Featured Indie Bookstores in America
All 148 independent bookstores in our Featured Selection, hand-picked and updated as the list grows.
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Powell's City of Books
Portland, ORLargest independent bookstore in the US; a destination in its own right
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City Lights Bookstore
San Francisco, CABeat Generation literary landmark, city-designated landmark
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Elliott Bay Book Co
Seattle, WAOne of the most celebrated independent stores in the Pacific Northwest
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Vroman's Bookstore
Pasadena, CAOldest and largest independent bookstore in Southern California
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Prairie Lights Bookstore
Iowa City, IATied to the Iowa Writers' Workshop; nationally known literary hub
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Ernest & Hadley Booksellers
Tuscaloosa, ALCommunity hub bookstore with event space for authors, book clubs.
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Towne Center Books
Pleasanton, CAHosts monthly Read It and Eat events pairing food with books.
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Bards Alley
Vienna, VAFounded in 2017, stocks over 5,000 classic and contemporary titles.
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One More Page Books
Arlington, VAWoman-owned indie bookstore serving Arlington since 2011.
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Union Avenue Books
Knoxville, TNWoman-owned independent bookstore in downtown Knoxville since 2011.
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Porter Square Books
Cambridge, MATwo locations with cafes, author talks, and community programs.
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Chatham Bookstore
Chatham, NYTucked under an orange awning, serving Hudson Valley readers 40+ years.
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Valley Bookseller
Stillwater, MNWomen-owned, personally curated indie bookstore open since 1990.
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Browseabout Books
Rehoboth Beach, DEOne of the nation's top indie bookstores, with toys and stationery.
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East City Bookshop
Washington, DCCapitol Hill gathering place for book lovers and literary events.
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Katy Budget Books
Houston, TXIndependent bookstore that's stayed open more than 30 years.
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The Book Loft
Columbus, OHGerman Village landmark spanning 32 interconnected rooms, a literary maze.
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Brookline Booksmith
Brookline, MAIndependent bookstore since 1961, known for its author events series.
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Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Cincinnati, OHIndependent regional bookseller serving Cincinnati for decades.
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Mountain Home, ARSells blind date wrapped books with playful character-based clues.
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Arundel Books
Seattle, WAPublishes fine-press art and poetry books alongside rare volumes.
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Bridge St Books
Washington, DCGeorgetown shop known for philosophy, history, and literary criticism.
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Lost City Books
Washington, DCCurated used, new, and rare books for the intellectually curious.
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Bookery Cincy
Cincinnati, OHRun by two native Cincinnatians who love finding your next read.
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2 Dandelions Bookshop
Brighton, MISpotlights Michigan authors and hosts frequent community events.
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Books on the Bosque
Albuquerque, NMIndependent bookstore on Albuquerque's westside, staffed by former teachers and librarians.
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Politics & Prose
Washington, DCDC institution known for nightly author talks and events.
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The MIT Press Bookstore
Cambridge, MAOne of few bookstores owned and run by a university press.
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Andover Bookstore
Andover, MAFounded in 1809, it bills itself as the country's oldest independent bookstore.
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Antigone Books
Tucson, AZOne of the country's oldest feminist bookstores, founded in 1973.
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Barbara's Bookstore @ Macy's
Chicago, ILFull-service bookstore on the lower level of Macy's State Street.
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Beach Book Mart
Atlantic Beach, NCBeach reads, local North Carolina titles, comics and manga.
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Bethany Beach Books
Bethany Beach, DEJust off the boardwalk, and open every day, year round.
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Book & Game Company
Walla Walla, WABooks and games at First and Main in downtown Walla Walla.
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BookPeople
Austin, TXLargest bookstore in Texas, founded in Austin in 1970 as Grok Books.
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Books & Books
Coral Gables, FLFounded in 1982, housed in a historic 1927 Mediterranean-style building.
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Books Inc. Mountain View
Mountain View, CACastro Street branch of the West's oldest independent bookseller.
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BookTree
Kirkland, WAKirkland's only locally owned independent bookstore, with new and used books.
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Boswell Book Company
Milwaukee, WIOpened in 2009 in the former Schwartz Bookshop on Downer Avenue.
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Boxcar & Caboose
St. Johnsbury, VTA favorite independent bookstore in St. Johnsbury, VT.
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Broadway Books
Portland, ORWoman-owned Northeast Portland bookstore, open since 1992 in a former furniture store.
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City of Asylum Bookstore
Pittsburgh, PAA favorite independent bookstore in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Community Book Center
New Orleans, LAOldest Black-owned bookstore in New Orleans, started in 1983.
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Depot Bookstore & Café
Mill Valley, CAA favorite independent bookstore in Mill Valley, CA.
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Four Seasons Books
Shepherdstown, WVA favorite independent bookstore in Shepherdstown, WV.
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Francie & Finch Bookshop
Lincoln, NELincoln's locally owned bookshop and art gallery, open since 2017.
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Garden District Book Shop
New Orleans, LAHoused in The Rink, built in 1884 as a roller skating rink.
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Givens Books Little Dickens
Lynchburg, VALynchburg's bookstore and specialty toy shop in one.
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Green Apple Books
San Francisco, CAA favorite independent bookstore in San Francisco, CA.
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Housing Works Books
New York, NYUsed bookstore cafe on Crosby Street since 1996; profits fund Housing Works.
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Kepler’s Books & Magazines
Menlo Park, CAFounded in 1955 by pacifist Roy Kepler, an early paperback seller.
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Labyrinth Books
Princeton, NJAcademic and rare books alongside new releases, across from Princeton's campus.
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Lake Country Booksellers
White Bear Lake, MNWhite Bear Lake's independent bookstore since 1980, started by a group of women.
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Litchfield Books
Pawleys Island, SCFounded in 1984 and a perennial readers' choice winner.
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Locust Valley Bookstore
Locust Valley, NYA locally owned bookseller serving Long Island's North Shore.
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McNally Jackson Books
New York, NYSoHo flagship opened in 2004, now at 134 Prince Street.
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Midtown Scholar Bookstore
Harrisburg, PAAn award-winning bookstore-cafe, open since 2001.
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Moon Palace Books
Minneapolis, MNNew and used bookstore founded in 2012, home to Geek Love Cafe.
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Octavia Books
New Orleans, LAUptown bookstore opened in 2000; first to reopen after Hurricane Katrina.
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Open Book
Minneapolis, MNBookstore run by publisher Milkweed Editions inside the Open Book literary center.
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Partners Village Store Books
Westport, MAA favorite independent bookstore in Westport, MA.
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Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
Beaverton, ORPowell's 32,500-square-foot Beaverton branch, opened at Cedar Hills Crossing in 2006.
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Powerhouse Arena
Brooklyn, NYBookstore and event space opened by powerHouse Books in DUMBO in 2006.
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Queen Anne Book Company
Seattle, WAOpened in 2013 in the space of the former Queen Anne Books.
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Small World Books
Venice, CAThe Venice boardwalk's bookstore, with its own Mystery Annex.
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Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue
Denver, COHoused since 2006 in the restored 1953 Bonfils-Lowenstein Theater.
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That Bookstore in Blytheville
Blytheville, ARA favorite independent bookstore in Blytheville, AR.
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The Book Vine
Cherokee, IAFounded in 2007 in a restored brick building about 130 years old.
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The Booksmith
San Francisco, CAHaight Street bookstore since 1976, named a San Francisco Legacy Business.
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The Northshire Bookstore
Manchester Center, VTA favorite independent bookstore in Manchester Center, VT.
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Wooden Shoe Books & Records
Philadelphia, PAAll-volunteer anarchist bookstore collective founded in Philadelphia in 1976.
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