Happy Holidays to all yinz, and welcome to the 12 Days of Indies! My name is Joy Givens, and I’m here to make your December merry and bright by highlighting one of Pittsburgh’s fabulous independent bookstores each day, December 1-12. Keep reading to learn all about today’s featured bookstore, and check back daily for new store profiles, fun tidbits, ordering information, and more!
Day 1
On this first day of indies, I invite you to check out Pittsburgh’s oldest used bookstore: City Books! Now located in the heart of the Old Allegheny Historic District at 908 Galveston Avenue, this thoughtfully curated used bookstore is a continuous labor of love by store owner Arlan Hess. Come right in during pandemic-adjusted shopping hours or make an appointment to browse the stacks of antique, collectible, used, and new books of all genres, including international works. You can also find hot-off-the-press copies of books by acclaimed Pittsburgh authors like Shannon Reed, Kelli Stevens Kane, National Book Award finalist Deesha Philyaw, and more.
The peaceful atmosphere of City Books is intentional and welcoming, as thoughtful as its clearly stated commitments to racial justice and respect for indigenous peoples. All of the shelves rest on casters to allow for rearrangement, which both adds to the magical, ever-changing feel of the space and makes this cozy store accessible for customers who use wheelchairs or walkers. Please note that the store does have two steps up from the sidewalk at its entrance; a quick call before a visit will ensure that assistance is available if needed.
If you prefer to order online while you support local businesses, you can order any book through City Books’ virtual storefront on Bookshop.org or select new titles from local authors on the store website. City Books also offers a unique feature called Blind Date with a Book, which is exactly what it sounds like: a specially wrapped, mysterious used book sent directly to you.
If you’re looking for a local gem where you can find old and new treasures for the book lovers in your life, then look no further. City Books has a story for you!
STORE DETAILS
City Books
908 Galveston Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233
(412) 321-7323
Current Store Hours: Wed and Sat, 12:00-5:00 p.m.
https://twitter.com/citybookspgh
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Joy Givens is a pun-slinging, hymn-singing storyteller and the lucky mother of two small superheroes. She has published several award-winning short stories and writes children’s and YA fiction to celebrate the fresh, fierce, fantastic side of life. Raised in a big Midwestern family, Joy now lives in the blossoming literary community of Pittsburgh, where she is a proud leadership team member of Pennwriters (www.pennwriters.org) and the PA West region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (www.wpa.scbwi.org).
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