Our Bookstores
Welcome to the Co-op.
The Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. comprises two independent bookstores. Founded in 1961 and located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, the Seminary Co-op is renowned as an exemplary academic bookstore, attracting customers nationally and internationally. Its inventory reflects the literary and scholarly interests of its membership, many of them affiliated currently or previously with its neighbor, the University of Chicago.
57th St. Books was established in 1983 and caters to the literary interests of the greater South Side community. With a world-class children’s department, a deep backlist selection, and an enthusiastic staff, 57th St. Books has established itself as a gem among independent bookstores.
Both stores are unique and valued places of discovery, cultural institutions where browsing and conversation are nurtured. In 2019, the Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. became the country’s first not-for-profit bookstores whose mission is bookselling.Our Locations:
The Seminary Co-op | 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. | 773-752-4381
Widely regarded as one of the best academic bookstores in the world, the Co-op houses an extensive collection of scholarly titles with a focus on the humanities and social sciences.
57th Street Books | 1301 E. 57th St. | 773-684-1300
Located a block from the Co-op, 57th Street Books houses a substantial selection of general interest titles, including kids’ books, popular fiction, cookbooks, science fiction, mysteries, and graphic novels.