Cozy Corners: Southeast Edition
- ebonijade
- Jul 3, 2024
- 4 min read
It’s no secret that books are an obsession of mine, which makes Barnes & Noble one of my favorite places, spending easily $100-$200 per trip. Some might even say collecting books is more of a hobby than reading is and… I wouldn’t argue it. I know I’ll get to all of them eventually…hopefully! One day I’ll tell y'all about each of the Barnes & Nobles in the DMV, but today is not that day.
I wanted today’s post to be about my favorite independent bookstores I’ve been to so far but when I went to go get pictures for y'all, they done switched up on me. In order to not overwhelm my audience, I’ll only discuss the independent bookstores in each area – Northeast DC (NE), Southeast DC (SE), Southwest DC (SW), Northwest DC (NW), Maryland and Virginia. Today we’ll dive into the SE bookstores!
East City Bookshop was honestly my favorite of all the bookstores due to the layout. I’m a psychological thriller girlie and their thriller section was in one of the largest sections in the store. It was never super crowded and the place was a decent size so I had room to roam around by myself. I recently visited though and they actually moved the thriller section. For me it’s small to the point where only one person can really look in this section. But, although being underground, it is very bright and airy with enough room to move around the store. I always enjoy the vibes here.
Another, more important reason why East City Bookshop was my favorite bookstore was its location. In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, it’s always a nice area to spend the day. Although the bookstore itself is on Pennsylvania Ave., you can walk down Barracks Row Main Street to grab some lunch then head over to Eastern Market, an indoor and outdoor market with a variety of products such as clothes, candles, fruits, pastries, jewelry, and food trucks at the end. East City Bookshop is easily accessible from the Eastern Market Metro (blue line).
645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE #100,
Washington, DC 20003
Capitol Hill Books is in the same neighborhood (hence the name) as East City Bookshop. I’m not a fan of used bookstores so it doesn’t make my favorites list and I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. I also personally am not a fan of the vibe as besides the uneven stairs and tattered carpet, it’s also very dreary and cramped. The store itself, opening in 1991, does have a lot of history and offers three floors of used, first editions, and rare books. If used books are your thing, I would recommend making a stop here while roaming the Eastern Market streets.
657 C St SE,
Washington, DC 20003
Little District Books is a cute, queer-owned store with a bright and airy feel to it. Although also in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, I’ve only visited once, believing it has only been in existence for only a couple years. I don’t identify with this community, so this wouldn't be my first option to book shop being that they don’t offer many books on topics I would be interested in. However, they do host a comforting space, so I would stop here to browse if I was in the area.
“Our team curates stories to represent the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and aims to uplift local authors, independent publishers, and increase access to queer literature. We strive to be a welcoming, comfortable, and equitable space in our store, virtually, and in the greater DC area through community events.”
737 8th St SE,
Washington, DC 20003
Mahogany Books is a Black-owned bookstore in the Anacostia neighborhood (with their first location being at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD). This second location isn’t my favorite, though, as it isn’t in the safest neighborhood. They have limited hours and is actually inside the Anacostia Arts Center, an art space hosting a multitude of events. The environment coupled with the limited hours, I personally wouldn’t go out of my way to go to this location. Mahogany Books is a 15 min walk from the Anacostia metro (green line) but I wouldn’t suggest walking in this neighborhood. However, I’m always a fan of supporting Black-owned businesses especially bookstores so I would say still check it out if you get the chance.
1231 Marion Barry Ave SE,
Washington, DC 20020
Busboys and Poets, another Black-owned business, is a multi-location restaurant/bar, cafe, and bookstore with this being their Anacostia location and only a 3min walk from Mahogany Books. Personally, I never go to Busboys to browse for books as they never seem to have a good variety for the times I have been. Of all the Busboys and Poets, the Anacostia location would not be my first choice to go book shopping. Their selection is very slim and the book aisles are claustrophobicly small (that’s not a word but we’re gonna make it one). I mean only one person can fit through them but I have a feeling not too many people go to this location for their books anyway. If you ever find yourself at this location, I would say it’s better just to enjoy a meal.
2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE,
Washington, DC 20020
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