More North Coast Bookstores
Booklegger, Northtown Books, Four-Eyed Frog Books, and 3 more North Coast independent bookstores we love.
Is your favorite indie bookstore missing from this list? Fill out this form or drop us a line at bookstores@altaonline.com to let us know whom we missed and why they should be included. Visit altaonline.com/bookstores for frequent additions.
THE BOOK JUGGLER
To learn how much Willits loves the Book Juggler, read the online reviews: “Small town jewel,” “Marvelous,” “Like stepping into a powerful magical realm of universal imagination.” In addition to an abundance of books, there are puzzles, games, DVDs, CDs, records, and instruments. The store is staffed by, in its words, “the friendliest weirdos on earth” and bookstore dog Zeus. Willits
BOOKLEGGER
Booklegger, in Eureka’s Old Town, is a maze of shelves where one can happily get lost. With over 50,000 used and new books, the store offers a diverse mix for every interest. Want to read about aviation? Railroads? Shakespeare? A foreign language? Booklegger has a section for that. Eureka
FOUR-EYED FROG BOOKS
When Four-Eyed Frog Books was going out of business, the community rallied behind it. Nearly two dozen residents pooled their money and created a co-op. This heartwarming togetherness is represented by the frog figurines throughout the space, which is small but meets the needs of its community, offering new releases, books by local authors, and a used section. Gualala
GALLERY BOOKSHOP
Thanks to the carefully chosen selection at Gallery Bookshop, intriguing books face out from every shelf. While kids enjoy the Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books room in the back, adults can expand their comfort zone inside this cheerful historic building. Great Catsby, the resident kitty, often sits in the window enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean. Mendocino
THE MENDOCINO BOOK COMPANY
The Mendocino Book Company, in downtown Ukiah, is a classic independent bookstore, complete with a dignified awning out front. This airy, well-lit room highlights a selection of new releases on wooden tables, perfect for finding the latest must-read. Since 1978, the shop has resolutely turned attention away from itself and back where it belongs: on the books. Ukiah
NORTHTOWN BOOKS
Northtown Books opened in 1965 and has continually offered new releases, works by local authors, and thought-provoking political titles. In addition to a selection on Humboldt County’s redwood forests, there’s a large magazine section—a rare sight these days. Each purchase comes with a free bookmark designed by owner Dante DiGenova. Arcata
Joy Lanzendorfer’s first novel, Right Back Where We Started From, was published in 2021. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Raritan, the Atlantic, and Ploughshares as well as on NPR and for the Poetry Foundation, among others.
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