July 10, 2026: So great to learn that indie bookstores are on the rise. In a May 27, 2026, article hosted at Anchorage Daily News by Hillel Italie of Associated Press, the American Booksellers Association reports as evidence that their membership is “nearly triple what it was a decade ago and at the highest level since the 1990s.”
Bookstore owners report that people seem to want in-person connection and a community space. Also, spending at local businesses keeps money in the community, including tax reinvestment. No shipping costs, minimal packaging, stronger communities — the benefits are many. Um, that book smell, anyone?
We can’t cover all the great Alaska locations here, but one happy announcement: Even though we recently got the bad news that Writer’s Block Café and Bookstore closed, we then got good news from Your Alaska Link that Betti’s will open in its location, focusing on books, community events, and family activities by day and events at night. Locals will remember when the Writer’s Block crew, some of who were behind the cool F Magazine years ago, turned a rundown strip club? sex club? into a cool venue right in the heart of Spenard.
In Southcentral Alaska, you can find community and warmth at Fireside Books in Palmer. You can also order from their website and they will pull books on hand for you and order what they don’t have — all while keeping in touch so you can pick them up and browse around their amazing, cozy store. They host writer’s circles, book clubs, author signings, and more; and everyone who works there is so nice.
Another great indie bookstore space is Black Birch Books in Wasilla — female disabled veteran owned, hiring homeless youth. Owner Taylor hosts coffee with a veteran, game nights, and all sorts of other community gatherings, as well as providing refreshments. She also works to build bridges and create dialog among diverse communities of Alaskans. Talk about community-building!
Find an indie bookstore at IndieBound.org. Use local booksellers as sources of information, sign up for their newsletters, purchase gift cards, and meet your friends there as a starting or stopping point for any hang-out. Another way you can support indie bookstores is by buying from Bookshop.org, which describes their mission like this: “We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading ….” Exactly.