Blowout Sale Planned At The Old Bookie's

CHICAGO - Bookie's, a longtime neighborhood favorite bookstore in Beverly, moved to a larger space on Western Avenue more than two years ago but is still leased into its old location, the small store adjacent to the 7-Eleven on 103rd Street just west of Western, for another year. Owner Keith Lewis says the "Old Bookie's" space has been filled with books and other items ever since the move and that he'd like to get rid of as much of it as possible.

That's why he is planning a "Blowout Sale" this weekend. The old Bookie's location will re-open for two days - Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 - in an attempt to unload all that merchandise.

The prices alone will make any book lover want to check it out. Coffee table books will go for $5, hardcovers for $3, trade paperbacks for $2 and regular paperbacks for just $1. Other prices are listed in the Facebook post embedded below. The spot will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.

"The space has been full since we've moved, and we are trying to empty it out and figure out what's next for it," Lewis said. "It has been completely full of books on the shelves and has been impossible to deal with since the move."

Lewis says he originally had an idea to turn the old space into a spot for events, but now has no plans to keep it once the lease expires. In addition to the larger space on Western Avenue, Lewis has also opened a second location in Homewood since purchasing the local store.

This weekend, he's hoping for a "nice, big crowd" so "we can get rid of everything."

"It would be a nice way to move forward," he said.