Your Favorite Independant Bookstores

[RetroLounge]

What is the name of your favorite independant bookstore in your area?

What do you like the most about it?

What do you like the least?

Why do you return there?

Thanks

RL

[miss_american_pie]

1. This place

http://www.mysterylovers.com/

It's not really close, but I'd have to head into the city to find an indie anyway. The distance is the only thing I don't like.

Anyhow, they've carved out a niche. Lots of community involvement, especially with high school kids. They support a Sisters in Crime chapter.

And they have the disappearing civil liberties mug. They just rock. Out loud.

[hyphenate]

2. There is a very small chain of

independent stores in the Los Angeles area called Vroman's that I used to love. The store I most dealt with was in Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. As far as metaphysical stores, the one in the L.A. area I loved was The Bodhi Tree on Melrose near West L.A. and the one here in Mass was in Cambridge (and I'm not sure if it still exists) called The Sphinx. If it doesn't exist anymore, I need to find an equivalent sometime in the near future.

[lizziegrace]

3. Square Books

Oxford, MS

It's in an old historic building on the square in downtown Oxford. First two floors are books and the third floor is a coffee shop.

I haven't been there in years, but when I did go, they had signed copies or books by local authors - John Grisham and Larry Brown, to name two.

Biggest competition besides the big chain stores is the internet. People who live in small and/or rural areas can now buy anything.

[Richardo]

4. I don't live there anymore, but the Tattered Cover in Denver is legendary

Three floors, comfy chairs, everything.

I got to see Douglas Adams do a reading there.

[jrandom421]

5. Here's my favs

Powell's Portland OR- Perhaps the biggest best place to get lost in on a cold rainy weekend in Portland. If they don't have it, they can get it.

Bohdi Tree Los Angeles- Great place for contemplation and finding rare books on mysticism and the esoteric

Op Amp Books Los Angeles- Great place for contemplation and finding rare books on technology and the esoteric

Half Price Books Fremont CA- Great selection of used books at "half price"

Codys' Books, Moe's Books, University Press Books, The Other Change of Hobbit, Revolution Books and Pegasus Books Berkeley CA- A bigger feast of the mind will not be found on the West Coast.

[flamingyouth]

6. I have several in Seattle

Elliott Bay Books - well, for many reasons. I could spend hours in there.

City Books on Madison because I know and love the owners. I used to live across the street from them and they are really cool people.

Fremont Place Books - just a great selection, really nice owner, good vibe, nice service.

And of course in Portland - Powell's City of Books.

[SeattleGirl]

8. Great minds!

Elliott Bay! And I do love Powell Books, but haven't been there in years.

[swag]

10. I like Elliott Bay Books a lot too.

Great atmosphere. Good books.

[swag]

11. In DC, I always liked Second Story (which I think is now gone - the

one on 20th, anyway), and I liked Kramerbooks every Bloomsday, when the local authors and poets used to do the marathon reading of Ulysses.

on edit: excuse misplaced post.

[northzax]

75. 20th and P, it's still there

still selling mass quantities of books on the sidewalk on every sunny day. I buy lots of cookbooks there for a few bucks a pop.

My personal favourites are: Murder by the Book (Portland); Annie Bloom's (Portland); Politics and Prose (DC); Kramer Books (DC); Lambda Rising (DC); Midnight Special (Santa Monica) and Tattered Cover (Denver) Powell's, of course, but that is almost too large to be an indy.

[CBHagman]

80. There's a Second Story Books in Bethesda, too.

For many years, Second Story was on Bethesda Avenue, but they moved (probably due to rent increases, though I don't know for certain) to Fairmont Avenue in the same town.

[swag]

82. Yeah, didn't Rick Peabody work at the Bethesda one?

You know, the poet guy who published Gargoyle?

[flamingyouth]

43. I also should mention some other specialty stores here:

Cinema Books on Roosevelt Way: Quite possibly the most disorganized yet greatest collection of movie books in the US. Stephanie Ogle is a wonderfully warm-hearted and generous person.

East West Bookshop, also on Roosevelt (at 65th) - a good collection of esoteric new agey books, yoga & meditation supplies, et al. Great candle and incense selection.

[SeattleGirl]

7. I have two:

Horizon Books, which is a used bookstore, with a very wide variety of books. There's not really anything I don't like about it. I return there because I have found hard-to-find books there in the past, and know I can again.

The Elliott Bay Book Co., which carries new books. They also have a very wide variety of books, and the atmosphere is what a bookstore should be. The people who work there love books, and you can tell in how they interact with their customers. Again, there is really nothing I don't like about it. I go back because it is a book-lover's heaven.

[swag]

9. I like Powell's, of course, because it's a great place to spend the day,

and because I've found so many grails there for which I had previously searched forever. I love the mix of new and used books, and being able to wander through a store that covers a city block with four floors of well organized volumes.

I also love Powell's Technical Book store, a few blocks away on the North Park Blocks. Geek Heaven.

About half a block from Powell's is Reading Frenzy, which started off as a zine store off of Hawthorne, but which has since become a center for small/fringe press activities of all kinds. The owner, Chloe Eudaly, is just a great person. She has good art shows, is totally wired into the local independent art and music scene, and she runs publishing workshops in adjacent facilities.

Next door to Reading Frenzy is CounterMedia, also dedicated to the small press end of things, but with a focus on the full spectrum of smut, from classy to vintage hardcore. A great place to shop. On his most expensive and prized books, the owner displays a little threat to browsers: "If you so much as crease a corner on one page of this book, I will kill you. I AM NOT AFRAID TO GO TO JAIL!"

Sometimes you even run into Matt Groening at Reading Frenzy or CounterMedia. Other times, it's members of Sleater Kinney or Chuck Palahniuk.

One more: In Depoe Bay, Oregon, on the coast about 15 minutes north of Newport, you can find the Channel Bookstore, a barely organized old oceanfront house. You've got to look to find the treasures, but the treasures are there. And while you're browsing, you're liable to get your arms jumped into by one of the bookshop's well fed wandering cats.

[Patiod]

14. Wow - stumbled across Reading Frenzy & CounterMedia

the one time I was in Portland. Definitely different. Had a great, cheap Thai lunch at a funky little place right around the corner.

Powell's was wonderful -- bunches of books that I had been looking for -- things to fill out a series or out-of-print stuff from favorite authors. After hitting Powell's, I wandered around the Pearl District in the rain, and instead of the stores & galleries closing at 5, they started putting out wine and snacks - here it just happened to be "First Thursday". Plus I'm a glass-lover, and there were several glass factories/galleries to see, which were gorgeous. All topped off by a boffo sushi dinner - on the expense account.

Books, glass, free wine, expense account sushi - if I die and wake up and it's Portland, even if it's raining, I'll know that I've gotten into heaven.

[swag]

19. Ha! Thai Peacock. Great place.

First Thursdays can be a great stumble-around way to spend an evening, looking at art, slurping wine, hobnobbing.

Last Thursdays up in the Alberta Arts District are getting to be quite a party as well, especially in the Spring and Summer.

Toss a PM my way if you ever make it back here.

[Patiod]

29. It was Thai Peacock!

I seem to remember a brass peacock in the restaurant somewhere. Very funky little place - great soups.

Have only gotten to go to Portland once in my working life :cry: but if I get the chance to go again, I'll definitely PM you!

[grace0418]

15. Oh man, Powell's is a book-lover's dream come true.

We have a branch or two in Chicago but it's nothing compared to the one in Portland. We went to Portland on vacation and ended up at Powell's every night for at least an hour or two. What an awesome place.

[leftofthedial]

12. tattered cover

denver

[arwalden]

13. Lambda Rising

[grace0418]

16. In San Francisco I like Green Apple Books.

City Lights is okay, but I didn't find that much there on my last visit to San Francisco. At Green Apple my husband and I kept needing to whittle down our piles of books because there was no way we could fit them into our luggage. We ended up sending a UPS package home.

[crispini]

17. The "Half Price Books" mother-ship,

(their flagship store) is right on my way home, and I go there all the time. Mostly for the huge selection of cheap books, but also because I can hang at their coffee shop if I have half an hour to burn, or sometimes for a political meeting in their community room.

I loves me some Half Price. Ain't nothin' better than cheap books!

[BrotherBuzz]

18. City Lights Bookstore - San Francisco

The epicenter of the universe in may people's eyes. Sadly, I can only make my pilgrimage there about once a year these days.



Lawrence Ferlinghetti

[swag]

21. Such a cool place.

Great call.

[BrotherBuzz]

23. City Lights is celebrating it's 50th year and slated to become...

historical landmark. This photograph of Lawrence Ferlinghetti taken in 1965 says it all...

[swag]

34. I like to pick up a New Directions paperback when I'm there,

then go across the alley to Vesuvio to begin reading while having a drink or three.

[Bridget Burke]

45. That's not an alley--it's Jack Kerouac Street.

Turn the corner & you're in China Town.

[swag]

46. Yeah, and cross the street and you're at Tosca or Spec's

I always drink too much in that town.

[BrotherBuzz]

63. I was going to mention and recommend Specs

It was a sad day in Specs' history when the door connecting the bar to the upstairs strip club was closed off, corking the stream of scantily clad women who ventured down. The bartender, patrons and owner of the North Beach saloon dealt with the convulsive change in a traditional way: They had a drink. ;)

[bettyellen]

20. Strand in NYC

has everything, gets lots of review copies... great selection of old art/ design books.
i don't like how hard it is to leave, plus i fell all dusty afterward.

[swag]

51. I've been confused. The main Strand is like 12th & Broadway

and there are a few little outposts elsewhere?

I might be in your town at the end of April. Will have to nose in to the Strand again. And ship any purchases back, because I ain't fuckin' carrying them on the plane.

[bettyellen]

53. somewhere there are small strands, but sometimes size matters

so i haven't bothered.
i'm sure it's on their website. they also have a great book search service, by phone and i think also email. that's come in handy once or twice.
are you coming for business, fun, the protest, or just to amass more fans?
btw, i'm staying away from that thread. you can keep looking, but i just can't do the groupie thing.

[swag]

55. There's a conference that Thursday that I should go to.

Then I read about the protest and thought for a second about crashing the meet-up.

I'm still thinking for a second.

I also want to see the Whitney Biennial, since I'm a member but have never seen the Biennial.

And go hear jazz and eat barbecue and listen to some classical shit. And see some old friends.

Now I'm just nattering.

[bettyellen]

56. well, that's a full weekend, fer sure....

maybe blue smoke will have a good band, and you can do two things at once.
you should come in disguise and unveil yourself in the end. i think an eyepatch and gelling your hair would do.

[swag]

57. Yeah, Jazz Standard/Blue Smoke is my usual stop.

I should branch out.

I can get good barbecue in Portland.

Where's the meet-up?

[bettyellen]

60. i did not want to impose anything yet....

i wanted to hear some ideas thrown out, so....do you have any? if there's a lot of out of towners, then maybe we should start early or find some place w/ food and seating.
i'm actually not much of an organizer, i just posted that immediately when someone from kansas suggested it because then i'd forget or procrastinate. i really like the idea of a lot of out of towners though. the nyc/ GD folk hate me, i must have the lounge stank or something. but we can't do an irish place again because lynnesin doesn't like it when they get all flirty with her.
so, as far as i'm concerned, it's open. do i get to call it because it's my thread? is that how this works?

[swag]

61. McSorley's is zoo enough without all of us.

I'll wait until it shakes out, and then gravitate.

Talk to you soon. Thanks for being a sport.

[progmom]

62. when is the protest?

[jonnyblitz]

59. I have a book bag from that place. that store is HUGH!!!11111

:hi: :P

[supernova]

22. The Regulator, Durham NC

Coolest bookstore in the South and major stopover for any big-name author.

They love books and I can get anything there that I want to read, including obscure arts journals.

http://www.regbook.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

[kwassa]

24. Kramer Books, DC

[Gormy Cuss]

26. Kramer/Afterwords?

Is there still a combo bookstore cafe with that name in Dupont Circle? It was a cool place. Boston had the Harvard Bookstore Cafe in a similar vein. This was eons before Borders started using that combo in its national phase-in.

[kwassa]

32. Yes, it is still there.

[Radical Activist]

49. god I love that place!

The coffee shop/bookstore thing is overdone but where else can I hang out in a bookstore/bar and have a good beer?! That brings back memories. :)

[applegrove]

25. Second hand book stores.

[BrotherBuzz]

28. All second hand bookstores are an adventure.....

with the exception being paperback romance novel bookstores. Seriously, I accidentally stumbled into one and felt like I fell into a blackhole of despair.

[applegrove]

30. I got over romance/paperbacks when I was young. Always liked non-fiction.

Love it!

[Patiod]

41. The only fun thing about romance novels

is that my friend wrote a quasi-pornographic historical romance that sold in OBSCENE numbersback in the 80s, plus several that sold remarkably well. Her house, bought with the proceeeds, has huge framed blow-ups of the covers lining the 2nd floor landing. Sometimes if a store has a lot of romances, I'll try to find one of hers.

[jane_pippin]

27. Milwaukee's own Schwartz of course.

Until the RetroLounge Book Emporium opens that is--then I might have some tough decisions to make.

I like the way it feels like a secret room in my house and that they have a great variety of books and speakers coming through.

I'm not a huge fan of the one with a coffee shop in it. I like bookstores to have book people in them and not so much people just hanging out because a Starbucks is there. But that's about my only complaint and it's a small one.

I return to find new books I want and old ones I still need, and to relax and have a conversation once in a while with people who know books.

Also, check your PM in a minute.

[Magrittes Pipe]

35. I love Schwartz.

It was founded by a bunch of Communists! :woohoo:

[jane_pippin]

38. Haha, that's right, it was.

I like a store founded by feisty people. :D

[Magrittes Pipe]

40. Damn right.

I'm lookin' forward to plopping my ass down in Harry Schwartz's couch and reading till I have to pee.

[RetroLounge]

47. Got your PM

Thanks!

RL

[RetroLounge]

84. Yeah, they get a lot of my money...

:hi:

RL

[Burma Jones]

31. In DC - Olsson's Books and Records

I used to work there part-time and they treated their full-time employees exceptionally well, with a better benefits package than I ever got in any of my more "professional" jobs.

[swag]

36. What years did you work there?

You mean the big one on Dupont Circle, right?

[Burma Jones]

37. I worked in the Warehouse in Rockville

and at Bethesda.....

From 1988 to 1993 - off and on.....

[swag]

42. A friend who worked at the Dupont Circle store in the mid-80s

told me about this huge penis sculpture some of the warehouse employees had made of old plastic wrapping/packing materials. They had it rigged so that when the furnace kicked on, the big plastic cock and balls sculpture would inflate. Edit: not sure if this was at Bethesda or Rockville.

Did you ever see this sculpture? Did you create it?

[Burma Jones]

44. This was in Rockville

I did not have a hand in creating it. We did have a large sheet of poster board on which the employees listed the various and sundry slang terms for masturbation.. We ended up with about 300 terms in various languages..

[terrya]

33. Unabridged Books in Chicago

I like the fact that it has the best, most comprehensive gay/lesbian book selection in Chicago. Bar none.

I don't like the fact that it's not nearby.

I return there because of its selection, the very helpful staff and reasonable prices.

[cassandra uprising]

39. In my home town The Buttonwood Tree

was the place to go. I loved the space. It's in the lobby of what used to be a hotel that is now section 8 housing. The B Tree was loved by many folks from many different walks of life. It was half used bookstore, half performance space, gallery and community center. It was home to a lot of self aggrandizing intellectuals, old folkies, militant freedom fighters, hippies, crazies, bourgies, punks, freaks and revolutionaries. I was the first place where I read an original poem, heard my first live jazz band and danced like a banshee in front of a small audience that included that guy I decide I'd spend the rest of my life with.

I haven't been there in a while. I miss it.

[swag]

50. Middletown, eh?

Looks like a fabulous place, that.

[cassandra uprising]

72. The Mizzle fo Shizzile

The original M-town.

I think Mentleltown is my favorite nickname for Middletown. I love it here in New York City, but Middletown will always be my home.

[Radical Activist]

48. 57th Street Books in Hyde Park

Although more and more I end up going to their sister store, the Theological Seminary Co-Op bookstore around the corner.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

52. Skylight Books in Los Angeles.

I heard actor Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development") owns it, too.

[RandomKoolzip]

54. Women and Children First Bookstore in Chicago.

In the Andersonville neighboorhood. I LOVE that place. It's an independent feminist bookstore that stocks all the best political stuff. If I have to buy books, this is where I buy them from.

[RetroLounge]

77. I've been therre...

I saw Sara Paretsky read once there. Nice store...

RL

[Tikki]

58. Please, try to visit and buy from your local...

Friends of the Library Book Store(s) if you have one nearby. And remember to donate your used books, also.

The funds from these sales go to benefit the Library.




Tikki

[ulysses]

64. Tall Tales Bookshop.

Great place (in Toco Hills for Atlantans). I worked there for 3 years. Very knowledgeable people, and the owner is a great liberal Democrat.

[Maddy McCall]

65. Square Books, Oxford, MS. Or Corner Book Store, Natchez, MS.

Both great stores. Owners are on the premises, and they give you personal recommendations. When you ask for a book, they can go put their hands on it right away without having to pull it up in a computer.

Most of all, they are book lovers who are there because, well, they love books, not because it's the only job they could find.

I can say nothing negative at all about Square Books or the Corner Book Store.

[Maddy McCall]

66. Oh, and add Lemuria Books, Jackson, MS, to my list.

Owned by eccentric, intelligent people. I love to visit with them.

[Bullwinkle925]

67. "A Great Good Place for Books" in the Montclair neighborhood of

Oakland CA. They always have author readings/meetings going on there. They cater to bookclubs. They are tremendously LIBERAL.
The only drawback is that it is small - but o well, who cares?

[yellowdogmi]

68. The next time you come to Chicago

check out this place. I know that you are thinking of opening your own place. This guy could probably tell you a lot. Real nice guy. Good Luck!
http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/3551936

[Bzzzz]

69. Danners in Muncie, In

They have a 'resident' cat that always makes me feel very at home. Wonderful cushioned chairs to sit in. The owner goes out of her way to obtain whatever material one needs and she carries items that couldn't be found elsewhere in this college town, such as sealing wax and seals that I needed and found for our invitations to our marriage reaffirmation.

[yellowdogintexas]

70. The Book Shoppe ..a used trade it in bookstore, complete with

2 cats who "manage" the store.

I like Half PRice Books too but don't ever take anything to them to sell,

[GOPisEvil]

71. Book People in Austin.

First, it's nearly as large as the big chain stores. They have great book signings, and offer excellent customer service.

[Bridget Burke]

73. Houston doesn't have any "great" independent bookstores.

Brazos Books is the #1 independent. They're good for literature, art, history & travel. But Brazos has a "minimalist" style & a highly specific selection. Lots of empty floor space--the better for those signing parties. San Francisco's City Lights & A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books certainly have intellectual credentials. But those two stores are packed full with books on almost all subjects. The folks at Brazos are a bit stuffy about ordering, too. Why in earth would you want a book that they don't already stock?

Brazos runs the bookstore attached to the Menil Collection. A fine selection of art books & a less stifling atmosphere. Check out the bargain shelf!

Murder By the Book specializes in mysteries, etc. The Comics/Gaming stores have a few shelves of Science Fiction/Fantasy books. Last time I checked, the Aquarian Age Bookshelf had closed. What fun it was to ask where they shelved the Crowley books!

Half Price Books is NOT independent, but our several branches are fine sources for book lovers. For book sellers--they don't pay top dollar, but they will take ANYTHING!

The Bookstop belongs to a chain, but it's a lovely store in a beautifully restored deco movie theater. And it's next door to Cactus Records--our only independent music store, which is going out of business next month. Alas.

[noonwitch]

74. Borders is our local bookstore!

I know it's a national chain now, but when I first moved to Detroit, there were only 2 of them-the original Ann Arbor store and the Birmingham store.

In Grand Rapids and Okemos, Schuler Books is an excellent bookstore.

[khashka]

76. OK

In SF it was A Clean Well Lighted Place - they had everything but were a little bit stuffy. Also, A Different Light, now sadly closed.

Dark Carnival.


Now I'm stuck with a used bookstore. (Since Third Planet shut down)

What matters? Staff who are friendly and know books.

Khash.

[Trigger Hippie]

78. Brookline Booksmith

Brookline, MA

I always try to support indy bookstores and this one has great stuff, lots of good coffee table books cheap. I don't like it because it's pretty far to walk from my apartment.

[Shine]

79. Bookshop Santa Cruz

When I first moved here, as a college freshman back in '82, this was where I bought some of my class books. It's a great, family-owned biz that's been around for over 30 yrs. They are very liberal and support many great local good causes. They also host lots of cool book events throughout the year.

Also, the owner is a great guy that I respect a lot. He was one of my clients back when I was doing advertising sales.

There's a Borders Bookstore down the street several blocks, but I'll usually always opt to support the local independent bookstore, instead. :thumbsup:

:hi:

[wildhorses]

81. Joseph Beth's

mostly I like the books...
leastly I like the prices
I go back for the books

[AngryAmish]

83. Gigi's at the corner of Armitage and Pulaski

Costs a buck to get in there.