Tattered Cover Book Store

CITY PARK. The much-loved Tattered Cover started out in the 1970s as a tiny independent book shop, but owner Joyce Meskis had a knack for bookselling, and expanded the store several times. Eventually, the "little independent bookstore that could" expanded to become one of the largest independents in the US. Now, with the Colfax location, the store has over 150,000 titles, 1800 periodicals, 150 newspapers (foreign and domestic), a coffee shop, and a large space for special events (of which there are many). The staff is genuinely friendly, intelligent, and helpful, no small feat for a retail enterprise with several hundred employees and three locations.