Boneshaker Books is a volunteer-run, radical bookstore in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. Founded in 2010, we offer a unique collection of books reflecting the experiences and ideas borne from radical and progressive movements, marginalized communities, and local and international voices. We also house a free event space that has been occupied by hundreds of activists, community members, artists, and literati over the years.
On March 8, 2020, the Boneshaker Collective announced that the store would be closing due to financial difficulties. But this vital literary and organizing space remains essential. A new Boneshaker collective has risen from the ashes, to fight for a different end to this story. We have more work to do.
Who are we?
Boneshaker Books is a volunteer-run, radical bookstore based in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN. We aim to introduce readers to leftist politics, facilitate conversations, support ongoing movements, and collectively create a space that will grow, evolve, and respond to community needs and pressing issues. We strive to exemplify what a collectively run leftist space can be. We are not motivated by profit, and we are committed to financial sustainability through selling books and grassroots support.
Why are we here?
On March 8, 2020, the former collective of Boneshaker Books announced that the store would close permanently after ten years in business. We are a group of former volunteers and community members who stepped up to save the store. But we can’t do it without your support.
Why support us?
Selling books is a political act. Our curated collection of anti-oppressive literature, zines, and art gives community members the opportunity to encounter new texts and ideas in a warm, welcoming space, and sows the seeds of revolutionary thought. We value radical joy, care, and creativity. We need bread, but we need roses too. Boneshaker grows roses.
At Boneshaker, we know that selling books is only the first step. Boneshaker is a bookstore, but it’s also a gathering place, a radical space that supports and houses local movements.
We need to save Boneshaker because we cannot afford to lose an extant leftist organizing space. We share our space with the Women’s Prison Book Project (WPBP) and the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America (TCDSA), two organizations doing crucial work to support our communities. Our meeting and event space is one of the rare places where any group can congregate free of charge.
Last but not least, you'll get some rad perks! Click each perk to see more information about the items included.
Where will the money go?
This campaign is raising funds to ensure Boneshaker Books remains healthy and vital in our community for years to come, and to expand our collection of books, zines, artwork, and more. We will do this by:
- Opening an online store to continue bookselling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
- Paying down debt owed to publishers and distributors and freeing up our line of credit.
- Reinstating our insurance policy with a provider that will allow us to continue bicycle deliveries.
We also plan to launch two online book clubs—one focused on the politics of pandemics, the other an “anything but pandemics” utopian fiction book club—to keep growing our community and our curiosity.
To sign up for one of the virtual book clubs, click here.
To visit our Bookshop storefront, click here!