The history of local independent bookstores in the United States has been an essential part of our literary and political education. Thomas Paine used bookstores to circulate “Common Sense,” which made the case for independence from Great Britain and seeded the idea of revolution. Later, literature about the suffragists and civil rights was disseminated via bookstores, which historically provided a safe haven for community gatherings and discussions.
Then, between 2010 and 2018 an amazing thing happened: Independent bookstores made a comeback! Between 2019 and 2021, there were 2,023 independent book companies running 2,506 stores—an increase from just 1,401 bookstores in 2009, per the ABA.
In fact, bookstore owners have risked their livelihoods to keep communities informed. As McCarthyism swept 1950s America, many bookstore owners were monitored by the FBI, others were jailed, accused of spreading communist propaganda. When books were banned, such as D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, they could only be purchased in indie bookshops. City Lights in San Francisco, a bookstore that became a haven for Beat poets and progressive politics, first published and distributed Alan Ginsberg’s seminal poem, Howl.
Residents rallied. They decided to support local business, which helps economically sustain and anchor a community. In turn, independent bookstores support schools, libraries and charities, host community events, and provide safe spaces for meaningful conversations about literature. Local bookstores also offer quiet places to explore knowledge. Jacksonville boasts such gems, each with a distinct personality.
