Bookie's To Open 2nd Location In Homewood

CHICAGO, IL - Beverly's neighborhood book store will soon have a second location. Bookie's owner Keith Lewis confirmed this week he has signed a lease on a space in south suburban Homewood and plans to open Bookie's Homewood by July 1. The new store will open in the heart of the suburb's downtown at 2015 Ridge Road.

"Homewood has been on the radar for me for awhile," said Lewis, whose owned Bookie's for nearly three years and last summer expanded Beverly's longtime neighborhood book outlet from a space next to the 7-Eleven at 103rd and Artesian to a space three times as big around the corner on Western Avenue.

Lewis said that about a month ago he was talking to a customer at the Beverly store about a book the customer needed, but one that Bookie's wouldn't be able to get in stock until the next day.

The customer, a Homewood resident, told Lewis he came in from the suburb and wouldn't be back in the area the next day.

"I told him I'd love to open another store and that Homewood would be the place," Lewis said.

The very next day, according to Lewis, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld comes into the Beverly store and asks him to consider doing just that very soon.

The Homewood resident and mayor popping into Bookie's on back-to-back days is believed to be a coincidence.

"It was an absolute coincidence," Lewis said. "Kind of like one of those destiny things."

Lewis was sold on the mayor's pitch, and after attending a business breakfast in Homewood and looking at a few properties over there, he settled on one in the heart of town.

"There are some really nice businesses going in Homewood," said Lewis, who lived in the village for two years as a child. "They are trying to make it a place for young professionals with families, and a bookstore really fits in a place like that."

Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said it has been about 20 years since a book store had been open in the village and the desire for one has been strong among residents there ever since.

"I'm delighted," the mayor said.

Lewis says the Homewood location is slightly smaller than the space on Western, but a spot "with a lot of potential."

Top photo via Patch file / Tim Moran