Legendary American poet Robert Frost once said, “The first thing I do in any town I come to is ask if it has a bookstore.”

Frost would’ve really loved Cleveland.

On Saturday, April 26, 18 of Northeast Ohio’s local bookshops will take part in the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day—a nationwide celebration in support of indie-owned bookstores. From a region-wide bookstore crawl to author readings, signings, giveaways, discounts, treats, and kid-friendly activities, Cleveland’s literary scene is pulling out all the stops.

“I think the really cool thing about Cleveland bookstores is the community—how we’re doing this Indie Bookstore Day event, all of us talking to each other,” says Max Frazier, who, with his wife Alicia co-owns Medina’s Black Cat Books and Oddities, and helped organize this year’s bookstore crawl. “We’re all working together like one big team. Yes, other cities might have cool bookstores, but I don’t see them come together like Cleveland’s do.”

Independent Bookstore Day began in 2014 in California and is now organized by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), with more than 1,600 bookstores participating in all 50 states. Supporting independent bookstores helps keep money in the local economy, reduces environmental impact via shorter supply chains and less packaging, and strengthens community ties through events, partnerships, and charitable giving, according to the ABA.

“We really believe that independent bookstores have a unique opportunity to be a safe space—almost like a cultural center—for the communities they serve,” says Alicia Frazier. “But the only way they survive is with the support from people who choose to purchase independent.”

She says she hopes Independent Bookstore Day helps more people discover stores they didn’t know were nearby.

“We get people asking if we can price match Amazon,” Alicia says. “The reality is, we can’t—or we wouldn’t be in business. Amazon often sells books for less than what we pay the publisher. But that extra $5 or $10 spent at an indie store keeps the lights on, pays employees, pays rent, and goes right back into local events and programming. It is actually more of a value to you to keep the bookstore in your community.”

“It’s a nice little [community] hug, I’ll call it,” she adds.

Join the movement
This year’s Indie Bookstore Day offers a few ways to join in. Shoppers can explore on their own, follow along Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl, or take part in the NEO Indie Bookstore Passport experience, curated this year by Black Cat Books and Oddities.

Pick up your NEO Indie Bookstore Passport at any of the participating bookstores through April 26.The passport can be used in one of two ways: Follow the suggested route and itinerary over Bookstore Day weekend for the full experience—complete with the events and specials—or take your time and visit participating shops throughout the remainder of April and May. While the extended version doesn’t include all of Saturday’s festivities, participants can still earn a discount by collecting stamps from 10 of the 18 stores by May 31.

Participating stores are offering passports for pickup through April 26, or you can print one from Black Cat’s website.

Each bookstore visit earns a stamp, and at your final stop, you’ll receive 20% off your purchase. Some restrictions apply, and some stores offer alternate discounts, which are noted on the passport.

Alicia says her team poured a lot of love and care into creating the passport, mapping it out so every stop could be hit in a single weekend. The route includes drive times, coffee breaks, and meal stops for anyone attempting the full crawl.

“Cool Beans [coffee shop] in Medina will have book-themed coffee specials,” she says. “And there’s a big book fair happening [at Mahall’s] in Lakewood on Sunday, so you can keep the momentum going.”

Alicia adds that the crawl isn’t just about bookstores. “We’re also trying to support smaller, independently owned cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants by including them in the itinerary, too.”

The events
Read on for a peek into each participating bookstore and what they have planned for Indie Bookstore Day.

Appletree Books, 12419 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights
Appletree Books has been a Cleveland Heights Cedar Fairmount neighborhood favorite since 1975. This thoughtfully curated shop has something for every book lover—new books for kids and adults, puzzles, candles, journals, and small gifts.

Appletree is known for wearing its community love on its sleeve—and on its walls and in its windows—featuring a different local artist each month on the Artist Wall and spotlighting a neighborhood organization in the front display. This month, for example, the window features the Cleveland Sight Center.

To mark Indie Bookstore Day, Appletree (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will donate a portion of the day’s sales to local non-profit Seeds of Literacy.

Events at the Appletree include handmade cards by local artist Susan Stagno (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.), a Literary Cleveland Poetry Crawl stop with Georgie Bilgere, Amy Hughes, Katie Daley, and Damien McClendon (12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.), and author visits from Molly McGuigan (2 p.m. to 3 p.m.) and Thomas Swick (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the balcony).

Black Cat Books & Oddities is as much about the experience as it is the books.Black Cat Books and Oddities, 420 S. Court St., Medina
This store feels like immersive art or a lesson in set design—or, better yet, the setting of its own story. A visit to Black Cat is as much about the experience as it is the books.

The shop first opened in a historic Victorian house in 2023 and expanded into a second house next door the following year. Each of its 10 book- and gift-filled rooms is full of character, with room names inspired by literary favorites like The Secret Garden, Sherlock’s Study, and the Edgar Allan Poe–inspired Raven’s Roost.

For Indie Bookstore Day, Black Cat (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) is giving the first 50 shoppers a free tote, some packed with surprise gift cards and prizes (worth showing up right at 9 a.m.). Hourly giveaways begin at 11 a.m. in House 1, with prizes like signed books, swag bags, and more.

The Browsing Room Bookstore & Cafe, 1301 E. 9th St., Cleveland
With a wall-to-wall front window full of lush plants, The Browsing Room is warm and welcoming at first glance. Located inside the Galleria at Erieview, it almost feels like a library in which you can carry a coffee around—complete with parquet floors, a maze of tall, metal shelves, and oversized wood tables made for spreading out.

There’s seating inside and outside, light pastries and sandwiches on the menu, a mix of new and used books, puzzles, and small gifts. It’s the kind of place you could easily spend the day perusing, studying, or sending emails.

The Browsing Room will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Indie Bookstore Day for coffee, browsing, and passport stamping.

Clevo Books, 1026 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
A haven for translated fiction and nonfiction, Clevo Books began as a publisher in 2015 before opening its first storefront in the 5th Street Arcades in 2022.

Now located in the Playhouse Square District, the shop connects readers with books from around the world. With cozy reading chairs, locally made greeting cards, and a shop cat named Minty, Clevo Books is a place where the stories seem to find you instead of the other way around.

“What we find important about Indie bookstores is that they curate their collections,” says owner Cathryn Siegal-Bergman. “For example, we specialize in world literature translated into English, making our store a gateway to the rest of the world.”

For Indie Bookstore Day, Clevo Books (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) will host a Poetry in Translation reading at 3 p.m. on Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl, featuring Conor Bracken, Joanna Trzeciak Huss, Teresa Villa-Ignacio, and host Philip Metres.

Fireside Book Shop, 29 North Franklin St., Chagrin Falls
If the movie “You’ve Got Mail” had been filmed in Chagrin Falls, Fireside Book Shop would’ve been the setting for Meg Ryan’s The Shop Around the Corner—it has the same vibes, especially from the outside.

The creaky hardwood floors on the top floor let you know just how much of a community staple it’s been since it opened in 1963. And, of course, there’s a fireplace with a mantle adorned in books. With three floors of new and gently used books, along with bestsellers, children’s titles, a huge selection of puzzles, cards, hats, and totes, it’s easy to lose track of time in the best way.

For Indie Bookstore Day, Fireside (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) has a full lineup planned, including a cross-promotion with The Artful Yarn—shop at either store and get 25% off a purchase at the other. The celebrations also include a jigsaw puzzle exchange, balloon twisting, snacks, games, raffle prizes, and 25% off one in-store item.

Flame & Fable owner Nickie Lui is creating a Flame & Fable, 13439 Detroit Rd., Lakewood
The newest bookstore on the passport list, Flame & Fable landed on Detroit Road—and all over TikTok—in early February. Dedicated entirely to romance and fantasy, Flame & Fable feels like a fairytale brought to life—stocked with spicy reads, BookTok favorites, queer love stories, swoony Young Adult selections, and a mix of both indie and traditionally published romantasy gems.

You’ll also find plenty of extras like stickers, candles, and bookmarks. Not sure what to pick? Leave your fate to the enchanted gumball machine. For a quarter, she’ll send you home with a book rec—or a surprise.

“I hope that people find Flame & Fable safe and welcoming, a bright spot where they can come to gush about a book they love, pick up their next adventure, or just come to be around people that love the things they love,” says owner Nickie Lui.

Flame & Fable (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) will feature an author signing, two pop-up shops, raffle baskets, and a new product launch on Indie Bookstore Day, with details revealed on its Instagram throughout the week.

Hexagon Books, 2184 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
Hexagon Books is a beautiful example of how bookstores serve their communities in unexpected ways. The shop’s mission is to highlight diverse literature and cultures through curated books and language classes.

Hexagon Books highlights diverse literature and cultures through its books and language classes.Its collection includes fiction and poetry in translation, titles by underrepresented authors, bilingual children’s books, multilingual poetry, and recent works in Spanish, Italian, and French. Small-group Spanish, Italian, and French classes meet twice weekly, typically in eight-week sessions, focusing on everyday conversation and consistency—great for beginners or travelers.

“We see ourselves as an interactive space for readers and language learners,” says owner Manuel Chinchilla, who has taught Spanish, Italian, and Latin American literature at both the K–12 and college levels. “Our events engage community members in curating sections, participating in book clubs, and getting together for language conversation hours.”

For Indie Bookstore Day, Hexagon (3 p.m. to 8 p.m.) will spotlight its children’s section with 20% off kids’ books and host mini-language lessons in Spanish and Italian for young readers.

The Learned Owl Book Shop, 204 N. Main St., Hudson
A Hudson institution since 1968, The Learned Owl Book Shop fills three floors with books for all ages and interests. This shop is known for its welcoming, old-timey charm, personalized service (including gift wrapping), and a long tradition of author events and community engagement, like frequent partnerships with local schools.

The shop has also teamed up with Libro.fm to offer more than 100,000 downloadable audiobooks, so you can shop locally even when you're listening.

To celebrate Indie Bookstore Day, The Learned Owl, open (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) will host USA Today bestselling author and Akron native Renee Rosen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rosen will sign copies of her latest historical fiction novel about the iconic doll of the same name, “Let’s Call Her Barbie.”

The Thrifty Owl, 152 E. Aurora Rd., Northfield
The sister store of The Learned Owl in Hudson, The Thrifty Owl focuses on used books—from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling. With thousands of gently used fiction and nonfiction titles at reasonable prices, it’s a browser’s dream. The shop also offers special orders for new titles and a trade-in program for store credit.

On Indie Bookstore Day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), visitors who stop by both The Learned Owl and The Thrifty Owl will be entered into a prize drawing and, somewhere in each of the two stores, a hidden Libro.fm Golden Ticket awaits, good for twelve free audiobook credits.

Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights
Maybe it’s the Instagram-famous mural, the maze of rooms carpeted in vintage rugs, or the floor-to-ceiling shelves with ladders and sink-in chairs for reading—because when you close your eyes and imagine a bookstore, it’s Loganberry.

The ornate shelves and ceiling at Loganberry BooksIndependently owned by Harriett Logan since 1994 in the Larchmere neighborhood, Loganberry Books houses over 100,000 new and used titles, including a rare book room that could turn any browser into a collector.

For Indie Bookstore Day, Loganberry (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will kick off Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl with a reading from 11 to 11:30 a.m., featuring One Mic Open’s Eric Odum alongside poets Alana Belle, Chelsea Daniels, James Irby, and Substance McCulloh.

The day-long celebration will continue with author signings, including Dr. Jillian Scudder, Dr. Michele Berger, EM Anderson, Tricia Springstubb, Santiago Jose Sanchez, Judith Neulander, Katie Mazeika, and Linda Whitman with Peg Bobel.

Shoppers can also enjoy vegan comfort food from Squash the Beef, high noon cake, games, kids’ coloring activities, a poetry coaster station, and a hunt for a hidden Libro.fm Golden Ticket—good for a year of free audiobooks.

Mac's Backs, 1820 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
It’s bigger than it looks from the outside, but still snug as you browse, making it feel like you’ve been wrapped in books and community. Mac’s Backs is the kind of place where you can spend a couple of hours exploring and still feel like you missed a corner.

With three floors of new and used books; a drool-worthy wall of classics; standout sections for poetry, graphic novels, and local authors; and even a little vinyl, Mac’s has been a cornerstone of the Coventry neighborhood since 1982.

Mac’s also shares a door with the legendary Tommy’s restaurant—so yes, you can, and should, reward your book haul with a milkshake.

For Indie Bookstore Day, Mac’s will offer 10% off all books, free treats and giveaways, and exclusive merchandise. Festivities also include a stop on Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl at 1 p.m. with poets Ray McNiece, Diana Leupold, Russ Vidrick, Raja Belle Freeman, and Siaara Freeman; live roots music in the balcony with Kevin Richards and Kari Rutushin from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; button-making with Studio Cat, face painting, and a 5 p.m. poetry reading.

Bonus: A portion of the proceeds benefits The Literacy Cooperative and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

MindFair Books is housed in one of the oldest Ben Franklin stores still open today.Ben Franklin | MindFair Books, 13 W. College St., Oberlin
Ben Franklin | MindFair Books is a true Oberlin gem—part bookstore, part art supply shop, part old-school variety store, and completely charming. It’s been around since 1935, housed in a building that dates back to 1867, and is one of the oldest Ben Franklin stores still open today.

MindFair carries a mix of new and used titles with standout sections for literature, poetry, social sciences, and the arts. The staff knows their stuff, the prices are hard to beat, and the author events are top-notch.

On Indie Bookstore Day, MindFair (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will host author and Oberlin alum Isabella Moreno for a reading from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Bonus: If you’re looking to clear some space on your shelves for your new finds, MindFair is also holding a book drive in partnership with Writers in Residence for its Reentry Mentorship Initiative. The organization is collecting books for mentees in local juvenile detention centers—paperbacks only—with a special interest in urban and young adult fiction.

Shelf Life, 2115 Front St., Suite L, Cuyahoga Falls
Shelf Life focuses on making books affordable and accessible to all. Opened in 2021, the shop runs on a low-cost/no-cost model and centers on literacy, sustainability, local authors, and anti-censorship.

Shelf Life in Cuyahoga Falls focuses on making books affordable and accessible to everyone.The shop is a little hidden—tucked into the lower level of a mixed-use building—but it’s filled with heart, well-loved books, and the best prices anywhere.

“Independent bookstores are in a unique and unparalleled position to engage with their local communities in a way that large bookstores and online sellers cannot,” says owner and founder Danielle Sawat. “There’s a reciprocating gratitude between booksellers and patrons—it’s unlike anything I’ve experienced in any other job. I believe all indie bookstores want to support their community, and that’s made possible by those who support indie bookstores.”

Shelf Life (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will celebrate Indie Bookstore Day with a few promos and giveaways, including a chance to win a year of free books. Due to the store’s small size, there won’t be any formal events—just a celebration of what makes indie bookstores so special.

ThirdSpace Reading Room, 1464 E. 105 St., Cleveland
ThirdSpace Reading Room feels like a large living room with cozy seating, a wall of books, and sunlight pouring in. It’s bright, spacious, and full of joy.

Most importantly, Third Shelf is rooted in purpose. Located in Glenville, this Black-owned bookstore and event space offers new, used, and rare books, along with stellar merch and some of the best stickers around.

Opened in 2022 by the team at ThirdSpace Action Lab, the shop carries every book with intention. As the team once shared on Instagram, they don’t make Black History Month book lists—because every book on the shelves is Black history. That purpose is reflected in every corner of the store.

On Indie Bookstore Day, ThirdSpace Reading Room (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will be stop four on Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl, hosting a reading from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with hosts Just C.O.S. and Morgan Paige of Poetry Unplugged, with poets Joshua Brown, Dionne Olivia, and Deanna Thompson. Shoppers will also receive a $10 gift card toward a future purchase for every $50 spent.

Trust Books @ The Jenks, 1884 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
Inside the eclectic Jenks in Cuyahoga Falls, Trust Books isn’t your typical bookstore. The concept is quiet and simple—browse, pick out a book, and leave your money in the register. The selection is modest, but the finds are memorable.

Opened in 2020, Trust Books is part of a plan to recycle, reuse, and rethink existing materials and spaces, sharing its vintage brick building with Yada Yada Coffee, Cuyahoga Canoe Co., and Jenks Fly & Tackle.

Inside, you’ll find everything from vintage glassware, art, local vendors, clothing, Pendleton blankets, books, beer, wine, and more. Is it a flea market? A farmer’s market? A mall? A concert venue? Maybe a little of all four.

Trust Books @ The Jenks will be open for exploration and passport stamps on Indie Bookstore Day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Since the day coincides with Cuyahoga Falls Fest, The Jenks is celebrating both events with live music and performances throughout the building starting at 11 a.m., with food trucks from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Village Bookstore, 8140 Main St., Garrettsville
Every nook and cranny are filled with books at The Village Bookstore. Once described in The Portager as an “overgrown literary garden,” there’s really no better way to put it.

This Garrettsville staple is a place where out-of-print titles and unexpected gems—mostly used, some new—fill every shelf, alongside tote bags, socks, pins, and more. Open since 2005, it’s a treasure hunt for readers who love the thrill of a good find at a good price.

On Indie Bookstore Day, The Village Bookstore will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to stamp your passport, chat about books, and help you uncover your next great read.

The storefront of Visible Voice BooksVisible Voice Books, 2258 Professor Ave., Tremont
Housed above Danny’s on Professor and Crust Pizza, on the second floor of a former funeral home in Tremont, Visible Voice Books is everything you want in a neighborhood bookstore—community-focused, thoughtfully curated, and totally unpretentious.

And, it has wine. Yes, you can sip a latte or a glass of wine from the in-store café while browsing the new and used books.

Visible Voice also offers bookish experiences you won’t find anywhere else, like private date nights with wine and pizza or birthday brunches with mimosas and pastries.

"As an indie bookstore, we take pride in being a haven for offbeat ideas and a home for books marginalized by commercial concerns,” says general manager Abby Robejsek. “We hope to be a place people go to discover something new that expands their perspective."

On Indie Bookstore Day, Visible Voice (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.) will be stop six on Literary Cleveland’s Poetry Crawl, hosting a 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. reading with Stephanie Ginese and TJ “Peachcurls” Maclin of Con Tú, with poets Danny Caine, Kortney Morrow, Alyssa Perry, and Willow Watson. Additionally, hardcover books will be 30% to 40% off.

Walls of Books, 7783 W Ridgewood Dr., Parma
Opened in 2021, Walls of Books in the Shoppes of Parma was once a franchise and is now proudly independent. The shop offers an extensive selection of new and used books for all ages and genres. Additionally, the shop had fun extras like its Blind Date shelf—mystery books wrapped, decorated, and paired with a free bookmark.

To celebrate Indie Bookstore Day, Walls of Books is launching its first-ever Indie Author Book Fair from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“[We have a] wonderful group of local authors across genres and age groups,” says social media manager Olivia Garrett, “we hope our Indie Author Book Fair not only introduces new readers to our store but encourages our community to come together and explore the wonders of reading.”