Local Booksellers Prepare Music, Giveaways, And More For Saturday’s Independent Bookstore Day
Since 2013, Independent Bookstore Day has been celebrated across the country on the last Saturday in April. This year’s event falls on this coming Saturday. While each bookstore plans its own unique party, they all have one thing in common: thanking their customers and highlighting the value of the independent bookstore community.
St. Louis has a rich and diverse literary history, and while booksellers have faced many hurdles to stay in business over the years, their resilience and continued thriving is a testament to the community. This is despite numerous issues that have made it harder for small booksellers to compete and stay open.
“Independent bookstores are that vital “third place” in their communities. We provide a welcoming space where all can come together to discover books, discuss issues, celebrate the literary arts, and strengthen community ties. We are guardians of everyone’s First Amendment rights to free expression and the freedom to read. We are community.”
– Kris Kleindienst, Left Bank Books
Left Bank Books is St. Louis’ oldest independent bookstore, opened in 1969, and is located in the Central West End. From the start of their opening, they have served as a stalwart literary anchor in our shared independent bookstore community.
Over the years, independent bookstores have faced many fights. The proliferation of “big box” chain bookstores was an early threat to their survival. As indie stores weathered these new competitors, the threat of Amazon wreaked havoc on all brick and mortar stores, big and small. While Amazon created a business model that offered book prices below market value, even at a loss, independent bookstores fought to keep physical stores alive in the community. Many shops closed, but those that persevered had to overcome yet another hurdle: the Great Recession. Each of these threats posed their own unique challenges.
Later, the COVID-19 pandemic created intense hardships for independent bookstores, like almost all small businesses. The immense creativity, flexible business models, and pure gumption shown by indie booksellers was amazing. However, the effects of the catastrophe can still be felt. Fast forward to today, attacks on free speech and book banning by local school and library districts have spread like a firestorm across the country. Bookstores are places where you can still find these banned books and who use their resources to fight for the freedom to read.
The good news is that American Bookseller Association statistics show they currently support 2,800 bookstores across the country. They also reported a 33% increase in member locations from 2019 to 2022, with approximately 200 more stores having opened or projected to open in the last year.
“2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Subterranean Books – a milestone we are particularly proud of and one we would have never reached without the unwavering support of our customers. The folks of St. Louis are steadfast in their support of local businesses and when they choose to shop locally the entire community thrives. Independent Bookstore Day is a celebration of those choices – a love letter to neighborhoods and the bookstores that sustain them, as well as a giant thank you to the people who help keep every local independent bookstore alive and thriving. We are lucky and grateful to get to do what we do — for twenty-five years and counting.”
– Kelly von Plonski, Subterranean Books
Subterranean Books is in the heart of The Delmar Loop. Undergoing many changes over the years, they expanded in 2021. They attribute this amazing milestone to community support, especially during the pandemic. This year they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary by hosting Missouri Prison Books and Right By You Abortion and Reproductive Health information tables and music by local poet and musician Matthew Freeman, while also offering a raffle and sweet treats.
Whether buyers spend their dollars at an independent bookstore, or local business, as opposed to buying online or at a chain store, makes a real difference. To break it down, if you spend $100 at a local business, $67 of that stays in your community. Furthermore, local businesses pay local taxes, which are then reinvested in our communities.
“Businesses of individual character, operated by friends and neighbors, are essential to a city’s function and form. Their earnings pour almost entirely back into the local community, and their unique personalities give color and texture to the place we choose to live. Homogenization is good for milk, but bad for everything else. This is especially true of books–no one wants to read one written by an AI bot, so why would they want to buy one from the corporate equivalent?”
– James Crossley, Leviathan Bookstore
To this point, with the proliferation of AI, and algorithms determining our exposure to media, independent bookstores are more important than ever. Real people, who love books and have dedicated their lives to them, are ready to listen and help you find your next great read.
Leviathan is one of the newest members in our independent bookstore community, highlighting the growing number of local indie bookstores, and they have opened a brand new shop in the heart of South Grand. They will be handing out free cookies for as long as they last and giving away stickers and Blind Date Books with purchase. The store will also be hiding a Golden Ticket from Libro.fm, which will earn one lucky finder a year of free audiobooks.
“Indie bookstores provide so many things that online retailers like Amazon can’t. We bring the human element back into reading, with enthusiastic and passionate booksellers excited to recommend their favorites, tons of community events that celebrate reading, and a physical location where you can immerse yourself in the magic of literature. On top of that, indies are passionate about supporting our communities, as those very communities are the only reason we can exist. We make donations, support other local shops, and generally help boost the local economy. I could go on and on about so many other things that make indie bookshops special and necessary–especially now. Above all else, we’re a safe space.”
– Alex Arata, Betty’s Books
The focus of each bookstore is unique, carving out a niche to serve readers of all kinds. Betty’s Books is currently located in Webster Groves and is in the process of moving into a new building later this year. They offer a specialized selection of books: comics, graphic novels, manga, and children’s books. They believe in the validity of graphic books as equally important and literary as any other, and the store strives to create a space dedicated to promoting these kinds of books. As it will be the last Independent Bookstore celebration in their original store, they are excited to make it a great one.
“Read A Book STL started out exclusively as a used bookstore in 2023. Since then we’ve begun carrying a small selection of new books and also fulfill special orders for our customers. After spending six years in the salvage and resale business, we saw how many books were ending up in the trash, and knew we had to get them back into circulation. Read A Book STL was born from the urge to rescue these books and get them back into readers’ hands. Whether you need a book, advice, directions, a snack, a coffee, a hug, or just a smile, we will be here for you, whether you are paying us or not. What corporation can say the same?”
– Brian and Ellen Cheli, Read A Book STL
Read A Book STL is located in the city’s Dutchtown neighborhood. It is operated by Brian and Ellen Cheli, partners in business and life, and they express a sentiment that all independent bookstores share. Community is the keyword and mission of all Indie booksellers. They see the importance of partnering with residents and other small businesses to build a thriving ecosystem.
“Independent Bookstore Day is always a fun time to celebrate the vital role of Independent Bookstores in our community. We are here to celebrate and bring people together with food and drink and cats and special limited merchandise and some freebies and lots of great bookstore vibes! This year we are coordinating with two other businesses in Maplewood – Planet Score Record Store (Record Store Day) and The Fantasy Shop (Free Comic Day) to cross promote a total Nerdy Geek Fest!!!”
– Michelle Barron, The Book House
Our region is fortunate to have independent bookstores in most parts of town. With new ones opening, expanding, or fine-tuning their mission, there is something for everyone. Crossing over the Missouri River into St. Charles, you will find Main Street Books located at 307 S Main St. in St Charles. They will be offering free cookies from Grandma’s Cookies in the morning and hosting a book signing with artist and author Tracy J. Butler (LACKADAISY) at 1pm, in addition to offering some of the Indie Bookstore Day exclusive items.
“Main Street Books is a beacon of comfort in our community- readers come to browse, to discover, to relax, to recharge, to just… be. We’re happy to be a welcoming space.
Emily Schroen, Main Street Books
Supporting small businesses is synonymous with supporting your community. You’re helping provide employment and purpose for your neighbors, and you’re supporting your local infrastructure, schools, first responders, etc. By shopping small, you’re helping unique, curated, and passionate institutions survive.”
All St. Louis independent bookstores have plans for offering exclusive merchandise, offering refreshments, giveaways, and fun, while putting their own spin on their celebration this Saturday.
You can also support bookstores that only have an online presence through their websites, bookshop.org and outreach activities.
You can find a list of all participating independent bookstores and their festivities by clicking on the link and searching by area.
Gena Brady is a photographer, writer, and bookseller. She has exhibited her work in various solo and group shows. She is also the manager at Subterranean Books in the Delmar Loop, as well as having a background in architectural design. For nearly three decades, she has found outlets for expressing her passion for St. Louis, with a main focus on the art and music scene, documentary work, and a strong drive to promote community engagement.
With the exception of the Betty’s Books photo, all photos were taken by author. Betty’s Books photo provided by the store.
