Independent Bookstore Day is coming up on Saturday, April 26 and booksellers around Western New York are joining in the celebration. The region is home to many wonderful bookstores and we wanted to highlight a couple of our favorite newcomers:
Steward & Specter’s Traveling Bookshop has been making the rounds in their converted bus since the summer of 2023, offering a well-curated selection of science fiction, art, fantasy, mystery and other genre books. Last year they opened a storefront in Kenmore (2940 Delaware Ave.) with regular weekend hours and occasional weekday openings. Visit their Instagram or Facebook accounts for details and bus locations. If you’re interested in Steward & Specter’s origin story, owners Eric Mowery and Noah Wojcik shared it with writer Amy Lynn Hardy for Buffalo Rising.
BestCellar Book Bar in Clarence is a charming combination bookstore, bar and coffee shop. Since opening in November 2024, owner Devon Powers has built up a solid schedule of book club meetings, author talks, trivia nights and other activities. BestCellar is open seven days a week at 9560 Main St. in Clarence. Visit their website for hours and upcoming events.
Want to learn more about independent bookstores in the area? Check out the Buffalo Magazine November/December cover story “Lose yourself in one of Buffalo’s specialty bookstores” by Kellie Mazur.
Buffalo Bookstore Passport
One new feature of Independent Bookstore Day for 2025 is the Buffalo Bookstore Passport. From April 12-26, participating bookstores in the City of Buffalo, Northtowns and Southtowns are offering stamps for visitors to add to a paper passport which can then be turned in for a chance at winning prizes, including gift cards, coupons and exclusive swag from Tiny Buffalo Designs Co. For full details of the Buffalo Bookstore Passport program, visit https://www.bflobookstores.com/ibd-passport.