The Denver area is home to amazing indie bookstores!
We have lined up some options for fantastic full-day and half-day tours. We hope Winter Institute attendees will have an opportunity to visit these and other indies during their time in Denver. Space is limited.
Most bookstores on the tours are fully accessible; for support with accessibility needs, please email accessibility@bookweb.org.
Buses are expected to arrive back between 3:45 pm and 4:15 pm. Keep this timing in mind if planning to attend Sunday afternoon programming.
Full-Day Bookstore Tours
Sunday, February 23 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
$85 per person; includes boxed lunch, which will be eaten on parked bus
Full-Day Tour A
Bookstores include: Barbed Wire Books, Inc., The Read Queen Bookstore & Cafe, Boulder Bookstore, and Trident Booksellers and Cafe
Full-Day Tour B
Bookstores include: The Shop at MATTER, The Midnight Oil Bookstore, Words of Windsor, Old Firehouse Books, and The Crowded Bookshelf
Full-Day Tour C
Bookstores include: Petals & Pages, Rainbow Reva’s, Poor Richard’s Books & Gifts, Sudden Fiction Books, and West Side Books & Curios
Half-Day Bookstore Tours
Sunday, February 23 | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
$45 per person; includes snack
Half-Day Tour A
Bookstores include: Books Are Awesome, Who Else Books @ Broadway Book Mall, and Petals & Pages
Half-Day Tour B
Bookstores include: Bookstores include: Spell Books, Second Star to the Right, and Dream Books Co.
Bookstore Descriptions
New and used books, unique gifts, exceptional coffee. Women-owned, established 2020. In Olde Town Lafayette.
Accessible south side entrance and restroom.
Words of Windsor is a general interest bookstore open since 2021. As the only new books store in our county we serve Windsor and the greater Northern Colorado area. The Loft is the heart of our community engagement, hosting store and community events and is available for private occasion rentals.
Accessible back entrance and restrooms.
Woman-owned and operated, Old Firehouse Books is Northern Colorado’s largest independent bookstore. Selling new and used books of all genres, greeting cards, and other delightful gifts for readers of all ages, Old Firehouse Books strives to be a welcoming place for all.
Accessible store with ramps between rooms.
The Midnight Oil is Northern Colorado's largest independent new and used bookstore. Our Latino-owned bookstore opened in 2021 in a 700 square foot location and has scaled to a larger building of almost 5,000 square feet We specialize in creating locally viral events and collaborations.
Accessible main floor, stairs to basement.
Barbed Wire Books, open for 15 years, carries both new and used books and literary-based gifts and supplies. We host book clubs and other community-minded events. In our almost 6,000 square feet and with a knowledgeable staff, we can satisfy almost any literary need.
Accessible entrances.
Trident Booksellers and Cafe takes pride in our erudite and eclectic curation, beautiful merchandising, and elegant, historic ambiance. We also offer an exceptional selection of international teas, beer, and wine on tap.
All areas wheelchair accessible with exception of the back patio.
The Boulder Bookstore, opened in 1973, is Colorado’s largest independent bookstore. We sell new, used and remainder books along with a wide variety of gift items. We use our historic ballroom to host a robust events series.
Accessible main floor and children’s room; stairs for other floors.
The Crowded Bookshelf is a pop-up bookshop offering a curated selection of books for all ages. The shop specializes in books on sex and relationships and books on death and dying. A variety of bookish accessories can also be found, all of them sourced from other small businesses.
Accessible main floor and restrooms; stairs for other floors.
Petals & Pages is a feminist and queer bookstore, flower shop, and community space in Denver. We are queer woman-owned and managed and host monthly book clubs, open mic nights, author talks, writing workshops, and more.
Fully accessible.
Black- and woman-owned design studio, letterpress workshop, and bookstore for designers & other thinking persons. Our titles illuminate the works of Black, brown, Indigenous, and queer intellectuals. Come to us for acknowledgment, love, conversations, tools, and books to transform minds and hearts.
Fully accessible.
Broad range, large-ish new and used bookshop. Literature, diversity, excellent customer service are emphasized. At this location for 28 years. Quirky, fun, lively.
Fully accessible.
Dream Books Co. recycles books back into the hands of readers. We work with libraries, thrift stores and schools to be a means for their excess books. Since 2008, we have kept over 13 million books out of landfills.
Accessible entrance from warehouse from the bookstore.
Rainbow Reva’s is a highly-curated collection of books centering social & racial justice & uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors & illustrators. Rainbow Reva’s mission is to empower humans of all ages & identities with the confidence to be themselves & equip them with a love for humanity & the planet.
Fully accessible.
Second Star to the Right is a whimsical book & toy store for kids as well as grown-ups. We pride ourselves on being a community gathering place for all. We celebrate diversity and offer many community building programs, book clubs, and events. We are also a tour stop for local and national authors.
Accessible back door.
Spell Books is a small independent bookstore with a curated selection of new books, including small press and off-the-beaten-path titles. We also sell unique gifts, including tarot cards and spell books. We offer writing classes and host events throughout the year.
Fully accessible.
Books Are Awesome (BAA) is an LGBTQ+ owned Indie Bookstore in Parker. We sell only new books, puzzles, candles, socks, bags, journals, and other book-related items! We host authors, work with a local brewery to host Book Fair for Grown Ups, and currently host 7 book clubs.
Fully accessible.
We are a collective of 6 booksellers. The layout looks like an ordinary bookstore, but there are distinguishing signs above each section. There is some overlap from section to section, but shelves are well-labeled. Our inventory is primarily gently used books, with some new offerings.
Accessible with the exception of the restroom.
Sudden Fiction Books is a small independent bookstore located in a shared marketplace called Ecclesia Market. We have new and used books, puzzles, and other bookish items.
Short flight of steps at each entrance.
Operating since 1975, Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts is a full-service bookstore offering new and used books, gift items, journals, greeting cards, consignment art and jewelry. We also have a cafe and wine bar, toy store and restaurant in our complex.
Fully accessible.