10 Great Independent Bookstores and Why They Matter (continued)

The Strand near

Union Square, Manhattan

, is a New York legend, and is still owned by the Bass family, who founded it in 1927. Named after the famous publishing street in London, the Strand was one of 48 bookstores on Book Row, which started in the 1890's and ran from

Union Square

to

Astor Place

. Today, the Strand is the sole survivor. It offers 18 miles of books, including more than 2.5 million used, new and rare books. They have author events and offer a library services as well.

Powell's City of Books Portland,Ore., claims to be the world's largest independent used and new bookstore. This unique indie is home to the Gold Room, the Rose Room, the Purple Room, and a color-coded map so patrons won’t get lost. At first viewed as unorthodox, Powell’s placed used and new, hardcover and paperback, all on the same shelf. But it worked for them. They are open 365 days a year and now have their full inventory available on the web www.powells.com.

Tattered Cover Book Store Denver, CO. Amidst the mile-long outdoor mall through the heart of LoDo, historic Lower Denver, booklovers can visit Tattered Cover, which offers cozy nooks, overstuffed chairs and a gas fireplace.

Children’s-only Lit

And as if it isn’t hard enough to be a successful and thriving indie bookstore, try catering to kids only. Unfortunately, there are less than 250 of these stores today, as compared to about 750 ten years ago. But what could be more important than encouraging young people to find joy in reading? Here are a couple of independent children’s bookstores that focus on just that: 

All for Kids Books & Music, Seattle, Washington’s oldest surviving children's bookstore, carries 65,000 titles and more than 2,500 children's recordings – one of the largest music inventories in the nation. The store features treasure hunts for kids, author signings, invitation-only banquets, kids' craft workshops and more. It was even called upon to rent a wall of their books for a little Tom Hanks film called “Sleepless in Seattle.”  

Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books Los Altos, CA, which opened in 1984, was the first to bring Raffi to Northern California. They offer children's recordings, a broad inventory of books, as well as a selection of other "treasures": puppets and book-related dolls, tea sets, science and math games, toys, art materials, origami paper, water toys, paper dolls, infant and toddler toys, puzzles, gifts and toys from other countries.

Independent bookstores meet and exceed their customers’ needs by getting to know them on a personal level, not by logging a cookie after they visit a website. Danny Givens, owner of Givens Books-Little Dickens in Lynchburg, VA, explains that at his store, buying decisions are made “at the counter, on our sales floor listening to customers chat and talk about book clubs, great books they have just finished reading, etc.-- not off in some cubicle a thousand miles away looking over trends and reports on their screens. Customers notice this and love it.”

So check out your local independent bookstores and take in the sights and smells. See what makes them special. Then take a minute to see why, despite this Internet age, these bookstores are still standing, still thriving and still giving patrons a fulfilling literary experience.