Barbara’s Bookstore

Rumor has it that this particular location may be closing in August.
I’m bummed and I will definitely miss them. I prefer to shop at locally owned bookstores. We liked to stop in after a visit with our Family Practitioner.
The staff has always been really kind and helpful to my little one. He loves this store. They have a cute children’s section filled with classics, toys, puppets and puzzles. He’s really been into their «I can Read» series. They entertain his questions, place special orders for him and let him feed the salamanders.
I’ve also had great luck with their staff recommendations. I don’t have much time to read nowadays, it’s a welcome treat to find great books that I would not have ordinarily picked up had it not been for the staff write ups. I like that they can recognize what i would be into based on which authors I prefer no matter how obscure. They’ve been spot on so far.

The customer service at Barbara’s Bookstore is horrendous. I’ve been in multiple times and the «staff» never even say hello or thank you. They are complete idiots when there is a Borders down the street. Why would I ever want to shop with you again?
Please stay away. Do not give them your money. They need to go out of business.

The selection is smaller than the Borders at the other end of the block… but this is a great place for browsers, because virtually everything they carry and especially everything they feature is picked by someone with very good taste.
Also, they have a fish tank with newts in it. This fills my heart with glee.
For those with a more pragmatic turn of mind, though, it is worth knowing that right next to the newts there is a very comfortable sit-and-read-a-bit-of-the-book-you’re-considering area.
If you can’t find exactly what you want here (though it is definitely the first place you should try in Downtown Oak Park, if you’re the sort who has principles about things like independent bookstores), there are two other bookshops within a short walk. I think that recommends this place; if it were an isolated small shop, it would be more risky going there with something specific in mind.
Also: they have wonderful international stamp bookmarks near the register.

I like to support the smaller guys, but it’s difficult to do when Borders is right down the street in Oak Park. I have been to Barbara’s a couple of times to pick up something I needed, only to discover they didn’t have it. And I went off to Borders instead. Unfortunately, they have a bigger selection. It’s a nice place with friendly people, though. I will keep trying!

I like it because it’s always the perfect temperature in there. Oh I know, it’s a bookstore, I should review it for the books. I love reading, I do. I’m a teacher, I like books and I love reading. But as a teacher I also don’t make a lot of money so I need to do more Amazon and Book Table type shopping than Barbara’s.
However, for an escape from the elements while walking my dog Barbara’s is a comfy refuge. We stop in to escape the heat, the cold and rain. We sit near the magazines and I look through a few before purchasing one and grabbing a suburban Reader on our way out. Tessa likes it here too. They stock treats behind the counter and they swoon over her big goofy face. They don’t mind her slobber or my cup of coffee. Good people.
They also have books.

As a former bookseller, I always like to check out bookstores when I’m traveling about town, and I had never been in a Barbara’s as yet (except the one in Macy’s downtown in Chicago, which I feel doesn’t really count as it’s technically part of another store).
So I was kind of let down. Their stock was okay, but nothing seemed to leap out at me as unusual; displays weren’t stellar either. If anything, the sidelines (gifts, cards etc.) had the most eye-​catching stuff.
When I had a question for the staff, the two women at the desk could barely spare a hand-​flap to point me in the right direction. Not good customer service! As a little guy, you need to try extra hard to keep your business from going to the big chain stores; that isn’t the way to do it. There’s also a Borders right down the street; all too easy for a customer to say «forget it» here and go there.
I didn’t want to tarry long (since the Oak Park meters on the street claimed to charge 25 cents for 15 minutes — WTF? — but then only gave me *10* minutes for each quarter I put in; highway effing robbery!), and this shoddy service made me even less inclined to linger.
Based on this trip I am not inspired to bring my business back to Barbara’s.

Wonderful shop that carries unique selections, has a great and knowlegeable staff and really good guest speakers/​authors. I love that the store encourages you to sit and read while you are there and is so non corporate. I am also excited that they have a spot in Macy’s downtown — good for them for keeping the intimate feel while getting the opportunity for more income!

I’ve always heard great things about Barbara’s. I like to support smaller businesses as much as the next guy, so I was excited (?) to get some good reads here.
I was overwhelmed by the number of kitch and intentionally-​ironic books, that I was unable to find a real book I was interested in. Animé? Broken kids’ books? Cat yoga? Sorry, not the books for me. Yet there were entire sections devoted to this, but nothing for us normal readers. (Or does that make me the abornmal one?)
Anyway, I was disappointed. I didn’t feel comfortable browing for a long time, and wished I had a cup of coffee.

Even though this bookstore is smaller than the Border’s at the end of the block I still like to go there and peruse the shelves. I have found many books that I havent seen anywhere else. They also have a nice little selection of kitchy gift add-​on items. I was very surprised to find a mapbook of Boston that I couldnt even find on the publishers website!

I have fond memories of going to Barbara’s Bookstore when I was a kid, back when it was on Broadway in the city. This is well before the days of the SuperStores of books… it was an event, a big part of the occasional Saturday afternoon. It was quaint and all the employees there were helpful and happy to make suggestions based on what you liked. I brought my son here in here to kill some time and hoped we might have the same experience.
Not.
It was not even a little busy (I think I saw, maybe, three other customers the whole time we were in there) but not ONE of the three employees even approached us. I expect this in the Superstores, but not in a place like Barbara’s. The children’s section was, unlike in the Supertores, markedly unimpressive in selection and not very inviting. The rest of the store seemed to have the latest best-​sellers, some of the older of the same and maybe some «classics», but nothing that made me want to get something for myself.
It’s a pretty big place, too. But it’s almost like it’s trying to be one of the Superstores without any of the stuff that makes those places good.
Drag!

I’ve been shopping Barbara’s for new books for over 20 years. Great magazine section too. The Barara’s stores are small, but they will order books on your must-​read list if they don’t have it. Check their website for upcoming events — excellent opportunities to meet authors (in fact, I see Karen Finley is going to be at the UIC store this Tuesday, 4÷18÷06). I enjoy the website for their ‘Links’ link.

I always try to support the small indie chains of lit retailers, and Barbara’s is one of the best in Chicago. Definitely catch a reading or signing there — you’ll feel very intimate in the small setting.

They selection is not are expansive as Boarders but the staff is so helpful and knowledgeable about books and magazines and movies. Plus they have a good selection of cards that are different than your average store bought cards. And when they have book signings and other events, you are up close and personal with the authors because the store is small. The books are a bit pricey but if you bring in your ticket stub from Lake Theater, you can save 10%.

I usually prefer not to go here even though its a local store because the prices are not as good as The Book Table (Local), and the selection is not as good as Border’s (Chain). All three stores are within a couple blocks so feel free to visit all three before you choose your favorite (s).