There’s a new kid in town–Stories Books in Echo Park (for the Dodger fans out there, the store is close to the Sunset stadium entrance). Stories is a new and used 
bookstore with a yummy cafe in the back. Co-owner Claudia was a member of the Dutton’s North Hollywood team. After it closed, she decided to continue the Dutton’s legacy by opening her own bookstore. Dutton’s Brentwood contributed shelving to the new store, Stories recycled the shelf/counter from the order desk in the North area to their own front counter giving it a second life as the heart of a bookstore.
Claudia and her co-owner, Liz, chose Echo Park because it is an up and coming area of Los Angeles. Stories is a cozy neighborhood bookstore with an abundance of paperback books, new and used shelved together. There is a nice selection of authors with a solid backlist of selections. We visited just after the new year so the children’s selection was a little sparse due to sales (yahoo!). There is one shelf of hardbacks, since Stories can’t compete with the big box stores on these sales, they concentrate more on paperbacks and used books. Stories promotes local authors and carries their work on a consignment basis. Claudia mentioned that it hadn’t occurred to her to sell work on consignment, but that it was a style of stocking books that they are pleased with and open to expanding.
For a store that had been open for six weeks when I arrived, I was impressed by the warm atmosphere. The chairs for reading and conversing welcome you as soon as you walk in. The store smelled great from Chef Mike cooking soup in the cafe in the back. The Mediterranean platter and the Italian platter were fantastic. It was such a relief to have “my normal food” after weeks of holiday meats and carbohydrates. The seating area inside the cafe is in process, Claudia said new chairs were on order, but the patio in the back looked terrific. We were there in a rain storm, so I just peeked, but the entire side wall is a mural and there are several tables and chairs. It’s the perfect place for all kinds of readings and gatherings through out the good weather months (about 10 months of the year) or just to hang out.
Stories already has an eclectic event calendar. In December, to celebrate the release of Process Media’s photography book “Pure Country,” banjo player and former Hee Haw star Roni Stoneman performed at the store. On Inauguration night, Stories held “Inauguration Subversion” readings and performances. The kids are welcome always, but especially for the Story and Music hours with Daniel and Hayley. For February, Stories will be offering “cheap date nights.” Hey Claudia, our date night is on Wednesdays, we’re looking for something cheap!
Stories Books
1716 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
T: 213.413.3733
Tags: California, California bookstore, Echo Park, Echo Park bookstore, Los Angeles, Los Angeles bookstore, used books
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