The Amazon Bookstore Cooperative, Inc. was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1970 by two women who sold books from the front porch of their home. Their objective was to sell books and materials on the women's liberation movement and women's issues published by women-owned presses. The bookstore was subsequently named the Amazon Bookstore, for the mythological tribe of women warriors.
At its closing in 2012, Amazon Bookstore Cooperative was the oldest independent feminist bookstore in the United States. It was run collectively for the first decade, and underwent a number of changes to the organizational structure during its years of operation. Unlike other women’s bookstores throughout the country, Amazon Bookstore stocked books authored by exclusively women for most of its years of operation. Amazon also promoted lesbian and women’s music and cultural events though tickets sales, readings, classes and promotion of local events. Many women writers, artists, musicians, activists and politicians with national and international reputations appeared at the bookstore, including Gloria Steinem, Audre Lorde, Anne Leibowitz, Rita Mae Brown, Barbara Grier, Allison Bechdel and Meg Christianson. However, the collective continually sought exposure for books and music produced by local artists, specialized publishers and distributors and women of color.
The bookstore's location changed several times. The first commercial storefront opened on 26th and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis in the mid-1970s. A larger space was acquired in the mid-1980s at Harmon Place near Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis. In 2001, the store moved to the newly constructed Chrysalis Building at 43rd and Chicago Avenue. In 2006, the store moved to its final location at 48th and Chicago Avenue. In 2009, the store was sold and renamed "True Colors Bookstore.” The renamed bookstore closed permanently in February, 2012.
A defining event in the bookstore’s history was a lawsuit initiated in May, 1999 by the Coop's management team against Amazon.com. The lawsuit claimed that Amazon.com had infringed on the Amazon name, confusing longtime bookstore customers and usurping sales. The story of the suit was picked up by the national press, which dubbed it a David and Goliath story. The suit was settled with a confidential financial payment by Amazon.com and an agreement that the bookstore identify as the Amazon Bookstore Cooperative and would change the name if it was sold.
From the guide to the Amazon Bookstore Cooperative corporate records, 1970-2012, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies [scrbt])
