Going inside was a bit of a venture for me given the sheer volume of anti-Islamic, inflammatory, and generally racist books in the window. The owner, a sort of stuffy and grumpy fellow, has a strict no-phone policy in the store and has no qualms with repeating himself. He was otherwise out of the way for the rest of the experience. The floors and walls are moldy and creaky, going beyond what is acceptable for hipster or vintage credit. The history section, which was of the most personal interest to me, was full of excellent and rare books. The rest of the store consisted primarily of erotica and occult stuff, and the rest of the selection was weak. Unfortunately, the owner's personal politics are on full display inside the store. I garnered a sense of nostalgic libertarianism from the place, which presented a certain sort of charm, but only the special kind that you can appreciate best as a straight White man. I wish more could be said for such an historic place, but at best, the Gallery is an oddity this side of Lakeview, and at worst, it's a reprehensible relic that ought to be replaced by something with more tact, responsibility, and care, both in the walls and between them.

First of all, if you're highly sensitive about customer service, this will not be the place for you (and I don't mean that negatively). Yes, he has a few rules that are meant to make the experience of a vintage bookstore be pleasant but some may find them restrictive. The no pictures policy I'm sure it's to prevent other stores from gleaming the hard work he's done to source the vast quantity of rare finds and I'm totally gone with people having to mute their phones and not use them inside for calls. I wish more establishments enacted this policy. The selection of rare books is stellar. The proprietor's knowledge is on par with that as well and the pricing is fair to the point of being underpriced often.

Densely packed with old books, magazines, maps, postcards, etc. Very no-frills, but in an endearing way. This place has been here for a long time and it feels like it. It’s cluttered, crammed, and overflowing with character. I’m not even a big reader, and I adored the experience I had here. Such a cool place—a relic, really. Certainly an anomaly on Belmont. A store like this could not possibly be run by a normal person, so in that sense, I didn’t find the owner’s eccentric demeanor off-putting. He is curt and opinionated, but he did not strike me as rude. I will absolutely be returning to the Gallery Bookstore.

I went in with a friend and the guy working there was hidden behind the counter ON HIS PHONE. Normally, I would love to look around a bookstore but it was so crammed that I just decided to wait while my friend looked for the book she came in for. On the way out, he told me to take my nose out of my phone as if he hadn't just been on his when I walked in the door? Extremely rude staff. Impossible to navigate store. Don't waste your time giving this place any business since they're not even going to put in the time to clean it up. Clean up their attitude while they're at it.

One of the only original shops on this block. Owner is a grumpy old man but well versed on book knowledge. Also just adds to that vintage hole in the wall charm. Phones must be on silent and he will let you know as soon as you walk in the door, he’s not rude he just wants customers to respect the silence that comes with a bookstore. Prices make sense for the area. People that leave the bad comments are very clearly not from the city, it takes city folk to appreciate the vintage charm of this place!

I was initially excited when I walked into the store because it has that "old bookstore" smell. However, near the front of the store, there are several clippings of cartoons that are EXTREMELY racist and Islamophobic taped to a bookshelf. I mentioned to the owner that I found those disturbing because of how they characterized Muslim people and he replied "Those are from the Sun-Times and the Tribune. It's not characterizing, that's real stuff!" I promptly left the store and will not be returning.

Really mean old man works there. He is the owner and I received a call when I was in the bookstore and he started talking bad about me to my wife when she bought a book. Why would he spread that negative energy to paying customers. I apologized, but that didn’t mean anything to him. He still chose to be one if not, the rudest employee I’ve ever interacted with. We were the only people in the bookstore. That’s why I accepted the call in the first place he wasn’t even reading a book himself.

It's true that there is a set of rules to follow to visit this place. Basically, you have to leave your bags in the front desk and turn off mobile notification while you are in the shop. But, interesting things can be found if you look for them. For example, I found a curious book about Amish cooking style and very affordable. I don't know, at the end of the day, you are buying books and nothing happens for tuning off notifications for just 10 minutes.

No. Keep walking. Rude. I don’t need condescending attitude from the owner; I love books, but it's not worth all the rules. Put your backpack down, turn off your phone. I'm surprised he didn't take a mugshot of me and fingerprint me. When I walked in I heard this voice behind the counter, "Have you been here before? there are rules..." the guy should not be in business. There are less restrictions at the Art Institute.

The customer service leaves something to be desired when you first come in the store, but he is very helpful when you tell him what you’re looking for. has lots of books that I haven’t seen anywhere else and at very reasonable prices. Despite the sheer volume of books in the store, he seems to know exactly what is in the store and where it’s located. I found several volumes that I’d been looking for for a while.

Inadequate seller. came in with a friend, he asked if we were here for the first time, and then he saw the phone in my hand and said phones on silent, I said ok, since he was on silent and no one called me. But he didn’t stop and became aggressive again to repeat phone silent and until he received a strict answer from me, he did not lag behind, just inappropriate behavior.

Racist and xenophobic undertones. Went here on a whim. Like everyone else we were told of the no bag and no drink policy - no problem. After placing our stuff down, we were immediately asked if we speak english. It was unprompted and unnecessary, but such are racists. We left immediately. We weren't in there for more than a minute.

Went into the store because the bookstore caught my eye. As I was paying, the owner read over my credit card number, then asked for my ID and read over the details too. He didn’t say anything else until after I paid, but he made unsolicited comments about my looks. I should’ve read the reviews before going.

Absolutely rude owner. I don't mind the policies themselves, because owner's choice ig. But the first time I visited, he yelled at me to put my phone on silent, even though it already was on silent. I am NOT giving business to someone thinks it's okay to be condescending and so rude to strangers.

Great place to get lost in for an hour, there is such a variety of books. Yes, the shop owner does not like you to be on your phone but he is is very helpful if you are looking for something specific or if you need a suggestion. I recommend going there a lazy afternoon and checking it out!

This is my favorite used bookstore after the sad passing of Aspidistra Books many years ago. It's intimate and cozy, and has a great selection of horror and sci-fi. Any used bookstore that has original editions of Arthur Machen is ok with me. This is a bookstore for book lovers.

Honestly the worst book store experience I’ve ever had. The owner was rude and condescending since it was my first time and I didn’t know the rules. The store itself is so incredibly hard to navigate and most of it is extremely overpriced. Save your time and skip this store.

Small but packed full of interesting finds. Owner is very knowledgeable. Please ignore all the one star haters (cell phones are asked to be turned down or off) I imagine that has a negative impact on the sad souls that can't go more than 30 seconds without glancing at it!

Worst bookstore I've ever set foot in. The owner will accost you at the door and tell you to turn your phone on silent. Excuse me but maybe say hello first? Books were overpriced and worst of all, they were sticky! Booklovers don't go here. In fact, nobody should go here.

This guy literally kicked my friend and me out of the store. He asked me if it was my first time there and I said. I was taking a picture and he told me that I was a criminal, proceeded to force me to delete it and kicked us out. Never going there again.

Love this place. Wonderful selection of vintage Analog, Asimov, If etc SF magazines. You have to leave your bag on the floor before you're allowed near the books but the owner has an impressive knowledge of his stock & is an interesting man to chat to.

I don't care about the politics of the owner, he can think what he wants it's America, but he is just unnecessarily abrasive and demeaning. I walked in and walked out calling him a di©© on the way out. No thanks. You're not that important old man.

If I could, I would give zero. Guy was rude. Not because he asked me to silence my cellphone. Don't care. I walked in he was like have you been here before, I said no, he was like "I can tell"??? Who says that! Go to unabridged on Broadway.

Far from your average bookstore in a very exceptional way. Phones on silent and research OK -- you'll find rare stuff like I*n Fl*m*ng B*nd parodies (sorry for snatching the last copy of Alligator! ;)). The owner is quite knowledgeable,

I worked here a decade ago and still think about the time the owner reminisced with me about the time he stole furniture from a furniture store and got away with it because he knew he could just "blame the n*****s." GOOD TIMES!

Current store hours are 2-7pm (closed Wednesdays). Would have been helpful to know this before arriving 45 min early due to incorrectly listed hours. Updating your listing would take less than a minute.

Don't come to this place! The owner is racist. He asked me if I speak English because of my skin color. He also asked me to put my phone on silent while he was watching TV loudly. This place is a joke.

What a cool bookstore! Loads of cool stuff. Prices are good. They have been at this location for 23 years. They have rare and 1st editions as well. Check this place out. Not many like it these days.

Cute little store with lots of old books. I wish I had more time to just dig through the. The owner is always there and ready to help so if you're looking for something specific better ask.

I never post reviews, but the owner was so unnecessarily rude. You’re not that important, man. Decided before I even got past the entrance that I wouldn’t spend any money in that place.

Excellent spot–not only did they have exactly what I was looking for but it was even signed! I left with two other books I'm excited about–lots of knowledge to be found in this store.

It's crammed, but it's crammed with books. The owner is eccentric, but he can name and find every book in that shop. And really, get off your damn phone. Just be with the books

Great book store with great options. Has the feel you want of an older book store, with the book collector to go along with it. If you need anything this is the place to look.

The store contains a bit of must and tons of character, all added by the owner and proprietor. Bucket list store. Make sure your phone is off before entering.

I've been going to the Gallery for what feels like forever. It's one of the best used bookstores around. I always find treasures at this AMAZING place.

Clerk makes you feel completely unwelcome when you enter. Claustrophobic and cramped, smells bad. Not the lovely old book smell, just musty and moldy.

Extremely degrading towards women, rude and disrespectful. Poor selection and overpriced. Far better off going to any other bookstore in Chicago.

Owner is cool, every book you can think of & it's all labeled so if you know what you're looking for it shouldn't be to hard to find.

My favorite used bookstore in the city. Great collection of old fantasy novels, pulp, and vintage wargaming manuals. Can't be beat.

His rules are fine and books are SUPER organised for a used shop. Could smell better and not sure the smells are the books

extremely rude owner, uncomfortable atmosphere. don't bother going here there are plenty of other good bookstores nearby

I walked in and was immediately asked what I wanted. I asked if it was ok to browse. The clerk said maybe, so I left.

The man in the store is very rude and unfriendly. The books are not well organized. And the store smells really bad.

I thought the owner was fun to talk to and he was very knowledgeable. There was a large selection. Great book store!

I adored this place. The smell of old books took me to my childhood. So happy places like this are still a thing

Decent selection but the owner is as Islamophobic as they come. Prefer to spend my time and money elsewhere. :(

Great selection of nonfiction and the owner is a delight to talk to and is very knowledgeable.

The owner is experienced and a real reader. Thanks for showing me more good books!

My favorite bookstore in the city, but don't get there as much as I would like.

One 9f the many awesome book stores in Chicago. Had a nice chat with the owner.

John Goodman’s character from “the big Lebowski” if he owned a book store.

Handsome staff, great music, this is THE place to go for first editions.

Rude and unwelcoming demeanor upon entry. Owner needs a nap.

The owner is fun to talk to and he has a great selection.

Super rude. Didn't even make it through the entrance

Very small and no parking but has ALOT of …

Rude. Weird bag and phone policy. No thanks.

Lots of first editions and first printings.

Really narrow, chaotic, staff was brusk

Great stuff, some cheap, some rare.

Don’t not come here. Not worth it.

Very friendly and well organized

My favorite bookstore in Chicago

I love this place!

Great place

Really fun

fascists