About Us

Hello there! We are so glad you are here.

Book Bin is a staple of the Downtown Northbrook "scene". Since 1971, we have seen many, many things through the bookstore windows. We've seen SAVE FERRIS painted high atop a water tower. We've seen the hardware store change from True Value to Do It Best to Ace (our favorite name, though our grandpa Stanley worked there when it was True Value). We've seen the Baskin Robbins gain competition on the corner by the Village Green; we've seen many, many neighbors come and go. 

SO much has happened! We've been here since 1971... though here is now someplace NEW.

Our store began its first "chapter" by the Jewel Foods and the Country Maid Cafe, located in a tiny but wide storefront with lots and lots of windows facing South. From 1971 until 1999, we enjoyed this view and the smell of delicious cookies, and then delicious breakfasts, coming from the cozy corners of the Northbrook Shopping Plaza. In our second "chapter", we relocated further south in the plaza, in what was once the Country Cobbler Shoe Store. This time around, the store went 75' deep, and our dramatically fewer windows faced stright to the West. We experienced so many beautiful sunsets there! We hosted Harry Potter release parties and met Fredrick Backman, creator of Ove. It was a magical time.

But we have just begun a brand new chapter, and we are striding forward again with our windows facing North!

Now across the street in the Meadow Shopping Plaza (on Cherry Lane), our new neighbors are locally-owned businesses like Ace Hardware, La De Da! Gift Shop, Three Bags Full Knitting Studio, and Turn The Tables. We are excited about these new neighbors (who are really just old friends) as well as the newcomer to the center, Bean Bar, a modern social coffee bar. We renovated the space where Leonard's Mens/Boys Clothing once was, and you can still see a few things in our store that were put there by Leonard (square cubbies, a second floor window on the store, a central wooded ceiling and of course, tiny dressing rooms)! Amazingly, our first phone call to the store when we got our phone lines switched over was from a man named Leonard, we kid you not.

We can't wait for you to shop, browse, and stroll through our new store at 1929 Cherry Lane. Come introduce yourself to the books and to our booksellers! We hope to serve you soon.