Talk:List of independent bookstores in the United States

ABA
The American Booksellers Association is an organization of independent bookstores. It might be worth mentioning them here, and linking to their member directory. Presumably, every one of their hundreds of members could be added to this list. Alexbook (talk) 01:21, 16 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Sure. I went ahead and added it. -Classicfilms (talk) 02:08, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

Notability
A reference should be given for each bookstore that is redlinked, or not linked, as to notability. I am a BIG supporter of independent booksellers, but i am also a WP editor, and this list is really inappropriate here, its a directory to help people find stores to shop at. why does the list not include defunct bookstores? arent they notable? I may edit out some redlinks, or find some refs for some.Mercurywoodrose (talk) 06:39, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

Redlinks
Per the result of the AfD, I have moved all the redlinks from the main article to here, as they may provide a spur to create notable articles. They are listed in the collapsebox below. If you create one of these articles, please remove it from the list below. Black Kite (t) (c) 17:03, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Alabama

 * Capitol Book & News in Montgomery, Alabama
 * Little Professor Book Center in Homewood, Alabama
 * Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama

Alaska

 * Title Wave in Anchorage, Alaska

Arkansas

 * That Bookstore in Blytheville in Blytheville, Arkansas

Arizona

 * The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona
 * The Book Vault in Mesa, Arizona — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.251.172.15 (talk) 05:11, 19 January 2018 (UTC)

California

 * Aiven Books Online Book Shop
 * American Friends Service Committee Bookstore (AFSC Bookstore) in Los Angeles
 * B & B Booksellers in Chester, California
 * Black Oak Books in Berkeley, California
 * Book Firenze in San Diego, California
 * Book Passage in San Francisco and Corte Madera, California in Marin County
 * Books, Inc (aka Compass Books and bzinc) in San Francisco, Alameda, Burlingame, Mountain View and Palo Alto
 * Ceres-Snow Books in San Diego, California
 * Cover to Cover Booksellers in San Francisco, California
 * Dark Carnival in Berkeley, California
 * Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, California, Malibu, California, Los Angeles (Brentwood), California, and Larkspur, California
 * Esowon Books in Los Angeles, California
 * Get Lost Travel Books in San Francisco, California
 * Gourmet Guides† in San Francisco
 * Lafayette Book Store in Lafayette, California
 * Leigh's Favorite Books in Sunnyvale, California
 * Modern Times Bookstore in San Francisco, California
 * Moe's Books in Berkeley, California
 * The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood
 * Pilgrim's Way in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
 * Rakestraw Books in Danville, California
 * Recycle Bookstore in Campbell and San Jose, California
 * Skylight Books in Los Angeles, California
 * Small World Books in Venice, California
 * Smiley's Books in Carson, California
 * Unicorn Books and Gifts in Ramona, California
 * University Press Books in Berkeley, California
 * Walden Pond Books in Oakland, California
 * William Stout Books in San Francisco, California

Colorado

 * Kilgore Books & Comics in Denver, Colorado

Connecticut

 * Atticus Bookstore in New Haven, Connecticut
 * Book Trader in New Haven, Connecticut
 * Linda's Storytime in Monroe, Connecticut
 * R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut
 * Rainy Faye in Bridgeport, Connecticut
 * Whitlock's Book Barn in Bethany, Connecticut

District of Columbia

 * Reiter's Scientific & Professional Books in Washington, D.C.

Florida

 * Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida
 * Classic Legend Books in West Palm Beach, Florida
 * Bookstore in the Grove in Coconut Grove, Florida
 * Downtown Books in Apalachicola, Florida
 * Bayou Book Company in Niceville, Florida
 * Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida

Georgia

 * A Cappella Books in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Blue Elephant Book Shop in Decatur, Georgia
 * Charis Books & More in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Eagle Eye Bookshop in Decatur, Georgia
 * Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia
 * Outwrite Bookstore in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Tall Tales Bookstore in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Scott's Bookstore  in Newnan, Georgia
 * FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, Georgia
 * The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia
 * The Book Tavern in Augusta, Georgia
 * The Corner Bookstore @ CNN Center in Atlanta, GA
 * Dog Ear Books in Madison, Georgia
 * Horton's Bookstore in Carrollton, Georgia
 * Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia is currently online only; by early 2011 there will be a brick & mortar storefront.

Idaho

 * BookPeople of Moscow in Moscow, Idaho

Illinois

 * Quimby's Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois
 * Sandmeyer's Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois
 * Afriware Books, Co in Maywood, Illinois — Preceding unsigned comment added by AfriwareStaff (talk • contribs) 19:37, 21 October 2020 (UTC)

Indiana

 * OutWord Bound in Indianapolis, Indiana

Kentucky

 * Readmore Bookstore in Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Louisiana

 * Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans
 * Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans
 * Octavia Books in New Orleans

Maine

 * Sherman's Books and Stationery in Bar Harbor, Maine / Boothbay Harbor, Maine / Camden, Maine / Freeport, Maine.

Maryland

 * Atomic Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * The Annapolis Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland
 * The Book Escape in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Read Street Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Salamander Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Red Emma's Bookstore & Coffee in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Drusilla's Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Cyclops Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Kelmscott Bookshop in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Royal Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Breathe Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * Ukazoo Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * High Grounds Coffee & Books in Baltimore, Maryland
 * The Architect's Bookstore in Baltimore, Maryland
 * The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore, Maryland

Massachusetts

 * Amherst Books in Amherst, Massachusetts
 * Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, Massachusetts
 * Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Massachusetts
 * Pazzo Books in West Roxbury, Massachusetts
 * Raven Used books in Cambridge, Massachusetts
 * Wellesley Booksmith in Wellesley, Massachusetts
 * New England Mobile Book Fair  in Newton, Massachusetts

Michigan

 * Dawn Treader Book Shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan
 * Magina Books in Lincoln Park, Michigan

Minnesota

 * The Bookcase in Wayzata, Minnesota
 * DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * Magus Books in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * Micawber's Books in St. Paul, Minnesota
 * Northern Lights Books & Gifts in Duluth, Minnesota
 * Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minnesota
 * Uncle Hugo's and Uncle Edgar's in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mississippi

 * The BookShelf in Ridgeland, Mississippi
 * Lemuria Bookstore in Jackson, Mississippi
 * Lorelei Books in Vicksburg, Mississippi
 * Bay Books in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
 * Turnrow Books in Greenwood, Mississippi

Missouri

 * Left Bank Books in St. Louis, MO
 * Pudd'nhead Books in St. Louis, MO
 * Subterranean Books in St. Louis, MO

Nebraska

 * The Bookworm Store in Omaha, Nebraska
 * Confluence - Bookstore, Bistro, and Business Center in Bellevue, Nebraska

New Hampshire

 * Toadstool Bookshop in Milford, New Hampshire

New Jersey
"Bogart's Books & Café" --Millville,NJ — Preceding unsigned comment added by JerzyMomma06 (talk • contribs) 23:31, 30 November 2016 (UTC)
 * The Raconteur in Metuchen, NJ
 * Symposia Bookstore in Hoboken, NJ
 * Womrath's Bookstore in Tenafly, NJ
 * (indie)pendent books in Sparta, NJ - online only

New York

 * 192 Books in Chelsea, Manhattan
 * Bank Street Books in Upper West Side, Manhattan
 * Bluestockings Book Store in Lower East Side, Manhattan
 * Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks in West Village, Manhattan
 * Book Culture in Upper West Side, Manhattan
 * Book Court in Brooklyn, New York
 * Books of Wonder in New York City
 * Corner Bookstore in Upper East Side, Manhattan
 * Community Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York
 * Crawford Doyle Booksellers in Upper East Side, Manhattan
 * Dog Ears Bookstore in Buffalo, New York
 * Downtown Books & Coffee in Auburn, New York
 * Freebird in Red Hook, Brooklyn
 * housing Works in Soho, Manhattan
 * Mando Books in Cortland, Binghamton and New Paltz, New York
 * McNally Jackson Booksellers in Nolita, Manhattan
 * Oblong Books & Music in Millerton, New York and Rhinebeck, New York
 * Spoonbill & Sugartown in Brooklyn, New York
 * Urban Center Books in New York, New York
 * Westsider Books in New York, New York
 * WORD in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

North Carolina

 * ''Accent on Books in Asheville, North Carolina
 * ''Author Squad in Huntersville, North Carolina
 * ''Black Forest Books and Toys in Charlotte, North Carolina
 * ''Bookin' It Mobile Bookstore in and around Belmont, North Carolina
 * ''Bull's Head Bookshop in University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
 * City Lights Bookstore (Sylva) in Sylva, North Carolina (not to be confused with City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco)
 * Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
 * Edward McKay's Used Books and More in North Carolina
 * ''Gothic Bookshop in Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
 * ''Island Bookstore in Outer Banks, North Carolina
 * Lazy Lion Used Books & More in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
 * Literary Bookpost in Salisbury, North Carolina
 * Main Street Books (bookstore) in Davidson, North Carolina (not to be confused with Main Street Books, an imprint of Doubleday)
 * ''Malaprops in Asheville, NC
 * ''McIntyre's Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina
 * ''Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina
 * Quail Ridge Books and Music in Raleigh, North Carolina
 * ''Real Eyes Bookstore in Charlotte, North Carolina
 * ''Two Sisters Bookery in Wilmington, NC
 * ''Grateful Steps Foundation Bookstore in [Asheville,North Carolina]

Ohio

 * Books n' More in Wilmington, OH

Oklahoma

 * Book Beat and Co. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
 * Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oregon

 * Annie Blooms Books in Portland, Oregon
 * Cameron's Books and Magazine's in Portland, Oregon
 * St. Johns Booksellers in Portland, Oregon
 * Book Stop in Hood River, Oregon

Pennsylvania

 * Anthology New & Used Books in Scranton, Pennsylvania
 * Wolfgang Books in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
 * Children's Book World in Haverford, Pennsylvania
 * House of Our Own Book Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 * The Book Trader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 * Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

South Carolina

 * Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Bookstore in Columbia, South Carolina

Texas

 * Recycled Books in Denton, Texas
 * BookWoman in Austin, Texas
 * White Unicorn Books in Dallas, Texas (online only)
 * Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas

Utah

 * Abella Books in Sandy, Utah
 * Benchmark Books in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Confetti Antiques & Books in Spanish Fork, Utah
 * Donate Textbooks in Sandy, Utah
 * Eco Textbooks in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Green Textbooks in Sandy, Utah
 * Heritage Books in Provo, Utah
 * Ken Sanders Rare Books in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Textbook Ace in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Pioneer Book in Provo, Utah
 * The REaD Cat Bookstore in Clearfield, Utah
 * Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore in Salt Lake City, Utah

Vermont

 * Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vermont

Virginia

 * Black Swan Books, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia
 * ''Chop Suey Books in Richmond, Virginia
 * ''Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
 * ''Hooray For Books! in Alexandria, Virginia
 * ''Jabberwocky Children's Books in Fredericksburg, Virginia
 * ''Narnia Children's Books in Richmond, Virginia
 * ''Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery in Crozet, Virginia
 * ''Prince Books in Norfolk, Virginia
 * ''Ram's Head Bookshop in Roanoke, Virginia
 * ''Shenanigans Children's Books in Charlottesville, Virginia
 * ''University Bookstore in University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
 * ''Blue Plate Books in Winchester, Virginia — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:5CE:4481:4A0:9D9C:D7C8:14D2:1089 (talk) 14:32, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

Washington

 * The Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle
 * Orca Books (bookstore) in Olympia, Washington (Note that Orca Books is a Canadian publishing company.)
 * University Book Store in Seattle, Washington
 * Village Books in Bellingham, Washington
 * Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, Washington

Wisconsin

 * ''Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin
 * Downtown Books in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 * Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 * Next Chapter Bookshop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 * Books & Company in Oconomowoc, Wisconsn

Current?
Is there a reason why this list is only for current stores? that really makes it more of a directory. there are numerous notable former independent bookstores that have more notability than some of these. I would add in former stores, with a note after each store indicating if its currently extant or not.Mercurywoodrose (talk) 02:57, 19 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Looks like this was done at some point. --Alexbook (talk) 06:21, 17 February 2014 (UTC)

Notation for defunct stores?
I like the fact that notable defunct stores are listed here, but would it make sense to notate them somehow? Perhaps asterisks next to their names, or putting them in separate subsections? Any thoughts? --Alexbook (talk) 18:48, 20 December 2013 (UTC)


 * I've added daggers (&dagger;) after the names of defunct stores. --Alexbook (talk) 06:21, 17 February 2014 (UTC)

Book Rack
Book Rack is in Category:Independent bookstores of the United States, so I was thinking about adding it to the list. The problem is that it has stores in multiple states, so I wasn't sure how to list it. For that matter, I'm not sure a chain with over 100 locations really belongs on this list. What does anybody else think? Add it to multiple sections? Don't add it at all? --Alexbook (talk) 15:48, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

Why is this an entry?
A woefully incomplete list of independent bookstores? Why? What possible purpose does it serve - other than to indicate to naive readers that there are incredibly few independent bookstores in the US? It is totally misleading and ought to be nuked. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.135.156.127 (talk) 19:56, 10 July 2014 (UTC)

This page needs to be renamed
The title of this article claims this is a list of Independent Bookstores in the US. It is not & when edited, there is an immediate warning against adding bookstores which have not already been given an independent Wiki page. There are many stores that are notable in their community which do not have Wikipedia entries, this does not make them unnotable, it simply requires Wiki's "complete" list of bookstores to ignore them.

The title should be something along the lines of "Independent bookstores mentioned in Wikipedia". Possibly with a link to a different page listing independent bookstores in US with external links to their webpages where available. That would be a useful source for people looking for independent bookstores near them or in places they will be visiting. As is, this is a Wikipedia redirect page that is useless for the purpose claimed in the current title Fritzr (talk) 02:02, 14 July 2014 (UTC)