This three-tiered bookshop in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood has one of the largest collections of new and used books in the state. On top of that, Myopic Books also hosts free in-house concerts and occasional poetry readings (pre-COVID, of course), making it an all-around fun destination in Illinois!

The bookshop is a hidden gem located in one of the Windy City’s coolest neighborhoods.
tom shaner/Google Local
The store itself is not glamorous, as its reputation may suggest, but rather rough around the well-loved edges.
rebecca anne / Flickr
The mismatched rugs and exposed ceilings give it a homey feeling, and the reading nooks scattered throughout the store act as intimate hideaways among the sprawling, twisted labyrinth of stories. It is a space by and for bibliophiles, one that is simultaneously familiar and peculiar.

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The insanely large collection of over 80,000 books boasts a wide array of categories, including true crime (heavily relying on gangster-related books), foreign language, young adult fiction, and small print/MFA titles.
cgulyas2002 / Flickr
They have first editions and antique books, as well as advanced reader copies. With so many titles to sift through, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
One of the coolest details about Myopic has to do with where they keep their mysteries.
Scott Rettberg / Flickr
In the basement exists a vault that belonged to the business that rented the space prior to the bookshop. In that underground vault is where the mystery stories are held, adding to their flair for the dramatic.
A few rules stand in Myopic Books. Visitors must check their bags upon arrival, restack the books they’ve flipped through, put their cell phones away, and treat Leonard, the store cat, with the utmost respect.
MacQ / Flickr
These few things help Myopic stay strange and storied; part of the experience is following the rituals and rules of the store.

Myopic Books is located at 1564 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, keeping its doors open for early birds and night owls alike. 

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1564 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA