Monthly Archive for May, 2025

New Stuff This Week

 

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Zines

What to Bring to Inpatient by Austin DeVine $10

Comics

Bubbles #22 April 2025 An Independent Fanzine About Comics and Manga $8

Disease Detective #1 by Vidal Mateo Mendoza (MF Comics) $14

Graphic Novels

Pinky and Pepper Forever Special Edition by Ivy Atoms (Silver Sprocket) $19.99

Changeling vol 3 Tina N Lugo (Silver Sprocket) $13.99

Done With Demons by Dora Grents $12.99

Art & Photo Books

The Graffiti Sticker Book: 300+ Stickers from 50+ Artists (Dokument Press) $19.95

Tokyo Tattoo 1970 by Martha Cooper (Dokument Press) $24.95

Fiction

Portalmania: Stories by Debbie Urbanski $18.99

Fiction by Phillip Potamites: The Gorgons and the Restless Wanderer $5, The Tragedy of Earl Zavier $6 & more.

Music Books

Independent As Fuck Underground Hip Hop from 1995-2005 by Ben Pedroche (Velocity Press) $20

Magazines, Newspapers & Lit Journals

Apartamento #35 $35

The Shadow #65 $2

Bog Matter #1 $18

Meet the New Quimby’s Owners!

 

Quimby’s Bookstore Changes Hands After More Than 30 Years
New Owners Overjoyed to Continue Legacy of Iconic Indie Publishing Institution

A team of new owners — Peter Miles Bergman and Cody Kasselman, along with affiliate Eric Von Haynes — have taken ownership of Quimby’s Bookstore at 1854 W. North Ave. from longtime owner Eric Kirsammer of Chicago Comics. All three bring deep ties to indie publishing, zine culture, and the Chicago DIY scene.

Quimby’s was founded in 1991 by Steven Svymbersky – who now runs a Quimby’s NYC store in Brooklyn. In 1997 Eric Kirsammer, owner of Chicago Comics purchased the business and relocated it to its current home a few years later.

When Quimby’s announced it was for sale, Peter Miles Bergman – a longtime consignor of zines at Quimby’s, publisher and printer at is PRESS, and MSU Denver Professor of Art and Communication Design – was in the perfect stage of life for a career change. “I was looking to do something new with my life. I was selling my house in Denver, wanting to transition out of academia, and go full time into zine and art book publishing. I saw the announcement on a plane flying back to Denver from Chicago after just tabling at the Chicago Printers Guild Publisher’s Fair. I messaged [Quimby’s manager] Liz Mason right away, she put me in touch with Eric [Kirsammer] and we started a long careful process to make sure I was the right person to take the helm.”

It was only after Peter met Cody Kasselman — then working with Denver-based art and photo bookstore Earnest Paper — that the dream of owning Quimby’s began to look like a reality. Cody, an advisor and strategist to independent small businesses across the country, brought the financial acumen and proven track record of sustainable growth and success needed to ensure Quimby’s would be around for the next 35 years. After flying to Chicago for an initial meeting with Eric Kirsammer and Liz Mason, Cody told Peter, “I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life.”

As a former Chicago resident and frequent tabler at Chicago Zine Fest, Chicago Art Book Fair, Zine Mercado, and the Printers Guild Publishers Fair, Peter has deep ties to the city’s DIY and indie publishing community. Recognizing the importance of having a partner on the ground in Chicago, Peter and Cody tapped longtime friend Eric Von Haynes — Chicago Printers Guild President, graphic design instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and print media instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, publisher and designer with 15+ years at Flatlands Press, core member of Zine Mercado, and co-founder of Love Fridge — to help expand Quimby’s community involvement through events, workshops, exhibitions, and local partnerships.

Cody, Peter, and Eric are overjoyed to take on the tremendous responsibility of stewarding Quimby’s — for the city of Chicago, the Wicker Park business community, its 7,000+ zine consignors, and the global indie publishing scene. They are committed to ensuring the long-term health of this beloved bookstore and center of independent thought.

Peter Miles Bergman Bio:

Peter Miles Bergman began his career in commercial printing, culminating in pre-press for magazines. For the last 17 years he has been a professor of Art and Graphic Design at Metropolitan State University of Denver – teaching editorial design, typography, print production, letterpress and zine publishing. Peter has run his own publishing imprint “ is PRESS” for the last 13 years, consigning zines at Quimby’s and attending 30+ zines fests and art book fairs. Peter is overjoyed to take the helm of his favorite bookstore alongside Cody. He is most energized by providing a platform for artists and authors, and will be adding his small press publishing and printing skills to Quimby’s mission.

Cody Kasselman Bio:

Cody Kasselman began her career in publishing, where she led a portfolio of independent editorial brands and a 70+ person team. After a decade in media, she shifted her focus to helping small business owners grow their operations and refine their long-term strategy. A lifelong bookstore lover and avid reader, she most recently supported Denver’s art and photo book store Earnest Paper before joining Quimby’s. Cody is now proud to co-steward its next chapter alongside Peter and is most excited to preserve its artist-led legacy and continue providing a platform for the creative community.

Eric Von Haynes Bio:

Eric Von Haynes is a printer, publisher, and designer with over 15 years at Flatlands Press, known for its innovative, community-focused projects. He is the President of the Chicago Printers Guild and teaches Graphic Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as print media at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Eric is also a core member of Zinemercado, an annual outdoor festival devoted to zines and other DIY publications. As a community advocate, Eric co-founded Love Fridge Chicago, a mutual aid initiative for community fridges across Chicago. His work emphasizes collaborative projects and public workshops, reflecting his commitment to skill-sharing and community engagement.

For background see: 

photo credit: Mateo Zapata

 

New Stuff This Week

 

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Zines

Ker-Bloom! #173 $2

new from Dayna Moth: Thoughts For the New Year $1, Catmothcrow #2 Just Another Green Haired Zinester $5

Twenty Elf issues #6-#8 by Johnny Masiulewicz (Happy Tapir Press) $3 each

Words and Smiles #7 Jun 25 by Don $4

zines by Nia Belton: Cat City $12, 1159 #3 $15

Free Speech, Human Rights, and White Christian Nationalism – Historical Views by T. Jefferson, edited by Will Dee $5

Zines by Caspian Walters: Fat Chance: A Perzine issues #1 & #2 $8 each, Storied Stitches Spring/Summer 2025 (with Valentina Castro) $10, & more

Behind the Rain by Justin Emanuel $20

zines by Elliott W. Stewart/Porch Beers Press, $5 each: A Pagan Pilgrimage, Disco 3000 #2 Common People, He Took the Good Stuff and Ran, I Am a Fllightless Bird: Many Gods No Masters #2

Sans Visage Street Photo Zine #2 by Whymark Austen $13

Racontre by Moizza Khan, issues #1-#4 $5 each

Jackalopes by Dave Hankins $3

Comics

You Don’t Get There From Here #68 Diary Comics by Carrie McNinch $5

Small Town by Cecilia Jane $18

new comics from Jam :In the Sunroom $2, OPENions: Rating the Pens I Use $2 & more

comics by Sidne K. Gard: If It Is the End of My World I Do Not Want to Be Fast Asleep $10, Mundane Judaica $22 & more

Our Leader by H. Jones $5

Necromancer Exorcist by Diego Jimenez $7

All Engines Burning: The Rise, Fall, and Fumes of the Screaming Bue Messiahs: An Unofficial History by Jocelyn Rainwater $12

nothing more petrifying than everyday life – comix poems by Tori Holder $6

New Wave Comics Presents #27 by David and Reginald Wayne Soileau $2

Constant Fear April 2025 by Zaponator $5

Junk City March 2025 by Leona Likely (Small Sword Press) $5

Insatiable by Darya Foroohar $10

Beyond the Fence by Sarah Foley $12

Memory of a Distant Fire #1 $18

GHSTSLCTR #1 $15

Tales of Ogg #1 by Jessica Lever $8

Graphic Novels

Arsene Schrauwen SC by Schrauwen O. (Fantagraphics) $29.99

Night Drive by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics) $19.99

Draculester by Kit Montgomery $20

Salt Green Death by Katarina Thorsen (Conundrum Press) $30

Sickness vol 1 by Jenna Cha and Lonnie Nadler (Uncivilized Books) $24.95

Gesticulating Gentrification by Rick Trembles (Conundrum Press) $20

Art(ish) Books

Rejection / Ambition: A Twenty Five Year Performance on by Anya Liftig (Renous River Press) $22

Graffbook vol 2 The Graffiti Sketchbook (Carpet Bombing Culture) $23.95

Politics & Revolution Books

No Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement, edited by Micah Herskind and Mariah Parker and Kamau Franklin (Haymarket Books) $22.95

Mayhem & Outer Limits Books

Lucifer’s Power: Beliefs and Practices of the Process Cult by William Sims Bainbridge (Feral House) $29.95

Music-Related Books

Writing on Raving: An Anthology by Zoe Beery, Geoffrey Mak & McKenzie Wark $19.95

Fiction Books

To Smithereens by Rosalyn Drexler $18

Poetry

Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry edited by George Abraham and Noor Hindi (Haymarket Books) $24.95

Familiar Roots by Brenda Umana $14

Magazines & Lit Journals

International Review #173 International Communist Current $3

Border Crossings #167 $15

Moss Piglet May 2025 Musical Instruments $15

Quimby’s Bookstore May Newsletter Available Now

Read it here and make sure you sign up to get it in your inbox at quimbys.com.

Quimby’s Co-Sponsors Chicago Zine Fest at the Harold Washington Library Center, July 19th

Jul
19
11:00 am

 

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Quimby’s is proud to be a co-sponsor of Chicago Zine Fest! We’ll be tabling there on 7/19 at the Harold Washington Library featuring special guest Angel xoxoxoxox! Stop by our table and say hello.

Chicago Zine Fest is a celebration of small press and independent publishers, with an annual festival of workshops and the big expo day where 70+ zinesters sell and trade their zines. All CZF events are free and open to the public.

Saturday, July 19, 2025, 11 am to 4 pm
Harold Washington Library Center
Winter Garden, 9th Floor
400 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605

More information at chicagozinefest.org.

art by Kelly Wang.