About the University Avenue Store

Founded in 1961 by 17 book lovers who invested $10 each, this member-owned bookstore has well over 150,000 titles ranging widely across the humanities & social sciences. The flagship store on University Avenue is widely regarded as one of the best academic bookstores in the world.

Our mission, unchanged from our founding, is to serve the diverse reading needs of the University and Hyde Park communities. We believe that our passionately local focus in this unique community of readers has made our vision of bookstores appealing to readers throughout the world.

The University Avenue store employs 12 full-time and 6 part-time booksellers, with a collective total of more than 225 years in the book business. Our committment to hiring and developing professional booksellers means that whether you shop in person or online, you will be dealing with people who are passionate about the books we sell.

 Please feel free to call us at 773-752-4381.

Our business hours are weekdays 8:30-8, Saturdays 10-6, and noon to 6 on Sundays.