The Looking Glass

Used book store · Oak Park

The Looking Glass

Used book store · Oak Park

2

823 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304

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The Looking Glass by null
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The Looking Glass by null
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The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null
The Looking Glass by null

Highlights

Used books, rare finds, knowledgeable staff, bookish gifts  

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823 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304 Get directions

thelookingglassbooks.com
@lookingglassop

$

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823 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304 Get directions

+1 708 434 5515
thelookingglassbooks.com
@lookingglassop

$

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Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : The Looking Glass

"Sections are cleverly named and stenciled on the floor in this used book wonderland in South Oak Park. Small and tidy, you'll only get lost in your thoughts here. A knowledgeable staff, good selection and great prices make this bright, sunny spot a favorite for bibliophiles." - Julie Shumacher & Brett Burwell

https://onthegrid.city/chicago/oak-park/the-looking-glass
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@onthegrid

"The Looking Glass, Oak Park. Sections are cleverly named and stenciled on the floor in this used book wonderland in South Oak Park. Small and tidy, you'll only get lost in your thoughts here. A knowledgeable staff, good selection and great prices make this bright, sunny spot a favorite for bibliophiles."

Chicago
View Postcard for The Looking Glass

V T

Google
Love this charming & eclectic used bookstore. Lots of cute book themed gifts for your book club friends. The clerk was very helpful & told us about the punch card where you get $5 off for every $50 you spend. The used books are in great condition & they even have mystery wrapped books. Loved their selection of greeting cards & cute journals. Will definitely be back soon.

Mica Racine

Google
The best–and they support the community!! Great store, great employees, and great books! I’ve been a fan for a long time but they recently sealed the deal by donating a copy of the novel Moby Dick to my kids’ high school for the lit club’s 24-hour, marathon live reading of Moby Dick. A great event made even more enjoyable due to their kind donation–thanks! Glad to have this merchant in our hometown.

joe sass

Google
A perfect little used bookstore! A very nice and well curated selection of books and our daughter loved the kids section! Very nice staff and the street parking was not a problem

Vibhu Dhawan

Google
I went to give away books that I had read, and they were pretty good books in great shape. I did not even want money I return. Just did not want the books wasted. (See my photo) Strangely the bookstore wouldn’t even look at it because the owner was not there, and only the owner buys because they have a ‘full inventory’. The owner was not reachable by phone either 🤷‍♂️ It was a waste of a trip for me. Their art and architecture section was pretty limited too, for my interests. The place is much smaller than shown in photos.

Arasu S

Google
Very cool bookstore. Great place to just hang out and spend hours browsing. Owner is very friendly and helpful. He was excited to show the signed books and talk about why they were special. Definitely worth the visit.

Jessica Mascarenhas

Google
This is a great little hidden gem. The owner, Steve, is super friendly and I love that he's always reading a different book. He has a great selection of sci-fi and mystery books as well as $5 used classic paperbacks. I've gotten some really cool books I've enjoyed from here. Thanks for your hospitality, Steve!

Courtney Smith

Google
One of my top 3 favorite used bookstores in the Chicago area. Love the selection and the fun pull a coupon from the basket days 📚

Carol Rojas

Google
Love this book store so many books to choose from and the owner such a nice man.
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Reginice C.

Yelp
Super cute book store! We stopped by on a walk. There's a few seats towards the back where you can chill for a moment. They have a bunch of used books and I was super shocked to see an autographed Harry Potter book.
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Carleen T.

Yelp
Good selection of used books and some rare/interesting finds as well. They offer decent trade-ins as well.
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Amy J.

Yelp
Great local book store! Good selection of books including children's, some gift items (especially for book lovers.) The man behind the counter was very helpful and a little chatty, which is just what I want when I'm browsing used books. Was highly tempted by a $300 hardcover copy of Robert McCammon's Swan Song but had to say no. My husband bought a nice copy of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. We're visiting from out of state but if we were locals we'd be here regularly.
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Mari C.

Yelp
I just walked into a wonderful little bookstore. The smell of old books and the owner being able to find exactly what I was looking for. I definitely recommend this spot for books!

S N.

Yelp
DO NOT sell your books here! Donate & claim them on your taxes or sell on ebay or Amazon. Big shopping bag of books = $5 If I felt like hauling them back to my car I would have at least $40 back on my taxes for all of the books. I just got taken to the cleaners and I am regretting leaving them behind.

K. T.

Yelp
Beautiful little store packed with books on every subject and in every price range. Plenty of lovely book-related accessories too. Owner is super friendly and knowledgeable. One of Oak Park's treasures!

Susan P.

Yelp
Great bookstore with wide variety at good prices. Good selection for collectors too. The owner is super helpful. Looking Glass is a treasure.
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Elizabeth M.

Yelp
At first glance, I thought they had a ton of cookbooks and was super disappointed. Then I talked to the staff. They really know their stuff! Collectible books galore! This is the kind of used book store a bibliophile's dreams are made of! I found a Dickens children's book for the nieces and nephews!!! Plus first edition Harry Potters? What?!?! Not just used but truly collectible pieces here.
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Ben T.

Yelp
A used bookstore in Oak Park -- hooray! Good collection for a smallish storefront (fiction, non-fiction, children's, biography, history, mystery, collectables, cookbooks, etc). Good prices, friendly ownership. I'm a fan!
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Rebecca E.

Yelp
I'm so delighted to see a bookstore in this neighborhood again! It's a big step up from the cramped place that used to be on this block, where I bought all my crumbling Trixie Belden and sci-fi paperbacks a few decades ago. This is what a used bookstore should be in the 21st century - well-lit, clearly organized, with a curated selection of new items to round things out. The owner is friendly but not pushy. He gave me a tour of the store and I also overheard him make helpful recommendations to another customer. There's reading space in the back for kids. The selection is not endless due to its small size, but prices are very reasonable and I was able to find a couple titles I've been meaning to read. They also buy books (cash or store credit).
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David D.

Yelp
A very clean and well organized and well run store. Friendly staff and very knowledgeable as well. Its worth a visit. This is one of my favorite stores in Oak Park!
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Lisa S.

Yelp
I walked in and felt soooo at home. I love Kindle for its convenience but nothing beats an actual book (especially hardcover) for visceral satisfaction. The Looking Glass is well-organized and has a top-notch selection. The quality of the volumes is excellent and the price is right. A book store for book lovers!
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Carla Z.

Yelp
good selection of books, woudl like more kids books options. well priced.

Michael O.

Yelp
The Looking Glass is a very quaint and cute location to get all sorts of chapter books, from mystery to children, to horror to sci-fi and while I myself did not find anything of particular interest if you are a fan of books like Scarlet Letter or Dr. Jekkel & Hyde then this is the place for you.

S B.

Yelp
I went in here today and loved it! Great selection, well organized, obviously ran by people who love reading. I was excited to find this one while visiting my parents.

Sam E.

Yelp
This store has a great book selection, and a friendly staff who really knows their stuff! I'm also a fan of their buttons and magnets.