The Indie Bob Spot: City Books

City Books, Pittsburgh, PA

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Readers, how often have I told you that the experience of visiting an independent bookstore is much more fulfilling than simply clicking "submit" and buying online? Yes, I know I'm preaching to the choir but EVERY single bookstore is unique and special for me. Such was the case, again, at City Books in Pittsburgh, located on the Northside in the Allegheny West neighborhood. My visit began with a history lesson of the Allegheny area and its relationship to Pittsburgh (at one time, two different towns). Also, the proliferation of authors that have lived in the vicinity of the bookstore including Willa Cather, Thomas Bell, Michael Chabon, Nellie Bly, David McCullough, to name a few and EASILY over 100 more (and they're all listed on Wikipedia). Owner Arlan H. used to lead historical walking tours in Pittsburgh and taught college level literature and creative writing so to say she is knowledgeable is an understatement.

And then she became a bookstore owner at the oldest bookstore in Pittsburgh, City Books, in 2015. She is just the second owner of a business that began in 1984. She no longer gives walking tours but is now the custodian of a space filled with used books and a few new ones by local authors. They also carry some limited sidelines including candles, postcards, and store t-shirts. Arlan and the store are stars on Tik-Tok and Instagram and approximately 40% of their sales are made through those sites and I would encourage you to follow the store on either of these. You can also support the store online through bookshop.org, a site conceived during the pandemic to help indies.

City Books is smallish in size but is able to host occasional events off-site. One of my favorite things here is what they host in the bookstore. They support a writer-in-residence program and have a perfect area in the back of the store where they allow accepted applicants to "set-up shop."

I was reminded by Arlan what I have heard from MANY other bookstores that the pandemic was a time of excellent business. In Arlan's words, customers were enthusiastically supporting the store. But business has slowed here a bit. Come on people! I've given you some tools to work with here. Buy online via several methods or better yet, pay them a visit. Embrace this part of Pittsburgh history and propel them onward into a successful future. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: The Story of A Bad Boy, Thomas Bailey Aldrich. Originally published as a book in 1870, this is a semi-autobiographical story of the author's childhood (pre-Civil War) growing up in New England. Like kids of any era, he and his friends had numerous capers. I loved this book because of what you learn about this time in history. Considered part of a new genre at that time called, Bad Boy Genre, this author was a contemporary of Mark Twain. Recommended.

CURRENLY READING: Lightning Down, Tom Clavin.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: The Postcard, Anne Berest. City Books t-shirt.