Town House Books & Cafe

Founded: 1974

My parents are both from Chicago, but met in California where they have lived ever since. Consequently my entire extended family lives in the Chicago area, specifically a small suburb outside of the city called Aurora. This past June I was able to visit and spend time exploring local bookshops with all my cousins, aunts, and uncles.

June in Illinois is hot and humid, something I am not particularly used to as a spoiled Californian… after five minutes of walking around outside we would have to duck into a store to cool off. We had decided on a few bookstores in Geneva that we would visit, and another little shop called the Red Barn Door. Geneva is an older, picturesque town with Georgian style buildings and London style street lamps, all with Chicago style red brick. When we arrived, it was muggy and the sun was shining on the Fox River. Based on the picture above, you might guess where this story goes… but as soon as we stepped inside, it began storming outside. We were trapped and I couldn’t have been happier.

The door was one of my favorite aspects of the decor; it was an 1700’s style gargoyle stone figurehead. You feel transported through a different place and time when opening the antique wooden doors. The small hallways and tight corners give a personal feel to layout of the store, seemingly small, but opening up to more corners as you follow the different trails of books… adding to the magical atmosphere and whimsical chandeliers of a vintage library.

Another unique feature of this shop were the walls. All throughout the store newspaper and literary clippings, author interviews, quotes, and art were decorating the walls. As someone who collects old-fashioned paper like this, it made the atmosphere even more special. I found myself taking the time to read the tickets and then finding the author to which it corresponded.

We ran out into the rain, which was warm and summery unlike the rain in California. The sky was dark, almost as dark as night. The bookshop took on a whole new character- an almost haunted, whimsical, gothic feel. A perfect place to pick up a book and read for the afternoon while you wait for the weather to pass.

THE STORY

NOTABLE SECTIONS

The Essay and Journal sections. I love reading writers’ diaries. Sylvia Plath, Kafka, Vladimir Nobokav. And corresponding letters between writers: Marianne Moore and Elizabeth Bishop. I was ecstatic to explore this section and all the gems hiding there.

Used Books: ✓
Rare Books: ✓

Cafe: ✓

Wifi: ✓

Pets: ✓