Independent bookstores are making a notable resurgence in Chicago and beyond. Local literary havens such as Volumes Bookcafe and Anderson's Bookshop have found ways to thrive despite a market dominated by digital retail giants like Amazon. Rebecca George, co-owner of Volumes Bookcafe and one of the organizers of the Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl, emphasized the profound connection these stores have with their communities. She shared with the Chicago Tribune, "We’ve seen people we know; they get married, they have kids, they experience loss, all those things become a part of your daily life and really kind of part of an extended family."
Despite challenges such as slim profit margins and stiff competition from corporate chains, the book industry has seen an influx of new members in the American Booksellers Association since the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of book lovers recently turned out to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, roaming across the city by cars and buses, with at least one group opting for a limousine to visit multiple stores. According to a Chicago Tribune report, this event highlighted the reinvigorated interest in independent bookshops, signaling a collective effort to support local businesses.
While some shops, like Bookie’s in Beverly, struggle with less foot traffic and an arid retail environment they refer to as a 'bookstore desert,' others like Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, boast a tight-knit community's backing. Square Books owner Richard Howorth told The Forum, "Mississippi, by almost every standard, is one of the most illiterate states in the U.S. A lot of the support we get is from people who want to see Square Books be successful. It’s something they’re proud of."
This revival is partly credited to the boom in romance literature and the rise of online platforms such as BookTok and Bookstagram, which have brought renewed attention to the genre and independent authors. A 52.4% increase in romance book sales in 2022 speaks to this trend. Stores that specialize in romance, like the Last Chapter Book Shop in Roscoe Village, are a testament to the genre's growing popularity. Owner Amanda Anderson celebrates the diversity and community within romance, telling the Chicago Tribune, "I really wanted to create a physical safe space for people who are seasoned romance readers or people who want to dip their toes."
Digital communities continue to affirm the relevance of physical bookstores within an increasingly online-centric society. Enthusiasts claim that the immersive in-person experiences offered at local indie bookshops cannot be replicated by shopping online. Freshman Emmanuelle Ghiso lamented the lack of a neighborhood bookstore to The Forum, saying, "I wish I had a neighborhood bookstore. It’s actually frustrating to not be able to connect with my community in such a unique way."
