The Story Behind The Shelves

The Last Bookstore is California's largest new and used book and record store, and one of the largest independent bookstores left anywhere. Voted "the most photographed bookstore in the world." We started small in 2005, tucked into a downtown Los Angeles loft. Founder Josh Spencer, after years of selling everything from clothes to cars online, turned his full attention to what he loved most: books and records.

Downtown LA was just beginning its revival, and somehow, we found our place in it. Thanks to overwhelming support from readers, collectors, and the endlessly curious, we grew fast. Today, our flagship store is more than 22,000 square feet inside the Spring Arts Tower - a historic building filled with stories of its own. Inside, you'll find over 500,000 books and records, collectibles, and a maze of art galleries, hidden spaces, and curiosities.

The name "The Last Bookstore" was meant to be a little ironic -- but every year it feels a little more true. Despite the struggle of keeping the doors open in the face of pandemics, strikes, fires, rising wages, and civil unrest, we've managed to survive and even thrive. In fact, we've also opened 3 more stores, some with different names and each with their own distinct style. We still buy, sell, and trade books and records every day.
We're here because people like you believe in what we do: real spaces, real stories, and the magic of holding a book or record in your hands. Thanks for keeping The Last Bookstore alive. We can't wait for you to get lost in the stacks with us.