Roscoe Village – Owner Erika VanDam’s independent bookstore, RoscoeBooks, has been forced to operate out of a cramped temporary location since September, far beyond the six‑week period originally promised. The store moved two doors down from its longtime home at 2142 W. Roscoe St. to accommodate construction on the condominium unit above the original space.
Space constraints hinder daily operations
The temporary storefront is slightly larger than the original shop, but it was never designed to function as a bookstore. Science books are stacked on the floor beneath the crowded graduation section, while children’s titles sit atop one another wrapped in brown paper to serve as makeshift shelving. Narrow aisles leave little room for browsing, and staff have had to purchase low‑cost shelving to replace the built‑in shelves that lined the walls of the old location.
“We’re doing our best, but it’s frustrating not to feel like we can do our jobs as effectively as we’re used to,” said February Spikener, the store’s manager. The lack of proper shelving has led to books being knocked around, damaged, and in some cases returned to publishers because sections are too tight to display them properly.
Financial and inventory pressures mount
Operating in the makeshift space has increased labor and shipping costs. “We’ve been pulling books off the shelves and sending them back to publishers because there are sections that are too tight, especially fiction,” Spikener explained. The added expenses were not anticipated when the move was planned.
Inventory organization has become a challenge. Over‑stock items are stored in the basement and a back office, while special‑edition books can no longer be displayed. New releases risk being buried, and finding a specific title can take considerably longer, affecting both staff efficiency and customer experience.
No clear timeline for return
VanDam was told on Oct. 7 that Nov. 30 was the earliest possible date for the store to move back, but construction activity has stalled for about a month. “I am in limbo,” she said. “I don’t know when I’m going to be able to go back to my store. I think the chances of it happening before the end of the year are probably nonexistent at this point.”
The Roscoe Street Condominium Association, listed as the property owner, has not responded to requests for comment. No construction crew has been seen inside the original space, and the storefront remains untouched.
Community support persists
Despite the challenges, regular customers continue to support RoscoeBooks. VanDam noted that patrons frequently ask about the timeline for returning to the original location, and the uncertainty makes those conversations increasingly difficult.
Adding to the pressure, the store is set to celebrate its 12th anniversary on Nov. 21, a milestone usually marked by a celebratory sale that drives significant traffic. Planning the event in the cramped temporary space has been far less exciting than in previous years.
Store hours remain unchanged
RoscoeBooks continues to operate on its regular schedule: 10 a.m.‑7 p.m. Monday‑Saturday and 11 a.m.‑6 p.m. Sunday.
While the store’s staff remain solution‑oriented, the lack of a clear construction timeline and the ongoing space constraints have made it difficult to execute those solutions effectively.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
