Here’s the list. City Lights in San Francisco is number one, and the only one in America that makes the cut. I was surprised that New York didn’t have anything on there, but it makes sense. The big ones, like Gotham Book Mart and Coliseum Books, which I used to love, are long gone. There are many very good ones in NYC on the smaller side, but nothing as comprehensive or symbolic of a movement as City Lights in SF.
Here’s a question: Where does Powell’s in Portland rank?