Open Books, Logan Square

Open Books isn’t your average bookstore. Opened in 2009, the shop is an outgrowth of the Open Books nonprofit, with a brand new location at the Literacenter. More than 50,000 books—mostly used and donated, with some recent new titles—are housed in rows of wooden shelves painted in bright, cheery colors. Open Books invites customers to sit and stay awhile, offering plenty of snug reading nooks, complete with comfy seating, as well as a dedicated children's section. Go ahead, buy a handful. All proceeds go to literacy programs throughout the city.