The Indy Indie Book Crawl is back for year two, and 27 bookstores are participating from March 20-23.
Each store has its focus – kids books, romance titles or rare classics. But one thing the 27 stores have in common – besides shelves full of books, of course – is the intent to create a sense of community.
One example is The Whispering Shelf, which opened shortly after last year’s crawl. The owner is a former social worker who wanted to create a place where people feel like they belong.
To check out the crawl, you can visit any of the stores for a bookmark, which you’ll use to mark off each spot. After you’re done, you can fill out a form to win prizes.
The list of stores is long, so here are descriptions of each one to help you and your book crawl buddies plan a route.
Indianapolis bookstores
Tomorrow Bookstore
You’re greeted with comfy chairs, art by local artists and quilts made by the owner’s grandma. Check out the shelves on the wall in the front of the store to see what books other readers liked. Tomorrow hosts themed book clubs, including one for international books and another for romance reads.
Pen & Pink Vintage
This Garfield Park shop features classic literature from the 1850s to 1950s with a focus on female authors. Need a journal? Pick up one of the handmade notebooks with recycled vintage art on the covers.
Ujamaa Community Bookstore
Ujamaa is one of the seven Kwanzaa principles, meaning “cooperative economics.” It’s a Black-owned shop on the near-northwest side, run by Flanner House. They sell books written primarily by Black authors and other writers of color. While you’re there, grab a treat from Cleo’s Bodega next door.
Loudmouth Books
Loudmouth uplifts Black, LGBTQ and other minority authors and has a wall featuring banned books. The kid’s room, complete with bright colors and a tent, feels like a summer camp.
Kids Ink Children’s Bookstore
Children can explore books and play with toys in an open space. Kids Ink hosts children’s authors for story times and celebrates seasons with crafts.
Dream Palace Books & Coffee
Dream Palace specializes in used books, with emphasis on LGBTQ+ and art-centric books. Sit down with a book and sip a latte from the café part of the store.
Golden Hour Books
If you’re looking for music nonfiction or academic art books, this is the place to find them. The Midtown Indy shop is also filled with translated literature, nonfiction, poetry, kids’ books and small-press fiction.
Indy Reads
The Fountain Square nonprofit offers more than 150 pay-what-you-can programs like author events, multilingual open mic nights, family story times and High School Equivalency classes. All proceeds from its used book sales support literacy programs.
Irvington Vinyl & Books
It’s the place to find everything from “lovingly curated vintage copies of your favorite classic to radical titles and weirdo finds.” Irvington Vinyl & Books also carries local art, zines, tapes, VHS, and of course vinyl. Non-perishable donations are welcome for the food pantry outside.
The Whispering Shelf
The Whispering Shelf opened soon after last year’s Indy Indie Book Crawl. Its owner is a former social worker who wanted to create a space where people could “just be.” The store has a living room, a play table for kids and free coffee and tea.
Midwest Leak Reading Room
Midwest Leak is a media company that includes the magazine, Midwest Leak. The reading room in their space is meant to be a place where people can find resources and connect with each other.
Pop-up bookstores
Abstract Books
📍 at Dear Mom during the crawl, 212 E.10th St.
Abstract Books has 18,000-plus books in a small store behind a home at 4850 Mooresville Road on Indy’s westside. It’s a tight fit between shelves full of hardback books, with lots of out-of-print titles, so it’s open by appointment only and does most business online. You can make an appointment by calling or texting 317-856-3710.
Poor Taste Books & Vintage
📍 at Dear Mom during the crawl, 2121 E. 10th St.
A married couple, Bryan and Chasney Heck, thrift books to sell at farmers markets and pop-ups. They focus on vintage and weird books. Chasney’s specialty is fiction, arts and poetry. Bryan selects the philosophy books.
Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore
📍 at 3328 E. 10th St. during the crawl
Natalie Pipkin, a mom of two, started a blog called Black Worldschoolers to share resources and stories. Eventually, she created a bookstore on wheels, and started the Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore on a bus. Inside the bus, you’ll find stories celebrating Black stories and joy.
Suburban Indianapolis bookstores
Wild Geese Bookshop
If this shop feels especially homey, it’s because it’s a house that was converted into a bookstore. The cookbook section is in an actual kitchen. Throughout the store, shelves hold kids’ books, science fiction sagas and self-care gifts.
Three Sisters Books & Gifts
📍 7 Public Square, Shelbyville
The homey bookstore, founded by Barbara Rogers and her sisters, sells all kinds of books, along with kids’ books and puzzles. Make sure to stop by their coffee shop, The Bookmark, next door.
Chapter Book Lounge
During the day, readers, remote workers and study groups enjoy the quiet bookstore and comfy seats. In the evening, Chapter Book Lounge turns into a bar with appetizers, cocktails and mocktails. The owners host book clubs, author readings and writer workshops.
Red Dog Books
📍 1001 N. State Road 135, Greenwood
The name of this 9,000-square-foot store was inspired by the original owner’s red Boston terrier. The store sells all genres, but a quarter of the space is dedicated to kids and young adults. There’s a buy-three, get-two free book sale at all times.
Viewpoint Books
📍 548 Washington St., Columbus
Viewpoint Books has been around since 1973. It often features signed editions and hosts silent book clubs that draw a crowd ranging from 21 to 80 years old. Make sure to head down to the “book cellar” in the basement.
Viewpoint Chapter Two
During last year’s book crawl, Viewpoint’s owners were raising money for a new location. Now, Viewpoint Chapter Two is here, also in Columbus.
Fables & Fairy Tales
📍 38 N. Main St., Martinsville
The shop calls itself a “whimsical bookstore for the child in all of us,” with books from every genre and for every life stage. There are also toys, crafts, apparel and products from local businesses.
Curious Squirrel Bookshop
With a mission to create a safe and inclusive space, Curious Squirrel offers books featuring voices from different communities: BIPOC, queer, people who have disabilities and people who are neurodiverse.
Turn the Page
📍 149 N. Walnut St., Westfield
Find the cozy white house downtown, then browse genres including fiction, nonfiction, young adult, mystery and fantasy. Young readers can find their next adventure in the children’s room.
MacArthur Books
MacArthur Books is a busy place. It hosts five book clubs each month: mystery, nonfiction, classics, a drop-in book club and fantasy and science fiction. You’ll usually find a dog or two nosing the treat jar at the door.
4 Kids Books & Toys
📍 4450 Weston Pointe Drive, Zionsville
Named after the owner’s four children, this store is a destination for children’s literature and specialty toys. It hosts 100 events each year and brings in visiting authors.
Black Dog Books
Sophie the black lab will greet you as you enter Black Dog Books in an 1850s house on Main Street. The book store specializes in classics and collectible books, like signed titles and books with beautiful bindings. Take a seat in one of the leather chairs by a fireplace to enjoy complimentary hot drinks and cookies.
Rose Romance Bookstore
📍 450 S. Indiana St., Mooresville
Rose Romance might be a one-genre store, but it still has variety. You can find spicy books, dark romance or heartwarming love stories. Plus, there’s merch for romance-lovers.
Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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