Skip Navigation
Chelsea with Flowers

Come check us out & say hello!

In the words of Heirloom’s founder, Chelsea Carr Rectanus, “Bookstores cherish the growth of reading, one page at a time. Chicago bookstores are heirlooms to our city, thus our name.” 

Chelsea created Heirloom Books as a cozy, eclectic used bookstore, open and inviting to all, with two floors of books, periodicals, LPs, DVDs, CDs, and artwork. Heirloom is where she felt happiest and most at home. She spent her days tending it: receiving and shelving books, decorating in her inimitably cozy style, and organizing events, but also thoughtfully attending to and caring for her customers and many friends.

Tragically, on August 7, 2020, we lost Chelsea suddenly to illness. Chelsea was a generous listener in a loquacious world; a beautiful, compassionate soul. We deeply mourn her loss.

Since her passing, Heirloom has incorporated as an all-volunteer not-for-profit devoted to serving the community through scholarships and other programs. It is managed day-to-day by the Eriks – Graff and Badger – in collaboration with her parents, sister and others who loved Chelsea as we did. Our aim is to keep her creation up and running, and to maintain her vision for it far into the future.

We invite you to visit, enjoy the atmosphere, browse our many books and other items, and participate in the diverse and accepting community that Chelsea built and that is Heirloom Books.

Support Heirloom Books

If we've not got it or you can't visit, you can still support us by ordering thru our affiliate, Bookshop.org, or by donating to our GoFundMe campaign.

Bookshop Affiliate
Go Fund Me
Email Newsletter
Heirloom Books interior

Signed & Antique Books

Speaking in Sign

Speaking in Sign
Teresa Anderson
$21.00
Find out more

Hypatia Reborn

Hypatia Reborn
Azizah Y. Al-Hibri, Margaret A. Simons
$25.00
Find out more

The Heartsong of Charging Elk

The Heartsong of Charging Elk
James Welch
$25.00
Find out more

View All Signed & Antique Books

Items are priced at time of purchase by matching or beating the lowest online price available for the same item in the same condition.