It's clear from the decor that this place is about depth, not surface. About ideas, not spin.

The big space is punctuated by shelves of books, not garish display stands. They wait quietly until you get up close enough to make out the titles and then, all of sudden, you're sucked in. Just like that. Resistance is useless: a sure sign that someone who loves readers, as well as books, is to be found in the buying department.

There's a fierce pride in local talent and issues, and you can quickly acquire a good sense of the city if you care to engage in conversation with the helpful, knowledgeable staff.

Upstairs, in the so-daggy-its-retro mezzanine, people are deep in conversation over decent coffee and simple cafe meals. The whole place has the purposeful buzz of people happily indulging their bookishness.