Thirteen independent bookstores, including Once Upon A Time bookstore, are joining forces to create an unforgettable weekend for Los Angeles’s bibliophiles. The inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl will take place on Friday, July 24, Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 during regular store hours. This special event, modeled after popular book crawls in San Diego and Seattle, is an invitation for readers to explore the diversity of LA’s indie bookstores, shop local and have fun while discovering a new favorite read and a new favorite spot to get properly lost in. The event is free and open to everyone.

Participants are invited to find a new favorite book, make some friends and become a Los Angeles expert while traversing Los Angeles’ literary landscape. To participate, visit any one of the bookstores anytime between July 24-26 and make a first purchase of at least $10. From there, receive a Book Crawl Passport and first passport stamp. Then simply visit the next bookstore (in no particular order) and make a purchase of $10 or more at each stop. Many prizes and exclusive merchandise are available at every store. The more that are visited the more prizes that are accrued, and the more of LA’s diverse and welcoming literary scene is explored.

People who get their passports stamped at all 13 stores will receive a goodie bag full of fun bookish treats including the grand prize: $25 gift cards at each store,  totaling $325 in value.

“Independent bookstores are having a resurgence,” said Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and café located in downtown Culver City, opened in 2020. “They are the third places people need more than ever in this era of digital optimization which can be very alienating and lead to loneliness. People still like to browse, touch and see physical books, and hang out in stores that are third places, where community and culture – and sometimes coffee! – meet. We are modeling our event after the highly popular San Diego Book Crawl and are thrilled that so many great stores are joining together to explore LA’s literary scene.”

Supporting independent bookstores in Los Angeles sustains the city’s diverse culture, keeps money in the local economy, and provides vital spaces to read, work and simply be in community with others. Indie shops, the backbone of LA’s literary and culture ecosystem, offer human-curated recommendations and serve as essential hubs for local authors, book clubs, and grassroots civic engagement.