Independent Bookstore Day 2022, Chicago

This Saturday marked my first celebration of Independent Bookstore Day in Chicago. I like supporting independent businesses, and doing a little bookstore crawl on my own and exploring places that I haven't been to before seemed like the perfect Saturday plan for me.

The first on the list was Sandmeyer’s Bookstore. This is where I came across a true gem, a copy of Neil Burkey's Writers’ Retreats: Literary Cabins, Creative Hideaways, and Favored Writing Spaces of Iconic Authors.

Then I went to Exile in Bookville, a bookstore that had just celebrated its first year in business. It's in a great location on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park, and it's housed in the historic Fine Arts Building, so it also has a gorgeous interior. Many retailers offered special deals and surprises for readers on that day. This one organized a used book giveaway.

Finally, it was time to pay a visit to the last bookstore that day, After-Words Bookstore, which may appear unassuming but houses a big collection of books in its basement.

Overall, it had been a very successful day:

The atmosphere that day in rain-soaked Chicago was incredible. When people show their support by flooding small bookstores, something amazing happens. I know I’ll be back next year to relive this experience, sharing it with more people and adding new incredible spots to my list of favorite places in Chicago.