6 Independent Bookstores For Lovers Of The Printed Word

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 25 February 2020

Though online retailers and e-books have taken the world by storm, there's nothing quite like strolling the aisles of a bookstore and seeing what catches your eye. While many small retailers have died out, these independent sellers are doing their best to hold onto the culture of physical books and the great spaces that sell them. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

6 Thriving Independent Bookstores

Name Location
East City Bookshop Washington, D.C.
Dudley's Bookshop Cafe Bend, OR
DIESEL Brentwood and Del Mar, CA
Penguin Bookshop Sewickley, PA
Shapero Rare Books London, UK
The Second Shelf London, UK

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In Depth

Stories and books delight and intrigue our imaginations, opening up new worlds and helping us make sense of our own lives. Just as transformative as the works themselves are the places where they are sold, the shops where we can discover our next must-read. Often, these bookstores go far beyond the call of duty, providing insightful events, comfortable gathering spaces, and a sense of community that is difficult to find elsewhere. If you are interested in learning more about some of these spots, then here are, in no particular order, six independent shops for curious bibliophiles.

Coming in at #1 is East City Bookshop. Opened in April 2016, this store, based in Washington, D.C., provides a friendly, community-oriented space where customers can purchase books, attend literary events, and discuss new ideas. Owned by Laurie Gillman, East City caters to both adult and youth readers. To this end, it hosts a number of different book clubs, covering genres such as romance, social justice, and middle-grade fiction.

In addition to its wide selection of fiction and nonfiction, East City Bookshop also offers other reading-related merchandise, including clothing, mugs, and tote bags. It hosts frequent readings and author events too, with past appearances coming from writers like Liz Moore, Michael Frank, and Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Furthermore, to help those searching for their next book, its website features a section on staff picks, where East City employees recommend their top reads in different genres.

It hosts frequent readings and author events too, with past appearances coming from writers like Liz Moore, Michael Frank, and Eleanor Gordon-Smith.

In the #2 spot is Dudley's Bookshop Cafe. Located in Bend, Oregon, this independent store is a multi-purpose establishment, offering hot drinks, meeting spaces, and, of course, plenty of books. In terms of the written word, Dudley's boasts a curated selection of works, both new and used, with a particular emphasis on literary fiction. Other specialty areas include trail and field guides, adventure and exploration, and the Pacific Northwest.

With a community focus, Dudley's is available to individuals and groups looking to reserve spaces for both casual and more formal gatherings. Its cafe, meanwhile, features a tasty selection of options, serving coffee made from locally roasted beans and a variety of teas. Underscoring its commitment to the environment and the outdoors, Dudley's, in 2019, became the first bookstore in the United States to join 1% for the Planet, an initiative where participants pledge to donate one percent of their annual gross sales to local environmental nonprofits.

At #3 is DIESEL, A Bookstore. With locations in Brentwood and Del Mar, this California shop operates as a community-driven establishment at the forefront of literature. It often sponsors readings from prominent writers, with past visitors to the store including Maxine Hong Kingston, Jeannette Winterson, and Tobias Wolff. On its website, it has signed copies of certain books for sale, in addition to regular copies that can be purchased and delivered.

On its website, it has signed copies of certain books for sale, in addition to regular copies that can be purchased and delivered.

Also appearing on DIESEL's website is a section on staff recommendations, where employees select their most enjoyable reads of late in both fiction and nonfiction. Furthermore, this bookstore runs its own blog, where visitors can access virtual updates on all manner of topics, from new openings to National Poetry Month. Not content to simply sell books, DIESEL has ventured into the world of publishing too, forming its own imprint, which released "Read 'Em and Weep: My Favorite Novels," by Barry Gifford, in 2004.

Coming in at #4 is the Penguin Bookshop. Tucked away in the town of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, this store has served as a community institution since its founding in 1929. While it has changed owners and locations throughout its history, Penguin Bookshop, along with its staff, has remained committed to providing quality fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as journals, cards, and periodicals.

The store offers more than just a place to purchase new books. Frequently, it puts on special events featuring authors; some past writers who have visited the shop include Kate Sweeney, Peter Balakian, and Caroline Carlson. Other attractions available at this independent store range from a youth story-time gathering to a book club organized by staff. In recognition of its continued success, Penguin Bookshop has received coverage in "Pittsburgh Magazine."

The store offers more than just a place to purchase new books.

In the #5 spot is Shapero Rare Books. Based in London, this independent shop, located in an eighteenth-century townhouse, focuses on antiquarian and rare books, along with works on paper. It boasts an impressive staff of specialists, who collectively have over 250 years of experience working in the field. Its particular areas of expertise range from illustrated works and guidebooks to natural history and modern first editions.

Beyond more traditionally published titles, this business collects and sells works in other mediums. In 2014, it launched Shapero Modern, which specializes in modern and contemporary prints and works of art. Its offerings can be viewed on its website, which also features a blog with interviews with artists and posts on banned books. Furthermore, its website contains valuable information and resources for anyone interested in collecting rare books.

Last but not least, at #6 is The Second Shelf. Located in London near Piccadilly Circus, this store, which opened its doors in 2018, champions and sells rare books, first editions, manuscripts, and rediscovered work by women. It was founded by A. N. Devers, a writer and critic who has penned articles on how female authors and editors have historically been overlooked by the collecting and publishing industries.

It was founded by A. N. Devers, a writer and critic who has penned articles on how female authors and editors have historically been overlooked by the collecting and publishing industries.

Both a physical and virtual shop, The Second Shelf has a collection of more than 3,000 titles by authors like Louisa May Alcott, Joan Lindsay, and Eartha Kitt. In connection with its function as a bookseller, The Second Shelf also releases a biannual publication that is one part literary magazine, one part rare book catalog. In the past, the organization has made appearances at literary fairs and festivals in cities such as Cardiff, York, and Brooklyn.