This weekend, celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at one of Tampa Bay’s last remaining independent bookstores.
There’s a party happening at St. Petersburg’s Tombolo Books—located in the Grand Central District at 2153 1st Ave. S—from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Using Record Store Day as its blueprint, publishers produce one of a kind, limited edition books and art pieces that are only available the day of and only at participating bookstores.
Besides the specially released books, Tombolo will also have a kid’s book sale with special rates for teachers. Food Truck Pop Goes the Waffle will be on hand from noon-3 p.m. providing delicious noshes for purchase.
The event is free but reservations are recommended for in-store shopping. Masks are required unless you are sitting in the courtyard, which Tombolo shares with Squeeze Juice Works and Black Crow Coffee. For reservations or more information, go to tombolobooks.com.
And Tombolo isn’t alone in the indie bookstore fun.
A rep for Tampa’s Mojo Books & Music—located at 2540 E Fowler Ave. near the University of South Florida—told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the shop is carrying Indie Bookstore Day’s special printings and running genre-specific sales of its own.
But even if you don’t make it to Mojo or Tombolo, there are even more ways to support the spirit of independent literature. You should support local authors (like Tyler Gillespie) and make sure to include other literary endeavors on your shopping list.
One of our favorites include St. Pete’s Cultured Books. The shop usually hosts a Sunday pop-up at The Well (833 22nd St. S, St. Pete), but on Saturday, Cultured Books will be at the Grand Prix of St. Pete filming an episode of its “Reading Rainbow”-style TV program, “Read About It.” Cultured Books, however, will have a Saturday, April 24 BLC (Breakfast. Literacy. Community) popup at Coastal Creative located at 1st Ave S, St. Pete—from 10 a.m-11 a.m.
And if you don’t want to leave Tampa, the Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum is a nonprofit, indie, veteran and woman owned shop just outside of Ybor City at 1463 Tampa Park Plaza. The venue currently operates on a limited schedule and by appointment; it is, however, Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. More information is on bradlcmuseum.com or by calling 813-944-2122.
Happy reading.
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