13 book stores. 3 days. The first-ever LA Indie Bookstore Crawl is July 24
Dañiel Martinez has more.
Books can take you to other worlds, times, and next weekend, all over Los Angeles.
That’s the goal of the inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl taking place from July 24 to 26. Book lovers can check out 13 brick-and-mortar stores across the L.A. region in celebration of the little bookstores that can.
A map of the LA region and all the Indie Book Crawl locations.
Independent, but not alone
The idea originated with Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City. She says she was inspired by a similar event in San Diego that has grown in popularity since starting in 2017.
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“They get thousands of people out every year to do it and the stores are mobbed. They say it’s like a holiday weekend in their store with the level of activity,” Caspar said.
Participating bookstores range from Vroman’s in Pasadena to ones with more of a niche, like the Culver City romance bookstore, The Ripped Bodice.
“We’re all different. When you’re working with independent businesses, you’re really getting a lot of personality, and that’s what I think people will experience on this,” Caspar said.
A resurgence, a reality
The crawl comes at a time when the business of bookselling has been completely upended.
The front of Pages, a bookstore in Manhattan Beach.
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Pages
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Linda McLoughlin Figel
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“We are competing with a really hellacious online competitor who sells books oftentimes at a loss, none of us can afford to do that,” said Linda McLoughlin Figel, co-owner of Pages in Manhattan Beach.
But Caspar and Figel say there’s also been a resurgence of interest and appreciation for what bookstores have to offer.
“People have really reverted back to valuing the smell of a book, the touch of a book and that personal connection that you can have by walking into a bookstore,” said Figel.
Passionate sellers and passionate readers
Grace Lee of Montrose is one of those people who loves having a personal connection to bookstores.
Grace Lee stands in front of Once Upon A Time, a children’s bookstore in Montrose.
“If I’m in a new neighborhood or an area of town I’m not usually in, I try to find out where the local bookstore is and stop by,” said Lee.
She frequents Once Upon A Time, a favorite place for her to find gifts and books for her kids and their friends.
Once Upon A Time, a children’s bookstore in Montrose.
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Chandra Wicke Photography
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LA Indie Book Crawl
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She says she’ll be attempting to do the crawl over the three days in between work and her family’s busy schedule.
“I am very ambitious, and so I do want to attempt the full crawl, but we’ll have to see,” said Lee.
How does the crawl work?
A sample passport for the Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl.
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LA Indie Book Crawl
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LA Indie Book Crawl
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Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl
When: Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26
Store entry is free.
A purchase of $10 or more gets you a passport and a stamp. Accrue additional stamps toward prizes with each $10 purchase.
Find details and participating bookstores at the event’s official website.