WEST TOWN — A bookstore and cafe that will soon serve wine and host live events, book clubs and more is now open in West Town.
Passages Wine and Books, 1911 W. Chicago Ave., opened earlier this month in a space formerly home to a delivery service staging warehouse and, before that, a martial arts studio.
The store is the passion project of owner Amanda Sadowski, a former social worker who fostered a love for literary fiction, romance and other genres — as well as wine — as a way to unwind from her demanding career.
Sadowski has brought reading and drinking together in one space to offer customers and neighbors a reprieve, too — with wine service set to begin when she receives her liquor license from the city.
“I think I was feeling a little level of burnout, which I think is common in [social work], and I felt like if I had a space that combined those concepts, I would have more joy in my career,” Sadowski said. “The books we will sell are mostly fiction, what people will pick up in their spare time as a hobby, what gives them escape or joy. And then we’ll also have nonfiction around hobbies that nourish people, like cooking, travel, gardening.”
Sadowski has spent more than six months renovating the space, adding a counter and shelves. She plans to sell a mix of popular books as well as some “hidden gems.”
Sadowski hopes Passages is embraced by West Town neighbors as a community space, including for people who may want to gather after local coffee shops close but don’t want to hang out at a bar.
She plans to host book clubs, wine tastings, author readings, “wine and book pairings” and even Mahjong lessons.
“You might not want a traditional bar, because sometimes that’s hard to navigate. It could be loud or crowded, or maybe everybody in the party doesn’t really want to drink alcohol, and so we do want to bridge that gap,” she said. “We’re just trying to form connections and host different events. And we’ll learn about my customers and what they’re seeking.”
As for the wine program, Sadowski is looking to stock options that “have a tale to tell,” from diverse winemakers with interesting backstories. She will also serve non-alcoholic wines, coffee and cold brew, as well as small bites like charcuterie, popcorn and desserts.
Sadowski said she’s excited to become part of West Town’s vibrant small business ecosystem, and decided to move into her current space in part because there isn’t another bookstore in the immediate vicinity.
Earlier this year, Sadowski worked with the owners of the nearby Happy Hour Shop to lift an existing liquor moratorium on their stretch of Chicago Avenue, which was eventually successful.
“I think the synergy with the neighboring businesses was something that I was seeking, and I think I found it here on this block in West Town,” she said. “The neighboring businesses are great. We already have a couple events that we’ll be participating in, and I’ve been welcomed with open arms.”
Passages Wine and Books is open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends. Sadowski hopes to eventually stay open later. More information is available on the store’s Instagram.
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