10 DFW Independent Bookstores to Check Out and Stick It To The Man

Odds are, if you pick up a used book, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had his hands on it at some point, as Amazon accounts for over 60% of book sales. That means Bezos can afford to lose your book business, especially since he’s probably taking half your paycheck at Whole Foods anyway.

Meanwhile, Texas school districts are declaring war on books. Yes, really. So, being that it’s banned books week now through Oct. 11, we thought there would be no better time to remind you to drop some of North Texas’ best indepedent bookstores.

Of course, most are familiar with the Dallas-headqaurted beacon for affordable books, Half Price Books. But there’s also a bevy of lesser-known indie hideaways all over Dallas-Fort Worth, so do your part to support local businesses. Better still, a conversation with a cool indie book seller might point you to new, surprising reading adventures, as opposed to what’s suggested by Amazon’s software algorithms. Join the fight against anti-intellectualism — real intelligence beats the artificial kind every time. Or just join us in manifesting cozier autumn weather now that it’s October.

Patchouli Joe’s
221 W. Hickory St., Denton
Nestled right off of the square in downtown Denton, Patchouli Joe’s is a relatively new establishment that has a great selection of new and old offerings from your favorite authors. One really cool special feature about this shop is that they sell mystery boxes of books, a perfect birthday present for the reader in your life.

Recycled Books
200 N. Locust St., Denton
Recycled Books is a book powerhouse of North Texas. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you can’t find it without using a keyboard. It opened in 1983 in the basement and first floor of the old Denton opera house, and students, professors, book collectors, and everyone else shop here for all kinds of media, including records, CDs, DVDs, tapes, vintage movie posters, and a great selection of rare books.

Deep Vellum Bookstore & Publishing Co.
3000 Commerce St. (Deep Ellum)
Specializing in small runs of interesting and obscure books by lesser-known authors — at least to American readers — the bookstore and publisher have gathered a loyal fan base. If you are looking for something Texas-centric, contemporary, and obscure, this is your spot. They also make a killer cup of coffee.

Duncanville Bookstore
101 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Duncanville
Duncanville Bookstore has been keeping the suburb interesting for more than 30 years. What started off as a bookstore/porcelain doll shop has morphed into a comic book mecca. If you’re looking for low-key, great graphic novels and comic selections, as well as a few vintage toys, you’re in luck. Try to catch them in between comic book conventions as some of the really good stuff, like a C.G.C. graded Tales from the Crypt #43 (1954), sells fast at the cons.

Interabang Books
5600 W. Lovers Lane, (North Dallas)
“Knowledgeable and experienced book sellers” is their motto. The staff is friendly, well-rea and great at giving suggestions. The store has a large selection of beautiful new books, from classics to the recently released and contemporary. If you are a fan of international books, they have you covered. It’s the kind of place where customers buy a copy of The Great Gatsby for an 11th grader and a copy of The Interim to explore a narrative about living life in the Eastern Bloc 40 years ago.

Poets Oak Cliff Bookshop
506 N. Bishop Ave. (Bishop Arts)
This highly curated, small bookshop and writing studio of local writer Marco Cavazos is not to be missed. The shop is located on the main drag of Bishop Arts and boasts local writers. If you’re local-centric and searching for historical literature about Dallas or Texas in general, the shop has a special section for you. Rich offerings about Dallas’ Little Mexico, long-gone theaters and the city’s historical significance are staples in this shop.

Wild West Comics and Games
400 E. Division St., No. 110, Arlington
What once was the location of Lone Star Comics morphed into Wild West Comics and Games in the heart of Arlington. Located within walking distance of the UTA campus, this bookstore specializes in graphic novels and a massive selection of modern comic books. If you are heading west to check out Jerry World, make a quick stop at Wild West Comics and pick up the latest installment of Faithless.

Wild Detectives
314 W. Eighth St. (Bishop Arts)
How about a tasty cocktail or a cappuccino to go with a curated selection of the latest and coolest books? Even better, how about an intimate setting on a rainy day, with indoor and outdoor tables to enjoy the drinks and books? Even better than that, how about great books, great vibes and a great place to meet other well-read singles? Wild Detectives is all the above and more.

Pan-African Connection
4466 Marsalis Ave. (Oak Cliff)
If Dallas has an MVP in the lifeline of independent books in North Texas, the Oak Cliff stalwart that is Pan-African Connection is its undisputed title holder. Beyond offering books, this 37-year-old Dallas institution also serves as an art gallery, resource center and crux of the community. A formidable tool for resistance against the state of Texas’ ongoing war against books, Pan-African Connection is preserving history, one banned title at a time. As store owner Akwete Tyehimba told us last month, “You can buy those banned books here…that’s what we’re going to have to do, is support our local stores and buy those banned books.”

Bird’s
6025 Royal Ln. Ste 207 (North Dallas)
All it took was one visit to Dallas’ newest addition to the bookstore lineup for us to laud it as one of the best in the city. When we first visited Bird’s in North Dallas upon its opening last month, we were immediately keen on its slick sophistication. Though it’s somewhat of a standout on this list (it’s located in the posh Preston Royal, after all), we admittedly recognized the change of scenery needed for a good read sometimes. Besides, you’ll likely never catch us complaining about a new haunt to get lost in a book at. If you’re feeling a little more fancy, this is your new go-to.