Cute little bookstore with a wide variety of books for such a small space! There were many different genres of books and the person working there was helpful with helping us find certain series and books. If you're looking for a friendly bookstore in Petworth, this is the place to go! read more

Wonderful Sunday afternoon visit to this nicely curated bookstore in Parkhurst. Store carries a nice selection of classics, left wing politics, good selection of gay related reading materials, and a creative selection of children books. shop is sprinkled with nice choice of the typical book shop items but also has some great surprises. Very attentive and thorough staff person on 10.20.2024. She new the stock inside and out and was helpful with local information also as we were visiting from Williamsburg. "Please support Independent Booksellers" read more

One of my new favorite DC bookstores! I'm a librarian and bookseller, so I have high standards for bookstores but Loyalty's DC location is everything I want in a bookstore- a highly curated, diverse selection, a cozy space, and incredibly friendly staff! read more

Loyalty Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I purchased "This is What I Know About Art" by Kimberly Drew from the online store. The website was super easy to navigate, the shipping was reasonable, and FAST! I received an email within a couple hours of placing my order and even though I chose Media Mail as the shipping method, I got my order in less than a week and I got a real surprise when I found out I got a copy signed by the author! They even took extra care with shipping; inside the envelope, my book was wrapped in paper with a bookmark and a copy of my receipt/order and they replied to what I wrote in the notes section of my order. They have a HUGE eclectic selection of books for, by, and about the Black community. Truly a great resource and a fantastic experience all around. read more

Loyalty bookstore is a great place to walk in and peruse. The books here are tastefully displayed and really highlight the contribution of black authors within the creative space of literary arts. The store was organized by genres and the staff were friendly. The bookstore also spotlights local authors. Treat yourself! read more

I find it hard to not give small bookshops 5 stars but this one especially deserves. While small, Loyalty bookstore packs a punch with the variety of books they have and with emphasis on POC authors. Love that it's Black woman owned! read more

The name for this store is, unfortunately, an ironic one. I pre-ordered a copy of a book in September that was due to be released on December 10th (2020). It was fully paid. I received no further updates beyond the confirmation that they received it and they would update me when the order came in. December 10th came and went. I checked the website and they did say that due to the pandemic that things were running about 4-6 weeks behind, which I understand. We are in the middle of a world crisis after all, I can wait a few extra weeks for a book. Well, cut to the end of January and I have still yet to even receive an update about this order. I finally broke down and wrote asking for an update. I finally received this reply: "It appears the book quickly sold out (before we could get your copy) and due to the holidays and the global pandemic reprints have significantly slowed down. That said, it looks like it is back in stock and we should have a copy for you very soon." The problem with this statement is that I know it to be COMPLETELY and TOTALLY false. Why? Because the author of this book was my SISTER. And it was her first book to be published. If it had indeed sold out, I would have heard about it immediately and we would have rejoiced. I told the store to cancel my order immediately as I did not intend to do business with a company that would cover up their mistakes with falsehoods. The truth of the matter is that they never placed an order for this book for me. They forgot about me. They weren't "loyal" to this customer. I could have easily ordered this from Amazon or Barnes and Noble and received it within a day (or on the very day!) of its release, but I chose to shop small due to our current economy. You proved why some businesses don't deserve our money. UPDATE: I ordered a copy of the book from an another independent bookstore an hour after posting this review and a few hours later have received a shipping notification. So... yeah... take from that what you will. read more

I went for a book signing and I don't think the store was really prepared for the size of the crowd they had coming. They had a few chairs/stools set up in the middle and the author toward the back which caused an issue when the line started for form for the signing.. I get that they have a "neighborhood" feel but I thought it was a little weird that when the reading portion of the event was over the staff asked the guest to stack chairs, move them out of the way and gave no instruction as to how to form the line for the signing and meet/greet.. One good thing of note.. As we were standing around the perimeter of the store (because they were out of seats) I noticed a couple of books I was interested in.. If only the later portion were better organized maybe I would have hung around and spent money.. Oh well read more

Loyalty Bookstore - Nice cozy author reading - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great selection of books and I love that some of the books have mini reviews typed up and included next to them. Malik is nice as shit and is an avid reader so it was easy to trust him to help me pick out a few good ones. I'll be back ! read more

It's so great to have Loyalty in my neighborhood, and it really feels like a crucial part of the Petworth community. The staff are fun to chat with and get recommendations from. There is a small but well-curated selection, and you can easily order any book you want to the store. It feels so much better than shopping at Amazon, and ordering online to Loyalty is a great way to end up with something unexpected when you pick go to pick it up. Can't recommend more highly! read more

I was excited to purchase from a Black-owned bookstore. However, I placed the order online in August and opted to pick up from the store. I received a confirmation email but never received the book. I couldn't find a phone number on the website. So, I sent a couple of messages through the website, but never got a response. I checked my bank account and I don't think I was ever charged for the book, which is a positive. But I would not buy another book from this store due to the poor service I received. read more

Upshur Street Books is an independent little book store located in the Petworth neighborhood. The place is small, but I felt as if they had an interesting collection of fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels. It slightly reminded me of my one of my favorite bookshops back home, and I loved the little 'Staff Recommendations' slips on some of their favorites throughout the store. I absolutely loved their cookbook/food section, as they had some great varieties, mostly in hardback! Their children's book selection was really underwhelming, though, so I hope there will be more varieties added! The bookstore is clean, and they also provide little gift items, such as greeting cards, Moleskins, notepads, etc. Staff are super friendly and they allow you to peruse at your own leisure or readily available to offer any recommendations. Be sure to check out their event calendar, as they have a wide-range of in-store events such as book-signings, tastings, etc.! +great cookbook/food section :D +variety of in-store events offered +underwhelming children's book corner area +friendly staff +limited metered parking on Upshur read more

See all

I was browsing in the area and I stumbled across this bookstore. Little did I know my experience would blow me away. This bookstore is owned by a Black queer woman, and you could immediately feel that vibe when you walked in. The store features a wide array of books that are inclusive to melanated cultures and interests. They have everything from books, to tarot cards and oracle cards, to greeting cards and trinkets. The worker that worked with me was very kind and helpful. I will for sure be coming back to this bookstore frequently. read more

A lot of the Yelp reviews already capture this place pretty well. It's a small, independent bookstore but still carries the popular reading titles. Books are organized by genres, and there's a good variety. Don't expect to see 20 copies of one book on display like the larger businesses - this place is quaint that way :). There's also a small children's corner and some seats towards the back. The staff is friendly and super helpful. They greeted me immediately and asked if they could help me find anything. I was there to browse and they let me do so at my leisure. When I did ask for a certain book, the woman there went the extra mile and checked in the back to see what they had. This bookstore isn't that convenient to get to. It's about a 10 minute walk from the metro, next to Petworth Citizen, and close by to the public library. It's also closed on Mondays. Most people probably won't stumble on this place, and since it carries a lot of the standard books, there's nothing super special about it to get my fifth star. read more

Super small bookstore but jam-packed with goodies! Friendly staff, left-leaning inventory. Loved their graphic novel selection, and the little sticky notes under staff picks to help lure in new readers. Kiddos section in the back. Clearance rack by the window was pretty sparse, but you can definitely find vacation reading material or a last-minute gift here on the fly. We'll definitely be back to support this cute local business! read more

Loyalty also has a location in Silver Spring, MD, that isn't listed (as far as I can see). They are a small team with a small space, but they offer a good selection now that they've had time to fill out the space. If there is a book you can't find on their site, you can order it by emailing them, or go to their Bookshop page, which expands the selection greatly. I've often ordered things for pickup and been told they would arrive in a few weeks, but the items ended up coming in early. I have preordered a few books through them (both in-person--pre-pandemic--and online), and I only ever had one issue. I emailed them regarding the order, and it turned out the book had sold out of its first printing. They kept my order on file and are going to try to get me the second printing. I special order a lot of books, and their staff is courteous, kind, and helpful. A note about their gift cards and online orders: their system is a little slow to update, so they have to place a hold on your credit card, then they will cancel that hold once they have manually verified your gift card in their system. I haven't had a problem so far, but as I hope I've emphasized, the staff is not opposed to answering emails. There was one time when I was charged for a book I didn't receive. I contacted them and got refunded. The reason I wasn't automatically refunded is that they were waiting to hear from the publisher. That publisher didn't reply, and the book in question was out of print. All I had to do to sort it out was send an email, and it was taken care of. I really love the store. I wish I could speak more about the events they offer, but I haven't been to any. Still, if the participation I've seen is any indication, people generally enjoy the author events. read more

Great little bookstore in the Upshur neighborhood. Their selection is small, and curated according to the local taste (liberal, slightly alt-lifestyle bent). The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and will work with you to place a special order if needed, or on any other special needs. Store has an extremely welcoming vibe and is pleasant to shop in. They also have a small collection of gift items (coffee mugs, journals, etc). I'd suggest this place more for a serendipitous book browsing session versus going to find something specific, given the limited titles. read more

My go-to DC bookstore hands down. Love the owner & staff and the commitment to BIPOC & queer/trans authors.

Loyalty is a fairly small store but man, do they have a great collection and host great authors! If you're not sure what to read next, I recommend checking them out because of their displays and staff recommendations. I really miss physically going to the store but thankfully they have a great website where I can order online. So grateful for this wonderful Black-owned, queer-friendly space. read more

Loyalty Bookstore - my last in-person haul (march 2020) - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was so excited to find the book I needed as a Christmas gift was available at a small, local, Black owned business! I ordered it and a full month later still hadn't gotten the book or an update. I emailed them twice to get an update. No reply. I tried to call them. The number listed as theirs says it's been suspended. I DM'd them on Instagram. They've posted both on their page and in their stories but have yet to reply. Like the other reviews say, I'm just really frustrated and annoyed by this all. I've been charged and apparently have no way of contacting them for either my order to be filled or to be given a refund. I can't even drive into the city and go to the shop in person to talk because it's closed due to CVOID . Really just disappointed and will not buy from them ever again. And will be refuting the charge. read more

Is there anything better a clean well lighted place for books? This bookstore is all that, plus cheerful staff, a good selection, and a handy location smack in the mix of things in Petworth on Upshur. We went there for First Friday just to snoop and within five minutes I had found a gift for a friend based on asking the guy in duty for some recommendations. There is not a lot more to say other than, support local independent bookstores! read more

A little neighborhood gem. I don't buy many books, but when I do need one for a present or need something I can't find at the library, I love to come here. The staff are truly wonderful and go out of their way to be helpful and friendly. They have a fantastic stock of the newest titles and some classics that make for great browsing. Their selection is really impressive for such a small space. And there's plenty of well chosen children's books if you need a baby shower or kid's birthday gift. If they don't have something, they're happy to order it for you and there's no fee for that service. In addition to books, they have a really fun selection of art prints and the cleverest greeting cards. Plus, they have all kinds of free events for kids and adults like author talks and readings, and they host the read harder book club meetings. read more

I ordered online. Any correspondence was friendly and professional. Kept me updated on progress when they had to order it first. I would definitely shop there again either online or in person. read more

Lovely neighborhood bookstore. Organized with love and smelling of sunshine and paper, I walked in here and spent a good deal of time just admiring the great selections they had. It includes personal recommendations and has many of the popular books as well as lesser known but highly lauded titles as well. Shop local ya'll! read more

I walked in and it was a warm ambience. Great customer service. Was welcomed even with a fussy baby and I appreciate that. Will be back again. They have a great selection too! read more

Similar to other Yelp reviewers, I intentionally purchased books from Loyalty Bookstore to support a local, Black-owned bookstore. Unfortunately, I have had a far from positive experience. I ordered several books in June, and only received one book correctly from my order. Four months later, I have still not received a refund for the four books that I was charged for. I have emailed them too many times to count and have not received any responses from them. It would be one thing if they just messed up my order and didn't charge me, but I paid roughly $80-$90 for four books that I have never received. I would greatly appreciate a refund. I've never had this type of experience with any business of not being refunded money for items never received and being completely unable to get in touch with someone from the business. read more

It's great to have an independent bookstore opening in the city, in an unlikely location, too - a literary desert, if you will. The store is small, as might be expected, but troubling is the selection. I'm not sure of their target market as they seem to stock pretty much bestseller / mainstream books that you could find anywhere. I can see it serving as a handy bookstore for the neighborhood, particularly the children's section, but I don't see many people trekking from other parts of the city for this store. They seem to have positioned themselves to compete against Amazon rather than being that place where you can find some really unique gems. Bridge Street Books, perhaps the best in DC, isn't that much bigger but promises to reveal books (particularly poetry) that you can't wait to read but never heard of before walking in. It's often jam packed with discriminating literary shoppers, too. Kramerbooks is, well, Kramerbooks. Its unique hours / entertainment / food / drinks model distinguishes it, but its strong selection almost begs for browsing. It's always busy, even late night. Politics and Prose has the notable speaker events and a wide variety of mainstream and obscure books. Numerous small independent bookstores in New York have such a unique niche that it's hard to find a book you've ever even heard of in some of them. No one's expecting that from Upshur Books, but I think if they can find their citywide niche and curate a selection that goes beyond the bestseller lists (while still selling bestsellers to keep the doors open), they'll have a good shot of building a strong following. I wish them well. read more

Totally unprofessional shop. Charged me for an order I placed but immediately lost it and never sent it. Then took two weeks off during the holidays, refusing to answer emails about missing and late orders. What sort of retail model is that? My other order that wasn't forgotten arrived 2 weeks late. Zero apologies or acknowledgement of either. And it took a threat of filing a complaint with the BBB to get my refund for the order they forgot about. Just embarrassingly awful. read more

I bought three books online and they came quickly and in great condition! Will definitely be buying from Loyalty Books again and hopefully soon in person. read more

So it's closed now? Such s silly little store. A bookstore with literally no books. I can't believe it actually stayed open for a few years. The used bookstore down the street has more to offer then this hipster wanna be bookstore ever had. Reminded me of the Portlandia episode where the two girls owned the "boutique" store that had "2" shirts in it. read more

Quaint neighborhood bookstore. They don't have a large selection, but they can order you anything your heart desires!

Wonderful local bookstore with deep values and community commitments. The staff has been very helpful with recommendations every time. Particularly good selection of African American and DC-centric books. read more

Really love this place -- super friendly staff, small but great eclectic book selection, good return policy (especially if you're buying gifts), great kids section, and just the right amount of non-book items - such as local art, funky cards, tote bags, and small gifts. read more

Upshur Street is a small, neighborhood, independent bookstore (New Yorkers, think Word in Greenpoint). If I lived in Petworth, I'm sure Upshur would be part of my regular rotation (I'm less sure that it would be a destination for those of us who live driving-distance away; this distinguishes it from, say, Bridge Street Books which I will make an effort to visit). It has a shelf of DC related books, a few shelves of contemporary fiction, a few shelves of non-fiction, and a children's section. I think it could probably be improved by more of the personalized touches that make customers want to support indie bookstores- shelves with "what we recommend" or "staff picks" (This is what One More Page in Arlington does so well) that guide the indecisive reader through the store. I'm glad to see this place here, and I hope it thrives- DC desperately needs an indie book culture. read more

Small, but well-stocked bookstore. Good browsing. Staff is great and will order you anything. We've curbed our amazon spending in favor of giving this nifty small business our book buying dollars. read more

My family and I love this place! Yes, it is a small space but they've done a great job with the layout. They are always extremely nice and helpful- especially with our child's special requests of Lego books. This has been a great addition to Petworth. read more

I was excited to stumble in the front door just as the team was stocking the bookshelves. I've been in the neighborhood for just three years, and I've often wished there was a place I could walk to and browse for something to read. Nice to finally have a bookstore in the neighborhood. :) read more

I'm looking for a paperback of a kind off obscure book, and I emailed them looking to see if they have it. They promptly emailed me back, asking if I'd like them to order it. It'll be here by the end of the week! Love that service. (I know, I could've ordered on Amazon, but I hate shipping fees, and love supporting businesses in my community.) read more

Walked into Upshur Street for the first time today, and I was impressed. You don't feel rushed by the employees when you walk in, and I can truly appreciate that, as local bookstores can sometimes feel less welcoming. One associate named Anna was particularly knowledgeable about the books on the shelves and helped answer all my questions. I'll definitely be back to attend one of their events -- love this new find. read more

This little bookstore is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Despite being small, there's a nice selection of literary books, a solid's children's section (featuring several stuffed animals), and a few tables of staff picks and recommended reads. Agree with other reviewers that the selection is a little left-leaning, but there's a good variety for everyone. read more