City Books

City Books
FormerlyCity Books & Antiques
IndustryBookstore
Founded1984; 41 years ago (1984)
FoundersEdward Gelblum &
Frank Carroll
Headquarters908 Galveston Ave,
Pittsburgh
,
United States
OwnerArlan Hess (2015–present)
Websitecitybookspgh.com

City Books is the oldest independent bookstore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1984, it specializes in rare books with an emphasis on contemporary fiction and poetry.[1][2] Mental Floss calls City Books one of the “Best Bookstores in All 50 States.”[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bookstore went viral on social media for unboxing rare and first edition books.[4][5]

History

Early beginnings

Founded in 1984 by Duquesne University philosophy professor Edward Gelblum and Frank Carroll as City Books & Antiques, City Books was re-branded solely as a bookstore in 1987. Located on Pittsburgh's South Side, the shop began as one floor, later expanding to two floors in the 1990s with the addition of a coffee bar on the second floor.[6]

Renowned for its distinctive spiral steel staircase, the original City Books location held over 20,000 general interest titles at its peak with an emphasis on Judaism, philosophy, and psychology. The bookstore held author events, workshops, and readings for thirty years before the Carson Street location closed for business on December 31, 2014.[6]

North Side Relocation

Arlan Hess, a former professor at Washington & Jefferson College, purchased City Books in 2015. Hess relocated City Books to Pittsburgh's Allegheny West neighborhood in 2016 where it became the North Side's first independent bookstore.[7]

The new location retained the original bookshelves, artwork, neon sign, and core inventory.[8] Inside the bookstore is a desk for a writer-in-residence and micro-gallery in the rear. The current City Books is 600 sq. ft. and holds approximately 5,000 used & collectible books and vintage magazines with an emphasis on contemporary fiction and poetry.[2][9]

Writers-in-Residence

In February 2020, City Books launched a Writer-in-Residence program for emerging adult writers.[10] At first a "virtual" residency throughout COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. Today, residents are given a desk inside the bookstore.[11]

Previous writers-in-residence include Kim Rooney, Alona Williams, Marsha Timblin, Khalil Malik, and Pravin Wilkins.[12]

Activism and awards

After the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in November 2018, City Books held a memorial reading with local writers raising money for HIAS.[13] In 2021, Book Riot featured City Books as part of their cross country US Road Trip in 2021.[14]

References

  1. ^ Behe, Rege (May 3, 2018). "Five Indie Bookstores You'll Love". NEXT Pittsburgh. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Behe, Rege (March 22, 2016). "City Books' new 'edition' blends many genres". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 23, 2022. The new location on Galveston Avenue is 600 square feet... feature approximately 5,000 of the 20,000 books Hess purchased
  3. ^ "The Best Bookstores in All 50 States". Mental Floss. April 18, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Handscombe, Claire (July 26, 2021). "Want to get into Booktok? We have Recommendations!". Book Riot. Retrieved August 23, 2022. many of Arlan's TikTok videos show her unboxing some pretty fabulous old and/or rare books.
  5. ^ O'Driscoll, Bill (April 2, 2020). "Pittsburgh's Indie Bookstores Struggle To Stay Afloat During Pandemic". WESA (FM). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. ^ a b O'Driscoll, Bill (December 24, 2014). "Endpaper: After 30 years, South Side's City Books closing". WESA (FM). Retrieved August 23, 2022. City Books was one of the literary centers in Pittsburgh for many years
  7. ^ Nelson Jones, Diana (March 14, 2016). "Walkabout: One indie bookstore to open, buyers express interest in another". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Criado, Justin (March 16, 2016). "City Books reopens as Northside's first indie bookstore". Northside Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Harrop, Joanne Klimovich (July 8, 2020). "City Books on Pittsburgh's North Side to reopen". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Rooney, Kim (February 10, 2021). "City Book's Writing Residency creates space for local writers". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Rooney, Kimberly (June 25, 2021). "City Books announces its fall 2021 Writers-in-Residence". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Snowden, Jordan (June 24, 2020). "Kim Rooney named City Books' second Writer-in-Residence". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  13. ^ O'Driscoll, Bill (November 8, 2018). "Tree Of Life Memorial Reading To Benefit Immigrant-Aid Group". WESA (FM). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Baron, Melissa (August 9, 2021). "A Bookish Cross-Country U.S. Road Trip: I-70". Book Riot. Retrieved August 23, 2022.