Look Inside Bookie's New Space On Western Avenue

CHICAGO, IL — The national trend when it comes to bookstores has been not been seen in the city's Beverly neighborhood, where the local book store recently tripled its size while opening in a new location. The new space for The Bookie's at 10324 S. Western Ave. includes two large rooms, with ample amount of shelves.

Store Owner Keith Lewis opened the new space on July 1 after buying the business from former owner Allison Platt in 2015. Lewis, a former English teacher for Chicago Public Schools, has been a Beverly resident for more than a decade and said he would not live in a town or neighborhood if it did not have a local bookstore.

"I need to be able to go to a store and browse books and find what I need," said Lewis, a longtime customer at the Bookie's store that first opened next to the 7-Eleven (former White Hen Pantry) just west of Western on 103rd Street.

When Platt indicated to Lewis that she would sell to the right owner, Lewis stepped up and made the purchase.

"It seemed like an interesting thing to do and I have faith in the area and their needs," he said. "We try to fit the personal needs of everyone."

Lewis decided to open expand the business at the Western Avenue space that was once home to Kiddie Kouture and Treadfit. He still owns the 103rd Street site that opened in 1989 and plans to use it for storage and book signing events.

Lewis has continued a Bookie's program that rewards customers who donate gently used books.

"When people bring in a bucket of books, we put that money into a fund and they get discounts on their purchases," Lewis said.

For some books, it is up to a 40 percent discount. New releases are offered at 25 percent off to those in the program.

To get in the system, just bring books that are in good condition to the store.

Lewis says that in addition to old books they get "all the newest releases" and can make an order one day and get it overnight.

"We often get new releases before they are released, so you can call ahead and come in right when it's released," he said.

Inside the new space, Lewis has organized the shelves and filled them with popular selections from all genres. There are a few comfortable chairs, old-time decorations and a family friendly area with children's books.

Scroll through here to look through the entire space.

Photos by Tim Moran / Patch