Over time I have done two reviews. This shop still impresses me so much it deserves an additional high five. I had been in the store and picked up a couple books for gifts, and ordered others for a couple weeks later. All went well. This is the easiest holiday shopping one can experience. read more

It's like stepping into another world. If you have a bit of free time, this is a fun place to spend an hour or so browsing. My two favorite parts of the store are the extensive cookbook section and the children's corner. There are a couple sheep you can sit on and a large Peter Rabbit sitting in a rocking chair. Even as young adults, my friend and I had a lot of fun just sitting in the kids section reading picture books. They also do storytelling for children at 10:30am on Saturdays. When I stopped by, the owner was in the middle of reading to a group of kids. She's very talented with the animal noises. Highly recommended! read more

Stumbled upon the alley for the first time ever and I frequent Evanston often. Kind of embarrassing....anyway on to the review. I wish I owned their building. It has an L shape and mismatched flooring throughout. Oriental rugs really complete the look. All and all a nice atmosphere, real college town feel. For the size of the space they really do yeoman's work by ensuring everyone capable of reading finds something that lines up to their tastes. Cook books, check. Children's books. Yep. Fiction, Fantasy, Bio, odd books....da, yes, si, yep and more yep. I'll go back.....probably multiple times in the future. I'm hooked. You will be too. read more

On a Sunday afternoon, I stumbled across this bookstore. It's hard to find, because it's tucked away in an alleyway in downtown Evanston, but it was really neat. Of course, there were new, used, and old books like any independent bookstore I've been to in Evanston, but what stood out to me were: (1) the handwritten, short book reviews taped onto the bookshelves alongside the reviewed books. The comments were fun to read and convinced me to pick up the books and read them. (2) the the jewelry exhibit by Die Kunstwerkstatt Berlin Franchise. The jewelry pieces were made of (a) polaris beads which are light plastic material which get a sheen when in contact with skin oils and/or (b) Swarovski crystal elements which get their shine from the special cut and finish. If you're looking for a quaint bookstore for a quiet afternoon to explore books and/or jewelry, I'd recommend this place! read more

This is the best bookstore. Everyone who walks in agrees after two minutes. New, used, bestsellers ; the interesting, the most literary alongside the very readable. read more

Awesome Store. Very happy to have a bookstore back in this place. The folks who run the place are very nice, on my first visit it felt like I was seeing some friends, they have a great way with customers and are very friendly. They have a great selection and tons of unique and special sections that make independent book stores like these so wonderful. I hope this store does well here they are a great successor to Bookman's Alley and definitely deserve your patronage. read more

An independent book store, as good as they come, where it's all about the books and the local community. Enjoyed my first visits and started ordering my books here instead of Amazon. read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Bookends & Beginnings is tugged away in the ally between Sherman and Benson Avenues. Not easy to find, but not to be missed. - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This former Evanstonian has never gotten to visit the store in person, unfortunately, but I can still give the staff and the owner an A+ for customer service. They helped me put together and deliver a last-minute care package for my senior father before he embarked on a l-o-o-o-n-g trip to his new home, and they were prepared with recommendations based on his reading interests. Thanks, Brooke and Nina! read more

A cozy, quirky bookstore where bibliophiles unite. Although there is a limited selection of books, everything been carefully and tastefully curated. read more

This bookstore is just what you would hope for. They have interesting selections, helpful staff, and a very cozy vibe. I also enjoy their special events, often with authors talking about their newest books. Who knew, for instance, that ex-Chicago Bull, Craig Hodges, is a cool and very political writer? His life's path is fascinating. This store also has great books for kids that you won't ever see at ordinary stores. Bookends and Beginnings deserves our business. You'll be glad if you check it out. read more

Bookends & Beginnings - Recent purchases at Bookends. - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Evanston would not be the same without Bookends and Beginnings. and what a beautiful name that inspires me in every way. This book store is a poem in such a non pretentious way. I have been downsizing but I bought books there in heartbeat. There is truly a value in buying from such a store instead of few dollars cheaper than on Amazon. The event has been amazingly inspirational and educational to attend. If you love a store like this to be in your community and want them to stay for ever, support them. Be there for the store like it is there for you. The owners are wonderful, kind and I am very lucky to have found this little jewel in my hometown. read more

What Ann S. said in her summer 2014 review, is what I'll also say about Bookends and Beginnings. The selection feels less like the treasure-trove and wide breadth Bookman's Alley had when they were open here that I also enjoyed, and like she said B&B's selection is more tightly curated. For having mostly new titles it's good, but just slightly I miss the treasure-trove and random feel I'd have suddenly discovering books here back when this was Bookman's Alley. Not as many used titles as I'd prefer to see in a store like this, but I suppose that's where nearby Amarnath Books, Market Fresh Books, or Amardillo's Pillow in the nearby Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago(near the Loyola 'L stop) fill in that void. Or if none of those work, making the trip to Half Price Books in Niles or Highland Park(yes they're a chain, but I like them WAAAAAY more than Barnes and Noble). RIP to Howard's Books, since I still miss you greatly since your sudden December 2015 closure! That all said, it still is a fun store to browse around, and I like the atmosphere here more than the Barnes and Noble down the street for sure. Finally had a chance earlier this week to more greatly browse around this store vs. my first visit where I had too little time to browse, I'm glad they did step into the shoes of the ex-Bookman's Alley space. LOL, I now know I'd almost feel a little ick buying a new condition book at Barnes and Noble, realizing how good the selection of books is here. Would not be surprised if they carried some new titles, that corporate Barnes and Noble didn't have? And I don't care that you don't have a bathroom, since Bookman's Alley didn't have one either. Plenty of places along Sherman Avenue, that have a bathroom anyway! I'm also very glad they kept some of the interior touches, from the Bookman's Alley days. I'll give a belated welcome to Evanston, Bookends and Beginnings! Though I am a tad worried that their prices may not encourage me to buy books here as often as I like(that I still need to figure out, how their sales and pricing structure for books is like, and why I'm slightly hesitant to say 4 stars as much as I almost want to), I hope you last in this space for years to come! read more

The place looks nice. I'll give them that. They did a nice job of updating from Bookman's Alley. However, the service is lacking. I found the owners to be rather rude. They were impatient with my questions and finally said I might find one of the books I wanted online ( very weird behavior for an independent bookstore). They were pushing people out an hour earlier than their sign indicated. I bought a few new and used books and then found some of the same used books for 1/4 the price at Half-Priced Books. I normally want to support independent book stores rather than Amazon or Barnes and Noble but the staff at B&N are friendlier and more informed. read more

Wonderful and warm. What a great place. Don't miss going here while in Evanston. It's a rare gem and great books and gifts.

Tucked away in an alley, but once you find your way around, the experience is worth it. Atmosphere is so charming, and service is great. The employees are super knowledgeable and down to earth and make you feel right at home. can't find something you're looking for? Let them know and they may be able to place an order for you! Also if they notice there might be a cheaper version they'll let you know. I found a book that was about to be ring up for 20, then was alerted the hardcover version was half off! Awesome! (: read more

Great service. Helpful staff. Gift wrapped our book purchases. Good selection of books and reasonable prices!! Also enjoyed the assortment of non-book items that were on sale- like witty postcards, and book safes! read more

This place is hidden away but worth seeking out! A charming and refreshing independent bookstore in downtown Evanston with an excellent children's section and a wide variety of popular books and unknown treasures. There are staff recommendations scattered about the store, and they can order what you are looking for if they don't already have it. It feels like a trip to Flourish & Blotts. Highly recommended! read more

We live out of town but when we come to Evanston, we always stop in B&B to browse. We like supporting independent bookstores but we have a limited budget, so it's nice to find some used books once in awhile. The weird thing about their used books though, is that most of them (cookbooks and fiction) are mixed in with the new books instead of being in a separate section. Bookstore personnel: the male owner is very nice. He's always been friendly and helpful when we're in the store. However, there's a young woman that works there that spoils the entire bookstore experience. We visited the store today and she was the only visible employee. She was at the counter when we walked in the door and she never acknowledged us. How bad is it when the customer greets the store clerk first?! We then walked around the store looking at the books for about an hour. Not once did this clerk ever ask us if we needed any help. As we were leaving, again, she was right there near the front door and she never said "bye", "have a nice day", nothing. Another time when she was working in the store and we were there, I became ill and needed a bathroom ASAP. My husband explained our dilemma and pleaded for me to use the bathroom and she refused. Told us to go to Barnes and Noble up the street. We sure did - and spent money there instead. An alert for those with allergies or breathing problems: they are now obviously trying to get rid of the musty smell of an old building, but they're going about it all wrong. They are using some kind of artificial air fresheners, which are awful. There were several spots in the store where the odor was so overwhelming that it made me have coughing fits. Don't they know how toxic these artificial scents are? There are plenty of natural ways and scents to help with musty odors. read more

Frankly, I liked this location better when it was Bookman's Alley. Bookends & Beginnings is a bit too trendy and definitely more expensive, with a much smaller selection of vintage books. The owner seems nice, though, and they do have a pretty good selection overall. Their kids area is fantastic, with international book offerings. read more

Feels more like a hospital gift shop than a bookstore. Very sparse selection and the genres posted included things like "recipes" and "crafts" with a very small general fiction section. They do sell the leichturmm notebooks which I got pretty excited about. It's in a cute and only slightly creepy location, in the alley behind a flower shop. I think the shop itself is cute and just fine for gift shopping but perhaps should not be marketed as a book store. read more

This is a great "hidden gem" of a bookstore. I am so glad I found it! They have a lovely selection, great ambiance, and an adorable reading nook for kids. They also have a great selection of gifts. Overall, a charming spot. I'll definitely be back! read more

It is like a secret oasis tucked away from the hubbub. While I want to tell everyone about it, part me wants to keep it to myself. On one of my own store's busiest days, I took a break and went over for a book signing. It was the most delightful break I've had in months. The store is charming. It has a great selection of books. I wish I had time to read them all. There is just something about turning an actual page that can't be replace by an electronic device. Thank you for being there! read more

What a great replacement for Bookman's Alley! It fits right in with the Evanston vibe--quirky yet more modern than its predecessor. It got some getting used to, but I really like that they mix the new books with the used books on the shelf and just categorize by subject and author. The store is well organized and the employees (owners?) were very friendly. I got a collection of poems today for $3.50, definitely a great find! Come when you've set aside a chunk of time to relax--you could probably get lost in this store for hours! read more

This is one of my favorite places in all of Evanston! It has a You've Got Mail- Shop Around the Corner vibe :)

Great indépendant book store. Just what you would hope for...nice topical sections. Helpful staff. I will be back often

I'm giving it three stars but that's an average-I really liked the old place that was there-just perfect old school stuff and always had stuff I was really looking for and wanted and couldn't have been happier there. The new place is designed for a different audience and I give them credit for it-I'm sure they'll be successful and I like they've still kept some of the older stock-used bookstores near elite universities have some of the best stuff coming from old and retired professors and I hope they'll continue to buy it. read more

I was so glad when an independent book store opened in Evanston. They order any book I want if they don't have it in stock. They have a great selection in stock. I hope everyone in Evanston will support this great store. read more

GREAT STORE Love old books and they have the best. Friendly, helpful. got some good titles. I will return soon guys.

It's a bookstore and you're only as good as your selection. The used books were pedestrian at best - the type you could even find at thrift stores in Chicago. Now, I'm not rich; however, I do have a "personal" budget of some $300.00 a month on books and I usually exceed this budget (and I've purchased a single book for more than twice that sum on several occasions). Now I found a couple, whom I presumed to be the owners as confirmed by the accompanying photographs to this review, bee-lining toward well-dressed/coiffed customers and kowtowing before a variety of them - most of whom (from experience) would never dream of spending hundreds a month on books despite their much larger incomes. There was a shop-girl who was fairly nice to me in the back of the store but these two ignored me and affected airs and graces which took me back to the hillbilly country-club my family belong to way in the 1970's. Typical middle class affectations. I ended by only purchasing a remaindered book (which, alas, I found cheaper elsewhere) and the cashier actually, once she discovered it's type, thought it beneath her to touch it and certainly never offered to put it in a bag for me. 20 years ago I would felt like I had been "put in my place", now as a CPA for a not-for-profit with a string of (worthless) top-tier degrees, I left with a sense of incedulous amusement. How long will this place last? A pathetic usurper to it's predecessor. read more

What a wonderful place to while away an afternoon. Jeff and Nina, the bookseller owners are fantastic! Full of ideas for reading or happy to just let you explore their eclectic collection. Cleaner and easier to navigate than the good old Bookman's Alley, Bookends & Beginnings still has the ambiance of being on a treasure hunt for just the right thing - which just may be something you didn't even know you wanted! A great place for browsing and certainly a source for interesting gifts for yourself or a loved one. I can hardly wait to come back to do my holiday shopping here. Give yourself a treat and wander through their shelves. Lots of interesting reads, from architecture to poetry, short stories, cookbooks, gender & psychology, philosophy & history, etc. to hot sellers from the current NYT Book Review. There are also some fun, silly gifts (like the candy bar called "The Freud Bar" filled with nuts and fruits) as well as lovely notecards and locally-made jewelry. Prices are very reasonable. When you're finished shopping, go across Sherman to the Unicorn Coffee Shop to enjoy your puchase over a cafe au lait and scone. read more

Lovely, charming, and well-stocked bookstore. Awesome children's section with big stuffed animals and a well chosen mix of new and used books. My entire family loves it here. This is exactly the kind of local business I want to support and we will be doing our book buying here from now on. read more

Many of us were deeply saddened when the beloved Bookman's Alley closed, depriving us of our favorite independent bookstore. Weep no longer! Bookends and Beginnings has opened at the same location, tucked into an alley coming off of Sherman Avenue in Evanston. Although it hasn't yet acquired its predecessor's patina ("I saw that same book on the same shelf ten years ago, when I was looking for ...."), there is the same delightful range of interesting and unusual books to stir bibliophiles' hearts, minds, and souls. These aren't the books you'll find in the airports or the chain stores, most of which you'll probably donate to a rummage sale after a year or two, but these are the books you'll delight in finding, reading, and going back to for years to come. If you love books and are anywhere in the area, Bookends and Beginnings is well worth a visit. read more

Just stopped in here with my teenage daughter after a bike ride along the lake front. We both loved this place. This will be our new "go to" book store. We loved the hand written comments about the books, and the food and jewelry from local Evanstonians. This will be a great place to take out of town guests. read more

I LOVE that Evanston finally has an independent bookstore that carries new books! It is a delightful place to wander in search of interesting titles. The children's section is excellent and includes books in a wide variety of languages. The staff is knowledgeable about all things literary. read more

This is a wonderful bookstore just down the street (and into the alley) from the Barnes and Noble. What I love about this bookstore is that they have found every book that I've wanted. When there was a run on James Runcie's Grandchester mysteries, they got the first book in the series for me in a mere 5 days when I couldn't even find it on Amazon. Again, I ordered Johanna Basford's wonderful coloring book - Enchanted Garden - from this store and they got it in about a week. Once again, this book was almost impossible to find anywhere else. They have a fabulous children's section, a wonderful section of cookbooks and many other sections that are just as great. Every time I go in, I find glorious books and have fun just browsing around the store. The owners are lovely, helpful people and frankly, it feels good to support a local business and a local bookstore. I highly recommend this excellent business. read more