Changes coming to Chicago’s Read It & Eat

We were delighted to profile Chicago cookbook store Read It & Eat when it opened its doors for business in 2015. Owner Esther Dairiam discussed the many events held at the store, located at 2142 N. Halsted in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Today we learned about new developments at Read It & Eat.

In a news release, Dairiam announced that the store would not be renewing its lease for 2020. But this does not mean that Read It & Eat is closing, she stressed. The store will transition to a new model that will focus on expanding its direct-to-consumer distribution via an upgraded website (to be unveiled in April), which will also allow it to deliver new audio and web content. Customers can continue to purchase cookbooks at readitandeatstore.com.

Read It & Eat will continue to host ‘site specific events’ and is ‘already working with publishers on a spring line-up,” according to the press release. The store will also make pop-up appearances in various locations throughout Chicago until it finds a new permanent home. “Read It & Eat is excited for and looking forward to the changes that are coming and continuing this journey with its customers, authors, publishers and other partners,” said Dairiam.