Kate, Laine and I visited all 14 of Kansas City’s independent bookstores while we were researching our KC Indie Bookstore Tour. Who knew that we have FOURTEEN bookstores? Some of them were new to me, and we found lots to love in each of them. If you’re curious about which other ones we checked out, we’ve listed them alphabetically below.
Photo courtesy of Afterword Tavern & Shelves
Afterword Tavern & Shelves
1834 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Great selection of books and very cool bar atmosphere. They offer literary-themed specialty drinks that change with the season. Their Books & Booze monthly subscription service looks amazing - this is a must-visit for the bookish 21+ crowd.
Bliss Books & Wine
3502 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO
Located right next to Mother Earth Coffee, Bliss Books & Wine was a favorite stop of ours. The wine bar is great, the curated selection on point. We loved the extra spaces available to rent - the bookclub room, the podcast recording studio and the relaxation room.
BLK + BRWN.
104 1/2 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO
The selection here is finely curated - each title feels like it was chosen with intention. We loved that each book had a QR code we could scan to see reviews of the books on the store website. While we were browsing, Cori Smith (owner) was prepping for an event honoring 100 years of James Baldwin (born in 1924). This space has such a good vibe - offering a community book club and space for people to gather.
Flagship Books
510 N 6th St, Kansas City, KS
I was thrilled to visit its new-to-me location up in Strawberry Hill. The storefront is so very cute, it’s just down the street from a new candy & ice cream store called Hey Sugar and around the corner from Slaps BBQ. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, the BBQ line will be out of control by 11. The bookstore won’t be as out of control as the BBQ line, but it was a busy place! We loved getting to talk to owner Ty Melgrin about the way he decides what to order for the store and how it’s thriving in the community. There’s a great mix of interesting new releases and used books, as well as postcards and other locally made sideline items. This is a must-visit!
Monarch Books and Gifts
7713 W 151st St, Overland Park, KS
We felt major Central Perk vibes (the coffee shop from Friends); there were lots of cozy spots to sit, coffee served behind the counter and books galore. We loved their historical fiction selection and the diversity of their gifts and locally made items. They have a lot of stock and a good amount of titles are face-out on the shelves making browsing fun and easy. Make sure you take a selfie in front of their amazing wall of open books.
Monstera’s Books
7930 Floyd St, Overland Park, KS
We could gush on and on about this store because it’s ours and we love everything about it - but if you don’t know it as well as we do, you’ll love the book-plant combo and the neighborly atmosphere. Carts of used books under fun sunbrellas are outside the front door, records are spinning inside - it’s our personal (but biased) fave!
The Pretty Posy
7942 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS
The huge front windows and the bright white interior make this space feel so open. A great selection of books, we loved their New Release table and pegboard display.
Prospero’s Books
1800 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO
This is another famous KC destination. For about 25 years, this store has been the go-to for used, rare and collectible books. And this place will NOT disappoint. Make sure you take pictures on the book ladder, in their book-filled basement (loved the book quotes all over the wood beams) and the beautiful top floor. You’re going to want to make sure you plan enough time to really dig through the books, there are so many gems waiting to be found.
Rainy Day Books
2706 W 53rd St, Fairway, KS
KC’s oldest independent bookstore, Rainy Day Books hosts tons of off-site author events, is the biggest of the indie stores in terms of space, and hosts a lot of in-store book clubs. Halley from Seven Stories refers to them as “The Mothership” and that feels accurate. They’re under new ownership as of last year but have kept the same professional vibe. Check out their events calendar - they always have an impressive line-up.
Seven Stories
11109 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS
Located in downtown Shawnee, this little store has a big story; you’ve for sure seen the owner, Halley Vincent, on the news. She started her business as a Little Free Library, which turned into a lawnmower bookmobile and then a mini-truck bookmobile before finally becoming a brick and mortar store. All before the age of 15! If you visit here on a Thursday or Friday during the school year, you’ll likely meet Halley’s mom (Ali) because Halley’s in high school during the day. We loved that we got to visit Seven Stories during the middle of an AANHPI book fair - for three weeks, Halley has stocked the shelves with ONLY books written by AANHPI authors. Did you love The Women by Kristin Hannah? Why not visit Seven Stories and have Halley or her mom recommend a similar story written by a Vietnamese woman (there are several novels that fit the bill!). Local art was all over the walls, we loved the fun sticker selection and found the whole thing just so inviting and filled with personality.
Turnsol Books
1664 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
This is a worker-owned, relatively new bookstore in downtown KC just to the west of the Kauffman Center. Immediately upon entering we fell in love with Eleanor (or Ellie) the bookstore cat. On their shelves we found some super cool editions of a wide range of classics - I found a copy of Sense and Sensibility that I couldn’t leave behind and also a vintage copy of The Red Pony that made it into my stack. We spent a while chatting with one of the owners, Tim, about the space and the vision. Turnsol - a word that describes any of the plants that turn with the movement of the sun - hosts a number of community events and is especially hopping on First Fridays. Poetry readings, workshops, you name it. Looks like they also serve tea behind the counter.
Under the Cover
605 E 31st St, Kansas City, MO
KC’s only Romance-Only bookstore was such a unique spot. They opened in November of 2023 and are already at work on their expansion to the storefront next door. Every romance you could ever imagine - you can find it on these shelves. The sense of humor present in the shelf talkers and romance-y sidelines will have you laughing.
Willa’s Books and Vinyl
5547 -5549 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO
Willa started out as a street vendor in the 18th and Vine area, she’s been in her spot since 2007 and I loved her store. Jazz music was spinning on a record player inside the door as we walked in, and I could hear her family chatting away in the adjoining room. Lots of used history, memoirs and cookbooks with a specialization in used and rare African American books. I spent the most money here of all the stops - I got a big collection of Civil War Poetry, some kids books and a novel called The Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Crafts - the only known novel written by a fugitive slave. If you visit, I promise you’ll love Willa and her store as much as I did.
Wise Blood Booksellers
4045 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
This is a mostly-used bookstore tucked inside of Mills Record Co in Westport. While the store is predominantly records, we found a lot to love in their book section. We knew we’d love a bookstore that houses lots of Monstera plants! Mostly used books, we loved poking around the shelves and saying hi to their store pup. We also loved their pen and notebook selection.
Plan your visit
Read about our top picks for the Kansas City Bookstore Road Trip, and save our map below to plan your day!
