It wasn’t that long ago that it looked as if Buffalo’s independent bookstore scene might actually bite the dust. Thankfully, that never happened, as a couple of long-standing book stores managed to weather the “Amazon” storm, while a slew of other indie bookstores emerged throughout the city.
Today, bibliophiles and bookworms who yearn for the good old days of neighborhood bookstores have their pick of a variety of indie shops that all cater to different clienteles. From The Cracked Spine (bookstore and tattoo studio) on Amherst Street to Read It & Eat Bookshop (inside the West Side Bazaar) to Zawadi Books (on the East Side), there’s a goldmine of books out there, all waiting to be read.
This year’s Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 27 (always the last Saturday of April), but the celebration of the printed word lasts for two full weeks. Avid readers, and/or those who are simply on the hunt for a new book to page through, can earn stamps by visiting any one of Buffalo’s indie bookstores from Saturday, April 13 to Saturday, April 27.
To learn more about the passport rules, and to search out the locations of each of the 12 participating shops, click here.
As added incentive, there are four bonus indie bookstores located on the outskirts of Buffalo, so get hoppin’ and shoppin’ for your next great reading adventure in WNY! And be sure to check in with your favorite neighborhood store to see what sort of events and undertakings (author readings and talks, sales, swag, maps, passports, giveaways, etc.) are planned over the course of the two week celebration.
Participating bookstores linked below:
Alice, Ever After Books
Black Rock Books
Burning Books
Dog Ears Bookstore
Fitz Books & Waffles
Good Neighbor Bookstore
Gutter Pop Comics
Lock City Books
Merit Badge Books
Read It & Eat Bookshop
Rust Belt Books
Talking Leaves Books
The Cracked Spine
Turn the Page Used Books
Westside Stories
Zawadi Books