What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 7pm Tuesday 10am - 7pm Wednesday 10am - 7pm Thursday 10am - 7pm Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 7pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

Exile in Bookville

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Exile in Bookville

Independent bookstore located in the Fine Arts Building on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.

04/26/2026

Five f***ing years, y’all! Today you all made us exist for FIVE YEARS!! (Javier told me I couldn’t say f**k.) Happy Independent Bookstore Day and Exile day to all that celebrate!!!

Two faces of the most happy (Javier can’t smile) and tired faces you’ve seen. We don’t participate in social media the way we would like, mostly because we are old (Javier is older) and don’t know how. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you all, deeply.

We don’t think, with all the best words and authors surrounding us, there is a way to really let you know what you meant to us today, and what you’ve meant, always.

This tired selfie is our way of saying, and expressing, our deepest, most possibly sincere, post we could ever do.

There are two of us, officially, but we are NOTHING, without you all. We are nothing without our friends who are there when we aren’t able to be there looking at you Tom Flynn and Kevin Furlong).

There are days, and then there is this day. We are so thankful for this day. And, damn, do we love you all. More than you’ll ever, ever, ever know.

12/01/2025

Ok, so I’ve had a week to calm the hell down, because sometimes you have to when one of your favorite actresses in the multiverse stops by your little bookshop. Yes, it is true. The incomparable, A-mazing A-lister Judy Greer happened to stroll into Exile to shop around a bit. She has great taste in books and music, as well as being as cool, funny, and friendly as you could imagine.

Thanks for stopping by, , and Exile looks forward to seeing you again next time you’re in Chicago!

11/10/2025

I smell snow.

11/07/2025

GIVEAWAY‼️We are super thrilled to partner with our neighbors at for a chance to win two tickets to see Tortoise with the Chicago Philharmonic on Tuesday, November 11th for Tortoise’s official album release show!

To enter this giveaway follow Exile in Bookville, like and share this post, and comment below tagging a friend! One entry per user.

This giveaway will close on Monday, November 10th at 7pm central. The randomly selected winner will be notified via DM and the pair of tickets will be available for pick up at our store between 10am-7pm on Tuesday, November 11th. For more information about the show, please visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org

Good luck to everyone!!

09/17/2025

Heading to this weekend to see ? You’ll definitely want to stop by Exile at 7pm on Saturday, September 20th for a chance to meet and snag a signed copy of his photo book, The Road. Brian will be in conversation with journalist and music critic, Lior Phillips!

This event is free and open to the public. Click on our bio link for more info, to register for free, and to secure a signed copy! Can’t make it to Exile? Signed copies will be available after the event and we ship nationally!

Come in your finest .nasty, Minor Threat, and Bad Religion merch for some extra street cred!

07/18/2025

A most storied past indeed! The first photograph features Browne’s Bookstore located in our beautiful building and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908! Writer and publisher Margaret Anderson once wrote, “All Chicago society came to Browne’s Bookstore. Here tea was served and everyone was very smart.”

The second features us at Exile just a few short years ago. We have, quite simply, the best home and the best customers and friends. Thank you all for keeping indie bookstores local and for keeping Exile at the . While Exile might be on a different floor, and while we might be a different independent bookstore, it’s still you who, since the 1900s, have kept an indie here. It is you we owe all our gratitude. While we don’t serve tea, we still think everyone is very smart.

06/25/2025

With the new, exists the past. The history. The foundation. In a beautifully and meticulously researched book, our great friend, human, and amazing author— —has penned a history of our historic !

In this gorgeous coffee table book, Keir outlines the origins of the Fine Arts Building— documenting the beginnings, the progress, and revealing secrets long thought hidden. From the art to the sounds, from the movers and the shakers, to even the murderers, our building has a most storied past. A haven for art in all forms, Keir’s book captures the past, the present, and exists as a piece of art in its own right.

Did you know Keir has a studio here? That he writes his books here? Did you know so does our pal (and our wedding officiant), Gillian Flynn? wrote a wonderful introduction to Keir’s book, and we pinch ourselves daily to be surrounded by the best creators and comrades in the arts.

Signed copies of Chicago’s Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder are available in store and online with national shipping!

Congratulations, Keir, on yet another stunning book! We are honored to be featured, to be your neighbor, and most importantly, to be your friend.

06/24/2025

Some exciting news from our building! We are thrilled to welcome to our historic in August! Located in our building’s storefront, the new Groundswell Coffee location will be open Monday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

From Groundswell Owner & Founder Jason Foster:

“After a decade of owning and operating Groundswell Coffee Roasters, I was eager to create a space that stands out from the typical vanilla new construction-type cafes. I was looking for a place with character and history. When the opportunity arose to serve our coffee in the iconic Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue, it was an easy decision. This new venture marks an exciting next chapter—combining our passion for quality coffee with a space that inspires.”

The cafe will offer an exclusive Groundswell x Fine Arts Building coffee roast, along with other locally roasted and intentionally sourced coffees and expertly prepared coffee beverages from skilled baristas. Additional menu items include breakfast burritos and all-day sandwiches, and an assortment of fresh, locally baked pastries from a partner bakery.

The architect behind the storefront is Brian Hammersley of , with interior design by —both businesses are based in our building! The photos featured are renderings of Groundswell Coffee in the Fine Arts Building, with credit to Hammersley Architecture and Gooch Design!

Welcome to the building, !!

06/22/2025

We always love when our friends visit—especially if they happen to be one of our all-time favorite authors! Of course, we put Nathan Hill to work signing about 500 copies of The Nix and Wellness while he was here. If you ask us which book we love more, you’ll get a different answer every time. We can’t pick a favorite between the two. I am eternally jealous that Javier was thanked in the acknowledgments of Wellness; so when I’m feeling spiteful, I pick The Nix as my favorite!

Truly, we love our time together with you, Nate and Jenni! Thanks for always squeezing us in for drinks and dinner during your Chicago visits! And for always signing copies of your books for Exile and your adoring fans, both past, present, and future.

Signed copies of The Nix and Wellness are available in store and online with national shipping!

06/19/2025

What. A. Week. From geek to chic! Javier claims all Chicagoans will get that reference. (I don’t get it.) Exile is growing up and moving up to floor to ceiling shelves in our middle room! Swipe to see the progress!

Thank you to Sam, Juan, and Jesus at for building our custom bookshelves and mission-style radiator covers! We couldn’t have asked for a better team!

Thank you to our pals and for helping us clear out the middle room and a big thanks to everyone for their patience during installation.

We are POOPED and taking ourselves out in search of the coldest martini we can find.

05/27/2025

Last week, the one and only Carmen Maria Machado stopped by to sign copies of her impeccable short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties and her equally brilliant and deeply moving memoir, In the Dream House. We are big fans of Carmen’s and hope we weren’t too star-struck in her presence. Thank you, Carmen, for taking the time to sign stacks of your books!

And thank you to our good pal, at , for making this visit possible!

Signed copies are available in store and online and we ship nationally!

Address

410 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
60605

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 7pm
Tuesday	10am - 7pm
Wednesday	10am - 7pm
Thursday	10am - 7pm
Friday	10am - 7pm
Saturday	10am - 7pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Telephone

+13127533154

Website

http://exileinbookville.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Exile in Bookville posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Exile in Bookville:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Business
Claim ownership or report listing

Featured

Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears Inc. Ch
6029 N Northwest Highway

Want your business to be the top-listed Shop in Chicago?