Books & Mags
Eslite bookstore, Hong Kong. Humanities and art: connecting the dots between four cultural hubs
Hong Kong is the city where, in 2012, the first Eslite Bookstore outside Taiwan opened. Located at Causeway Bay, selling both Chinese and English books, three others have since opened
Champaca, Bengaluru. A platform for books, zines and fanzines to defend the indie-publishing scene
On the rooftop of a bungalow, a metal-staircase takes you to the store that opens into a courtyard. Founder Radhika Timbadia wanted to create a sanctuary hide-away from the city...
Krumulus, Berlin. If you are lucky, you can keep your inner child alive
In the mornings, Krumulus hosts a program where they read stories from books surrounded by its original illustrations in the gallery space
Rococo News & Magazine, London. A cultivation of Notting Hill
Prompted by his peers during a game of cricket, Patel formulated the proposition to acquire the magazine and newspaper store that had been around for sixty years
Hi Desert Times, Twentynine Palms. The zine culture is red-hot in California
«‘Look at me, I’m in print’. There's still beauty in being on printed paper: digital is great but seeing yourself in print takes it to another level», Liz Lapp on...
ZiWU, Shanghai. A vein of experiences under one roof
When broken down and translated to the English language from Mandarin, the name brings the meaning of ‘House of Magazines’. Ensuring a means of slow living
Roppongi Tsutaya Books, Tokyo. Catering to the needs of an international community
Tsutaya was founded in 1983 in Osaka as a realization of the idea of a need to create a stronghold of culture for grown-ups
Janasch’s, Magdeburg. Solidarity with businesses in the locale
Diverting from the constructs of a structured work format in offices that focused on monetary goals, Janasch’s identity contrasts that of a professional job setting
Kubrick bookshop, Hong Kong. Movies, music and the hub-effect next to the Broadway Cinematheque
A disc store and movie shop: art, film dvds, movie posters and indie music cds. A publisher with over 30 titles of books published – from gender to social concern....
Le Mur, Madrid. Conveying the relevance of accessibility in the arts industry
«We are break apart from established-photography galleries in Madrid» – Le Mur intends to revitalize the importance of critical-thinking through a photographic medium
Print Culture, Glasgow: LGBTQ+ magazines and pens used for Looney Tunes, a new niche
Selling niche stationery and independent magazines that hone in on micro-cultures and coterie drawn to certain cities, tastebuds or vocations, Print Culture is Glasgow’s newest resident
Ed. Varie, New York. Art gallery and creative space for emerging artists
«I desired people who were curious from the neighbourhood». This sense of discovery has become one of the successful parts of Ed. Varie
Lebigmag, Moscow. People visit from fatigue by the sight of screens
Magazines: one can travel without travelling. «I receive orders from villages in Russia, for which, when I look at google maps are towns consisting of twenty houses»
Smith&Son Paris. A tale of a street
Smith&Son Paris on 248 Rue de Rivoli, near Place de la Concorde, is the longest branch to have remained in its original setting
Radius Books, Santa Fe. 160 published titles and Donation Programs in New Mexico
«Since the formation, we have donated a total of seventy-five thousand volumes of art-related books published under Radius Books to schools and libraries across fifty states»
T0K10 Rotterdam: A Japanese-Inspired Concept Store Bringing Tokyo’s Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic to Europe
Owner and founder Joep Jongen drew influence from the now shuttered down concept store Colette, in Paris. It assisted in shaping the ethos of the store – accessible fashion for...
Cahier Central, Paris: A physical store where «some printed publications have to die»
«Our aim in starting Cahier Central was to say yes and not shy away from new and experimental publications» in conversation with co-founder Julien Achard
Rebirth of the coffee table book – Maison Plage creates a space to escape and inspire
A destination for crafted, rare, and lifestyle books – Founder Kelly Croteau reveals that Maison Plage is more than just a bookstore, it’s a brand
Browser Books, San Francisco. The need to browse while seeking books
At Browser Books San Francisco «copies and titles sat on the shelves for up to fifteen to twenty years, some even being out of print. Browsing, readers were able to...
Jogging, Marseille. Giving back to the community in a former butcher’s shop
«When making our choices, we don't think: is it going to sell now, but rather: will it be relevant in the future?». A talk with owners Olivier Amsellem and Charlotte...
OMMU, Athens: A Nomadic Bookstore Bridging Art and Publishing
«There was a scarcity in creative material available in Greece. Our involvement in the scene here urged us to showcase work made in the locale to the individuals living here...
Wuguan Books, Taiwan. The illusion of books that appear to be floating
Misfortune cookies and sex toys. Jettisoning the taboos that surround sexual desires Chu Chih Kang describes human nourishment in the darkness of a bookstore
Future Library, Oslo. Will books become the next extinct species in a hundred years?
The forest whose tree rings are chapters in a book. How understanding the human traits in nature can help save the environment
Import News, New York. Are we living in an era of content overload?
While print has long been deemed as being 'dead', things could not be further from the truth for independent magazines. Intw Import News' founders Sasha Laing and Ken Miller
Print is not dead – Kelly Clark, BoutiqueMags
The online portal BoutiqueMags falls under the wing of WhiteCirc, now known as an international distributor for niche publications
Issues, Toronto: a space for peers and like-minded folk in the arts
The Toronto editorial industry is introduced to Issues - Nicola Hamiltons bridge between what is wanted from a commercial standpoint, and what is desired when in the process of creating
Shakespeare and Sons, Berlin. A bookstore burrowed in a post-war building
Named in homage of the Parisian tourist site, Shakespeare and Sons is a reverence to literary goods and a congregation for social exchanges
Inside The Cowgirl Gallery: How One Woman Built a Cultural Hub in Malmø
A multidisciplinary space combining art exhibitions, live performances, a magazine store, and a café, run by Selma Modéer Wiking with a focus on accessibility, collaboration, and community engagement
From Industrial Roots to Cultural Landmark: The Evolution of Bücherbogen in Berlin
Bücherbogen serves as an intermediary between publishers and customers, ensuring community-building. According to the owner «this interconnectedness and knowledge-sharing is the rewarding aspect of working at the bookstore»
International Magazine Store (IMS), a disseminator of recondite magazines in Antwerp
«My father was heavily involved in the meat and livestock industry» – Mr. Willem pivoting into cultivating creativity through the business of disseminating international magazine titles: IMS Antwerp was born
Fashion Room: International Fashion Magazines & Books in Florence
With branches near the main Florence fair centre and the textile district in Prato, Fashion Room caters for both fashion students and professionals
Artphilein, Lugano. A theatrical display of art publishing
«At a bookshop you can see the final product, not the research and experimentation behind it». In conversation with Curator Giulia Brivio
IGOR Libreria, Bologna. An LGBTQ+ sanctuary in the city of the niche
«In Italy, Bologna stands out for its civic sense. It’s the ideal city for a niche, LGBTQ+-themed bookstore like ours»
Cohen + Dobernigg Buchhandel, Hamburg: Green Practices Through Bookselling
Alongside their team of staff members, Cohen and Dobernigg have sculpted their bookstore to be a supplier and motivator to the dissemination of literary goods in the area, and in...
Athenaeum Boekhandel & Nieuwscentrum, Amsterdam. A palace of printed paper devoted to its independent roots
Glancing at the what seems to be an infinite abyss of books, one feels that Athenaeum Boekhandel holds every title ever published and can expand at will to host even...
MENDO, Amsterdam: From a 2002 Hotel Niche to a 20-Year Literary Landmark
Located within CoffeeConcepts, MENDO offers an intimate space—its mini MENDO—to discover visually striking books covering art, photography, fashion, and beyond
Public Records, Brooklyn: vegan food and sound rooms connected by architecture
Shane Davis and Francis Harris met in 2017 and quickly decided to establish Public Records, a place that goes beyond restoration and became part of the community
Tipi Bookshop: a metaphor brought to life in Brussels
'Tipi' from the word ‘Teepee’, a conical-shaped tent used as shelter by Native American individuals. Owner Andrea Copetti explains, "I adopted the name as it fit with what I intended...
Leporello, Rome. The process of perfecting bookselling
How can a small bookstore survive under the pressure of online retailers? Owners must develop strategies to slip from the grip of online retailers, offering that which cannot be bought...
Degli Uberti, Rome. A store where everything is changeable and constantly changing
Inspired by techwear’s clean designs, attention to volume, focus on materials, Andrea Bonsignore chooses to make clothes for the protagonists, rather than the store itself
Iconic, New York City: magazines stacked on the ground
The NYCmagazine store, café and bodega selling «magazines, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, food, beer, beverages, lotto, groceries, e-smoke»: a meeting point for the mags community, Iconic Magazines
Erno: Edicola Romana Non Ordinaria – new life for an old kiosk in Rome
The only way to revive printed matter is to combine it with something to do: to talk, drink, eat and share, as seen at Edicola Romana Non Ordinaria in Rome
Rare Market, Seoul. A potential market for independent brands
A bridge between Europe and Korea, an exporter of new talents: nestled in Seoul’s most affluent neighborhood, a concept store that scouts and selects cutting-edge brands.
Bistro’f, Rome. Officine Fotografiche’s café and a bookstore
«A magazine has to be broad, open to different themes, places, times and genres otherwise it becomes a photo album. I choose magazines based on this criterium» states curator Mariella...
Book and Sons, Tokyo. Bringing together designers and typography lovers
«The desire to pass on the traditional habit of reading and appreciating printed media to the next generation is part of the store name and culture», says store owner Osamu...
The Open House at Central Embassy, Bangkok. Sharing is caring
Wood carving patterns and mirrored panels on the ceiling – changing the movement of the light through the space. Architecture for intersections of light
