Page turner: the stacks at Faulkner House Books.
New Orleans' Independent Bookshops
by Paul Oswell
by Paul Oswell
There are a lot of reasons to love and support our local independent booksellers. I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to lazily clicking around in the Bezos bookshop but I’m trying to be better about hitting a local spot first. It’s relaxing to grab a coffee, browse, flick nonchalantly through a few pages and if movies are to be believed, there’s a very good chance you’ll drop a book, reach down for it at the same time as a stranger and instantly fall in love as you both reach for it and make eye contact. You don’t get that at Amazon. Local bookstores are also good for intimate author readings, poetry nights, community events and having passionate experts on hand who can recommend writers and talk literature. Here are some of our city’s best-read locations - support them if you can, they’re a great resource for our city.
Octavia Books
513 Octavia St
2000 was a brave year to open a bookstore, with online business models taking off. This didn’t perturb Tom Lowenburg and Judith Lafitte from opening this welcoming shop, with its cozy aesthetics and in-the-know, friendly staff. Their passion is apparent from the moment you walk in - thankfully that turn-of-the-millenium gamble paid off.
Community Book Center
2523 Bayou Rd
Vera Williams opened this community-focused center in 1983 with $300 in her pocket and a vision. It was a simple but necessary one: a place where people could find books by and about people of African descent. 40 years later, her dream is thriving and you can find everything from kid’s books to Kwanzaa supplies to groceries from African American suppliers.
Blue Cypress Books
8123 Oak St
Elizabeth Barry Ahlquist’s place grew and upgraded over the pandemic, and now boasts an upstairs event space. Lose yourself in the packed stacks, where you’ll find a beguiling mix of new and used titles. There’s a loyal local following, not least thanks to their full calendar of events that lift up authors from New Orleans and beyond.
Tubby & Coo's
432 N Anthony St Suite 305C
Named after the grandparents of owner Candice Huber, this indie store is also located in the neighborhood in which they grew up. They’re another strong believer in community, and they host a slate of events and readings. Strong suits include sci-fi, fantasy, queer writers and material that lands squarely on the nerdy side of the scale.
Frenchmen Art & Books
600 Frenchmen St
One of the oldest bookstores in town, this oasis on a street of live music has been around since 1978. Back then, there were only two bars on the street, and so the shop has seen a lot of changes. It has only had four owners since then, including the wonderful Otis Fennell, who ran things when I lived on Frenchmen around 2012. A great resource for LGBTQ literature and all manner of local writings.
Baldwin & Co
1030 Elysian Fields Ave
There’s a weight of intellectual responsibility that comes with naming your store after the great activist and author James Baldwin. Black-owned and with a focus (though not exclusive) on African-American writers, the in-store coffee shop provides a relaxing background and every time I’ve been, there’s a healthy amount of folk relaxing and enjoying the place. Community-facing operations include lots of free events, onsite tutoring, weekend story times, pairing authors with speaking spots in local schools, and even a podcast .
Faulkner House Books
624 Pirates Alley
William Faulkner used to live in this building, and is now further immortalized by lending his name to this French Quarter institution. There’s even a plaque that lets you know that it’s where Faulkner wrote his first novel, Soldier’s Pay. It’s an intimate space, with books towering all around you, and it feels like a real escape, stepping out of the noise and chaos of the Quarter.
Crescent City Comics
3135 Calhoun St
It’s hard to remember a time when comic culture wasn’t the main driver of the entertainment industry, such is the dominance now of Marvel and DC. However, Owner Les Arceneaux and manager Leo McGovern are keen to look beyond the big names. They have a diverse collection of graphic novels (perhaps the largest in Louisiana) and their staff are dedicated to recommending lesser-known comics outside of what’s now the mainstream.
Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania St
A roller-skating rink from the late 19th century is an unusual spot for an independent bookshop, but owners Carroll Gelderman and Barkley Brafferty have been here since 1980. They’re now very much a garden District community staple, with an especially impressive selection of signed books. There’s also a cute parent/child area for families to check out books together.
Crescent City Books
240 Chartres St
If you’re looking for rare, vintage or out of print books, then this atmospheric little shop is where you should start your search. Some of their volumes are 400 years old, but among the actual antiques, you can also find rarities of all types. It feels like a real treasure trove, and you’re bound to find something remarkable.
Beckham's BookShop
228 Decatur St
With over 50,000 used books for sale, it’s no wonder that Beckham’s has survived since 1967. Set on two floors in the French Quarter, they specialize in non-fiction such as histories, architecture, literature, music, and cooking. They also carry many new titles focusing on New Orleans culture and the South.
Dauphine Books
818 Chartres St
You've likely walked past the boxes of very cheap used books on the doorstep of this former brothel in the French Quarter. Inside, owner Steve Lacey - who has owned the place since 1994 - has amassed around 30,000 volumes by his own estimation. In among the paperbacks looking for new homes are rare and first editions (some dating back to the 17th century), as well as signed copies of celebrity autobiographies and the like.
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Octavia Books
513 Octavia St
2000 was a brave year to open a bookstore, with online business models taking off. This didn’t perturb Tom Lowenburg and Judith Lafitte from opening this welcoming shop, with its cozy aesthetics and in-the-know, friendly staff. Their passion is apparent from the moment you walk in - thankfully that turn-of-the-millenium gamble paid off.
Community Book Center
2523 Bayou Rd
Vera Williams opened this community-focused center in 1983 with $300 in her pocket and a vision. It was a simple but necessary one: a place where people could find books by and about people of African descent. 40 years later, her dream is thriving and you can find everything from kid’s books to Kwanzaa supplies to groceries from African American suppliers.
Blue Cypress Books
8123 Oak St
Elizabeth Barry Ahlquist’s place grew and upgraded over the pandemic, and now boasts an upstairs event space. Lose yourself in the packed stacks, where you’ll find a beguiling mix of new and used titles. There’s a loyal local following, not least thanks to their full calendar of events that lift up authors from New Orleans and beyond.
Tubby & Coo's
432 N Anthony St Suite 305C
Named after the grandparents of owner Candice Huber, this indie store is also located in the neighborhood in which they grew up. They’re another strong believer in community, and they host a slate of events and readings. Strong suits include sci-fi, fantasy, queer writers and material that lands squarely on the nerdy side of the scale.
Frenchmen Art & Books
600 Frenchmen St
One of the oldest bookstores in town, this oasis on a street of live music has been around since 1978. Back then, there were only two bars on the street, and so the shop has seen a lot of changes. It has only had four owners since then, including the wonderful Otis Fennell, who ran things when I lived on Frenchmen around 2012. A great resource for LGBTQ literature and all manner of local writings.
Baldwin & Co
1030 Elysian Fields Ave
There’s a weight of intellectual responsibility that comes with naming your store after the great activist and author James Baldwin. Black-owned and with a focus (though not exclusive) on African-American writers, the in-store coffee shop provides a relaxing background and every time I’ve been, there’s a healthy amount of folk relaxing and enjoying the place. Community-facing operations include lots of free events, onsite tutoring, weekend story times, pairing authors with speaking spots in local schools, and even a podcast .
Faulkner House Books
624 Pirates Alley
William Faulkner used to live in this building, and is now further immortalized by lending his name to this French Quarter institution. There’s even a plaque that lets you know that it’s where Faulkner wrote his first novel, Soldier’s Pay. It’s an intimate space, with books towering all around you, and it feels like a real escape, stepping out of the noise and chaos of the Quarter.
Crescent City Comics
3135 Calhoun St
It’s hard to remember a time when comic culture wasn’t the main driver of the entertainment industry, such is the dominance now of Marvel and DC. However, Owner Les Arceneaux and manager Leo McGovern are keen to look beyond the big names. They have a diverse collection of graphic novels (perhaps the largest in Louisiana) and their staff are dedicated to recommending lesser-known comics outside of what’s now the mainstream.
Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania St
A roller-skating rink from the late 19th century is an unusual spot for an independent bookshop, but owners Carroll Gelderman and Barkley Brafferty have been here since 1980. They’re now very much a garden District community staple, with an especially impressive selection of signed books. There’s also a cute parent/child area for families to check out books together.
Crescent City Books
240 Chartres St
If you’re looking for rare, vintage or out of print books, then this atmospheric little shop is where you should start your search. Some of their volumes are 400 years old, but among the actual antiques, you can also find rarities of all types. It feels like a real treasure trove, and you’re bound to find something remarkable.
Beckham's BookShop
228 Decatur St
With over 50,000 used books for sale, it’s no wonder that Beckham’s has survived since 1967. Set on two floors in the French Quarter, they specialize in non-fiction such as histories, architecture, literature, music, and cooking. They also carry many new titles focusing on New Orleans culture and the South.
Dauphine Books
818 Chartres St
You've likely walked past the boxes of very cheap used books on the doorstep of this former brothel in the French Quarter. Inside, owner Steve Lacey - who has owned the place since 1994 - has amassed around 30,000 volumes by his own estimation. In among the paperbacks looking for new homes are rare and first editions (some dating back to the 17th century), as well as signed copies of celebrity autobiographies and the like.
MORE CULTURE
