Bookstall after making what will be my last purchase there. This is a very sad day, because I have been a regular there for over thirty years. Under former owner Roberta Rubin's ownership, The Bookstall was a magical place, one that cultivated readers and where you could always find a lively conversation about great books and enjoyable reading. I have wondered why after the change in ownership that I was so challenged finding books that I loved, why I never got good advice from booksellers currently working there (except for a few remaining holdovers), why the newsletter opening letter rarely provided insightful content or purposeful motivation that might guide my interest in upcoming titles, and why the staff behind the counter could frequently be overheard gossiping about people who shop there. Today when I asked about some titles that I had read about, I was told they don't like to promote or display books published by Amazon. I understand; I personally prefer shopping at a local independent bookstore or I would have made my purchases on Amazon in the first place, and the owner can sell and promote whatever books she wants. However, that feels like a business based and censored collection to me, certainly not a collection cultivated for a community of sophisticated readers. This is what other reviews must be referring to as a "limited collection." What was most important to the previous ownership was to build a community of readers and to sustain a love of books and the written word. Previously, I always wanted to support The Bookstall because of the level of customer service and knowledge of books. Now that I know the shop is dedicated to making money more than providing books to its clientele that will encourage us to return again and again, I will be finding another independent bookstore, and yes - purchasing books from that distasteful Amazon. I don't want to be told what to read based on how much money the store makes from my selection. At least the salesperson behind the counter was honest with me, and I must thank her for that. Now I understand. read more

Miya s. Just finished reading "To Live and Love in LA by Ben Peller and it was well written and I enjoyed it immensely. To know Ben is to love Ben and when you read his books you will understand the brilliance in his writing. Great job Ben. Keep writing! read more

Amazing staff! Great selection of books and wonderful gift items too. I love seeing an independent bookstore thriving as on line retail threatens brick and mortar stores. The Book Stall is a treasure for the community. read more

I read probably 25 books a year, mostly novels. I'm bored of "airplane novel' genre and need advice to find new authors. The folks who work at the book stall each have their area of expertise and I've got my novel guy. He listened to what books I've read that I enjoyed and didn't enjoy and now gives me great recommendations. I also talk to children's and teen book specialist when buying books for kids, and again the recommendations couldn't have been better. There's a little bit of you get what you pay for here, and here you pay a little bit more and get great knowledgeable service. read more

This is a bibliophile's dream! Roberta Rubin and her staff really know their stuff - they read more books than seem humanly possible. I've had events there for authors that are over the top wonderful and well done and I've gone in searching for books on obscure subject matter and gotten the help I need to find a perfect fit. I can't say enough good things about this truly community book store! read more

We are lucky to have the Bookstall in our community, as anyone who has witnessed their local store give up and close can attest. One of the nicest aspects of this store is the hustle of Roberta, the owner, to bring in nationally renowned authors to present and sign new works in person. I always try the Bookstall first before going online, and 9 times out of 10 they can easily and quickly get me what I need. I find the staff happy to chat about their own favorites or help me find the perfect next read. The Bookstall is a fantastic North Shore resource. read more

Roberta Rubin has kept The Book Stall in the forefront of modern publishing. While the store itself is not much to look at, the knowledge and passion of the place keep it vital. How they manage to get the constant stream of top-tier authors to their events is a mystery to me, but it is a testament to their savvy and hustle. It is a great example of how commerce and community can be mutually reinforcing. read more

Wow, I was shocked to read some of these nasty reviews. This is a great book store with an incredbly wonderul and helpful staff. They did not have the book that I wanted so they ordered and I got it in two days. They are a great small business. I live in Chicago and I commute to Winetka when I go book shopping. Yes,we know Amazon is cheaper but I believe in supporting buisness. read more

The Book Stall is for people who love books, all books. The staff is professional and well read and the selection is outstanding. I stop in any chance I get to Winnetka and it's always worth the trip. read more

I love books but let's face it -- these days I buy some from Amazon, some from the big box stores like Borders, and some I borrow from the library. But I've always bought 10-20 books a year at my local indie The Book Stall at Chestnut Court. I love the peace and quiet of it, the up-to-date inventory, the friendly and knowledgable staff, the huge children's section, and most of all the readings and talks by visiting writers. I almost never fail to buy the book the writer du jour is hawking. It's not only good manners but I've read all kinds of wonderful stuff I would never read otherwise. Final idea: For about 12 years, each December, I take my nieces and nephews to the Book Stall and let them pick out a book as their present. I inscribe it and then the staff giftwraps it (no charge). I tell the kids to open the book on Christmas morning and say, "How did Uncle Steve know just want I wanted?!" read more