Stories Books & Cafe

My friends and I walked into this really nice indie bookstore in Echo Park on a Saturday evening, while looking for some ice cream, lol. The store itself has excellent layout, the atmosphere is welcoming and inviting. The have really good merch, fantastic books ,both new and used, and a great café in the back. There's even an area, further beyond the café, where some stand up comedy show was taking place. The whole place is somewhere I would see myself spending a whole day, buying some pastries and coffee, buying a book or two and reading some others while talking to interesting people. 10/10. Would definitely go back.

A nice local bookstore with coffee. Now that is an excellent combo! The coffee is good and I enjoyed the book selection. Get there early if you want to snag a good seat and read.

Have I really never reviewed Stories?! If Echo Park is going to have one great thing, it’s indie bookstores. I recently reviewed A Good Used Book, which I love, and I have to say Stories is not far behind. There’s just something special about having a neighborhood bookstore. Stories is mostly has new books, which I don’t mind at all. I’ve never been a fan of big-box bookstores, so the curated, slightly older feel of Stories is refreshing and full of magic. One of my favorite sections is their selection of occult books, and they also carry titles from independent artists and storytellers. I feel like I find books here that I wouldn't at Barnes & Noble. Another thing I love: if they don’t have the book you’re looking for, they’ll happily order it for you or let you know when it’s back in stock. They did this for me once, and it was such a lovely, personal experience. There’s also a small café in the back with coffee and pastries. I haven’t tried it yet, so I can’t speak to the quality, but it’s a cozy touch. If I had to give one note, it’s that one of the main employees (an older woman with brown hair) often comes across as if she’s in a mood. She’s never been outright rude but she is really short with you, and sometimes it feels like I’m bothering her. That said, every other staff member I’ve encountered has been incredibly kind and welcoming. The selection here is huge, and it’s always hard to leave without picking up at least one book. If you’re in the area, Stories is absolutely worth a visit.

I really enjoy bookstores and one of my favorites is Stories. They have a great collection of books like Kafka, Dostoevsky, and more. The place feels cozy and relaxing, and I love the playlist they play inside. They have a patio outside and it's very nice as well.