Author: Eric Grundhauser / Source: Atlas Obscura
Saturday, April 28 is Independent Bookstore Day, the day each year when we celebrate the importance of small book shops around the world.
To mark the occasion, we asked Atlas Obscura readers to tell us about their favorite local book sellers, and the response was overwhelming. From small towns to big cities, hundreds of readers wrote in to explain exactly why they love their favorite independent bookstore, in words and in photos.Many of you raved about selection, great prices, and beloved store pets, but more than anything it was the people, and the sense of community that your favorite bookstores help foster, that you said make these shops special. So before you head out to visit your local independent bookstore this Saturday (or any other day!), read some of these hearty recommendations from the Atlas Obscura community. And next time you’re out on the road, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to visit one of these shops for yourself.
“This shop has been a neighborhood jewel for decades. The staff is so knowledgeable and caring, and they all have black belts in finding that perfect book.” —Bart King
“Murder on the Beach is an active member of the mystery community with book club meetings, frequent readings by nationally-known authors, and writing workshops taught by published writers. Best of all, the store (meaning the staff) has a playful sense of humor–a skeleton reads a novel on top of one bookcase, the Christmas tree uses yellow police warning tape as garland, and the annual Halloween party for authors and readers sees Poirot, Miss Marple, and Sherlock Holmes (among other famous sleuths), enjoying eyeball cupcakes and finger sandwiches while a dozen local authors read from their latest mysteries. Customers come to Murder on the Beach from all over the state of Florida. As a mystery author myself, I feel very lucky to live close by.” — Susan Cox
“An oasis of intellect, in a sea of shallow ego. From what’s hip and new to all the classics. Book Soup is a West Coast icon.” —Jesse Stirling
“Women & Children First is one of the largest feminist bookstores in the country, stocking more than 30,000 books by and about women, children’s books for all ages, and the best LGBTQ fiction and non-fiction. Their mission is to promote the writing of women and other marginalized voices, and they strive to offer a place where everyone can find books reflecting their lives and interests! Every time I walk in, I feel like I’m home.”— Jillian Harmon
“Writer’s Block is an oasis in the cultural desert of Las Vegas. It’s not just an independent bookstore, it has a flavor and warmth that surpasses the sum of its parts.” —Lizzy Newsome
“Twice Sold Tales has shelves overfull with used books that give off a wave of musty old book smell depending on the room you find yourself in. The bookstore is full of cats and an endearing curmudgeon of an old man who is holding on to the past by strictly enforcing his ‘don’t look up book prices online’ policy.” —Joey Murphy
“Diverse selection, coffee shop, music venue, knowledgeable staff.” — Rachael Weiss
“Amazing and excellent booksellers who make super entertaining displays. And of course Watson the Wonder Corgi as the bookstore mascot!” — Teri Den Herder
“It’s a truly a hidden treasure trove. Located in the basement of an old factory, along with a quaint diner, in the heart of downtown. Aesop’s is the perfect place to go escape for a while. Not only do they have shelves and shelves of books, they also sell tons of board and role playing games, new and old. Everything is at a fantastic price and they’ll even buy your used books for cash or store credit. Aesop’s Treasury is on of the best things about this little town. Not to mention the owner is the nicest person you’ll meet, and you can really tell opening up this shop was his passion project.” —Trista
“Deb always knows what book you need to get you through hard times. Even when a tornado swept the whole mystery section away, she was always there with a smile and a suggestion.” —Elizabeth Martin
“So, it’s not local to me, but I found this shop while on vacation in New Zealand and I fell in love. It’s packed wall to wall with used books of all variety and age. There are rare books and newer books. The ceilings and walls are powered with the covers of noir and pulps. There’s a statue of Jesus Christ. The keeper repairs books and also does letterpress right there at the counter. It’s the sort of place you kind of expect to not exist any more, so once you find it you know exactly how special it is.” —Corinne Keener
“This bookstore is the JAM. New and used. Kids play area and story time. Best of all, a bar called First Draft inside the bookstore where you can work, drink, read, etc. Changing Hands is a huge part of our neighborhood and we would be lost without them.” —Jen
“This is a small book shop in a small town, and they have more events than many bigger bookshops. They are always working hard to get authors (often local ones) into the shop for talks. I have found more signed books here for that reason than any other place I have ever been. They try extremely hard and it pays off. Additionally, the staff are all extremely friendly. They make sure to supply editions of classic books with beautiful covers (some that I haven’t found in other places). Once I had one of these get damaged but I had moved away from Iowa at that time. I sent them a Facebook message and they pulled another copy of that book off the shelf to hold for me without me having to pay online. They work extremely hard to put customers first. This book shop will always be my home away from home.” —Anna Wehde
“There are so many things! A huge part of what makes Let’s Play Books special are the owners, the Hess family. We feel like members of the family whenever we visit and it feels like a home away from home. It also feels like it holds magic within its walls. I could spend hours discovering books I would not have found anywhere else and having that magical feeling you have when you’re lost in a book. Plus, it’s a place that my kids beg to go to! They feel just as at home as I do. Beyond my own family though, it is an amazing gift to our community. Let’s Play Books hosts author visits, discussions, and community events that push ourselves and our community to be better than they were before. They are welcoming and inclusive to all and we are lucky to have them!” —Sandra Lau
“Not the place you go to find that one book you need. You go to Prospero’s to get lost in the rows, exploring the nooks and crannies of the basement, stopping to laugh at some decade old graffiti, or admire the jackalope-duck on display on the front counter. It’s amazing how much the owners manage to fit into their tiny, three-floor book labyrinth.” —Sam Klinkenborg
“We had our wedding reception at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. It was perfect! We were surrounded by books, our family and friends and we are supporters of their mission. The bookstore holds a very special place in our hearts.” —April Somboun
“Walking into All Books is like a maze. The whole store is the size of a closet and books pile up on the floor and on top of shelves, up to the ceiling! It’s pretty hard to find things, but no matter what, you can always ask the owner and he’ll know exactly what you’re talking about and where to find it. I’m often pretty shy, and this method of book finding has made me engage in some interesting discussions with the owner, sometimes another customer chimes in. Also, time skimming the shelves makes my mind wander and I always go outside my usual genre. I love it.” Paige Inglis
“It is a beautiful secondhand book shop with a wood fire and beautiful sofas. As you enter in the front section, with mainly children books, there is a mini railway going around above your head. The main section, a converted train shed, goes on and on with wooden shelves of books just wanting to be read. My family could spend days and days just finding all the books I want to read, let alone read them.” —Sarah Robinson
“It’s a space where I feel a community and I know that I can trust their selection of books.” —Paola
“I’m a huge fan of BookBar because of the quirky and fun staff. BookBar is a local bookstore / wine bar / coffee shop but the 10 or so folks who staff it are incredible. They’re all a bit eccentric and incredibly friendly. […] It’s the best bookstore!” — Kate Cygan
“A unique vibe of antique books dating back to more than a century old and current but usual titles that are seldom seen in Hong Kong. Compounded with the fact that the location is sitting on the second floor corner unit of an old building, overlooking the bustling traffic right at the crossroad of the financial and entertainment districts.” — Léonard Lin
“Borderlands is specifically a Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery bookstore. They have been around for decades, and recently, pulled themselves back from the brink with the help of a community of sponsors. Their current space has a Santa Rita altar in the basement (previous tenant), and sometimes, the long-buried Mission Creek trickles in. They managed to purchase a new building in the Haight, which survived the 1906 quake and survived an explosion while incarnated as an incense store during the heady hippy days. Borderlands is also home to a derpy bald sphinx cat.” —Laurel Karr
“It’s what a good bookshop should be: lots of books, floor to ceiling shelves, bookshop ladders, lots of local events, and helpful staff who obviously love reading (a lot of them are also published authors). The business also gives back to the community—donating 10 percent of its profit every year to literacy and arts programs in Melbourne.” —Lian Hingee
“Kate knows every book and can make recommendations for each individual—she never gets it wrong!” —Cassandra
“Books on Broad in Camden, South Carolina, would rival a huge international corporation if financial success was based on contributing to a happy community. […] This past year, a Starbucks moved into one of the nearby strip malls, and sales are down. I worry about my local bookstore—about what it will mean…
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