Independent Bookstore Day

I love indie bookstores and as many of you know, Independent Bookstore Day was postponed to August 29th which is today!

I decided to do a little post about some of my favorite indie bookstores to share with you guys. Most of my bookstores are local to me but I did include a couple of others that I have found through Instagram/Bookstagram while others I have found from visiting other cities.

Be sure to comment with some of your favorite indie bookstores today do we can celebrate them! Here is my list, in no particular order.

1. Reader’s Guide 735 Edgewater St NW, Salem, OR 97304
   • I have been coming to this bookstore since I was a little girl. My mom first brought me to this bookstore when I was 6 years old (which was just over 30 years ago) and it was a giant treasure hunt. They mostly have used books but they also sell new books. I have had trade credit there for years and I have found incredible treasures there over the years. It’s my favorite bookstore to visit and I got there about once a week just to see what’s new.
2. The Book Bin 450 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301
   • This is basically the only other book store in my home town so naturally I visit it frequently. But just because it’s only one of like 3 bookstores here in my town, doesn’t mean I just visit it by default. I enjoy going here because it has a great downtown location and they have the most adorable bookstore cat. Since I am downtown a lot, this is my favorite place to pass some time and browse.
3. Powell’s 1005 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209
   • Does it really get more indie than Powell’s? No it does not. Powell’s embodies the Pacific Northwest lifestyle than Powell’s. It’s about an hour drive for me so when I go there, it feels like a treat. Powell’s used to be an old car dealership and it truly is a city of books. It’s like a 5 story warehouse of books—-a city of books as they call themselves. I love Powell’s for all of my bookish needs, I just wish it was closer.
4. The Elliott Bay Book Company 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
   • I have only been to this indie bookstore once, but that was enough for me. It’s similar to Powell’s in that it’s in a warehouse style building with a great selection of books and chairs for people to hang out and relax. It’s not the huge mega center that Powell’s is but when I am in Seattle this is the shop I am going to visit again for books! I especially love their wall of employee recommendations.
5. Poisoned Pen Bookstore 4014 N Goldwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
   • When I was living in Arizona this was my favorite place to browse! They always have great author visits and talks there plus their little shop is cozy and full of wonderful reads, not just murder mysteries as the name implies. Whenever I am in Arizona visiting family I always pop by and check out what they have. This is the place to get Diana Gabaldon books that are signed since Diana is also an Arizona resident she often gives talks or has signings there!
6. Changing Hands Bookstore 6428 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
   • This was another of my favorite bookstores to visit when I was living in Arizona. I loved that this bookstore had a great little shop to get food inside and they also host a lot of writer events and workshops. I would spend hours here often grabbing a coffee and curling up in a chair with a good book. Their employees were always so knowledgable and friendly, I never felt bad about just hanging out there for an afternoon without buying a book.
7. Bookish Cedar Creek 211 South Terry Street, Malakoff, TX, USA
   • I met the owner of this store on Instagram. She and I have very similar reading tastes and I couldn’t believe that she was opening her own bookshop. I got to follow along and see it all come together thanks to Instagram so I felt like I was really ‘part’ of her journey. When COVID hit just as she was about to open her shop, she was shut down and had to figure out how to run her dream shop online. I gladly bought a few books from her shop to support her. She has the best collection of classics I have seen in a shop in a long time! Be sure to check her out on Insta (@_the_bookish_blonde_)

Well friends that completes my short list of favorite indie bookstores and I sure hope you find some new places to support and share all the bookish love with! Again drop some of your favorite indie bookstores in the comments below!