Independent bookstore

An independent bookshop in Stoke Newington, London

An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.[1] Usually, independent stores consist of only a single actual store (although there are some multi-store independents). They may be structured as sole proprietorships, closely held corporations or partnerships, cooperatives, or nonprofits. Independent stores can be contrasted with chain bookstores, which have many locations and are owned by corporations which often have divisions in other lines besides bookselling. Specialty stores such as comic book shops tend to be independent.

City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, 2010
Shakespeare and Company in Paris 2004

Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons[2] and independents historically supported new authors and independent presses.[3]

  1. ^ "American Booksellers Association". Bookweb.org. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  2. ^ Bookstores are bestsellers – independent bookseller Chapters: A Literary Bookstore is successful – includes related article on starting a bookstore
  3. ^ "North Carolina authors support independent bookstore". Chathamjournal.com. Retrieved November 28, 2011.