Independent bookstores are gradually making a comeback in the United States.
In the American Booksellers Association’s 2022 annual report, there are 2,593 independent bookstores in the United States. This is the highest number of stores in the country since 2002.
Of these 2,593 stores, within Citrus’ five communities – Azusa, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora and Monrovia – there are just two independent bookstores in this area.
One is the Claremont Forum, which is a used bookstore in the Claremont Packing House with a large array of books from self-help guides to graphic novels. The store also sells posters and movies for those not interested in books.
Due to being a used bookstore, the availability of books is entirely dependent on if someone has donated that book, so it may be hard to find a specific title.
The bookstore runs the Prison Library Project. Their website states that it is a volunteer-run project, which sources and delivers books to those incarcerated.
The bookstore does not offer seating within the store itself, only on the outside. Due to the amount of stores nearby, it is a fairly noisy area. If one is looking for a place to sit down and read a newly bought book or study, it’s best to go elsewhere.
The Claremont Forum’s can be found at 586 W. First St. in Claremont.
In Old Town Monrovia, the other independent bookstore in the Citrus College area is the Underdog Bookstore, an LGBTQ-run store. The shop primarily sells books with LGBTQ authors and authors of color.
The store does not offer many books on its premises. There are very few books out on the floor, though the store does go out of its way to display books written by people of color.
Unlike the Claremont Forum, the Underdog Bookstore offers plentiful seating, with the majority of the space in the store being taken up by tables and chairs. There are other amenities for customers to enjoy, such as jigsaw puzzles and a kids section.
The kids section is at the back of the store, where there is a smaller kid-sized bookshelf, containing picture books and shorter books for younger readers.
While there are not many books for sale, the Underdog focuses on fostering community. The store is set up so that people can come in and sit for a few hours, chat, do a jigsaw puzzle, pet a dog or read a book.
The Underdog Bookstore can be found at 312 S. Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia.
The independent bookshops in Citrus’ area are different from each other. The Claremont Forum has a large amount of books while the Underdog Forum has a small, cozy atmosphere.
Both bookstores are fantastic places to browse for a new book to read or just a place to relax.
