The Book Table

Oak Park, United States

4.9

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 708-386-9800
Website:
www.booktable.net
Address:
1045 Lake St, Oak Park, IL, 60301
b/t Forest Ave & Marion St
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
700 ftHarlem/Lake Green Line Station (North)
770 ftHarlem/Lake Green Line Station (South)
870 ftHarlem/Lake
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Oak Park) 09:57 Saturday, 28 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

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20 reviews of The Book Table

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This place is the bee’s knees of bookstores.
You walk in to a nice space and the music invites you to browse, pick a book up, find a spot to chill and do just that.
Walked away with a book my Son found that he *just had to have* and priced several dollars below at one of the big name stores.
At any rate, the Book Table is perfectly placed in the quaint downtown area of Oak Park right across the street from the great Lake Theater and surrounded by several nice dining establishment’s.
[X] A must see bookstore
Place rating: 5
Oak Park, IL
Great independent book store with a really nice selection. Prices are lower than most book stores and they are always happy to order a book for you.
They also have a good selection of whimsical and interesting gift items.
Place rating: 4
Dolton, IL
Really good neighborhood bookstore. Nice selection and if it’s not there they will order it for you. Also definitely less expensive then some of these really big chain stores. If you need a book for school or just for some fun this is the place to go.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Privately owned, nice selection of books, friendly staff. Was able to make a quick kids selection for a gift. Will certainly come back if in the neighborhood.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
The staff here is super nice! They’re always willing to help find what you’re looking for.
I can easily order a book on Amazon but I choose to come here because it is not an intimidating book store.
It’s rather small, compared to a Barnes and Noble but it has all that you might need. My kids love coming here and spend some time in the kids book area.
Place rating: 5
Alsip, IL
The absolute best book store! I love independent book stores and the book table is the best. Excellent selection and if they don’t have it, they’ll get it for you at less than the cover price. The staff is fantastic and always friendly and knowledge. My wife and I love this place so much I proposed to her there! The staff was in on the plan and recorded the whole thing for me.
Place rating: 5
Oak Park, IL
I love this bookstore! I go here very often! All of their books are 20% off of the actual publisher’s price! They also do special orders for you, even if it takes a while to produce a result, be assured that they can do it!
Place rating: 5
Villa Park, IL
Great prices, and has that layout that encourages you to pick everything up and check it out (one of the reasons I miss Borders so much). I could spend hours in here and would probably have gone home with a quarter of the store if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve already got a backlog.
I found the staff to be just the right amount of attentive: Visible but not intrusive (I don’t need someone to ask me if I need help, I’m perfectly capable of asking if I do).
Just a nice, crammed-​to-​the-​gills independent bookstore with a great selection and even better prices. While it’s not the only bookstore I’ll ever go to it will be my first stop.
Place rating: 5
Bloomingdale, IL
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! A place to nerd it out by yourself or as I do with my son. Great prices and cute little kids section. I like the selection here it’s different from your mainstream bookstores. Always something new and interesting to read. Staff is great, very helpful, always have great tips or suggestions.
Place rating: 4
Blue Island, IL
Knowledgeable, helpful staff. Anything they don’t have in stock, will be ordered imediatley.
A good old fashioned independent, neighborhood book store.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
We love The Book Table. I used to work at Barbara’s in Oak Park (former independent bookstore) and at another independent bookstore in Lincoln Park (now closed as well). I’m happy to see an independent bookstore doing well and continuing to offer BOOKS! If they don’t have a title, they’ve always been able to order it for us, and at a discount. May you continue to thrive, thanks for being here!
Place rating: 5
Oak Park, IL
A terrific independent bookstore. Forget Barnes and Noble or Amazon– this place either has what you need or they will get it for you– or better yet, their well-​read staff will take the time and have the product knowledge to help you find something you will really enjoy and be interested in that you didn’t even know you wanted! In addition to books, they also have other book related gift items and I am never able to leave their shop without purchasing something. Support this great local business– you won’t regret it!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I always swing through here whenever coming to Oak Park, there just are not many stores like it anymore, the kind I loved when growing up. Multiple, irregular, snaking aisles with so many unexpected discoveries, inviting you to try new things. Most sections well organized but some just chaotically stacked with texts, I love this mix of order and chaos. Staff recommendations are helpful, a nice arrangement of suggested new books as you walk in. Service is always laid back and personal. Coming here makes me wish the internet didn’t kill so many such stores.
Place rating: 5
Berwyn, IL
This is my favorite local bookstore, right in the heart of downtown Oak Park. All books are reasonably priced. If they don’t have the book, they will order it for you. This past Sunday was my teen’s first time at the shop, he was also impressed and loved how helpful and friendly the staff was. We give this shop two thumps up!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This is another place I am really truly going to miss when I move out of the Oak Park area next month — a true gem.
The books & gifts in the store are so well-​curated that I often stop in just to browse, without anything particular in mind and almost always wind up leaving with something. I also love the very thoughtful reviews posted from the staff.
Their prices are also surprisingly close to Amazon’s prices and they will order any book for you at a discount off face value. The last book I ordered would have been only a dollar less on Amazon, and I had the joy of knowing I was supporting a locally-​owned business and the fun of browsing their excellent selection when picking up my book.
They also are a pillar of the Oak Park community, often hosting author events and participating in neighborhood events like the Thursday Night Dine Around program (as one of the few vendors that accepts the $ 5 off coupons).
Place rating: 5
Durham, NC
As someone who does a lot of eBook reading, it sometimes makes me sad to shop in a paper book store.
This one is really really great, but I have to admit I didn’t buy anything there. Some of the books I browsed I will buy via Apple iBooks or Amazon Kindle later.
So many great books, and with the interesting ones faced out. Someone is taking their time with merchandising it, and doing a great job.
Heh … the bathroom is also immaculate and thank god for it, since drinking all night in Chicago and coffee all morning is a recipe for a good book store bathroom.
One rack of merchandise really intrigued me. They sell t-​shirts that are like music act shirts, but they’re for classic books!
Place rating: 5
Franklin Park, IL
This is my #1 go to book store. I always check here first and only go elsewhere if they can’t get a book for me. They are friendly and responsive. Strolling around the stacks of books is cathartic, reminds me when I was young and my father would take me to bookstores and we would rummage around for hours. Anyway I digress, Rachel and Jason are the owners, always helpful and I enjoy the fact that they recognize me and sometimes have time for a short chat. I even see them on the street as i am roaming around Oak Park. I have overheard Jason help customers find books or simply discuss them.
I often order books and they are almost always available in a few days, and if I am a little late picking them up they are always still on hold… they know I will be there.
Buy Local, Support Local and Independent Businesses!!!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This is a great little bookstore. The staff are very helpful and super knowledgable. When you browse the store — you’ll see notes of the staff’s recommendations. The selection is great and if they don’t have it, they will order it for you and you’ll get the book within a few days.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I love this place. Now, in the past, I’ve always been pretty partial to Anderson’s in Downers Grove due to my previous location, but I guess you can call me a traitor because I’m changing loyalties. The Book Table is so great; I love walking in here any day of the week and just seeing all the cool books the world has to offer you.
The staff are super friendly, always willing to help you find what you need (or what you don’t know that you need) and they’ll let you wander around aimlessly for hours if that’s what you want. They’ll also gladly help you find your way around downtown oak park… which they’ve done on more than one occasion for me!
The best part about the Book Table compared to my beloved Anderson’s is that their books are like, 95% of the time (totally inventing that figure) discounted from retail price. Even if it’s just a dollar or two, that’s a huge savings if you’re a book hungry freak on a budget like me :)
Place rating: 5
Berwyn, IL
This is my favorite book store.
Been here several times.
The staff is awesome. Book ordering is fast and easy. Great follow up to notify you your item has arrived. Cozy seating.
No pressure from staff. You can browse for hours and won’t feel rushed or pressured to buy anything.
Love, love, love.