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OUR FAVORITE COZY BOOKSELLERS IN THE TWIN CITIES

Wild Rumpus Books by Kristy Hanson

Photo by Kent Kanouse

I can think of nothing cozier than snuggling up on the couch with a steaming mug and cracking open a book while it weathers outside. You know what I mean when I say ‘weathers’ – rains, sleets, snows, gusts, blusters, etc. Maybe there’s a purring cat or snoring dog nearby. Perhaps there’s a window to gaze out of or a fire crackling nearby and dinner’s bubbling away in the oven.

Well, I can think of one thing that’s just the teensiest bit cozier. Bursting into a crowded bookstore, the fresh smell of paper and ink, a broken-in couch or armchair closeby. The heat hits your cheeks and you take off your mittens to pluck spines off the shelves. A friendly bookseller is nearby, ready to throw recommendation after recommendation into your lap. If you’re lucky, there’s still a cat or dog nearby and plants hanging from the ceiling.

In the Twin Cities, we're blessed with many indie booksellers that fit this bill. Here are our faves:

Wild Rumpus

At first glance, Wild Rumpus appears to be like any other bookstore. At second glance, it quickly becomes apparent that it’s anything but ‘just another bookstore.’ From their indoor spooky shed to the painted ceiling to the enthusiastic booksellers, you can tell Wild Rumpus was inspired (and is maintained by) a healthy admiration for the imagination.

2720 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis · wildrumpusbooks.com

Black Garnet Books

BGB is light and airy with enormous windows, wide aisles, and plants galore. This bookseller features writings by BIPOC authors, with a mission to address inequalities in the publishing and literary world. You can expect to find a thoughtfully curated catalog and a space that whole-heartedly cares about its community.

1319 University Ave W · blackgarnetbooks.com

Excelsior Bay Books

A locally-owned, indie bookshop snuggled into Excelsior’s downtown, this place has been a mainstay of Main Street for almost 25 years. Settle in at their reading area in winter months to page through some bestsellers. During summer months, grab a book you’ve been meaning to read and walk over to Lake Minnesota to bask in the sun.

36 Water Street, Excelsior · excelsiorbaybooks.indielite.org

Other Skies Weird Fiction

A bookstore that celebrates all you weirdos out there — or, at least, all you weird-fiction-loving weirdos. This is a brand spankin’ new bookstore in West St. Paul with an eager purveyor. Inside you can find rare and collectable books, great conversation, and two coffins full of… books.

803 Dodd Road, Saint Paul · instagram.com/otherskiesbooks

Cream & Amber

Not your average bookstore, Cream & Amber serves up coffee, beer, and monthly book subscriptions — their three loves! Started by duo Kacey Hruby Wyttenhove and Katie Terhune in 2019, you'll want to grab a seat on their back patio during warmer months or reserve their community room for your next book club meeting — and enjoy their local brews!

1605 Main Street, Hopkins · creamandamber.com

Thankfully, the Twin Cities is lousy with bookstores. We recommend paying every bookstore a visit, but in particular these:

• Subtext, Downton St. Paul • Magers & Quinn, Uptown Minneapolis • Moon Palace, South Minneapolis • The Bookstore, Pine City • Valley Bookseller, Stillwater