Auntie's Bookstore — Local services in Spokane

Auntie’s is home.

Not just a bookstore, but a beating heart in the middle of Spokane—a rare and radiant space that still believes in magic, in paper, in story. In a time when most places like this have vanished into dust, when digital convenience has swallowed the tangible, Auntie’s holds firm. It endures—not because it’s easy, or profitable, but because it matters.

Over the course of my life, places like this have grown nearly extinct. And yet here it stands, defying the odds, held up by a community that believes in more than just commerce. Auntie’s invests in people. It holds space—for ideas, for imagination, for the beauty of human connection.

There was a time when Auntie’s filled most of the building—those days were something out of a dream. Endless shelves, winding corridors of books, stories stretching taller than your reach. It was a wonderland. And while the space has changed, the soul has not. They still host author readings and community events, still offer the gift of a room full of strangers leaning in to listen. In an age where so much has become virtual and fleeting, Auntie’s remains rooted. Real.

One of my favorite memories was the midnight release of The Deathly Hallows. The entire city seemed to come alive that night—kids and adults in costume, laughter spilling onto the sidewalk. Magic was real, if only for a few hours. I’ll never forget it.

And the authors—so many beloved voices I got to meet in real life. People whose words shaped me, whose stories held me through hard times. To see them in person, to shake the hands that wrote the worlds I loved—that kind of moment stays with you forever.

And now, somehow, impossibly, I find myself on the other side. A writer. A storyteller. For twenty years I wrote quietly, never imagining I’d one day be published, or that writing would become a defining part of my life. But here I am. And perhaps, someday soon, I’ll stand at that little podium at Auntie’s, reading aloud to a room just like the ones I once sat in. A few of my friends have already pictured it—and I’m starting to believe it too.

The high ceilings still make me pause, every time I look up. They’re wildly impractical, gloriously unnecessary, and absolutely perfect. Light pours in from the skylight, and for a moment, the world expands. Auntie’s isn’t just a building—it’s a monument to what we hold dear.

So thank you. Thank you to everyone who has kept this sacred space alive. For as long as Auntie’s stands, I’ll remain endlessly grateful. You’ve given so much to this city. To me. To countless others who’ve found a piece of themselves between...

Many bookstores lean progressive, and Aunties is not the exception. Very narrow selection. Many genres offer a pathetic variety. For example, there are two cases of eastern religion books compared to one on philosophy... yes, ALL philosophy. “Christian religion” as well is only 2-3 cases and mostly pop-level pseudo theology (even CS Lewis only takes up about a foot). In every section of the store, boring progressive books are highlighted and celebrated. Their used books are interspersed throughout every section, so there’s no way to browse them in one section. All of their new books are at bookstore prices (i.e., about twice what you’d find online, but the real shocker is that their used book prices are almost as much as new). I once brought in two boxes of books after hours for them to take a look at them, and the employee told me they would look through them the next business day and call me with their offer, and notifying me I could pick up the ones they didn’t want. Never heard back, called back later and they said they didn’t know what to say. As none of the books are on the shelves, I can only imagine they disposed of them, rather than giving me a chance to give them to friends. I won’t give one star, because that’s reserved for the store where an employee punches me in the face—but there’s nothing about this store that’s going to draw me in to spend twice as much as online. Brick and mortar has to make up for Amazon’s, et. al. unbeatable prices in other ways—friendly staff, diverse offerings, rare or hard to find products, awesome architecture or layout, SOMETHING. Auntie’s has none of that, a slim array of intellectual and literary offerings, and pretentious staff to boot.

Really, how desperate is Spokane for any kind of bookstore that Aunties is...

Don't be fooled by the old fashioned disguise of this bookstore. They are as commercial and greedy as they get. I drove 45 miles to have a book signed that was a gift from my mother. She gave it to me in my father's name, who is no longer with us. It was a very sentimental gift as my dad and I shared a very special bond when it came to playing basketball and watching our favorite player; John Stockton, work his magic on the court. I was looking forward to having this gift signed by John Stockton for at least a month. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. The day arrived, I drove over to Auntie's in icy road conditions, and managed to find the only open parking spot 4 blocks away. After a bitter cold walk, I went into the store and asked where the end of the line was. The lady behind the counter inquired about my book and I told her it was my copy. I was then told that I could not stand in line or have it signed because it was not purchased at their store. A childhood dream and fulfillment of a gift from my mother, obliterated because I did not spend my $25 on that specific book on this specific day. What a terrible way to represent yourself Auntie's. Is the publicity of the book signing, the many people talking about and visiting your store, and the enormous amount of money you make because of such.... not good enough?? Shame on you and shame on your greed. I will never step foot in your store again. I will also be sure to tell people about my experience whenever I get the chance. I hope the giving spirit of Christmas eventually finds you so that the coldness of your greedy pockets doesn't force your...