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New Phoenix Bookstore Tries Appealing To English, Spanish Readers

Published: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 - 3:44pm
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(Photo by Mark Brodie – KJZZ)
Palabras Libreria in Phoenix
(Photo by Mark Brodie – KJZZ)
A sampling of the books from Cardboard House Press

Bookstores across the country took a pretty sizable hit over the past few years from online sellers like Amazon. But there are signs that small, independent bookstores are starting to turn the page.

A new Phoenix shop is jumping into the market, catering to both English and Spanish readers.

Rosie Magaña owns Palabras Libreria on Grand Avenue just west of downtown. The space also serves as a community library for readers who can’t afford to buy books. Most of her titles come from donations.

The addition of an English-Spanish bookstore is also good news for Maggie Messerschmidt, editor with Cardboard House Press, a bilingual publishing house dedicated to innovative works of Latin American and Spanish-language literature.

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