''Selling books in Charleston is different than selling books in Seattle or the Berkshires,’' store co-owner Jonathan Sanchez said on the occasion of Blue Bicycle Books’ 20th anniversary in 2015. The owner (an author herself) and her staff love to talk books with anyone. Inside, worn oriental rugs cover the uneven wooden floors, and various velvet covered sofas and divans invite you to sink down when you’ve found that just-right read. Wander down a partially cobblestoned alley off one of Evanston’s busy shopping streets and you’ll find Bookends and Beginnings, an independent bookshop that’s an oasis for book lovers of all ages. The store is also hosting a weekly virtual bookclub, with Moby Dick as the first pick. Support it by: Buying T-shirts and gift cards from the store’s site, and ordering through the store’s account at. At the end of 2019, Fleischaker opened a second location in the Remington neighborhood, twice the size of the Fells Point shop, to better accommodate events she has planned for the future. Happily, Greedy Read‘s owner, Julia Fleischaker, has some strong bona fides for curation, having worked in book publishing for 20 years before moving home to Maryland in 2018. Katherine LaGraveĬuration is key when your shop’s 500-square-foot size qualifies as ''cozy’’ in real-estate listings and provides serious limitations on inventory. Some of our favorite touches: All Erdrich titles purchased at Birchbark are signed by the author herself, and there’s even a dedicated children’s loft and a confessional, where visitors are invited to sit for reflection. Owned by novelist Louise Erdrich, Birchbark specializes in Native American books, arts, jewelry, and gifts. Support it by: Placing an order by phone, email, or via its website for shipping or porch pickup. When you’ve finished shopping, grab lunch on the second floor, where Pyramid Bistro serves healthy, veggie-forward fare. The shop also stocks numerous regional titles as well as cards, journals, and gifts and regularly hosts events with local and visiting authors. Inside, books on business, history, art, travel, and more are crammed into every corner, with an entire room dedicated to children’s literature. Housed in a Victorian home in the center of town, Explore Booksellers is an Aspen institution. Support it by: Shopping online at or buying gift subscriptions to the First Editions Club. Patchett’s blog is the basis of the Parnassus online magazine, Musing, which also features staff reading picks, author interviews, and an extra-charming ''shop dog diaries’’ that feels like an IRL idea from You’ve Got Mail. In its own words, Parnassus-around since 2011-is truly ''more than a bookstore.’' It’s a cheery celebration of great writing, down to its gleaming hardwood floors and grinning staff, infused with the same joy as store founder and author Ann Patchett and her business partner, Karen Hayes. And while we may not be able to physically stop by any of these stores for the foreseeable future, we’re supporting them by shopping online and tuning in to their programming across social media. ICharleston, are stores we always stop by on a visit to the city, while others, like the Strand in New York City and City Lights in San Francisco, we are lucky to call our neighborhood joints.
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