BOOKSTORES IN THE DISTRICT
East City Bookshop
East City Bookshop opened in 2016 and is a gathering place for book lovers of all ages. Owner Laurie Gillman was inspired to open the store after her neighborhood bookstore closed and left a void. East City Bookshop offers a selection of toys, gifts, art supplies, and bookish items. Their mission is to provide friendly and warm service, community-oriented events, and support for the literary arts at every reading level. Find events, book clubs for adults and kids, storytime, and personalized gift bundles and concierge shopping.
Location: 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Unit 100, Washington DC 20003
Phone: 202-290-1636
Email: info@eastcitybookshop.com
Website: www.eastcitybookshop.com
Little District Books
Little District Books is a queer-owned Washington, D.C. based independent book store that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors and stories. Their team curates stories to represent the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and aims to uplift local authors, independent publishers, and increase access to queer literature. Check out their curated surprise gift boxes, subscription boxes, and community events.
Location: 737 8th St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 629-2975
Website:www.littledistrictbooks.com
Lost City Books
Lost City Books is owned by Adam, a veteran and dog-lover, a long-time resident of DC, and an enthusiastic disseminator of books. Their small team is a collection of some of DC’s coolest kids: artists, educators, musicians, writers, and—of course—avid readers all coming together to enrich this unique environment. Check out their author events, a quarterly reading series, and book clubs.
Location: 2467 18th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20009,
Phone: 202-232-4774
Email: oracle@lostcitybookstore.com
Website: www.lostcitybookstore.com
Loyalty Bookstores
Loyalty Bookstores was founded by Hannah Oliver Depp, a Black and Queer Bookseller who has spent her career working to diversify the book industry and better serve the powerful communities of color and queerness. When Christine Bollow joined and became co-owner, she brought events experience and perspective as a Queer, disabled, and biracial Filipina bookseller. Check out their subscription boxes, membership programs, and community events.
Locations:
Petworth | 843 Upshur Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
At the DC Pop Up | 1155 Dahlia St NW, Washington, DC 20012
Silver Spring | 923 Gist Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email: info@loyaltybookstores.com
Little District Books
Little District Books is a queer-owned Washington, D.C. based independent bookstore that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors and stories. Their team curates stories to represent the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities and aims to uplift local authors, independent publishers, and increase access to queer literature. Check out their curated surprise gift boxes, subscription boxes, and book clubs.
Location: 737 8th St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 629-2975
Website: www.littledistrictbooks.com
Mahogany Books
Mahogany Books is a Black-owned, family-run and operated independent bookstore. The store was founded in 2007 to meet the literary needs of readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora. For the first ten years, they were solely online, but in 2017 they opened their first physical location in Anacostia, and in 2021 they opened a second location in National Harbor. Check out their upcoming events, curated reading lists, and podcast network.
Locations:
Anacostia | 1231 Good Hope Rd., SE Washington DC 20020
National Harbor | 121 American Way, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Phone: (202) 844-2062
Email: info@mahoganybooks.com
Website: www.mahoganybooks.com
Politics and Prose
Politics and Prose began in 1984 as a small store opened by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade, with three employees including the founders. It’s grown to three locations and employs over 100 staff. Under the current owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine Politics and Prose continues to focus on cultivating community and strengthening the common good through books, programs, and a respectful exchange of ideas. They’re committed to the values of independence, inclusion, and diversity. Learn about events, classes, trips, and book clubs, and subscriptions.
Locations:
Northwest DC | 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Union Market | 1270 5th Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
The Wharf | 610 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Phone: (202) 364-1919
Website: www.politics-prose.com
The Potter’s House
The Potter’s House is a nonprofit café, bookstore, and event space in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Since opening in 1960 they’ve been committed to deeper conversation, creative expression, and community transformation. In our rapidly changing city, in which development often means displacement, it’s is space to build relationships across differences, envision just alternatives, and grow movements. Check out their community service and upcoming events.
Location: 1658 Columbia Road Northwest, Washington, DC, 20009
Phone: (202) 232-5483
Website: www.pottershousedc.org
Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe
Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe was founded by Shirikiana and Haile Gerima and named after the internationally acclaimed film SANKOFA they produced. Its symbol, the Sankofa Bird, looks backward, constantly checking as she moves into the future. Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe is liberated territory that hopes to be a place where thoughtful consideration of the past and future can take place via books, films, and programming particularly generated by and about people of African Descent. Check out their upcoming events, filmmaking institute, and cafe.
Location: 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Phone: (202) 234-4755 Store
Website: www.sankofa.com
Second Story Books
Since its purchase by Allan Stypeck in 1974, Second Story Books has grown from its small second floor location in northwest Washington, D.C. to become one of the largest used and rare bookstores in the world. During the pre-internet era of bookselling, Second Story Books had multiple locations from Alexandria to Baltimore, including the famous Georgetown Saville Bookstore location. With the growth of the internet, Second Story Books consolidated its brick-and-mortar presence into two current locations, Dupont Circle and Rockville. Check out their newsletter, services, and catalogs.
Locations:
Dupont Circle Store | 2000 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
Rockville | 12160 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20852-1708
Phone: (202) 659-8884
Website: www.secondstorybooks.com
BOOKSTORES IN MARYLAND
Kensington Row Bookshop
Kensington Row Bookshop sells new, used, and collectible books, along with cards, journals, notebooks, posters, puzzles, and literary gifts. Check out their page featuring local authors and their new podcast with author interviews.
Location: 3786 Howard Ave., Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-949-9416 (text or email preferred)
Email: krbemail77@gmail.com
Website: https://www.kensingtonrowbookshop.com
People’s Book
People’s Book opened in 2023. Owner Megan Bormet is a mom and former educator. When she moved to Takoma Park, she was looking forward to spending a lot of time in her local bookstore. There wasn’t one, so she opened her own. The store hosts a free story time for kids every Sunday morning, along with many other events, book clubs, and even a zine subscription box.
Location: 7014-A Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: (240) 641-8979
Email: info@peoplesbooktakoma.com
Website: www.peoplesbooktakoma.com
Wonder Book (Frederick Location)
A bookseller since 1980 and online since 1997, Wonder Book is passionate about books, whether used mass markets, five-figure rare collectibles, or new publisher’s overstocks. With over four million books, Wonder Book operates three large retail stores in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and a 111,000 square foot warehouse for Internet, bulk, designer, and export sales. Check out their Books by the Foot service, #BookRescue and classic film series.
Location: 1306 West Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21703
Phone: (301) 694-5955
Website: www.wonderbk.com/retail
Wonderland Books
Wonderland Books is an independent bookstore in the heart of Bethesda selling books for readers of all ages. It opened in December 2024. The store was founded by Gayle Weiswasser and Amy Joyce. A lawyer and communications strategist, Weiswasser has written the book review blog Everyday I Write The Book since 2006 and has co-hosted The Readerly Report podcast since 2017. Joyce is an award-winning journalist who spent three decades at The Washington Post as a business reporter, workplace columnist, and the editor of On Parenting. Check out their author events and newsletter.
Location: 7920B Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-347-7136
Email: info@wonderlandbooks.com
Website: www.wonderlandbooks.com
BOOKSTORES IN VIRGINIA
Bard’s Alley
When Jen Morrow opened Bard’s Alley in 2017, she wanted to create a space where young and old could gather to exchange ideas, receive personalized book recommendations, and discover new books and local authors. Bard is an allusion to Shakespeare but also the long tradition of poets as storytellers. Check out their bookish subscription boxes, book clubs, and events.
110 Church St. NW, Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (571) 459-2653
Website: www.bardsalley.com
The Company of Books
The Company of Books is a not-for-profit community used bookstore located in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. Check out their book clubs and other community events.
Location: 2200 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
Phone: 703-299-3080
Email: TCBdelray@gmail.com
Website: www.tcbdelray.com
Old Town Books
Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Old Town Books, is a general interest bookshop focusing on building bookish community. A lifelong love of reading, writing, and music led owner, Ally Kirkpatrick, an Alexandria native to open Old Town Books in 2018. The store’s children’s and young teen section has expanded and will soon be a whole new bookshop, Old Town Books Junior, located next door to the main shop at 128 South Royal Street. Check out their many book clubs and author events.
Location: 130 S. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 647-9749
Email: hello@oldtownbooks.com
Website: www.oldtownbooks.com
One More Page
Founded in 2011, One More Page Books, a woman-owned independent bookstore in North Arlington, is a place of welcome and discovery where a love of reading is cultivated alongside friendship, acceptance, and connection. They strive to be a gathering place for the community and nurturing environment for diverse authors and readers. One More Page curates a wide selection of books, puzzles, chocolate, wine, and more. Check out their author events, puzzles, and chocolate.
Location: 2200 N Westmoreland Street #101, Arlington, VA 22213
Phone: (703) 300-9746
Email: online@onemorepagebooks.com
Website: www.onemorepagebooks.com
Scrawl Books
Scrawl Books supports local literacy efforts and freedom of speech and strives to reflect and contribute to the diversity of Reston, Herndon, and the surrounding area. Owner Rachel Wood, who opened the store in 2015, is a former librarian with over 20 years of experience connecting books with people. Check out their book bundles and subscriptions, community support programs, and events.
11911 Freedom Dr., Reston VA 20190
Phone: 703-966-2111
Email: info@scrawlbooks.com
Website: https://www.scrawlbooks.com