Quimby's Bookstore

Quimby's Bookstore

Company type	Independent bookstore
Industry	Retail (Books)
Founded	September 15, 1991 (1991-09-15) in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founder	Steven Svymbersky
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Area served	Chicago, Illinois; Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
Key people	Steven Svymbersky (founder, owner of NYC branch), Eric Kirsammer (owner of Chicago branch)
Products	Books, small press publications, self-published works, comics, zines, ephemera
Website	www.quimbys.com

Quimby's Bookstore is an independent bookstore based in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, Illinois. Established in 1991 by Steven Svymbersky, it currently runs two outlets: the original Chicago location and a 2017 branch opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Quimby's is known for its focus on small press publications, self-published works, comics, zines, and various ephemera, emphasizing "the unusual, the aberrant, the saucy and the lowbrow," thereby carving out a specialized niche in alternative publishing.

The inventory features both conventionally published titles and a substantial share—around one-quarter—of self-published items acquired globally through consignment. Its core market segments include feminism, LGBTQ themes, punk culture, anarchism, and political dissent, alongside less mainstream categories such as conspiracy theories and erotica. This distinctive assortment strengthens Quimby's position as a leader among independent booksellers.

Community involvement is fostered at both stores through regular monthly programming like author talks, book signings, and film screenings. The Chicago location actively engages with local events such as the Chicago Zine Fest and CAKE (Chicago Alternative Comics Expo), and annually hosts a "zlumber party" designed to encourage collaboration among zinesters. These efforts contribute to enhancing Quimby's reputation and influence within the alternative publishing community.

Ownership is divided between Eric Kirsammer (Chicago) and founder Steven Svymbersky (New York), reflecting a deliberate corporate arrangement that facilitates its bi-coastal presence. Praised by the Chicago Tribune as "a treasure" and dubbed "Chicago's weirdest bookstore" by Inc. magazine, Quimby's sustains a unique standing in its market segment through leadership focused on community-oriented growth.

History

Quimby's was created on September 15, 1991, by entrepreneur Steven Svymbersky, who had previously run a similar establishment called the Primal Plunge in Boston. The first store occupied a former bodega at Damen and Evergreen streets in Chicago. Its name originates from Svymbersky’s earlier Boston-based zine. Cartoonist Chris Ware, an early patron, allowed his character "Quimby the Mouse" to serve as the store’s mascot and designed its branding.

By the mid-1990s, Quimby's had become an influential fixture within Wicker Park's underground cultural scene. In 1997, Svymbersky sold the enterprise to Eric Kirsammer, proprietor of Chicago Comics, who moved Quimby's to its current address at 1854 W. North Ave. The business celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016.

In 2017, Svymbersky founded Quimby's NYC; however, it functions independently without financial connections to the Chicago location. Situated near Desert Island Comics, the New York store specializes in niche products but excludes comics and graphic novels.

In December 2024, Kirsammer revealed intentions to sell Quimby's while maintaining ownership of the property and looking for a new tenant-operator. At the same time, longtime manager Liz Mason left to explore other entrepreneurial opportunities.

See also

• Books in the United States

External links

• Quimby's Chicago location
• Quimby's New York City branch
• An Inside Look at Quimby's with Liz Mason – 30-minute feature from Chicago Zine Fest (2020)