Terminal B, Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Well this is a first. Is it possible to review an actual indie bookstore in a major airport? It seems like it! Like other regional chains I’ve reviewed (Sherman’s of Maine, Half-Price Books, etc.), I still consider something like this an indie shop, because Barbara’s has a number of shops in the Chicago area but you’re not going to see it in many other places. I love the idea of an indie grabbing some major real estate like this, because I’d rather buy a book from a regional indie chain than those shops that are 10% books, 70% snacks, and 20% t-shirts of whatever city the airport is in. And this shop had a lot for such a compact space!

The shop is pretty much all new books, and despite the small size, the shop seems to hit many of the major categories. You get your sections for new hardcovers and paperbacks right up front and center, with plenty of new fiction, classic literature, essay collections, and biographies inside along the shelves. There’s a small corner for kid’s books, some YA, sci-fi/fantasy, graphic novels, humor, games, music, film, self-improvement, and of course those mass-market paperbacks by the likes of Stephen King, John Grisham, and Nicholas Sparks that you’ll find in most any airport bookstore.

I grabbed one of those Last Interviews books with Anthony Bourdain, which was a perfect thing to read when travelling, considering it’s what he loved to do, and I was happy to find it because you never know which of those Last Interviews you’re going to find in any given bookshop. There wasn’t too much more to differentiate itself from other airport bookstores, but the fact that a regional/local chain puts its stamp in the major airport is a great sign and something I’d love other local chains to try out. More power to the indies!

Atmosphere — A typical airport bookshop along a busy corridor in Terminal B, but with a much better curated selection than you’d normally find in an airport shop.

Quality — New books at new prices. I do wonder if Barbara’s local shops in the city itself have a variety of new and used. Maybe I’ll find out one day.

Quantity — A solid amount considering the size.

Diversity — This shop hits most of the usual categories, with a focus on new titles, fiction, biography, humor, and games, basically what travelers are apt to read on a long flight.

Affordability — Again, new books at new book prices.

Amenities — There are some gifts, and there are food options nearby, but you’re in an airport: you’re grabbing a book on the go, literally.

Location — Terminal B (near B10).

Customer Service — The clerk was busy but efficient.

Overall — Grabbing a book for the plane once you finished the other one you brought is a must, and I was happy to do so at an airport shop associated with an indie chain and not something generic. The curation was robust and there were plenty of vibrant new titles to choose from. If you’re in Terminal B, stop in!