Seminary Co-op Bookstores

This is my closest local indie bookstore and so I'm probably biased because I think of it as "my" local indie the most of all Chicago bookstores, but Sem Coop is wonderful. The selection of books is expertly curated, especially the Front Table, the arrangement of shelves is designed for you to get pleasantly lost in the stacks, and the staff is especially friendly and helpful, even for the lovely kind of people who usually staff bookstores. Also love that they're connected to a coffee shop/cafe. The most recent thing I love is the inside seating that you don't even have to buy a book to use! I've done homework on my laptop in there and didn't feel pressured to buy anything or leave in a hurry.

I went there to purchase an obscure text that wasn't available at the Chicago Public Library. One copy was left and they offered to put it on hold for me so that I could come pick it up. Seminary Co-op is a great academic bookstore on the campus of University of Chicago. When the bookstore was in its previous location, legend has it that it was a favorite place of then Constitutional Law Professor Barack Obama.

I visited the Co-op at the University of Chicago expecting to find it dedicated to philosophy, religion and related subjects. While it did have sections for these areas, there was much more. What I found was a curated collection of recent editions in a wide variety of subject areas- non-fiction, fiction, literature, sciences, humanities. Custom shelving and layout offered a display of many titles at a glance. Helpful, friendly staff. In all, a delight.

Please hear the desperate prayer of a Christian family On November 20, 2022, nothing problematic occurred between the two Koreans at your bookstore. A good family is suffering great harm because of your statements. Please respond to their request. Dear Manager sir, I am Jaebong who had an argument with JY at your bookstore on November 20, 2022. I ask that you understand the circumstances in which I have no choice but to continue contacting you. I ask for your help with a heart of earnest prayer to the Lord. I am the father of two children, the head of a family, and a good Christian. I have never bullied or made others difficult in my life. At that time, JY left the bookstore after meeting the people who had picked her up after many calls criticizing me, and I only asked her to solve the problem through conversation several times. Your staff's statements about the situation at the time resulted in a tremendous trial and financial hardship for a Christian family. It can also have a great negative impact on the future of the children of the family. I don't think you want to cause great pain to my family, God's children. If you no longer want to be involved in the case, I sincerely hope that you will restore my family by retracting the attached statements of your staffs. It is believed that the statements were written after JY's incorrect explanation of the situation at the time. Best regards, Jaebong