In January I had a chance to visit another one of Seattle’s long-running independent bookstores, Magus Books in the University District, just a block off of the UW campus.
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ByGD
Independent Bookstore: Charlie’s Queer Books
Last month a new independent bookstore just fell in my lap – or more precisely, opened in my neighborhood. As The Uncommon Cottage continued its westward march along 36th Ave., this fall, we saw folks remodeling the cute little cottage the shop most recently occupied. When we asked what they were up to and found out it was going to be a bookstore, the family gave a collective cheer.
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Despite appearing to do all the work themselves, Charlie’s was up and running in time for the holidays, so of course I checked it out. It’s already become a regular stop whenever we’re out and about in the neighborhood.
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Independent Bookstore: Mercer Street Books
The third independent bookstore I wanted to check out was Mercer Street Books, featured in a Seattle Times article about a year ago. From that article, I discovered that there has been a bookstore in that space for longer than I’ve lived in Seattle. But I’d never been to it before. And that was a situation that required remedy. Finally, on a Wednesday afternoon in October, I got around to visiting. And I’m really sorry I waited so long.
ByGD
Independent Bookstore: Drink Books
After realizing that my love for Independent Bookstore Day was making me blind to all the independent bookstores that don’t participate, I set out to see what I’ve been missing. And it didn’t take long to be reminded that when it comes to independent bookstores, you have to act fast or you might miss out entirely. In July I visited Drink Books. In August, the physical shop closed.
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Independent Bookstore: Couth Buzzard
My love for Independent Bookstore Day is no secret. It has exposed me to some wonderful bookstores that I might never have visited otherwise. But not every independent bookstore participates in Independent Bookstore Day. And by focusing on the event, I’ve been skipping some wonderful independent bookstores. I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I made an Independent Bookstore Store Resolution – to visit a nonparticipating independent bookstore every month.
