Dear Readers,

It was with a sense of despair that I headed out to see The Last Bookstore with my own eyes. While I hoped that the name was just a tongue-in-cheek take on the state of brick and mortar retail establishments, it would not surprise me at all if the actual last bookstore in the world closes its doors in my lifetime. As bleak as that thought may be, I’ve already given in to the notion that it will happen. While there are some who would say that no one reads anymore, I feel like convenience is the rocket fuel hastening the end of an era. Thanks to Amazon and its lightning quick delivery, a physical copy of a book is only a click away. It’s even faster if a person is using an e-reader. When that dark day comes, there will be good reason why The Last Bookstore will be the final retailer to soap its windows and thank its customers for their years of loyal patronage.

The Last Bookstore also employs the last sign painter.

Some folks think heaven may look like this place.

It has everything to do with the design the proprietors have taken with The Last Bookstore. Housed in a former bank building in downtown Los Angeles, they have integrated several features of its former self. Laying eyes on the soaring columns and repurposed vault are reason enough to come and gander. However, that was not what brought me in this Saturday morning. Like most everyone else here, I had been drawn in by the book sculptures and the images I had seen online. Flying books, a book tunnel, as well as a portal made out of books have all helped establish the store’s eternal presence on Instagram. Without spending a dime of their marketing budget, The Last Bookstore is able to get endless advertising by people like myself taking and sharing photos.

You’ve seen the pictures before. Just not with my kids.

And of course, the book portal. With my kids . . .

Opportunities for selfies aside, I would consider this a first-rate bookstore. The Last Bookstore offers up both new and used books housed in over twenty-two thousand square feet. According to its website, that makes it the largest in California. The inventory is spread out over two stories and into an annex next door. Understanding that finding a proper book is a leisurely affair, interspersed throughout the store are places to sit comfortably so customers can thumb through a selection before making a purchase. Their formula worked in my case. After putting eyes on the book portal deep in the twists and turns of the second floor, I was left to wander through the store at my own pace. As any mildly literate person can attest to, it’s impossible to move through stacks of books without picking up and skimming through a couple. And with that, I was able to get the photos I was looking for and ended up leaving with a copy of Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon.

Plenty of space to browse and diddle on phones.

Never judge a book by its cover. Unless you’re an interior designer. In that case, The Last Bookstore has you covered.

I am happy to report that I was not the only person who fell under the spell of The Last Bookstore. Early on a Saturday morning, the place was full of the curious and those who came to browse. The business was brisk as people chose to be here instead of lining up for brunch. To my relief, it appears that the end of bookstores has been averted, at least for now.

I get a little bit of nostalgia when I see people waiting on line to make a purchase.

The Last Bookstore

435 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, California 90013

213 488-0599

Looking for some other unique experiences that Los Angeles has to offer? How about a ride on a funicular at Angel’s Flight? Or, what about a puppet show with The Bob Baker Marionette Theater?

This post is based on a visit made on June 4, 2022