River City Reading Room Opens in Downtown Peoria

The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the ribbon cutting for River City Reading Room, a new independent bookstore located at 315 Main Street in downtown Peoria, on Thursday, May 14. 

Owned by Chuck Levesque, River City Reading Room brings a new kind of energy to Main Street. The shop offers a curated selection of books, space for local art, and opportunities for readers and neighbors to connect through book clubs, author talks, openings, and conversation. 

For Levesque, the opening marks the beginning of something he hopes will grow well beyond the shelves. 

“This little shop is officially, or unofficially, the biggest store in downtown Peoria,” Levesque said during the ceremony. “And the reason is because it’s a bookstore. Bookstores contain the entire world.” 

That perspective shaped the vision for River City Reading Room from the beginning. Levesque shared that the store has three main goals: to connect people with books that make a difference in their lives, to serve as a true third place where people can gather and build relationships, and to play a role in the continued revitalization of Main Street and downtown Peoria. 

The ribbon cutting brought together local leaders, community supporters, and several community and economic development partners, including representatives from the Peoria Public Library, Downtown Development Corporation, Greater Peoria Leadership Council, Discover Peoria, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, and City of Peoria Second District Councilman Alex Carmona. 

Carmona welcomed River City Reading Room to the district and spoke to the significance of bringing a bookstore to Main Street, calling the business “a huge asset to Main Street” during the ceremony. 

For the Chamber, celebrating the opening was also a chance to recognize the role independent businesses play in shaping a downtown’s identity. 

“River City Reading Room is a bookstore, but it’s also so much more,” said Jessica Linder Gallo, President and CEO of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses like yours really help us to add vitality, vibrancy, a sense of place to areas like our downtown. We’re just so thankful for the investment that you’ve made here in the Central Business District.” 

That investment matters because downtown momentum is built one decision at a time. Public and private partners can work to support growth, but the character of a district comes to life when entrepreneurs choose to open their doors, welcome people in, and create places the community wants to return to. 

River City Reading Room adds to that momentum in a personal and approachable way. It gives downtown Peoria another place to browse, gather, meet a friend, discover something new, and spend time on Main Street. 

As Levesque shared during the ceremony, “Every downtown should have a bookstore. Every downtown should be fun.” 

River City Reading Room is now open at 315 Main Street in downtown Peoria. Community members are encouraged to stop in, explore the space, find their next read, and welcome this new business to Peoria’s Central Business District.