15 Latinx-Owned Bookstores in the U.S. You Need to Check Out

Book lovers know the joy that comes with browsing the shelves of a bookstore and that experience becomes extra special when you’re in a Latinx-owned bookstore. Every time we want to purchase a Latinx-authored book, we could be supporting a Latinx-owned bookstore, which puts funds right back into the community. Ahead of Independent Bookstore day, we’ve put together a list of Latinx-owned bookstores that are worth supporting all across the U.S. From Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural in Sylmar, California to Palabras Bilingual Bookstore in Phoenix, Arizona, these are all locally owned shops that offer books to benefit our communities, and serve readers of all ages in the form of free or low-cost community events. Read on to learn more about 15 Latinx-owned shops in the U.S. you can shop at when searching for your next librito.

Cafe con Libros Press – Pomona, CA

Cafe con Libros Press is a Latina-run nonprofit bookstore located in downtown Pomona, in eastern Los Angeles County, that has been around for over 20 years. Part of the space is dedicated to a lending library where customers can borrow old and used books for free, or provide a donation if they’d like to keep the book. The other part is a standard bookstore dedicated to marginalized authors, including BIPOC authors, immigrant authors, LGBTQIA+ authors, and local authors. They have a monthly event calendar with book club meetings, kids craft nights, live music and dancing, and movie nights.

Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural – Sylmar, CA

Tia Chuchas Centro Cultural is a Latina-owned nonprofit bookstore and cultural arts center in Sylmar, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley in LA County. For over 20 years, Tia Chucha’s is dedicated to selling books by BIPOC authors to the community—especially Latinx, Native, and Black stories, and multilingual books. They have a coffee and snack bar inside to nibble on while you’re browsing, as well as an art gallery. They host free and low cost arts and literacy programming throughout the year.

The bookstore also offers classes in a variety of mediums and genres including visual arts, music, dance, creative writing, Mexica indigenous language and cosmology, healing arts, culinary arts, young reader storytimes, author events, reentry arts classes, film screenings, and cultural informative workshops. They even have their own press for BIPOC authors through Red Hen Press publishing poetry and fiction.

Steamy Lit Books – Deerfield Beach and Tampa, FL

Steamy Lit Books is owned by a Latina and functions as a bookstore and literary collective focused on romance books by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors with two locations in Florida, one in Deerfield Beach and the other in Tampa. Their goal is to make readers more sex-positive and open around sexuality, self-love, and self-expression. Throughout the year, they host different types of events and collaborate with authors to host book clubs, book signings, book release parties, reader socials, meet and greets, and pop-ups in major cities around the country. In addition to the bookstore, they run Steamy Lit Box, a monthly subscription service where you receive a book each month with specialty self-items. To top it all off, they host an annual Steamy Lit Con, a two-day convention with panels, keynote speakers, and book signing sessions.

The Lit. Bar – Bronx, NY

Since 2019 the Lit Bar has been the only bookstore—as well as the only Afro-Latina owned bookstore—serving the local community in the Bronx. What makes the bookstore special is many things especially its wine and snack menu, complete with breakfast items, a charcuterie board, chocolate bars, and gourmet popcorn making it truly a unique book shopping experience. Throughout the year, the store hosts many events including book launches and signings, and storytimes for kids. They also have adult workshops on different topics like plant care, financial literacy, and journaling. As a Bronx girl herself, J.Lo is a huge fan of this spot.

Libelula Books & Co – San Diego, CA 

Located in San Diego, Libélula Books & Co is a cozy Mexican American-owned bookstore dedicated to Chicano literature. Filled wall to wall with traditionally published and self-published books, stationery, and specialty gifts and goods, they also carry a discount books section in book carts out front. They place a large emphasis on the importance of literacy and frequently collaborate with schools and community spaces to host talks, events, and workshops. This has included literacy-focused and special events like runs and marathons, block parties, book drives, readings, book club meetings, arts workshops, book fairs, and much more!

The Book & Nook – Warwick, NY

The Book & Nook was founded by a former Latina in tech in 202 and is located in Warwick, a town in the southwestern part of Orange County in New York. It started off as a brick-and-mortar store that expanded to an event space where they frequently host storytime sessions for children, paint & sips, book signings, workshops, and book club meetings. Starting in late April 2025, they will be transitioning to a model with pop-ups and community events. In the meantime, their online storefront is still active.

Palabras Bilingual Bookstore – Phoenix, AZ

Palabras Bilingual Bookstore in Phoenix is a bookstore focusing on bilingual books and books by BIPOC authors. As a pillar of the local community, the shop offers curated books with a diversity lens, an art gallery, event space, and community garden. As part of their monthly event line-up, they frequently host writing and poetry workshops, book club meetings, film screenings, open mics, and Sunday brunches with burritos and other Mexican fare.

Judging by the Cover – Fresno, CA

Judging by the Cover is a queer and Latinx-owned shop located in the Central Valley area in California and focused on books by authors from marginalized communities. Guided by DEI values, they prioritize stocking books from BIPOC and queer authors, books in different languages, and books for kids in addition to speciality items. The best part? Whether you’re located in Fresno or not, you can shop their online store and support this indie spot.

Red Salmon Arts – Austin, TX

Red Salmon Arts is a nonprofit bookstore and cultural arts center in Austin that is dedicated to the visibility and celebration of Chicano and Native literature through books, cultural exchange, and knowledge-sharing. Founded by a Chicano who wrote poetry during his time in prison, the bookstore he left behind continues to be a resource center for Chicano, Latinx, and Native working-class communities interested in cultural preservation and social justice.

¡Chau Luna! – Brooklyn, NY

¡Chau Luna! was founded by an Argentine mother and journalist in Brooklyn, NY as a resource for Spanish-language literature for children. Every book is written for a bilingual audience and are sourced from publishers all over the world including Spain, Latin America, and the U.S. There are also materials for teachers in bilingual language programs to assist them in their lesson plans and curriculum building. Additionally, they collaborate with libraries and schools to bring pop-up book fairs to the community.

Re/Arte Centro Literario – Los Angeles, CA

Nestled in the heart of East LA, Re/Arte Centro Literario is a Chicana-owned independent bookstore that is home to books, chapbooks, and zines, by BIPOC authors, particularly those from Latinx communities. Some of their most significant work is done through their event line-up, which includes a chapbook-making workshop series, community block parties, fundraisers, and so much more. They also do important work protesting gentrification in Boyle Heights and supporting affected residents.

Barrio Books – Tucson, AZ

Barrio Books is a Latina-owned bookstore that began as a pop-up book shop that turned into a brick-and-mortar in Tucson. They held book swaps, sold speciality items and gifts from small BIPOC-owned businesses, and holiday parties for the community. Today, it continues to be dedicated to selling and spotlighting books by BIPOC authors through pop-ups across the state and their online store.

Los Amigos Books – Berwyn, IL

Los Amigos Books is known as the only bookstore in Berwyn, a suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, that specializes in selling Spanish-language, books in translation, and bilingual books for children, teens, and adults. Founded by a former elementary school Dual Language Latina teacher, the store is the perfect spot for parents to get books for their multilingual child or schools and teachers hoping to build on and improve their bilingual learning at home. They source their books directly from publishers in the U.S., LATAM, and Spain.

The Guadalupe Latino Bookstore – San Antonio, TX

Founded by a group of Chicano activists, the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore is home to books by BIPOC authors, particularly those with Chicano, Latinx and Native American culture. They are a part of the Performance Artists’ Nucleus (PAN) in order to use supportive funds for events that celebrate Chicano, Latino and Native American culture. They are also one of the first Chicano-led organizations to collaborate with and commission work by Mexican artists and museums. Today, they offer books with a Latinx lens and arts classes led by local community members.

Margin Notes Bookbar – El Paso, TX

If you find yourself in El Paso be sure to stop by the Margin Notes Bookbar. The bookstore offers a full shopping experience that includes coffee, wine, and snacks. At the store, they sell speciality gift items and offer “blind date with a book” days. Some of their events include bookmark-and candle making, arts & crafts nights, book club meetings, Sunday brunches, and markets.