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Who We Are

Bookworks has been in business for over 35 years and we actively buy and sell used and rare books, recordings and old paper items. If you’d like to see what we’re currently selling, please click the SEARCH OUR ONLINE CATALOG and the ONLINE AUCTIONS links. If you’re interested in selling us material, please click on BOOK/RECORD BUYING. Our website includes our business history, links to a few of our favorite shops, reference sites for readers, things to do in Chicago and feedback we’ve received about our business.

We hope you’ll take time to explore Bookworks online.

What We Hope To Do

Bookworks has always made an effort to offer the books, recordings and old paper items that our customers want to buy. We sell and auction items at very competitive prices with the hope it will create a website that individuals will return to in order to see what we have for sale. By pricing fairly and adding new items frequently we try to make our business a place you will want to visit.

We also hope to be offered items you’re considering selling. Bookworks buys selectively, but we pay very well for the material we can purchase and we’re always interested in considering books, records and old paper items you might have for sale.

Special Announcement
Bookworks in Wrigleyville closing after 32 years

By Amanda Hanna Crains Magazine August 1, 2016

 

Ronda-Pilon-Bob-RoschkeBookworks in Wrigleyville is closing its brick-and-mortar store after 32 years to focus on online selling. The independent shop at 3444 N. Clark St.—known for buying and selling used and rare books, records, CDs and postcards—will close October 15.

Co-owners Bob Roschke and Ronda Pilon cited a recent rent spike, an altered neighborhood and the Internet marketplace as some of the primary obstacles they’ve faced in making the decision for their store and part-time staff of four.

“When we opened, Wrigleyville was on the tail end of being a neighborhood of Japanese immigrants,” Roschke said. “There were Japanese food stores, Japanese restaurants and a couple of Japanese bars, so it was much more of a neighborhood feeling. As years went on . . . the bar scene increased dramatically. For a number of years now it seems like every space that has gone for rent has eventually become a bar. It really has changed the atmosphere and focus of the neighborhood,” Roschke said.

While their online presence has been active since the mid ’90s, Bookworks recently updated its website and plans to double (or more) the thousands of items it already offers online.

In preparation to close the store, Bookworks hopes to sell thousands of items before October. As an incentive, all stock is 25 percent off, and starting Aug. 15 the discount goes to 50 percent. Included is all in-store merchandise, including popular paperbacks, rare first editions, music and postcards.

What Our Customers Say