Best Independent Book Shops in America, Part 2. Read All About It
Part one described the impact travel can have on reading. Whether it’s improving a regular reading routine or expanding the genres of writing worthy of your quite time. A great way to experience a new city is through its bookshops. Particularly the independent variety. The bigger concern is when purchasing a book at a mass retailer, a small business is suffering. Sure, the price might be less at a name brand outlet, however the benefits of shopping a small shop might be just the experience that makes a good vacation, a great one.
Small book shop owners are invested in the culture of literature. It is their passion, not a part-time job whilst matriculating through college. The conversations tend to be deeper and more enjoyable in an independent bookshop.
Many small book shops sell used books too. Something one cannot get at a national branded store. Another advantage is the interaction with the shopkeeper. Maybe you enjoy the same genre, or both favor a particular author. Selection may not be as good in a smaller shop, a fair criticism.
If the shop owner doesn’t have the title you seek, often they can order for you and ship to you, a little happiness in your mailbox when you arrive home. And the shop owner is happy to make the sale.
Last episode, New York, New Orleans, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Atlanta made the list. This time, the focus is on small town shops. Buckle up, let’s go!
Montana Valley Book Store
Alberton, MT
A tiny town, blink and you will miss it. A population less than 500, the Rocky Mountain town is near the Idaho state line. Down the highway, to the east is Missoula. A college town I passed through. I was on a mission to get as close to Seattle before sundown. I knew I could make it to central Washington, pedal to the metal. Little did I consider stopping to browse a book shop. A large billboard changed my mind.
An advertisement for Montana Valley lured me into the little town. A weathered storefront didn’t have that wow factor. I pressed on, opened the creaky door. Inside was a temple to books. Nothing fancy, just a lot of books crammed in the space. Well organized by genre, shelves well above my eye level, down to the floor. More books than residents in the tiny town. Each alcove in the store had a hanging lamp to illuminate the naturally low-lit shelves. No windows to interfere with the shelves, books floor to almost ceiling. In the center of the shop, a large shallow wooden bin stuffed with paperbacks, new and classic, a variety of genres too.
I picked out a book for the road. The shop keeper was chatting with a patron. She paused, completed my purchase, and inquired how I found the shop. I explained the big billboard did its job. She was pleased, then asked where I was headed. I said Seattle. She suggested a detour through Wallace, Idaho. She shared the town is an historic preservation area. The town also has a Carnegie library. A little mountain town with a tie to the American industrial age was intriguing.
Fast forward, exiting the interstate, she was spot on. The town was quaint and a nice pause on the blurred highway. If you pause in Wallace, look for the flying saucer. Yes, a miniature metal spaceship is a peculiar and somehow fitting local landmark.
Galveston Book Shop
Galveston, TX
A curiosity, I hadn’t visited the historic Texas coastal town. I’d roamed all over Texas other than a few places, the island town being one of them. In the old historic district, the shop is easily found. The exterior is a bright blue, to the left of the entry are 8-foot murals of a few books shelved books. Very clever and creative way to alert the world, “hey, I’m a bookstore”!
Inside, the high ceilings and excellent lighting make it easy to peruse the sizeable selection. A second level balcony is packed with records and more books. The rear of the store, is somewhat disheveled, unfiled recent arrivals most likely. Cartons of used books are stacked, possibly the staff haven’t had time to shelve yet. Maybe that’s where the real gems are…
The staff are friendly, happy to make recommendations or help find out what book(s) you have been searching ages for. I found the last two books in a series I was reading. Eureka!
Key West Island Books
Key West, FL
The tiny island is not just for boozing and fishing, although there is a lot of that going on, a bit of literary love just makes the fun, vibrant town all the better. It’s truly a small shop. The window displays are changed regularly. A slow day in an independent bookshop, what a great activity to do, and it keeps people coming back to see what’s new. The window also has a little chalkboard the owner writes clever messages to inspire your day.
Music plays at a reasonable volume. The narrow paths in the store are broken up with shelves stacked and packed with a dizzying array of genres. It is amazing how economically the staff have organized their modest floor space. Well lit and airy, the shop is an ideal fit for the American tropics.
A note, if you visit Key West in August, most of the vibrant town is on vacation. The book shop may be on an extended break.
Henry Miller Library & Book Store
Big Sur, CA
The wild coast of central California is a living inspiration. The mountains and rocky coast, dense pine forests hug the winding Pacific Coast Highway. Along the winding roadway is a small rustic building well suited for the wooded scenery. The playwright made a home in the area. The museum and book shop are a tribute and memorial to the famed writer.
Inside, the rustic marries elegance. A spacious feeling interior, well lit, it is a cozy refuge from the reliable dense fog that blankets the coastline. It’s an opportunity to pause and stretch your legs at one of the few signs of civilization along the 90-mile two lane highway, cutting through a dreamy wilderness.
For those who aren’t keen on Miller’s works, the staff are happy to enlighten. The shop specializes in poetry and writings about the surrounding Big Sur coast. Some of the new editions are exclusively available at the library, retail (purchasing online is an option as well). The shop is also a venue for local musicians and artists. A saying by the shop’s founder fits the rustic, wild coastal lifestyle, “where nothing happens”. To find out what that means, drop in.
*****
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