Chicago's essential independent bookstore for comics, graphic novels, zines, art books, and the kind of underground and alternative publications that don't exist in chain stores. Quimby's has been operating since 1991 and has become one of the most important small publishers' and self-publishers' outlets in the country — the shelves contain thousands of handmade zines alongside the more mainstream alternative comics.
The store is also a community hub: it hosts readings, signings, and release parties for small-press publications. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful rather than prescriptive. If you're interested in contemporary underground culture, independent publishing, or just want to spend an hour finding things you didn't know existed, this is the most rewarding browse in Chicago. Metro Blue Line, Damen station.