Powell's Books

For this Third Place Champion Competition I would like to nominate Powell's Books, a bookstore located on 1501 E 57th Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. Located at the cusp of 57th Street shopping corridor and East Hyde Park, this quaint, cozy and exceedingly affordable bookstore acts as a haven for bookworms and browsers from all parts of the neighborhood. Open until 11pm, this place has often been a late night refuge where my girlfriend, Mari, can get lost in the tower, yet carefully and intimately stacked shelves. Powell's has been central to my experience in Chicago, and I could not think of a better Third Place.