Sep 8, 2026 - Culture

The Arcade should just be a permanent bookstore

Sam Allard

Bustling indoor book fair in a historic atrium with ornate gold railings and balconies. Strings of lights span the space as people browse tables full of books. — The Cleveland Book Fest Book Fair at the Arcade. Photo: Courtesy of the Cleveland Foundation

Have you ever stepped into The Arcade, mourned its lost commercial vitality, and soothed yourself by imagining it as the world's most beautiful bookstore?

You're not alone.

State of play: September is Cleveland Book Fest, a monthlong celebration of the literary arts, and organizers kicked off festivities last weekend by transforming the Arcade into a pop-up book fair featuring more than 20 booksellers and literary organizations.

Verdict: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

What they're saying: "So many people told us we should do this every weekend," Literary Cleveland director Matt Weinkam tells Axios.

Mac's Backs needed a second shipment of books, he said.
Cleveland Public Library's store sold more in one day than it typically does in a month, and the disability-focused Nightlight Books reported its most profitable event ever.

What's next: The Book Fest team hopes to expand the Arcade fair next year — and potentially make it more than an annual event.

We await updates with bated breath.

In the meantime, the 2026 Book Fest promises to be bigger than ever, with dozens of author talks, readings and writing programs — including the free Inkubator Writing Conference this week — leading up to the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards on Sept. 18.

Headliners include Colson Whitehead, Jesmyn Ward, Marlon James and Ibram X. Kendi.

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The Arcade should just be a permanent bookstore

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