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The mission at Charlie’s Queer Books is “to provide a unique bookstore experience that is dedicated to creating community connection through queer literature.” A range of books are offered covering topics and genres such as poetry, fiction, YA, graphic novels, memoirs, cookbooks, and LGBTQ+ studies. Inside the space, as well as online, the store hosts events including but not limited to author talks, book clubs, readings, and writing workshops.
Founded by Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong in 1994, Giant Robot Magazine began as a punk zine of Asian pop culture which covered art, design, politics, travel, and more. In 2001, the founders established a brick-and-mortar store in the Sawtelle neighborhood of Los Angeles serving as a one-stop shop for books and products regarding Asian pop culture.
Bell’s Books offers a delightful and eclectic combination of new, used, and rare books. Their vast collection includes books about gardening, art and architecture, cooking, military science, transportation, religion, natural history, as well as vintage technical books and new children’s books. They have over 150,000 volumes available for perusal, ever-evolving and changing to the local community’s needs and tastes.
Spine is an independent bookstore specializing in fiction and nonfiction titles from indie authors and publishers. They also have a café and small event space that hosts various literary discussion groups, author showcases, and open mics. They host storytelling, music, history talk, and other various community-building events to foster independent, creative expression.
Arvida Book Company is a woman-owned and family friendly independent bookshop in Old Town Tustin in Orange County, California. The bookshop sells new and old books, and functions as a town square for the area regularly hosting author events and writing workshops. The bookshop’s owner, Sam Robertson, also founded the Arvida Review, a community-oriented short fiction publication that provides a platform for new and diverse voices.
Friendly City Books is a bookstore located in historic downtown Columbus in Mississippi offering books in an array of genres, including children’s books. Launched with the intention of bolstering community in the city, the bookstore intends to be not merely a seller but a gathering place for writers and readers. Their curated events hope to highlight Mississippi’s rich literary tradition, and their publishing imprint seeks to promote new voices from the Hospitality State.
Totem Books is an independent bookstore and record store in Flint, Michigan. The shop has an expansive collection of new and used books, a café, and hosts the Totem Talk series and other live events. They are open Monday through Saturday.
Two small presses, Rare Bird and Unnamed Press, opened North Figueroa Bookshop with the assistance of two major publishers, Grove Atlantic and MCD Books, which help support the store in exchange for dedicated shelf space and other perks.
North Figueroa Bookshop is a general interest bookstore in the heart of the historic Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, a joint venture of Rare Bird and Unnamed Press, two Los Angeles–based independent book publishers, with the collaborative support of founding publisher sponsors, Grove Atlantic and MCD Books. The custom-design literary space seeks to connect the independent publishing community with readers, booksellers, authors, and book lovers. The shop hosts literary and community events.
As scores of indie bookstores have shut their doors to the public and laid off staff, many continue to serve their customers via online orders and curbside pickup programs.
