10 Great Independent Bookstores and Why They Matter

Remember the rich experience of perusing the shelves for that perfect novel or sipping coffee while devouring the first few pages in a comfy chair by the window? Today, with a new book just a few mouse-clicks away, children and adults alike are in danger of losing the connection to the bookstore experience.

According to independent bookstores everywhere, the shift away from local bookstores means more than the loss of that book-loving ambiance: it also means you miss the one-on-one customer relationship with bookstore staffers, who are there because they have a vested interest in making sure you take home the perfect book. Robin Agnew of independent mystery bookseller Aunt Agatha's of Ann Arbor, MI, said, “I had one customer knit me a scarf as a thank you for introducing her to a favorite new author.” Kate Ferguson, Events Coordinator at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA, says, “The hearts and souls of our booksellers are evident from the moment you enter the store. These are true book lovers, who are just bursting with the desire to help each and every customer find the right book, and taking sheer pleasure in being able to share their own beloved favorites with the general public.”

Many great independent bookstores have stood the test of time and big bookstore chains. You just have to know where to look. Here is just a small handful of the best, as well as tidbits on what makes each special:

City Lights Books San Francisco, CA. Founded in 1953, City Lights is a landmark independent bookstore and publisher specializing in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics. Its popularity as a beatnik hotspot continues to be a strong influence in the store. City Lights has become world-famous, but has retained an intimate, casual charm.

Books & Books Coral Gables, Fla. Books & Books hosts roughly 70 author events a month, and the stores' specialties include art, architecture and regional literature. Their Coral Gables and Miami Beach locations also offer full-service restaurants (they have four locations).

Prairie Lights Iowa City, Iowa,  started in 1978 and gradually spread to three and a half floors (the half being an 1100 square foot coffee house where the local literary society met throughout the 1930's and hosted writers Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Sherwood Anderson, Langston Hughes, and e e cummings). But Prairie Lights says none of that could have been possible without a loyal customer base and a dedicated staff. 

That Bookstore in Blytheville Blytheville, Ark., of John Grisham fame, offers 2,400 square feet with more than 25,000 titles in stock. The store invites visitors to browse their selection while sipping a cup of the store's own blend of coffee, Special Edition. Or simply relax in a rocking chair next to a wood stove, engage in conversation about the book you've just read or enjoy a spontaneous reading of the new favorite children's book of the day. 

Elliott Bay Book Co. Seattle, WA; is located in Seattle's historic

Pioneer Square

district, once the city's business district. The bookstore, with its exposed brick walls, is home to over 150,000 titles set on cedar shelves, and offers a selection of both new and used books, including a number of antique and signed or limited editions. The Elliott Bay Café, which opened in 1979, is considered a reader's haven, with delicious foods, tempting desserts and beverages, and seating that encourages lively discussions.