Indie bookstores matter
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 23, 2026
Thousands of people took to the streets in subzero temperatures to protest against ICE and Republican President Donald Trump. Masked men, purportedly of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been grabbing people off the streets in Minnesota and hauling them away in unmarked vehicles. Sometimes children walking home from school are taken and whisked away to another state. This, the protesters say, is not a good thing.
2026-01-23 This is licensed under the Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution License. Give attribution to: Fibonacci Blue
Date23 January 2026, 15:53:01Sourcehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/44550450@N04/55058688158/AuthorFibonacci Blue
If you’ve been following my indie bookstore commitment, thank you. I want to add to this conversation a moment happening in the Twin Cities that deserves a pause and a spotlight.
Right now, independent bookstores across Minneapolis–St. Paul are doing so much more than selling books. In the face of intensified ICE activity and ongoing community protests, many of these beloved shops chose to close their doors in solidarity — not out of fear, but as a clear, values-driven act of support for their neighbors.
That closure was part of a broader moment in Minnesota — a statewide economic blackout called a Day of Truth & Freedom — when businesses, workers, and community members paused normal activity to protest ICE’s federal immigration enforcement actions and stand with those being targeted. Indie bookstores joined that pause deliberately, using their platforms to share resources, signal safety, and say: we’re paying attention, and we care.
And now? These bookstores are now open for business and stepping up in ways that remind us exactly what they actually are:
Community anchors
Information hubs
Safe spaces where people feel seen and supported
Here are just a few of the Twin Cities indie bookstores that keep showing up:
Moon Palace Books – A huge new + used book haven in Minneapolis with events, author talks, and a café called Geek Love inside. It’s become a cultural hub, hosting community meetups and partnering on activism and book drives.
Birchbark Books & Native Arts – Founded by Louise Erdrich, this Kenwood bookstore centers Native-authored literature and art, supports language revitalization, and looks like its own little cultural world.
Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers – A whimsical, community-centered shop with books for all ages, incredible children’s sections, and in-store pets. It looks like walking into a storybook.
Once Upon a Crime – A longtime Uptown Minneapolis bookstore that only curates mysteries and thrillers — classics, newcomers, out-of-print gems and collectible editions. It’s a paradise for sleuth lovers and activists alike.
Black Garnet Books – Minnesota’s first Black-owned brick-and-mortar bookstore with a focus on books by Black, Indigenous, and other authors of color, hosted community events, and book drives. Sister to Blackbird Revolt design studio.
Big Hill Books – A cheerful looking indie in Minneapolis’s Bryn Mawr neighborhood with community gatherings, storytimes, open mic nights and book clubs.
Boneshaker Books – A volunteer-run, radical bookstore in Minneapolis focused on leftist politics, activism, and community response. Its shelves are curated to spark conversation and support ongoing movements.
Comma, a bookshop - An independent bookstore in Linden Hills with a clear mission: connection. They carry fiction, nonfiction, and young adult titles, with a special emphasis on Minnesota authors and they also stock gifts from Minnesota makers.
This isn’t just about the books on their shelves — it’s about what these indie bookstores are doing for their community.
Creating a safe space.
Sharing resources (some of them are even helping distribute whistle kits and poster-making materials)
Keeping the conversation alive.
Showing up for the people their communities can’t afford to lose.
So let’s back them up.
You can support Minneapolis small businesses from anywhere in the world. Buy your next read from a Twin Cities indie — the links listed above are Bookshop.org links where a portion of your purchase goes right back to the store.
I’ll keep highlighting indie bookstores and indie authors as long as you keep showing up for them.
This post started as a newsletter. If you want thoughtful, bookish, values-forward dispatches like this landing in your inbox every week — plus indie bookstore love, indie author highlights, and the occasional righteous rant — subscribe and come hang out with me there.
