Common Places - Z

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

Z   In the late 80s, two brothers decided to create a store they’d want to shop in. The two purchased a turn-of-the-century building in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and spent a year renovating what would become the first home of Zandbroz Variety.  It opened as a bookstore featuring a coffee bar, a soda fountain, and a delightful assortment of all things writerly and creative. The Sioux Falls store was so well received, a second Zandbroz location opened in Fargo, North Dakota just a couple of years later. In addition to new, used, and classic books, both locations offer homemade caramel, stationery, pens, reading glasses, cookbooks, coloring books, candles, cards, jewelry, Story Hours for children, and author book-signings. *The Sioux Falls location offers amazing window displays. Both stores offer a wide variety of highly unique gifts, antiques, and collectibles.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Fargo, North Dakota

 

“We read to know we are not alone.” ~ C.S. Lewis

 

Common Places - S

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

S   Modestly self-proclaimed as a “general bookstore,” Skylight Books in the historic Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles is all that and so much more.  Curated literary selections range from fiction and children’s books to California history, social science, art, music, and movies. Their events program is nationally recognized and features prominent touring authors and local favorites and debuts. You can also become a Friend with Benefits member or join the Signed First Edition Club. But, wait! There’s more. They even offer book bouquets for children’s birthdays and a bouquet of poetry books for Poetry Month.

 

“Some books leave us free and some books make us free.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Common Places - R

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

R    RiverRun Books has a website for ordering books and gift cards, but they’d much rather you come on in and “browse and buy” hand-picked new and used books at their store located at 32 Daniel Street in Portsmouth, NH. They are open full-time again and are ready to recommend your next favorite book. They even have their own publishing project called Piscataqua Press – in case you’ve written someone else’s next favorite book ;-) Oh! If by chance you’ve worn out your old typewriter, they’ll sell you a new one or repair the old one.

 

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write” ~ Saul Bellow

Common Places - N

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

N  The largest and oldest of five libraries in the Bahamas, Nassau Public Library and Museum once housed the city’s entire criminal population when the octagonal building served as a prison. The passing of the Nassau Public Library act in 1847 saw the atmospheric transformation of a rowdy reformatory into a remarkable repository of historic maps, documents, artifacts, as well as newer books of higher education. Refreshing breezes waft through ground floor windows near quiet reading areas. The second and third floors offer spectacular ocean views above tall palms - however, word on the winds is that while the doors may have closed for the last time in 2018, everything inside was left as it was - just in case.

 

 

   Northwind Book & Fiber is a combination independent bookstore and fine yarn shop in Spooner, Wisconsin. Other features include a consignment gallery of local art and jewelry, in addition to toys, games, and puzzles.

 

More than a store, it’s an experience!

“I love walking into a bookstore. It’s like all my friends are sitting on shelves, waving their pages at me” ~ Tahereh Mafi

Common Places - L

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

L  When Antonio La Cava, a retired school teacher in Basilcata, Italy, realized a need for children to access books, he transformed his three-wheeler into what he calls the Bibliomotocarro (possibly Italy’s smallest library) to deliver books to children in remote communities.

“Without a book, so often a child is alone” ~ Antonio La Cava

  Fun Fact: Benjamin Franklin started his own Lending Library in 1731 (Philadelphia) called the Library Company (he served as a librarian), but it required a subscription fee of 40 shillings. Later, in 1790, one of the oldest libraries in the country opened in Franklin, Massachusetts where residents could borrow books donated by – you guessed it - Benjamin Franklin.

   

Communal Places - K

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

K  When two writers needed a place to complete their manuscripts, the logical solution for them was to create one - in the form of the King’s English Bookshop. They’ve been “matching books to readers since 1977” and enjoy a strong and beloved presence in their Salt Lake City, UT community. They host numerous events, accept consignments (check guidelines) and remind us that Independent Bookstore Day is April 24^th!

 

“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting” ~ Mary Wortley Montagu

 

Communal Places - I

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

I.  Now located on West Lovers Lane in Dallas, Texas, Interabang Books takes its unique name from the symbol that combines the question mark and the exclamation point. Owner Nancy Perot knows a bit about what those symbols represent, as well as the value of perseverance having the original bookshop, which opened in 2017, destroyed by a tornado in 2019, followed by the recent pandemic. Nonetheless, the store once again thrives in its new location, offering hand-picked selections of books and gifts for adults and kids. Events include Children’s Book of the Month subscriptions, in-person book signings, online author, publisher, and bookseller chats, videos, and personalized reading recommendations. They’ve temporarily discontinued the consignment program, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

If anyone knows how to create an Interabang symbol on a computer, do tell ;-)

 

“If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Communal Places - H

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

H   The Haunted Bookshop in Iowa City is the second oldest secondhand bookstore in town. And while it’s not really haunted, the walls of ten well-appointed rooms of the historic Wentz House on Gilbert Street are lined with shelves and comfortable chairs, and feature over fifty thousand books, some first editions and signed, in eighty different subject areas, in addition to puzzles, games and toys. Events include book-signings, read-aloud sessions, puppet shows, and spontaneous performances by visiting piano players.  Friendly staff, including several feline tour guides, are on hand to help with any questions you may have.

 

Now, this is my favorite kind of bookstore! How about you?

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as Gods; they have not forgotten this.” ~ Terry Pratchett

Communal Places - G

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

G.  Founded in 1967, Green Apple Books on Clement Street in San Francisco’s historic Richmond district features a large selection of new, used and rare books, magazines, and music; including a fine selection of DVDs. 

 

Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, GypsySnark Books gets honorable mention for originality. Founded by a retired Forest Service analyst who spent years studying gypsy moths and loved “The Hunting of the Snark,” by Lewis Carroll, the small bookstore offers gifts and gently used books in just about any genre – History, Sci-fi, Horror, Gardening -  a reader could want. The Young Adult section has been dubbed “phenomenal”, and a delightful array of unique gifts and jewelry assures you won’t leave empty-handed ;-)

Have you ever purchased anything other than a book at a book store?

“Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Communal Places - E

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

E   The Eclipse Bookstore in Bellingham, Wa, is a veritable oasis for book lovers.  Two stories of unique books, used and rare, are carefully shelved - floor to ceiling - while low stacks on polished floors patiently await perusal and purchase or a more visible place on a shelf once one becomes available. Soft music complements the atmosphere from the ground-floor view of Bellingham Bay to welcoming reading nooks down below. Leave your cares and your timepiece in the car; the visit may take a while. But it will be well worth it!

 

 

What is the title of the oldest book you own?

 

“Books to the Ceiling. Books to the sky. My pile of books is a mile high. How I love them! How I need them! I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.” ~ Arnold Lobel

Communal Places - D

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

D.  A rolling cart (for purchases) and an overnight bag (ha!) might be in order for a visit to the Dickson Street Bookshop in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The sheer volume of used and out-of-print books is a staggering delight for any reader. Setting aside ample time for browsing is highly recommended! The Doomsday Coffee & Roasterie is one of several nearby restaurants and is only a two-minute drive away.

 

Do you like to work or read in Coffee shop settings?

 

“There is no Frigate like a book to take us lands away” ~ Emily Dickinson

Communal Places - C

 

Communal Places for Literary Enthusiasts

C  What began as wishful thinking aloud between like-minded friends became a reality in the form of Changing Hands Bookstore on April 1^st, 1974. With an interest in community service and keen eyes for titles not readily found in chain bookstores, Changing Hands outgrew their 500 square foot space in four short years.  A veritable book-brigade of friends and customers helped them move to a larger facility. Their current location maintains much of the mid-century architecture – the former site of the historic Beefeaters Restaurant – in the heart of Phoenix, offers new and used books, unique gifts, over 300 author events, as well as Craft Fairs, Artisan Markets in their event space known as The Commons. In addition, the Phoenix location is the home of Changing Hands’ own First Draft Book Bar, featuring coffee, wine, beer, and snacks where even young Harry Potter fans can wet their whistle with a (non-alcoholic) beverage during the annual birthday party.

 

Iconic before

Fabulous after 

I'd book an event here, wouldn't you?

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how light gets in” ~ Leonard Cohen

Communal Places - A

 April A to Z 2021 Challenge

Communal Places

For Literary Enthusiasts

A

Alabama Booksmith is the product of the life work, the ultimate dream, really, of a family of booksellers from an incredibly long line of them. Strategically facing Alabama’s busiest highway from a tree-lined backroad, The Alabama Booksmith offers exceptional service with a distinctive business model that enhances the unique experience of browsing a bookstore where every cover is visible (how else can we judge, right?) and every book is signed! *Showroom is currently closed, but you can take advantage of their full-service website and parking lot pick-up.

“If you’re always trying to be normal you’ll never know how amazing you can be” ~  Maya Angelou