Since 1990, Augie Aleksy’s Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore has been home to a wide range of mystery and history literature, as well as a meeting place for book lovers and local authors alike.

Originally located in Oak Park, Centuries and Sleuths relocated in 2000 to its current location on Madison Street in Forest Park.

“Fortunately, that was during the beginning of the Forest Park renaissance,” said Aleksy. “Forest Park had a definite plan. They had an idea of what they wanted to put together and what they would do for the people who came over for it. It was probably our best decision.”

Luckily, the warm, friendly atmosphere of the store—which includes two Windsor chairs, a rocking chair and church pew to sit on while reading, all atop a Bruce plaid carpet—survived the move.

Location changes aside, the two sole genres of mystery and history have stayed a constant within the store walls and in the heart of its owner.

“I like (both genres) and I feel comfortable talking about the subject matter,” said Aleksy.

Before the store’s opening, and in order to confirm his idea of a bookstore that focused solely on mystery and historical material, Aleksy mailed a 3,000 piece questionnaire to residents of Oak Park and River Forest asking them what type of books they enjoyed reading and purchasing.

“When the survey came back, the combination of history and mystery together beat anything that came close to it,” said Aleksy. “It had verified that this was what people were interested in.”

Oftentimes, the two genres find ways to feed off each other.

“I get a lot of people who have read the historical mysteries we have and after that they start reading the actual histories on that period to get more factual background.”

Aleksy’s next step was to figure out a way to compete with the new Barnes & Noble and Borders chain stores that were then beginning to infiltrate the Chicago metropolitan area. His solution was to hold numerous special events for both book writers and readers each week.

“We have author signings, a history discussion group, and a mystery discussion group,” said Aleksy. “We also host the G.K. Chesterton Society as well as the Midwest chapter of Mystery Writers of America.”

“You get the feeling that things are always going on in there,” said Chicago-based writer Robert Goldsborough, author of the Snap Malek mystery series. “He generates a lot of activities and people know that he’s open to hosting different things for them.”

Opening up his bookstore to different events also helps Aleksy’s bottom line.

“That’s very smart business,” said Goldsborough. “Where are those people (who attend the events) going to buy their books? They’re going to buy from the guy that’s been so nice to them.”

Aside from the discussion groups, Aleksy is well known for holding book signings for local authors. His desire to support neighborhood writers has endeared him to many, including Lisle resident Luisa Buehler, author of the Grace Marsden mystery series.

“When you get to Augie’s, it’s like you’re coming home,” Buehler said. “Your books are in the front window. He has put some thought into what to pair them with. The coffee pot is always ready to go. He’s just arranged the store to be writer, reader friendly, so that you can sit down and talk a little bit about your books and just have a good chat with the people that have come in that day.

“It’s people like Augie that keep giving us the chances to do signings and get our books into readers’ hands.”

Goldsborough also lauds Aleksy’s book signing atmosphere in comparison to the larger chains.

“At the chain stores, normally there is no discussion time. What I do when I sign books for Augie is I’ll talk for 10 or 15 minutes and then I’ll have the signing and there will be cookies. It’s more homespun than a chain store.”

In addition to discussion groups and book signings, Aleksy also uses his store as a performance venue. One of the main performance attractions is called Meeting of the Minds, which involves a panel of historical and fictional figures, dressed in full costume, answering questions from an audience.

“It takes six to seven months to put one of these programs together,” Aleksy said. “The reason for that is that they’re not scripted. The actors just get to know the characters so well.”

The series has been a big hit, normally filling the store to capacity.

“We’ve had some fantastic responses,” said Alexsy. “It’s fortunate that most of the people that play the parts can really think on their feet.

“I don’t pay (the actors) anything. It’s just fortunate that they have the same enthusiasm for the idea. They get so into the character. It’s just wonderful.”

Alexsy’s passion for books, as well as for the authors who write them, has helped the career of many a writer, one of whom was Goldsborough.

After choosing to move away from writing his Nero Wolfe novels, Goldsborough found himself in need of a new publisher.

“I called (Aleksy) finally and said I really need to find a publisher,” said Goldsborough. “He put me in touch with Echelon Press,” whom he’s worked with ever since.

Goldsborough recently finished his third novel with Echelon Press called “A Death in Pilsen.” He acknowledges that he wouldn’t be where he is today without Alexsy and his Centuries and Sleuths bookstore.

“I can’t tell you how much I owe him,” Goldsborough said. “He is what a bookseller aught to be because he loves the books and is very passionate about them.

“I very much like Augie and appreciate what he’s done, not just for me but for a lot of us independent writers. I can’t say enough good about him.”

--Jeremy Stoltz, Staff Writer