Awesome bookstore in Andersonville! Very inclusive and they have highlighted underrepresented…read morevoices since 1979. They are one of the largest feminist bookstores in the country! It's a lovely and bright space and feels very welcoming. If they don't have something you're looking for, they can order it and have it for you quickly, usually within a few days. They encourage discussion and learning, and host wonderful author events, book groups, story times, and much more. Very thoughtful and curated selections at reasonable prices. Excellent customer service and positive vibes all around.

What a wonderful bookstore. Absolutely loved the layout and the detailed staff recommendation cards…read morethroughout the store. Wish I lived closer!

Maximum Distractions truly houses maximum distractions--so much so that I spent at least an hour…read moredigging through boxes to see what I could unearth. There were a good amount of back issues I was interested in, but so many weren't bagged and boarded and were definitely beginning to show some shelf wear. The bigger issues, though, is that nothing is clearly organized by series--or even publisher. There had clearly been some attempts to sort things out, but without any major success. It was frustrating to say the least. The owner was nice and happy to talk to you, and his interactions with other customers of varying sorts were very friendly as well. Sadly, there was a very offering radio station playing the whole time I was there detailing 9/11 conspiracies and whether or not Hunter Biden should be in jail. The owner said it was really just 'background noise,' but it sort of started to weird me out a bit. Regardless, i found a few books I wanted and decided to head out. At checkout, I paid with cash and wasn't charged any additional sales tax--which I always appreciate.

Pretty loaded with back issues. Cool place though somewhat disorganized. The owner definitely will…read morehelp you find something. I asked for prison related comics and he had a few recs like some Amazing Spiderman issues and some comic called The Prisoner.

Smallish B&N but clean, well-organized and not lacking in cool bookstore fare. Staff is friendly…read moreand not overly attentive.

Glad to see that B&N is expanding again and has come to our neighborhood. The store is deceivingly…read morelarge with many books, games, toys and music options. I particularly like that the store is a bit of a maze. It allows you to discover new things and stay awhile to browse. Service has been fantastic since it opened. There always seems to be people on the floor willing to help if you are looking for something specific. Good value if you have a B&N card.

This is a very cute, cozy book store. I stopped in looking for a book for a friend's baby shower…read moreand an employee helped me easily find one. The selection is smaller but it offers a lot. I liked seeing that they additionally offer crafts, games, and puzzles. They had a lot of DND stuff! Happy to support a fun, local book store. Definitely stop in and explore!

This place made me comfortable to get back into comics after years of not collecting. Then they…read morehave cool events, and weird indie games as well.

A wonderful place for good energy and healing in the South Loop. So glad that it is in the…read moreneighborhood and I encourage everyone to check it out and support this institution. Beautiful crystals, meditation mats and an area for workshops/classes. Just beautiful energy!

What a beautiful, well-stocked store! Went in to browse the crystal collection and was not…read moredisappointed. Incense and sage were being burned and I felt welcomed immediately. There are tons of big beautiful crystal pieces for home, jewelry for any taste, a selection of spiritual items, candles and incense, as well as fairly-priced smaller crystals which is what I was looking for. They even included a cute little velvet bag with my stone. Definitely will be returning in the future for myself and anyone I need to get gifts for!

I wrote a review several years ago in which I praised Julie's ability to pick out jewelry…read more(specifically earrings) that look good on me. I have bought at least three pairs of earrings from Julie which I never would have picked up to try on myself -- I needed her eye to help me (1) find them and (2) realize that I wanted something like them in my jewelry wardrobe. The way this usually plays out is: I come in to the store and find a few things in the cases to try on; I am drawn to the way earrings look hanging on a stand or propped up on those little pieces of wood or leather that all jewelry stores use, but it's very hard correctly connect all the dots from "I like the way that looks in the case" to "that would look good on me." Earrings genuinely do not look the same once you pick them up and put them in your ears, and I've made the mistake more than once of buying earrings that looked great in my jewelry box, but not as great on. (But I have not done this at Virtu, because I think Julie would stop me). So first I try the things on that I pick out, and then Julie usually slides on over with, "...but would you consider these?" And she does it in a really friendly way that is not pushy or a high-pressure sales tactic, it is more "I think this shape/color/contrast would look good in your particular ears." And she is right with astounding frequency, including sometimes with pieces I would never have looked twice at in the case. It is a genuine skill and I find it impressive. For this reason I unfortunately have to limit the number of times I visit per year because I am so likely to buy things!

What a lovely shop, with an even lovelier proprietor! I've been visiting metta baby down the street…read morefor the last few weeks, and when I've passed Virtu it piqued my interest. Today I was at metta baby for a CPR refresher so I finally had the opportunity to head down the block and check it out. The owner had opened it a few minutes early because when I got there at 10:58 (they open at 11) there were already a few people in and she joked that perhaps she should open at 10. She was super friendly with everyone in the store and very helpful. There were a couple folks with whom she was talking about the being a business owner (they were also business owners), and the business climate in Bucktown. She was joking around with some other customers about some funny cards that she carries. When I was looking at the various jewelry cases she has throughout the store, she let me know right away that if I wanted to see anything to let her know, and she told me about some of the designers that she had in her shop. I really enjoyed talking with her, and I'm almost ashamed I didn't get her name. Her passion for her business and local businesses in general, as well as her dedication to truly providing fantastic and thoughtful service to her customers was palpable. Virtu's proprietor is the epitome of why I LOVE to shop local; oftentimes people at mass merchandisers, whilst hard working and helpful, don't have the same sort of pride, flexibility, and ethos of care that a local business owner does. I visited a couple days before Halloween, and she mentioned that after the holiday she'd start putting out the Christmas merchandise which is already waiting to make its debut. I think she also mentioned that she has extended hours during the holiday season. I'm excited to stop in once she's in the holiday swing to see what I can find here for friends, loved ones (and who knows, maybe even myself), and maybe even something special for my little one's first Christmas.

Cool store with a cool proprietor, a Tibetan woman who operates this shop more as a labor of love…read moreand outreach than as a profit center --when I visited, she gave my friend some free books and videos, and talked at length about her experience and the current conflict with China. Besides that, there's plenty of interesting Tibetan bric a brac, incense, books and an extensive selection of unique scarves, shirts, etc. Nb: As noted above, this place is a labor of love, not Starbucks. So make sure you call ahead to see if it's open, even during standard business hours.

Super quaint shop that's got an extensive collection of religious/philosophical texts, Buddhist…read moresymbols, and Tibetan clothing/art. The prices are a little on the higher end (I spent $60 on my first visit for a book, two mala bracelets, and a print), but I didn't mind because it was supporting a local business. The shop owner escaped Tibet at age 7 and immigrated to the US after living for years in India. They've got a great knowledge of local Buddhist community gatherings/groups, as well as information about how you should plan your trip if you ever travel to Tibet. A must-visit in the NorthShore area for any of the sangha -- beginners or long-term practitioners-- as well as folks interested in learning about other cultures.

I walked in for a pen. I left with an experience. Parchment. Ink. The soft rustle of paper. Unique…read morewriting instruments in neatly arranged rows. Bari arranged a few things while showing me a selection of pens "they're in the wrong order." I blinked. Nothing appears out of order in this store, but I'm sure this level of attention to detail is why. The Expert (??? I don't know - I just met this person, but it was a vibe) Bari very kindly introduced themselves to me and allowed me to try a variety of pens. This was a kindness as I blustered through my terrible handwriting until I finally met my perfect match - Cinderella & the Ballpoint Pen. Since I was getting a pen for writing, Bari suggested I get a felt tip pen. Thus I am the proud owner of an extra fine brush pen I have been using religiously since purchasing it there for the fine price of five dollars. Honestly - I think I'm starting to write like I own a good pen . Jokes aside, I had a really lovely and unexpected experience at this store. If you love beautiful things, custom stationary, and the art of making an impression, check it out.

This shop is fabulous...book binders heaven. Great for stationery lovers and artists. Gorgeous…read morecards, sketchbooks, paper. Get her book...it's delightful!!