Open Books, one of Chicago’s largest used bookstore chains, will close its Logan Square location on March 1 after financial struggles.
“We made this decision to best protect our mission and ensure that our partner communities, children, and families have equitable access to high-quality books, programs, and literacy spaces,” executive director Jennifer Steele wrote in a statement announcing the store’s closure.
The nonprofit funds free books for children and classrooms across the city. Opened in 2023, Logan Square’s 4,000-square-foot storefront at 2068 Milwaukee Ave. became the shop’s third location in Chicago. After its closure, the remaining two locations in West Loop, at 651 W. Lake St., and Pilsen, at 905 W. 19th St., will remain open with the online shop.
“We know this news is disheartening, especially for our staff, neighbors, volunteers, and customers,” Steele wrote. “Since we opened this location in 2023, our Logan Square store has brought together book lovers to share in Open Books’ mission to spread the joy of reading, and we want to thank the neighborhood for welcoming us and being a part of that mission.”
The organization maintains thousands of books both donated by community members and purchased by staff. Books online and in stores range in price from $1 to $10, with a limited collection of rare books that cost from $25 to $100. At their Pilsen storefront, the books are sold using a pay-what-you-can model, where children’s books are free and the adults name their price.
Since the pandemic, Open Books’ mission has become difficult to maintain with changes in funding and priorities, said Alison Gerber, the organization’s director of development and communications.
The nonprofit relies on the money made by the traditional storefronts in order to successfully fund book access and literacy programs. When the bookstores are struggling financially, Gerber said, they have to make decisions that protect their central mission.
Steele is urging patrons to continue shopping at the Logan Square storefront in the coming weeks and to keep donating books at all locations. Updated store hours for the Logan Square location’s final month will be posted to the shop’s social media soon, the statement added. The nonprofit’s community engagement work, free book access and literacy programs will remain open for the community.
Since the announcement, Gerber said the nonprofit has seen support from patrons who understand and appreciate that the decision was made to protect the nonprofit’s broader purpose in the city of Chicago.
“Thank you for loving this space, showing up for literacy work in Chicago, and supporting us as we move through this transition,” Steele wrote. “Our mission and impact is strong and we look forward to serving our communities for many years to come.”
After March 1, City Lit Books, at 2523 N. Kedzie Blvd., will become Logan Square’s only bookstore.
