The MN Guide to Independent Bookstore Day 2022

It’s that time, book lovers! On April 30, 2022, indie bookstores throughout Minnesota and around the country will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day. Officially participating stores will have exclusive Independent Bookstore Day items while supplies last—tote bags, advance reader copies (ARCs), mugs, fancy pencils, and more, which usually go fast—and may have sales and other special promotions. Other stores won’t have the official items but are celebrating on their own. You can find all of them in this guide, including three new stores that have opened since last year’s Independent Bookstore Day: the Bookstore in Pine City, the Thinking Spot in Wayzata, and Four Pines Bookstore in Bemidji.

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Minneapolis | St. Paul | Greater Twin Cities Metro | Outside the Metro

The Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport is back for another year—pick one up at any of the participating metro-area stores, listed on the Rain Taxi website and noted in the listings below, between April 23 and April 30. Each store visit during this week earns you a passport stamp that activates a coupon you can use on another visit. Collect 10 stamps to activate all the coupons; collect all 19 stamps for a chance to win one of the literary prize packs or the grand prize: a set of books, one selected by each of the participating bookstores.

The Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap, created by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA), is also back. Aside from this being a great tool to find a bookstore near you, you can win prizes here by shopping at any of the stores featured on the roadmap (either online or in person) between April 30 and next year’s Independent Bookstore Day on April 29, 2023. Take a picture of your purchase and post it on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with the phrase “I shop at indie bookstores” and the hashtag #BookstoreRoadmap, plus tag the store in the post. MIBA will randomly select one entry each month to win a $50 gift card to the bookstore of the winner’s choice—and on next year’s Indie Bookstore Day, the association will select one grand-prize winner from all of the year’s entries to win a $500 gift card. The more stores you shop at and tag, the more likely you are to win the grand prize. Because the Bookstore Roadmap includes most (but not all!) independent bookstores in the state, we haven’t noted participation in the list below.

As in the past, both the passport and the roadmap feature illustrations by Twin Cities cartoonist Kevin Cannon.

Rain Taxi/Midwest Independent Booksellers Association

Nationally, Libro.fm is having a $5 sale on select bestselling audiobooks from April 25 through May 1 and offering the chance to win Libro.fm merch. IndieBound has also been hosting a series of virtual author events throughout the week.

For more news and info, follow IndieBound on social media or visit IndieBookstoreDay.com.

COVID-19 Note: Many stores on this list have adjusted their hours and operations due to the ongoing pandemic. Although we have included information on mask policies when available, be sure to double-check store hours and policies before visiting in person. In addition, we know our readers include people of all vaccination statuses and levels of vulnerability and encourage everyone to take these factors into account when deciding whether to attend an in-person event. Lots of Minnesota indies offer curbside pickup and/or free or affordable local delivery for orders, and some of the events and giveaways listed here are happening virtually or outside, so there are ways to support great businesses without shopping indoors.

Twin Cities Geek urges all eligible Minnesotans to get vaccinated and boosted and take all appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and the people around them. For more information and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, visit TwinCitiesGeek.com/COVID19.

This list may be updated after initial publication as more information becomes available. All sales and events below are on April 30 except for the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport (as described above) and where otherwise noted.

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St. Paul | Greater Twin Cities Metro | Outside the Metro

Minneapolis

Babycake’s Book Stack is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. The bookmobile will be parked alongside Moon Palace Books (more on them below) from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and will have story time, giveaways, live music by Wenso Ashby, and special guest Eric Childs of Mind’s Eye Comics. Three authors will be reading, signing books, and/or leading an activity: Stephanie Watson (Pencilvania) at 10:30, Mélina Mangal (Jayden’s Impossible Garden) at 11:30, and Sarah Warren (A Spectacular Birdie) at 12:30. And at 2:00 p.m., Rekhet Si-Asar of In Black Ink will have a discussion on the history and future of Black publishing houses. Babycake’s notes, “To maintain COVID safety, a tent will be set up for the open air festivities.” You can find more details on their calendar.

Birchbark Books and Native Arts in Kenwood is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport.

Boneshaker Books in Seward will be giving out 10% off coupons to anyone who stops in the store Wednesday through Saturday that can be redeemed on May 1 or later. There will also be an “Amazon is Evil” T-shirt raffle for anyone who purchases anything.

The Book House in Dinkytown is offering 20% off poetry books all month long.

DreamHaven Books and Comics in South Minneapolis is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport.

Eat My Words Bookstore in Northeast is hosting Ruben Rivera, author of Z is for Zapatazo: Poems between the Spaces, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The Irreverent Bookworm in South Minneapolis is holding a combined celebration of Independent Bookstore Day and Beltane and will be offering 15% off all gardening books, tarot and oracle decks (except locally crafted decks), and all witchcraft and magic books/supplies. You can enter to win one of three $30 gift certificates, and if you wear a flower crown you’ll receive a coupon for 10% off your next purchase (redeemable online or in store). The Irreverent Bookworm has free shipping within Minnesota on orders over $25.

Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Uptown is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport and will have exclusive Bookstore Day items available.

Mayday Books on the U of M’s West Bank is offering its usual discount of 15% off paperbacks and 20% off new hardcover books.

Moon Palace Books in Longfellow is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. Moon Palace is partnering with Arbeiter Brewing next door for a special promotion: the first 50 people who buy a crowler at Arbeiter on Saturday get a $5 gift certificate to Moon Palace, and folks who buy something at the bookstore that day will get a coupon for $2 off a tap beer or crowler. The store is also partnering with publisher Europa Editions for a virtual event at 7:00 p.m. Central on April 30 to celebrate the release of Mieko Kawakami’s new novel, All the Lovers in the Night, featuring the author in conversation with Nadja Spiegelman, editor-in-chief of Astra Magazine. Find more information about accessing this event on the Moon Palace events page.

Once Upon A Crime in Whittier is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. The store encourages visitors to wear masks.

Paperback Exchange near Lake Harriet is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. The store will be opening at 9:00 a.m., and all used children’s, teen, and YA books will be buy one get one free.

Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers in Linden Hills is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. There will be a table outside the store (weather permitting) with IBD exclusive giveaways and regular browsing inside, including some limited IBD items. The store will be open for in-person browsing from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is requiring masks for all customers over the age of two.

Other Minneapolis bookstores to visit in person or online (be sure to check hours and operations) include:

• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers in the North Loop
• Milkweed Books in downtown Minneapolis (currently operating online only—though the Open Book building reopened to the public on April 1 with a brand-new website, and Milkweed will be back sometime this spring)

Also, we got some exciting news earlier this month about Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore and Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore, which burned down in 2020: a post on the ongoing GoFundMe campaign announced that the Uncles have closed on a new location at 2716 East 31st Street, just east of the former location, and the team hopes to open in June 2022. In the meantime, you can still buy select books online.

St. Paul

Black Garnet Books, currently operating online but opening a physical store in fall 2022 in the Midway neighborhood, is offering free shipping on all orders on April 30 with the code “IBD22.”

Next Chapter Booksellers in Macalester-Groveland is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. Authors Diane Wilson (The Seed Keeper) and Marcie Rendon (Murder on the Red River) will be in the store at noon and 2:00 p.m., respectively, and the store will have IBD Blackwing pencils available. Learn more on the Next Chapter event page. The store encourages visitors to wear masks.

Red Balloon Bookshop on Grand Avenue is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. The store will be hosting outdoor fun all day: a puppet show by Drew Brockington (CatStronauts) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., live music by the Four Tones from Edina High School from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and general fun on the patio, including bubbles, games, and the chance to win prizes. Masks are required inside the store for everyone age two and up.

Storied Owl Books in Macalester-Groveland, which reopened to in-person browsing this month, is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. Masks are required, and there is a 10-person limit in the store. Customers will be able to get their passports stamped outside.

SubText Books in downtown St. Paul is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. There will be a special discounted table featuring Jeff Deutsch’s In Praise of Good Bookstores from Princeton University Press and other new books and bookseller favorites. SubText will also be announcing a summer of celebration in honor of the store’s 10th anniversary. The store welcomes masking.

Winding Trail Books in St. Anthony Park is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport. The store is open extended hours, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and will be holding book raffles at noon, 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.

Other St. Paul bookstores to visit in person or online (be sure to check hours and operations) include:

• Against the Current in Macalester-Groveland
• Midway Used and Rare Books in the Midway neighborhood

Greater Twin Cities Metro

Avant Garden in Anoka, which added a bookstore to its coffee shop earlier this year, will be celebrating with “literary latte and Lotus specials” and hosting an author visit yet to be announced at the time of this writing.

Cream and Amber in Hopkins is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport and will be offering 15% off all staff picks as well as food and drink specials. The store is also hosting Mindy Mejia and Jess Lourey for author signings.

Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport and will be hosting authors Meg McAndrews Cowder (Plant Grow Harvest Repeat) at 11:00 a.m. and Mikaela Casey (Lenny the Loon) at 1:00 p.m.

Lake Country Booksellers in White Bear Lake is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport.

The Thinking Spot, which opened in November in Wayzata, is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport.

Other metro-area bookstores to visit in person or online (be sure to check hours and operations) include:

• Daybreak Press Global Bookshop in Arden Hills (formerly located on the U of M’s East Bank)

Outside the Metro

Back Forty Books in Two Harbors will be offering 10% off new books and a free gift with purchase while supplies last.

Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery in Park Rapids (which is celebrating the seventh anniversary of Beagle Books & Bindery and Sister Wolf Books merging) will be giving out cupcakes and lemonade, prizes, and a free book with every purchase. Author Jeanne Cooney will also be in the store from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to sign copies of her book, It’s Murder, Dontcha Know?

Buffalo Books & Coffee in Buffalo will have official Independent Bookstore Day items and will be giving away a free IBD tote filled with goodies to the first 10 people who spend $75. There will also be drawings for prizes, including in-store gift cards and other items.

The Bookstore, which opened in Pine City earlier this month, will be offering 30% off all used books plus giveaways for adults and children.

The Bookstore at Fitger’s in Duluth is hosting three author events, multiple-prize raffles, light refreshments, and an author recommendation scavenger hunt/bingo game—some of the store’s favorite authors have recommended their favorite books, and you can fill in your bingo sheet by matching the author to their recommendation. Watch the Facebook event page for more details to come. In addition, all week starting April 24, different stores around the Fitger’s building are hiding special giftwrapped books in their eaves and shelves. If you find a book, you get to keep it—and if you bring it to the bookstore, you get a bonus gift.

Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wisconsin, is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport.

Content Bookstore in Northfield will have official Independent Bookstore Day merchandise available starting at 10:00 a.m. Enter to win the Tote of Contentment—“a canvas bag of bookish riches”—with any purchase, and get a free IBD tote bag with a purchase of $100 or more or buy one for $15. All Content swag (hats, totes, tees) will be 10% off all day, and if you buy three items, you get 20% off all three (excludes stickers). And there will be a Stupendous Scavenger Hunt with a chance to win a $25 gift card every hour. Finally, there have been two other activities going on since Wednesday, April 20: a “Why I Love My Indie Bookstore” art contest for kids of all ages (pick up an entry form from Kids’Content) and bookstore and bookseller trivia on Facebook and Instagram.

Driftless Books and Music in Viroqua, Wisconsin, will be open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Dragonfly Books in Decorah, Iowa, is hosting author Rolf Svanoe (The Beast in the Pulpit) from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Fair Trade Books in Red Wing is offering live music, giveaways, snacks, and special offers on used books.

Four Pines Bookstore in Bemidji will have kids’ story time at 11:00 a.m. and prizes and treats all day.

At Little Professor Book Center in Owatonna, everything except magazines will be 20% off.

Paperbacks and Pieces in Winona will be offering 10% off storewide (including all clearance), free books and balloons for kids while supplies last, a live raffle, and official Independent Bookstore Day items. The store is also hosting five authors throughout the day: Shawn Patrick Boyd (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.), Jenny Baertsch (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.), Bud Hoekstra (10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.), N. Daniel (12:00–4:00 p.m.), and Heather Edwards (1:00–3:00 p.m.).

Pearl Street Books in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, which is under new ownership, will be holding a giveaway for a $25 store gift certificate.

Scout & Morgan Books in Cambridge is having a storewide 20% off sale on all in-stock new and used books. Official Independent Bookstore Day items will be available for sale, and shoppers can get free books and gifts with book purchases.

Sweet Reads in Austin will have various freebies, hourly drawings, and treats, and Regina Downing will be playing ukulele and showing her children’s books from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Valley Bookseller in Stillwater is participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport and will have official IBD items, freebies, and drawings on the hour.

The Willow Bookstore in Perham will have exclusive items and giveaways from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Follow the Facebook event page for updates.

Zenith Bookstore in Duluth will be giving away cookies, advance reader copies for every store purchase, and other freebies, such as pins, stickers, and bookmarks. Exclusive IBD merch will be available for purchase, including mugs, journals, Blackwing pencils, and books. Local authors Linda LeGarde Grover (Gichigami Hearts) and Emily Vikre (The Family Camp Cookbook) will be at Zenith to meet customers and sign their new books. Masks are required in the store. For those not visiting in person, there will be giveaways on social media leading up to Independent Bookstore Day.

Other Minnesota bookstores to visit online or in person (be sure to check hours and operations) include:

• Book Break in Maple Lake
• Driftless Books in Wabasha
• Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais
• Cherry Street Books in Alexandria
• Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing (no physical location—order by phone only at 218-262-5206)
• Lundeen’s in Fergus Falls
• Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely
• Turtle Town Books and Gifts in Nisswa

Happy reading!

Did we miss something? Let us know!