The Writer's Block
| Company type | Independent bookstore, publisher, literacy education provider |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookstore, publishing, education |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Scott Seeley, Drew Cohen |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
Area served | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Key people | Chris Molnar, Beverly Rogers (part owner) |
| Products | Books, literacy education programs, workshops, events |
The Writer's Block operates as an independent bookstore, publisher, and literacy education provider situated in downtown Las Vegas. It holds the distinction of being the first independent bookstore in Las Vegas and ranks as the second in the state of Nevada.
Esteemed publications and authors such as the Los Angeles Times, Tayari Jones, and Alta Journal have endorsed the bookstore. In 2024, it earned the title of Best Bookstore according to the Las Vegas Weekly Best of Vegas awards.
Initial location
Prior to establishing The Writer's Block, Scott Seeley, co-founder of 826NYC, and Drew Cohen aimed to launch an independent bookstore in downtown Las Vegas despite cautions about potential challenges. Entrepreneur Jennifer 8. Lee facilitated their connection with Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, whose $350 million Downtown Project provided partial funding for the initiative.
The Writer's Block began operations in 2014 at 509 Fremont Street, occupying a space formerly used as a tattoo parlor. The team included former BSSco. store manager and Archway Editions publisher Chris Molnar.
Behind the retail area was Codex, the literacy education division inspired by 826NYC’s Superhero Supply Store concept. Codex was equipped with movable partitions, tables, and desks to host complimentary writing workshops for children aged 5–18, alongside events such as readings, book signings, and series like Neon Lit, a monthly reading featuring MFA and PhD writing candidates from UNLV.
Change of venue
In 2019, The Writer's Block relocated to the Lucy, an arts center located at the intersection of 6th Street and Bonneville Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. This center was founded by philanthropist Beverly Rogers, who now holds part ownership of the bookstore. The new space provides approximately 3,000 square feet dedicated to bookselling and an additional 800 square feet reserved for events. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this area was repurposed to manage online order fulfillment. With a collection exceeding 20,000 volumes, the site also features a coffee shop and regularly hosts creative writing workshops, book clubs, and author appearances.