The Book Stall

fantastic atmosphere. Eclectic selections of used and decreased publications along with new produces. Might have invested hrs and $ much more experienced I not been constrained by the quantity of room within my luggage. I discovered the hipster employees to become truly useful as well as the handbag check out guy was absolutely captivating.

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.

Not the same once Roberta sold the business. The energy seems zapped.
On a positive note, I have to say that Betsy in Childrens Books is the absolute best in the world! She knows her stuff and then some. Her recommendations through the years have been spot on.
Betsy — Please don’t ever leave!

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

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.

The days of walking to the bookstore are long gone — these days, electronic devices and e-​books seem to have taken precedence over brick & mortar book shops as they are very difficult to find. Thankfully, I am lucky to live within blocks of this lovely shop. They always manage to have the latest and greatest in book titles along with many events and author signings.
When I heard new owners were going to be taking over (a year ago, perhaps), I was a bit concerned, because you never know what changes will occur, but I am happy to report that this shop maintains the same great customer service, organization, and book selection as it did from when I originally started shopping here.
For anyone who thinks a bookstore is more expensive than Amazon, think again — the prices are many times within the same range, if not less, than you would receive on Amazon. They also offer free gift wrap and savings when you sign up for their rewards program. The atmosphere alone is enough for me as I fear the day when bookstores will become obsolete. There is nothing like perusing the aisles on a cold winter day for your next great read. The staff is always willing to offer suggestions as well and they even write out little description blurbs under their top picks so you can get a preview before reading.
Do me a favor… support your local bookstore & shop The Book Stall!

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.

Love it! Has every book! Plus there’s a very sweet lady who helps me find what I need every time I go!!!

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.

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!

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?

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!

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.

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.

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!

We all look to bookstores as a neutral ground that represents a diversity of ideas. Not this one.
During the presidential election employees were harassing customers for voting for someone other then Barack Obama. How open minded of them.
This store is liberal fascism defined. I wonder if they even carry Jonah Goldberg’s book?
It deserves zero stars for intolerance.