City Books
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Books) |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Edward Gelblum, Frank Carroll |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Pittsburgh area |
Key people | Arlan Hess (owner) |
| Products | Rare and collectible books, modern fiction, poetry, vintage magazines |
City Books holds the distinction of being Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s longest-standing independent bookstore. Established in 1984, it focuses primarily on rare and collectible books, with a particular concentration on modern fiction and poetry. Mental Floss has recognized City Books as one of the “Best Bookstores in All 50 States.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, the store gained widespread attention on social media platforms for videos featuring the unboxing of rare and first edition volumes.
Origins
City Books was originally launched in 1984 by Edward Gelblum, a philosophy professor at Duquesne University, alongside Frank Carroll. Initially named City Books & Antiques, the business transitioned exclusively into a bookstore by 1987. Situated in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, the store started out occupying a single floor but expanded to two levels during the 1990s, adding a coffee bar on the upper floor.
Famous for its unique spiral steel staircase, the original South Side shop housed over 20,000 titles spanning general interest categories, with particular strengths in Judaism, philosophy, and psychology. For three decades, City Books served as a cultural hub by hosting author readings, workshops, and literary events before closing its Carson Street location on December 31, 2014.
North Side Relocation
In 2015, Arlan Hess, formerly a professor at Washington & Jefferson College, acquired City Books. The following year, Hess moved the bookstore to the Allegheny West area of Pittsburgh, establishing it as the North Side's inaugural independent bookstore.[1]
The shop’s new premises preserved key elements from its original setting, including the bookshelves, artwork, neon signage, and main inventory.[2] Within the store is a designated workspace for a writer-in-residence and a small gallery located at the back. The current City Books occupies around 600 square feet and features roughly 5,000 used and collectible volumes alongside vintage magazines, with a particular focus on modern fiction and poetry.[3][4]
Writers-in-Residence
City Books inaugurated a Writer-in-Residence initiative in February 2020 aimed at supporting emerging adult authors.[5] Initially conducted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the program now provides residents with an actual desk within the bookstore.[6]
Among those who have held the writer-in-residence position are Kim Rooney, Alona Williams, Marsha Timblin, Khalil Malik, and Pravin Wilkins.[7]
Activism and awards
Following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in November 2018, City Books organized a commemorative reading event featuring local authors to support HIAS through fundraising efforts. In 2021, Book Riot highlighted City Books during their nationwide US Road Trip series.
References
- ↑ Nelson Jones, Diana (March 14, 2016). "Walkabout: One indie bookstore to open, buyers express interest in another". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ Criado, Justin (March 16, 2016). "City Books reopens as Northside's first indie bookstore". Northside Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namednslocation - ↑ Harrop, Joanne Klimovich (July 8, 2020). "City Books on Pittsburgh's North Side to reopen". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ Rooney, Kim (February 10, 2021). "City Book's Writing Residency creates space for local writers". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ Rooney, Kimberly (June 25, 2021). "City Books announces its fall 2021 Writers-in-Residence". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ Snowden, Jordan (June 24, 2020). "Kim Rooney named City Books' second Writer-in-Residence". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 23, 2022.