Town House Books

Town House Books has sold new books in downtown St. Charles since 1974, when Marilou Kelly opened the store on the belief that every town should have a bookshop of its own. The shop is at 105 N. 2nd Avenue in an 1853 house built by the second mayor of St. Charles, with hardwood floors, chandeliers and old rugs under the shelves. David Hunt bought the business from Kelly in the early 1990s and still owns the store. Town House Cafe, added in 1996, shares the building and makes soups and sandwiches from scratch, and the store hosts a book group, author conversations and local-author events.

What to know

• The store was founded in 1974 by Marilou Kelly; David Hunt has owned the shop since the early 1990s.
• The building is an 1853 house built by the second mayor of St. Charles, at 105 N. 2nd Avenue.
• The attached Town House Cafe, added in 1996, has its own phone, (630) 584-8603, and menu.
• The shop stocks adult and children’s titles, sells gift cards, and hosts a book group and author events.
• Online orders ship through the store’s Bookshop.org page.