New York has always been known as a city of diversity and resilience. It’s a place where people from all walks of life come together to make a difference. And that’s exactly what Erin Decker and Tania Galiñanes did when they opened their bookstore, White Rose Books & More, in Kissimmee, Florida.
Three years ago, Erin Decker was a middle school librarian who was increasingly frustrated by the state’s book bans. She was worried that she couldn’t make a difference by staying in her job. So, she and her fellow librarian, Tania Galiñanes, put their heads together and came up with a way to fight back. They decided to open a bookstore to ensure that students could still have access to the books that were being pulled from shelves.
Named after a resistance group in Nazi Germany, White Rose Books is more than just a bookstore. It’s a symbol of standing up against censorship and promoting diversity. The store features a section dedicated to banned books such as Maia Kabobe’s Gender Queer, Jonathan Evison’s Lawn Boy, and John Green’s Looking for Alaska, surrounded by caution tape to draw attention to the issue.
White Rose Books is just one example of the ever-expanding and diversifying world of independent bookstores. Despite slow industry sales in 2023, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) has continued its years-long revival. With a current membership of 2,433, which is more than 200 from the previous year and almost double since 2016, the ABA is a strong and growing community. And it’s not stopping there – around 190 new stores are in the process of opening over the next two years, according to the ABA.
Allison Hill, the CEO of the ABA, is proud of the strong numbers and the diverse pipeline of new stores. She credits the surge in independent bookstores to a variety of factors, from opposing book bans to championing diversity to seeking new careers after the pandemic.
“Some people are opening stores to give back to their community, and some just love books,” said Hill in a recent phone interview.
The recent ABA members include a wide range of independent bookstores. From the romance-focused That’s What She Read in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Seven Stories in Shawnee, Kansas, managed by 15-year-old Halley Vincent, to more than 20 Black-owned shops. Each one has a unique story and a mission to promote books and reading in their community.
Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena, California, is named after the late Black science fiction author Octavia Butler. The store bills itself as “a space to find community, enjoy a cup of coffee, read, relax, find unique and specially curated products from artisans from around the world and in our neighborhood.” Founder Nikki High, a former communications director for Trader Joe’s, relied on crowdfunding and her own savings to open her store.
Leah Johnson, the author of the prize-winning young adult novel You Should See Me In a Crown, was troubled by the surge in book bans and the lack of outlets for diverse voices. So, she took matters into her own hands and founded Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis. She explains that she never dreamt of opening a bookstore or being anyone’s boss, but she saw a need and had to fill it.
Most of the new bookstores are traditional “brick and mortar” retailers. However, there are also “pop-up” businesses like Loc’d & Lit that aim to bring the joy of reading to underserved communities, like the Bronx, which has been viewed as a “bookstore desert.” Other new stores are online-only, such as Be More Literature Children’s Bookshop and Liberation Is Lit, a used books seller. Nick Pavlidis, a publisher, ghostwriter, and trainer of ghostwriters, launched the online Beantown Books in 2023 and has since opened a small physical store in suburban Boston. He hopes to eventually expand and create a friendly space for authors to host events.
Despite the positive growth of independent bookstores, there are still challenges and concerns. Rising costs, dwindling aid from the pandemic, and the ongoing dominance of Amazon.com are all factors that independent booksellers have to face. Last month, the ABA filed a motion with the Federal Trade Commission to join the antitrust suit against Amazon, citing the company’s ability to offer prices that independent bookstores cannot match
