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Few new businesses get me as excited as new used bookstores. For a city this large, L.A. can certainly afford some new additions. I was happy to hear about Kulturas Bookstore at the corner of Ocean Park Boulevard and 17th Street in Santa Monica. The shop was opened in January by Andrew MacDonald and Irene Coray, who moved here after running the store in downtown Washington D.C. for 20 years.
I went in there Wednesday and found a cozy, brightly lit store filled with well-packed shelves of books - organized, but with a warm, user-friendly disorder. They also carry some “sort of vintage” clothing and used CDs and they’ve carved out some wall space for local artists. Ella Fitzgerald was playing at just the right volume.
Right now their first edition and art sections are particularly strong, but Kulturas has something for everyone. I picked up a couple of reasonably priced used fiction titles, but they also carry cookbooks, history, philosophy, women’s studies, children’s books, etc. The store buys books for cash or trade.
Irene and Andrew were on hand to chat about books, which is something you can't get from Amazon. Get in there and help support a new used bookstore.
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Brief sidenote : there's a great used book chain in Texas called Half Price Books - alas, the only one in California is up in Berekley but back to LA, anyone have some suggestions to some cool used bookstores here in 323/213 ?
Eric, sadly there aren't too many good ones here. I used to live in Portland, and there's just nothing like Powell's here. Did you see Callie's bookstore post on this site?
It also links to LA Weekly's bookstore guide. Together, they cover most of it.
Be more specific than just "323/213". Those area codes include everything from Dawson's on Larchmont to Bay City Books on Wellesley and Arnold Herr over on Fairfax.
I work in Glendale, and I'm partial to Bookfellows (on brand) because the employees are VERY friendly and helpful (and honest), but their focus is on Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mystery, so if you aren't into that type of thing, you may not like it. They also get some really good first editions.
The Brand Bookshop, across the street, has an awesome general fiction collection, and the prices are really good. They're not a good place for collectible books, though.
there's one bookstore called "the counterpoint ..." at Bronson and Franklin, pretty good one, they have also a selection of first editions and signed book.
and there's also one other "Berkelouw" ( appearantly a chain in Australia) in Highland nad willoughby. This one is my favorite of all in Los Angeles.
but still they are some websites who have unbeatable prices for all of you who are looking for first editions,
k.
I like Counterpoint a lot. They should just get rid of their record selection- which isn't that great and is overpriced - and become a full-fledged bookstore.
there's also alias books on sawtelle just south of santa monica blvd. great selection and very cheap. i always stop there after cinefile.
Arnold Herr closed last year after moving; Powell's made him an offer and bought his stock. Plus Blvd on Hollywood Boulevard also just closed.
However... right now I am negotiating a lease for a great used book store that would be in the heart of Gallery Rown in Downtown on Main Street. Stay tuned!
Yay Brady!