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In moments when a city feels under pressure, one of the most meaningful ways to show up is by supporting the spaces that hold community together. Independent bookstores do exactly that. They’re gathering places, cultural anchors, and quiet acts of resistance simply by existing.
Minneapolis has a vibrant, thoughtful indie bookstore scene, and these shops reflect the creativity, compassion, and resilience of the city itself. Whether you’re local or supporting from afar, these bookstores are worth celebrating.
Milkweed Books
📍 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 107
milkweed.org/bookstore
Milkweed Books feels like a love letter to the local literary scene. Housed in a beautiful old theater-style building, the space itself immediately signals that this is somewhere to take your time in. The shelves lean heavily toward local authors, small presses, and poetry, making it an ideal stop if you’re interested in discovering voices rooted in the Midwest.
What really stood out was how community-oriented the shop felt. With a small café attached, it’s clearly designed as a place to sit, read, and connect rather than rush in and out. It has the energy of a neighborhood staple, somewhere writers, readers, and creatives naturally gravitate.
Milkweed also has a location in the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport, which offers more bestsellers and trending titles. While that space feels more like a curated travel bookstore, the main location is unmistakably focused on nurturing local authors and the small‑press ecosystem that keeps independent literature alive.
Moon Palace Books
📍3032 Minnehaha Ave.
moonpalacebooks.com
Moon Palace Books is charming in the best way—bright, welcoming, and packed with intention. The layout guides you through new releases and trending titles up front, while the back opens into a thoughtfully curated nonfiction section. Throughout the store, there’s a strong emphasis on books that engage with social issues, equality, and LGBTQ+ rights, alongside a dedicated section highlighting local authors.
Beyond books, Moon Palace also carries a variety of bookish items like bookmarks, stickers, and notepads—perfect for readers who love a little extra personality with their purchases. It feels like a space that understands its audience and reflects their values.
I picked up a poetry collection by a local author here, which felt especially meaningful given the store’s clear commitment to uplifting voices from the community. Moon Palace manages to balance being current and relevant while still staying deeply rooted in Minneapolis.
Boneshaker Books
📍708 W 26th St.
boneshakerbooks.com
Boneshaker Books is small but powerful. This shop is tightly focused on local writing, social justice, and radical ideas, making every inch of shelf space feel intentional. In addition to books, Boneshaker carries art prints, zines, and pamphlets, blurring the line between bookstore and community art space.
It’s the kind of place where you don’t just browse, you engage. Boneshaker feels less like a retail space and more like a hub for dialogue, activism, and creative expression. Supporting a shop like this means supporting the ideas and people pushing for a more thoughtful, equitable world.
Plan Your Trip
Why Supporting These Bookstores Matters
Independent bookstores don’t just sell books—they support local economies, amplify marginalized voices, and provide spaces where community can gather and breathe. In times of stress or fear, these places matter even more.
Supporting Minneapolis means supporting the small businesses that make the city what it is. Whether you’re able to visit in person or not, every purchase, share, and recommendation helps these bookstores continue their work.
Support from Anywhere
If you’re not local, you can still support Minneapolis bookstores from a distance. When shopping on Bookshop.org, you can choose a specific bookstore to support and direct your purchase toward an independent shop in Minneapolis. It’s a simple way to stand in solidarity, uplift local businesses, and keep indie bookstores thriving—no matter where you are.
Books have always been a source of connection, understanding, and resistance. Supporting these bookstores is one small but meaningful way to show care for Minneapolis and the people who call it home.
Check out my other bookstore reviews, to bring your book experience beyond the shelf.
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Notes from the Shelf 
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