1854 W. North Ave · Chicago, IL 60622 · 773-342-0910
Home / Links
We realize these links are an evolving list. Got a relevant link that fits under one of these headings? Is it relevant to Quimby's customers and fans? Let us know at info(at)quimbys(dot)com.
Quimby's on the internet
Check out our expansive web presence! You can buy, network, chat, listen, and friend us ‘til the cows come home.
Zine & Comix Distros
Here are some distributors of self-made publications, zines and comics from around the world. Take heed because many distros tend to burn brightly and brilliantly for a short time. They’re always comin’ and goin’ like the wind.
Quimby’s-like stores
Unique as Quimby’s may be, we have other brethren across this great nation. Take a trip to these other noteworthy bookshops when you’re in their respective cities, towns, villages, or municipalities. And, don’t forget, most of them consign zines and/or comics!
Quimby's Bookstore NYC (Brooklyn, NY)
Needles & Pens (San Francisco, CA)
Printed Matter (New York City, NY)
PolyEster Books (Fitzroy, Victoria AUS)
Drawn and Quarterly Store (Montreal, Quebec)
Kilgore Books & Comics: (Denver)
Women & Children First (Chicago)
Blood Fruit Library & Coffee (Chicago)
Bluestockings (NYC)
Zine Resources
For more information about what in the world a zine is, how to make one, how to get self-published work into the world and all of the other great facets of zine culture, refer to these awesome books, websites and such. Some of these things also have companion zines or books. Also, check many of your favorite zines for zine reviews and what have you. Since many zines also do zine reviews, one suggestion is to check with them about sending your zine or comic for review.
We Made a Zine Template Based On All the Questions People Ask Us
Mike Gunderloy's How To Publish a Fanzine pdf download
Zine-Friendly Organizations & Places
These non-profits, libraries, community centers and work spaces offer self-publishers of all stripes all kinds of resources for little to no cost.
Independent Publishing Resource Center
The Center for Cartoon Studies
Wasted Ink Zine Distro - Store Front & Zine Library
Zine Archives and Special Zine Collections
Librarians love their zines. These institutions and display self-made works for public consumption.
University of Chicago Special Collections
The Queer Zine Archive Project (QZAP)
DePaul University Zine Library
Multnomah County Library Zine Collection
Zine and Amateur Press Collections at the University of Iowa
Schultz Library at Center for Cartoon Studies
The Ohio State University Rare Books & Manuscripts Library (includes these zine collections)
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
Olympia Timberbland Zine Library
Wasted Ink Zine Distro - Store Front & Zine Library
Small Press Expos
This is where the zinesters and mini-comics-ers gather. Most zine fests and expos offer open registration for little to no cost. However, take heed. Some more specialized conferences cost a pretty penny.
Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art(MoCCA) Fest NYC
Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE)
Maine Comics Arts Festival (MECAF)
Staple! Independent Media Expo
Vancouver Comics Arts Festival (VanCAF)
Fargo-Moorhead Zine Fest (FMZF) at on tumblr and facebook
New Orleans Anarchist Bookfair
Chicago-based Reading Series and Performances
Live lit is alive and kicking in Chicago!
Printers
For large press runs or more specialized services.
Copy Max at 1321 N. Milwaukee at Paulina
Perfectly Acceptable Risograph Printing
Publishers
Here are just some of the many small press, comics, activist lit, and so on. In no particular order (mostly).
Chicago Center for Literature & Photography
Denis Kitchen Publishing Company
Zines, Lit Journals, Newspaper Friends of Quimby's
Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet
Artists Friends of Quimby's
The Ladydrawers Comics Collective
Comics & Zines Blogs
For the skinny on the world of comics and zines, click on any of these fine choices.
Chicago Galleries
Art around the Second City. Most galleries have limited hours or are open by appointment so check ahead! Also! They come and go! Check in first!
Woman Made Gallery
Heaven Gallery
Places We Like In Chicago
Other businesses that we’re all about!
Chicago Comics - Our sister store! Humanity's last, best hope. We got the weirdo stuff, they got the super hero stuff. 3244 N. Clark
Space Oddities Chicago What if Quimby's was a used bookstore? And we sold fun vintage thingamadoodles? It would bve this. 1007 N. California
Sideshow Gallery - Want some weird taxidermy? Maybe something that will help you cast a spell? Want some art about those topics? Here's where you can pick up all that stuff. 2219 N. Western.
Busy Beaver Buttons - Need a new custom button for that upcoming zine fest? Busy Beaver’s got a plethora of pin choices, magnets, custom packaging and a helpful buck-toothed mascot that will brighten your day. 3279 W. Armitage Ave.
Café Mustache - If you can appreciate a bit of latte foam in your facial hair, check out Café Mustache, located a stone’s throw from the California Blue Line stop in Logan Square. Cozy up in a roomy chair in the parlor-esque sitting area or order some nosh, like a delicious hummus platter or fresh pastries. Café Mustache also hosts live readings and music events and is one of the only spots in Chicago to play all vinyl during open hours. 2313 N. Milwaukee.
The Wormhole - It was only a matter of time before someone cut out the middle man and put the Delorean in the coffeeshop, right? The Wormhole, besides slinging the usual suspects of coffee and tea, serves us pop culture nostalgia a mere jaunt from the bustling Six Corners intersection of Wicker Park. 1462 N. Milwaukee Ave.
826 CHI - Founded by renowned author Dave Eggers, the 826 franchise has brought creative writing and literacy programming to every corner of the nation. 826 CHI hosts field trips, workshops and extends publishing opportunities to school age children across the city. The Boring Store, their retail outpost, provides shoppers with the singular experience of purchasing spy gear for a good cause. 1276 N. Milwaukee Ave
Spudnik Press Cooperative - Spudnik gives zinesters, artists and publishers the raw materials and community to make something. From screen printing classes to their popular Drink & Draw nights, Spudnik supports Chicago creatives with space, equipment and knowledge to execute their vision. Memberships are available as well as hourly rates for open studio sessions. 1821 W Hubbard St.
Read/Write Library Chicago - Church cookbooks, fancy pants lit magazines, handmade books ??" Read/Write Library Chicago in Humboldt Park catalogs anything and everything printed and related to the city of Chicago. Check out their weekend open hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to peruse a smorgasboard of published delights. Read/Write is also a fully functional venue. On any given night you might find an art opening, media literacy lecture, craft night or cataloging session through its doors. 914 N. California Walton Entrance.
The Handlebar - Hey look! It’s a vegetarian restaurant with a bike theme….and they serve fish! Handlebar is a Wicker Park neighborhood favorite known for its tasty sandwiches, savory brunch and hefty dinners. Yes, you can get full on veggie food, my friend. On sunny days their back patio is the perfect spot to drink a craft beer or cocktail and let the noise of nearby Western Avenue melt away. 2311 W North Ave
Bon Bon Vietnamese Sandwiches - All the authentic fare of the Argyle Red Line stop only a short jaunt from the Blue Line. Whatta find! Bon Bon serves up the traditional Vietnamese bahn mi alongside pho, bento boxes and more. Bon Bon? More like nom nom. 2333 W North Ave
Myopic Books - They sell mostly used books. It’s rare to come across a book store that feels like a library ??" comfy chairs, endless shelves, bright but tasteful lighting. And lots of nooks and crannies to climb into! But Myopic is no big box book store. Aside from being a really awesome place to read and peruse, Myopic also will buy your old books and put them into new hands. Everybody wins! 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Sultan’s Market - Sultan’s is the place in Chicago for falafel. They even have the domain name to prove it. When that $4 is burning a hole in your pocket, try a falafel sandwich, mild or spicy. Not in the mood for chickpea crunchitude? Sultan’s has a salad bar with 30 fresh items and some tasty meat roasting on a spit. Their location closest to Quimby's is at 2057 W North Ave.
CopyMax - Every zinester needs their paper. Fed Ex Office might have the monopoly on copying services but CopyMax is even better than the O.G.,Kinko’s. CopyMax is independently owned and operated and offers high volume discounts. 1321 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Reckless Records - When you simply must have analog, whether it be fancy compact discs, delightful tapes or the alpha and omega, vinyl, Reckless Records provides a refuge from the tyranny of the mp3. For new and used music that’ll give you hours of finger flicking perusal, look no further than Reckless, with three convenient spots. The one closest to Quimby's is at 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Permanent Records - Another refuge in the sea of digital music, Permanent Records in Ukrainian Village hawks all kinds of tracks. PR showcases local musicians with its own label in addition to new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and books across all genres, sub-genres and micro-genres. Hey Mom, just like you used to have! 1914 W Chicago Ave.
Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar - Brought to you by the impresario mind of Bridgeport wunderartist Ed Marszewski, Maria’s is more than just a watering hole. Sure, they’ve got tasty brews and spirits up the wazoo. But Maria’s also showcases local artists and free thinkers. Check this spot out for everything from karaoke fundraisers to Chicago history lectures. 960 W. 31st Street, Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago
Kimski - Delicious Korean Polish food attached to Maria's!
Vintage Garage Chicago - Vintage Garage Chicago buys and sells vintage and antique merchandise, and features over 100 dealers in an actual parking garage (roughly) once a month, and features bands. 5051 N. Broadway. See their web site for dates!
Early to Bed - Have a hankering for something new and shiny between the sheets? Aside from offering luxury toys, Early to Bed caters to the needs of trans men with an assortment of packers, harnesses and more. Their website also offers sex advice and informative videos and tips covering everything from nipple toys to lube choice. 5044 N. Clark St.
Stanley’s Fruits & Vegetables - In Chicago, you don’t have to wait for that perfect mix of rain and sun to see a rainbow. Just go on over to Stanley’s, one of the city’s best purveyors of fruits and veggies. It’s a verdant feast for the eyes, nose and stomach and, best of all, easy on your wallet. Stanley’s sells its wares at a reasonable price so you have more dough to drop on zines. 1558 N Elston Ave.
Atomix - With a space age theme, this coffeeshop and café holds its own on the Damen Avenue and Chicago Avenue intersection in Ukrainian Village. Atomix specializes in coffee drinks and veggie fare. Free wi-fi and comfy booths are another out of this world draw. 1957 W. Chicago Ave.
American Writers Museum - The first and only museum of its kind in the United States, their mission is to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, and our daily lives. Events include publishing workshops, memoir workshops, readings and more. 180 N. Michigan, 2nd floor
Volumes Bookcafe - Wicker Park welcomes another bookstore to help uphold the rich literary historical legacy of such writers as Nelson Algren. The fine folks at Volumes can help fill in the gaps of the family-friendly items we might be less inclined to carry. And why not enjoy a beverage while you're there? 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago Diner - Delicious vegan and vegetarian food. 2 locations, the one closest to Quimby's in Logan Square. 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Ground Control - Delicious vegan and vegetarian food. 3315 W. Armitage
Damn Fine Coffee Bar - WOWBOBWOW. Yes, they have donuts. Get Peaked. Next door to Ground Control. 3317 W Armitage.
Stuff Slightly Outside the City You Might Be Into if You Like Quimby's
Hala Kahiki - Old school tiki-style joint, with delicious beverages, and with a gift shop. 2834 River Rd, River Grove.
Chef Shangri-La - Tiki decor and beverages with delicious Chinese food as well 7930 W. 26th St. North Riverside
Mitsuwa Marketplace - Asian groceries, food court and more. 100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights
Tattoo Studios We Like
Friends of Quimby's
Miscellaneous dear pal of our humble book emporium.
Chicago Comics - OUR SISTER STORE at 3244 N. Clark!
Quimby's Bookstore NYC (Brooklyn, NY)
Trans Oral History Project Zine Distro
Wurlington Bros Build Your Own Postcards
The Old Town School of Folk Music
The Chicago Underground Film Fest
The Chicago Anarchist Film Fest
Northside Comic Artist Collective
Detour Smart Phone Guided Walking Tours
Local Listings for Stuff to Do
At a loss for what to do this weekend? If you’re in Chicago, there’s a lot. Narrow your search with any of these extensive collections of happenings about town.
Radio and Podcasts We Like
Give your eyes a rest from reading and listen up to some of our favorite radio shows and regular programming.
The Quimby's Bookstore Podcast
The Chicago Underground Music Archive
Local Places to Stay
In town for a spell? Well let us welcome you formally to town. Need a place to hang your hat? Here are some lovely lodging options.
Chicago Transport
Chicago Transit Authority is for local buses and trains around Chicago.
Metra is the train system for that goes distances further out from Chicago.
The two main Chicago airports are O'Hare and the Chicago Midway.
There are also a variety of Chicago cabs that come around Quimby's if you go down to the corner of Damen, North and Milwaukee.
Quimby's Bookstore · 1854 W. North Ave · Chicago, IL 60622 · 773-342-0910 
