Interview with a Bookstore: Kramerbooks & Afterwords, a Washington DC staple

Kramerbooks & Afterwords was the first hybrid of bookstore and cafe to ever open in Washington DC, back in the 70s. Here, its booksellers compare the store to a hyena and talk visits by presidents and accidentally breaking clients’ noses

• Interview with a Bookstore from Literary Hub is part of the Guardian Books Network
  

• Scroll down for the staff recommendations shelf

Kramerbooks & Afterwords first opened its doors amid the bicentennial celebrations of 1976, and at the time was the first bookstore/cafe in Washington D.C. Over the years, through expansions, subpoenas, and innumerable neighborhood changes, business has remained constant, thanks largely to an ongoing commitment to two fundamental joys in life: books and food. In addition to a lively, convivial atmosphere, and a full-service bar, Kramerbooks & Afterwords stages hundreds of book-related events each year, both in the store and elsewhere.

What’s your favorite section in the store?

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