“A really great, independent bookstore. The staff is always friendly and helpful. They've also got a wonderful children's section, as well as a large selection of unique greeting cards, and some really fun gift items.”
“Half Price Books is a great place to find second-hand books at good prices, and the Downers Grove location has a particularly nice selection. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the unique collections available, including special editions of books by J.R.R. Tolkien and a rich selection of science books and rare finds. I also enjoyed the art section, where you can find beautiful coffee-table books. One of my favorite things about buying used books is discovering traces of their previous owners. Notes, inscriptions, old bookmarks, and other little memories left inside the books make the reading experience feel more human and personal. The store is spacious and offers much more than books, with a good selection of stationery, notebooks, cards, plushies, vinyl records, tote bags, and T-shirts. The bathrooms were also very clean. Large parking lot available. The staff were kind, knowledgeable, and efficient, making the overall experience very pleasant. A good place to browse if you enjoy second-hand books and the unexpected finds that come with them.”
“Went here to look for a worry stone, the staff was so friendly and helpful. I wanted a specific color and they went in the back to look for me and found a stone that was just perfect. I will definitely be back.”
“This is my favorite bookstore! There is a community activity or author storytime nearly every day. Although this store is primarily for children, the YA and Adult room are always stocked with new releases. Also if you can't find what your looking for, Carla will gladly order it for you. When in Lemont, grab a coffee from Folklore and then walk over to Three Stories - you won't be disappointed!”
“Some very rare finds that you simply can't get at chains like HPB. Frugal is right, the prices and quality of CDs and books is amazing. I almost feel silly and like I'm betraying myself, but if you're a collector or like finding that one magic novelty, head over here. Service and atmosphere also was top notch 👍”
“most iconic store in glen ellyn. my favorite part was the box of 100 poop jokes which was only 8 dollars by the way. that is only 8 cents per poop joke. had a great time with the poop jokes and reading all my favorite books. 5 STARS. 10/10 100/100 1000000000/1000000000. best store EVER!!!!!! i recomend you come here. they also have picture books! you can also read the whole book in the store with out having to pay for it what so ever. hehehehehe😎”
“Love this location every time we visit family near here. I was appreciative of the woman who helped explain the kids’ summer reading program to us and made sure we received our rewards. My kiddos always practice and perform a short puppet show on the reading stage when we come here with the puppet toys nearby. Mom gets to enjoy a tea and kids get some creative arts time while we’re traveling. Win win. We bought a pile of books which always helps for a hotel room stay. This was the shopping highlight of this trip (which is a pretty big feat at Oak Brook mall).”
“Was delighted to find a word search mystery book.. and sudoku.. and cozy coloring books.. and cozy mystery stories.. it brings back memories of walking up and down the libraries to search for books.. they have lots of choices..”
“Excellent selection of World War 2 books & military history. Katie was extremely helpful & knew exactly where to find what I was looking for. They also have CDs & casettes in addition to the vinyl. Very cool store in Villa Park.”
“I love this place so much. My sister and I always have a good experience when we go in to shop or browse books. The staff are always so nice and helpful. That is why this place gets the rating I’m giving it. However, there is one staff member who usually works the cash registers, her employee # is 8424, who is always rude when we go in. Yesterday we went and she was there. She was also rude with the two customers in front of us. She was being very impatient with the first one and she didn’t greet back the second one when she said hi. It was 8:45 pm and I understand that it’s close to closing. If that is her reason for being rude then that is obviously no excuse. I get it, my sister gets it. We understand. Even so, you should still treat people with respect, especially if you’re the last person a customer sees. This isn’t the first time this employee was rude. If this is her personality then she is in the wrong position for the company.”
“They have upgraded on the comic section. I remember coming last year and it was large in size but phew comics. Now its a small size with full of comics with expensive books and its amazing. Relocated the comic section had me scared at 1st but relieved it was still there”
“A cozy book shop hidden just south of town. There is a good variety of topics and the woman working there was a pleasure to talk to. It's definitely a great spot for a book lover to stop in!”
“I can always find a nice card here for multiple occasions. I also like the personal gifts I have picked up over the years. I have found great books for myself and my children enjoy browsing the store. Bring in the store invokes calm and peaceful feelings. The staff are pleasant to speak to. One women expressed that she is blessed to have the job ?. I love it when an employee loves their job!”
“The best local bookstore in the whole Chicagoland area. They have a great variety and hundreds of author events every year. The events are all very organized. Welcoming to all. Ask for Sammie and she will hook you up.”
“Great shipper and great with local auction houses! If you are an Art Buyer or Dealer and work with auction houses or Live Auctioneers or Invaluable. Make sure you reach out to Harry at Mr Shipper. Great company and excellent communication!”
“I really like this place! I donate lots of good things, mostly books, notebooks and workbooks. I like looking around and they have a nice selection of adults and kids DVDS. Also, they have holiday and regular greeting cards. They have cute holiday decorations too. If you are in the area, please go in this place and check it out.”
“I will admit that I wasn’t smart enough to attend here, but I am now smart enough to shop here! Great selection of swag and gifts for all my Wheatie friends. There’s easy parking out front and super pleasant staff within! GO THUNDER! (Wait, do they say that!?)”
“When my son Joshua was receiving his first Holy Communion I needed to get a very special rosary beads for him and a prayer book . I ordered eveything over the phone with Sue and she was absolutely amazing and helped me pick the perfect items. In addition she also included in my order, completely free of charge, the most beautiful little wooden box/chest medal and rosary holder with a bible inscription from the book of Joshua. Everything arrived safely and was packaged beautifully. Sue will go above and beyond the call of duty to get the exact item one describes and if she does not have it in stock she will order it for you immediately. This is definitely the place to visit when you need that most unusual item. Quite frankly if I could give a 6 Star review I would do so with pleasure!!!”
“I took a tour of this business today and couldn't believe how emaculate the items were. If you're a teacher, this place is a MUST. If you're just a regular civilian, they have an impressive book, CD, and record selection. They handle repurposing so many things and with over +100 volunteers with specialization, they support non profits and schools all over the world with donated materials. Please stop in for anything from scrapbooking supplies to jewelry. Check their website for more info on what can be donated.”
“This is a good store to go to if you’re shopping for calendars. Make sure you go when they are heavily discounted. I went today and it was 75% off. We were able to get two calendars for $6.73. Besides calendars, they also have puzzles, board games, etc. I recommend checking them out. Just a FYI, they do open later than some of the other stores. On Sundays, they opened at noon. Service was good. It’s located close to the kiddie haircut place.”
“The people that work for this company are commendable and have good character which makes working with this company a great experience. Ashlie, Mary, and Ken are absolutely wonderful people. The campus stores are superior.”
“Very nice staff members, but the correct hours for summer 2024 are not posted anywhere, even on the storefront. They are open this summer 2024 from: Monday-Thursday from 8am-4pm They remain closed Friday-Sunday Had to find this out the hard way, hope this helps someone else before making the long trip out and leaving back for home disappointed without your books. When open, the store layout is easy to understand and lends to an easy shopping experience. It is kept very clean and tidy.”
Barnes & Noble is proving that physical bookstores aren't going anywhere. The retailer just opened three new locations across Texas and South Carolina, marking another step in its comeback story. Barnes & Noble opened 57 stores in 2024 alone - more than it had opened in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019. The company isn't slowing down either, with plans to open more than 60 new stores in 2025 and a goal of reaching over 1,000 stores nationwide in the coming years.
