From the outside, Lawrence’s newest bookstore doesn’t look like much. There’s an open sign in the window and a red banner with the shop’s name, Red Dog Books, hanging off the roof.
But inside, customers will find rows of used books. So many books, some are stacked on top of each other just to fit on the shelves.
Owner Christie House said some customers have likened the shop to the wardrobe in C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
“It’s like that shock factor,” House said. “You think you’re walking into something small, and then once you’re in here, it’s like, no way.”
If you go
Red Dog Books
📍 7115 E. 46th St.
🕰️ Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday
Find more information on the Red Dog Books Facebook page.
House moved the shop from Greenwood to Lawrence earlier this summer. In Greenwood, she said, there were several other bookstores nearby.
“We were in huge competition,” House said, “So I chose somewhere that there were no other bookstores in a community that I knew needed it.”
Making books affordable
The new store in Lawrence is located in a Census tract where the median household income is between $23,000 and $35,000. That’s compared to the median household income for Marion County at $63,450.
House hopes Red Dog Books allows people to buy affordable books. Many of the books are priced between $1-$3.
The shop also carries what House calls “blessing bags” — bags filled with hygiene and household products for those in need.
“This person that just walked in that’s been struggling for the last five months and couldn’t afford toothpaste, they now can brush their teeth,” House said. “I’ve been homeless. I’ve been living in my car, I know how it is not to be able to afford.”
All genres can be found at Red Dog Books, including nonfiction, contemporary fiction, romance and children’s books — something inspired by her own experiences learning to read.
“I didn’t have a lot of books growing up, but we had access to the library,” House said. “But if books were cheaper, I would have been able to read even more.”
Helping people improve job skills
In addition to offering affordable books, Red Dog Books is also a nonprofit that helps community members develop job skills.
Volunteers help stock shelves, assist customers and run the cash register — all skills that are transferable to other jobs, House said.
“I try my best to work with what skills they have,” House said. “If they’re not going to be super successful working on one task, I will find something else so that they will leave here feeling successful.”
Lily Gutierrez, 15, volunteers at the shop a few times a week with her 14-year-old sister Alexi. On a Tuesday evening in August, the sisters were unboxing and categorizing books.
“I’ve learned a lot of people skills with how much I’ve been helping around here,” Lily said.
Lily and Alexi’s mother, Jessica Gutierrez, found out about the volunteer opportunities from Facebook. She said her daughters aren’t old enough for many jobs. Volunteering at Red Dog Books gives them a chance to practice being responsible.
“Alexi wanted to go do something, but she had already promised Christie that she would come here and volunteer,” Jessica Gutierrez said. “No, she’s not getting paid and it’s not an actual job, but it’s an obligation.”
Vaughan Lamb, 19, volunteers at Red Dog Books several times a week. He said he’s learned a lot through volunteering, such as bettering his organizational skills. He’s from Lawrence and is happy the city now has a bookstore.
“It’s been heartening to see a lot of people come here to buy books, like teachers and parents buying children’s books,” Lamb said. “A lot of good can happen here in Lawrence.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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