Hochschild: Book Stall More Than a Bookstore, it’s a Treasure

Winnetka resident Stephanie Hochschild’s dream of owning a bookstore will soon come true—she is expected to take over Winnetka’s beloved The Book Stall at Chestnut Court on June 1. 

The former lawyer and stay-at-home mother of three says a bookstore should be a link between ownership and says she sees the Book Stall as more than just a bookstore, it’s a treasure for the community, Chicago Tribune reported. 

Hochschild had no book selling experience when she approached Roberta Rubin, Book Stall’s current owner, about buying the store in the summer of 2012, but quickly learned it over the fall, working at The Book Stall from October through December, PublisherWeekly.com reported.  

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In 2012, the Book Stall turned a profit for the first time since the recession, like many of the 500 independent bookstores the American Booksellers Association surveyed last year who said sales were up from a year ago, Chicago Tribune reported. 

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"We are one of the bookstores that really hand-sells," she explained. "We're not worried about market share, we're not worried about our presence in the world. We're worried about selling one book to one customer, and one at a time. I think that's why we've survived. 

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