AUSTIN

Independent bookstore First Light Books Café & Book Shop first opened its doors on January 20, 2023 in Austin, TX. 

“Before First Light Bookshop found a home at 4300 Speedway, the building was a beloved post office for many years. It served as an important neighborhood hub. We’ll do our very best to be sure we’re carrying on that legacy and creating space for our Hyde Park community and beyond,” the store’s website states. 

After nine years of catering to Austin locals’ bookish needs, Malvern Books closed its doors on December 31, 2022 after losing their beloved founder and champion, Joe Bratcher. 

Malvern Books specialized in Joe’s favorites, “Mostly poetry and fiction from small, independent presses. He wanted to promote writers and translators of books from other countries, while also championing the work of local writers,” says former manager, Becky Garcia.  

South Congress Books, formerly located at 1608 S Congress Ave. in Austin, TX is in the process of moving to a new location at 3703 Kerbey Lane as of December 28, 2022 after being priced out of their lease. 

While currently still closed for the move, they are set to re-open in March 2023.

BROWNSVILLE

Originally operating purely as a pop-up operation, Búho Bookstore (BOO-oh) has announced that they will be opening their much-anticipated brick and mortar location later this year in the historic Calderoni Building at 1140 E. Washington St. in Brownsville, TX. 

Make sure to visit their pop-up/market study at the Amigoland Convention Center on March 13th from 1-6 pm. 

FARMERS BRANCH

Blacklit Bookstore, a Black-owned independent bookstore in Dallas, TX has raised more than $32,000 to remain in their brick-and-mortar home after completing a successful crowdfunding campaign through the website I Fund Women. 

Located in the Dallas suburb of Farmer's Branch, the brick-and-mortar store features an Ethiopian coffee shop and also doubles as an event space. The store's goal is to "curate an in-person experience where Black literature, Black excellence and Black culture can be taught, explored and celebrated." 

GRAPEVINE

Talking Animals, Grapevine’s first indie bookstore, located at 103 W. Worth Street, is now open. Their Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony has been rescheduled for February 28, 2023.

This woman-owned community bookstore boasts, “a colorful, eccentric, and original vibe,” providing a curated collection of books, gifts and events for adults, children, students, and families. 

HOUSTON

CLASS Bookstore in Houston recently celebrated the Grand Opening of their new brick-and-mortar location, or “The Residency,” as it was affectionately dubbed by the founders, on December 3, 2022 at 3803 Sampson St. #C. 

Once exclusively an online and occasional pop-up presence, owners Dara and David Landry currently keep their operating hours restricted to Saturdays and Sundays while continuing to work other jobs and grow their book business. They hope to expand their hours and devote themselves fully to CLASS as the business grows.  Aside from books, CLASS Bookstore also offers a curated selection of streetwear and Black-inspired art.

KELLER

A House with Books is shooting for a February 24 opening in Keller's first co-working space, Headquarters, at 1101 Bear Creek Parkway, Ste. 3123, Keller. In her interview with Community Impact, owner Hayley Smith describes the store's offerings as primarily books, with a selection of gifts and decor as well.

Watch the store website for an exact date and time for opening festivities.

PFLUGERVILLE

The Book Burrow is planning the grand opening of their new location in downtown Pflugerville on March 25. Follow them on Facebook for updates.