57th Street Bookcase & Cabinets

As a PhD Student, theologian, and clergywoman, I was super excited to get custom bookcases. I have a hodge podge of cases. Living in Evanston, I knew I could just add on as needed, and I was prepared to begin with an $ 1000+ investment. The person that sold me the books told me it would take 6 wks. While I stood in the store, I marked the date he gave me on my calendar. Six weeks came and went and I called the store and the owner answered and was nice and told me things were really busy. He said, «They will be ready next week.»
I received a call on Friday from the delivery person. 8 weeks after the order date. He told me I had a balance plus the delivery was $ 90. I did not recall the delivery being that high, for some reason I recalled $ 40 and I said I would call the store. The owner, Chip, left me a message before I had a chance to call him. He told me that my bookcase could not be delivered until I contacted him. After I finished what I was doing, I called Chip back. He was very upset. I explained that I was frustrated because I had anticipated that the bookcases would be ready around April 11^th. (The actual date the first gentlemen gave me.) And that the delivery charge was higher than I expected. He said he called the guy who sold me the bookcases that he indicated that he told me that the delivery was $ 90. Chip said, «But I am willing to overlook that.» Chip was so upset and confrontational that I was in shock. I was trying to calmly explain what was bothersome to me, and he wouldn’t let me finish a sentence. At one point he said, «I can refund your deposit.»
At that point, I summoned the calm that I use as a hospital chaplain when trying to defuse tense situations. I was very much taken aback that I was the customer, and he was the owner of a retail establishment. I asked him why he was confrontational. I am not sure that he ever answered the question because of all the yelling. So I finally said, «I will take the refund and I will see you shortly» and I hung up.
He called back and apologized and said he was sorry for being confrontational and getting angry. A couple of times in the second conversation he said, «I am sorry but…» He indicated that he had a check that he would mail to me or he could still have the bookcases delivered for $ 40 delivery fee. I told him I needed to think about it and I would get back to him. After spending some time thinking about it and talking with others, so I was not making any rash decisions, I decided to go into the store to receive my refund. Chip gave me a check without hesitation.
If I was only buying those bookcases, I might have had them delivered. But because I wanted to have the option of adding on in the future, I could not abide by that verbal abuse and give the store that amount of money.
I recognize that everyone has bad days, but most successful people in retail are better equipped to calmly interact with a customer. Chip is not. I will not purchase bookcases from them, and I will tell my friends the story, but I figure people can make their own choices. The one thing I will say without question is that this is not an establishment with the motto «the customer is always right.»

Chip was wonderful to deal with. He made a home visit, took measurements, made his recommendations, thoroughly discussed the work, how he would proceed, what he would do and wrote it up. Chip noticed the floor was not level and recommended shims at one end. Chip did not do the install. His installer was a very hostile, arrogant and disagreeable man who argued with me over the phone about the installation date and time. Rather than giving me a different date and time, he argued with me. We went around in circles. I should’ve hung up on him. He was also not familiar with what I had paid for. When he showed up, he refused to use the back stairs. This is the first time I’ve had a tradesman refuse to use the back stairs. He used the front entrance to bring up the very long wood shelves, his tools and his supplies, risking damage to the hallway (which I would’ve been responsible for and a risk I was taking but I wanted him out as quickly as possible). While installing the bookcase (his assistant did most of the work), he said it was level. Chip had already determined it was not level and would need shims. After the installation was completed, he noticed the bookcase was not level. He took some $$ off his tab. After he left, I noticed several gouges in the wall.
I really did not want to write this but this was one of the most abysmal experiences of customer service I have ever received. I reported his behavior to Chip. I think you should know: use Chip and get a different installer.
Note: This review was written earlier this year and had not been posted. Hopefully, Chip is using a different installer. If not, hire your own handyman.

After years of nothing but Ikea particleboard and veneer, I was ready for some real shelves.
Everything at 57^th Street Bookcase is built to order with any style, wood, finish, or extra customization. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. I bought two full bookcases, four matching loose shelves, and two storage cubes.
Everything was delivered to my building. They even helped me carry it inside, up the elevator, down the hall, down the other hall, and right into my office.

57^th Street Bookcase (
) was started by a U of C prof, which is why it is called 57^th Street even though their store is in Evanston – though I just noticed they opened up another location at the Bermuda triangle of all that is retail hell, North and Clybourn. Say hey to my uncle julio if you’re over that way. But I digress — if you love books, there is no other place in the midwest to purchase quality bookshelves. These shelves are specially designed for books, and so are quite a bit more narrow than shelves you might get at Ikea or some other such place. Also, they are designed to lean up against the wall – I can’t really describe it, but you will see if you go to their store. Because all of their work is custom, you can order your own finish and kind of wood, and make them as fancy or as basic as you want. They even have a lower end line for folks who are on a budget. I have had my cases for four years, and I’ve gotten tons of compliments on them. These might be a bit of an investment, but you will have them for life, and can keep adding on as your collection increases.

Practical, efficient and typically wooden bookcases of all shapes and sizes are sold here. Prices are reasonable. But it’s a small, stuffy store.