Just opened a few months ago amidst considerable media hype, Interabang Books bills itself as a community-centered, independent book store. However, whether the store lives up to the hype and image is a matter of personal taste and expectations. This store, for many, will fall short of the idealized image of the iconic, truly-independent book store. Independent via self-promotion and merely-in-fact by way of not being part of a chain operation, this store fails to measure up as progressive or eclectic in any sense. This is no Tattered Cover Book Store (Denver), a Powell's (Portland), or an Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle). Independent should also mean independence of thought and convention. Here you will not find a diverse cultural experience via books or charming atmosphere. Although you may find a few novels and assorted titles not seen at Barnes & Noble, the selection and reach of literary titles and non-fiction categories is limited, especially in the critical thinking areas of politics, sociology, economics, science, religion, current affairs, etc., where subject titles are under-represented and alternative viewpoints sorely missing. The nature-science selection is dismal. You won't find much in the way of a Noam Chomsky, Richard Dawkins or other alternative-radical thinkers, the great philosophers, the unconventional. There is not even a whiff or trace of the great French salons where intellectuals and thinkers gathered to muse, question the status quo, or ponder the trajectory of society; no coffee or even a place to sit down, congregate, or relax. There is no showcase section for local authors where one often finds subjects of interest regarding local stories, characters, events, and happenings. Also there is little or no representation of independent and self-published authors where emerging authors and diversity thrives--giving this store an elitist taint. Both the store amenities and range of authors seems rather circumspect, even staid, if not politically correct. There is little here for the hip or cultural non-conformist: gay- lesbian, feminist, minorities, the non-religious, the independent thinker--indeed, not much to inspire the cross-town, diverse reader to make the trip. The store seems intended to cater to the north Dallas community of the affluent and conservative. If you are seeking a unique cultural experience look elsewhere. Even the Barnes & Noble across the street has a better and more diverse selection of titles. Surely a large, rich city like Dallas could come up with a better vision and model for a truly unique and iconic book store. As a so-called independent, Interabang is a major disappointment and not well suited to represent the more diverse interests, neighborhoods, and readers of the larger Dallas metroplex. read more

Like many of you, I'm always on the hunt for things that do not exist. I'm not talking about Bigfoot's Pet Rock collection, or the remains of the best roller disco in sunken Atlantis. I'm talking about a solid, independent bookstore that sells actual, physical rectangles full of words that people used to have on shelves in their houses. Truthfully, these types of stores have become elusive in recent years, seemingly going extinct with the rise of e-readers. Enter Interabang, an independent bookstore that continues the tradition of welcoming customers to a shop lined with shelves of major and minor literary releases. From the electronic mural that rotates out word bubbles spoken by the pop art motif on display, to the shelves of hand-picked recommendations by the staff, it's clear this is a place that values a more customer-focused approach with a slight (but not abrasive) edge. And the DFW area is all the better for it. The first thing I noticed before walking in here on a Saturday afternoon was the little stand-up placard on display out front. It said something about how dinosaurs didn't know how to read, and now they're extinct. It may have been fatigue offset by four cups of coffee, but I thought that was way funnier than it should have been. So I stepped inside and found myself in a modern-looking store that had individual tables positioned in the main area with books stacked atop in displays, magazines sitting to the right and a wall of fiction disappearing into the expansive length of the shop on the left. Imagine a capital "L" that had too much to drink and is now standing on its head. That's kind of the shape of the store, with one long "hallway" extending into the distance, and an alcove jutting out to the right specifically for kids. As you head down the room, you'll come across that electronic display I mentioned earlier, and I'm going to assume that given the amount of space it has between it and the nearest table, this could double as the perfect spot for events, readings or book signings. There were a few staffers milling about, engaging the customers and striking up conversations here and there. They were all perfectly attentive without giving the impression they were stalking anyone through the aisles of the store. This is a good thing, as stalking tends to hinder any enjoyment when it comes to browsing through the pages of a book you never knew existed. And that's actually a good point to raise: despite the fact that the store is maybe a quarter of the size of your Barnes & Noble (or the Borders that occupied a few doors down in this same strip mall years ago), they have a surprising amount of books you will not typically find in your more recognizable bookstore. They even have a section dedicated to "birding," which I just learned is another term for bird watching. I was learning stuff just by walking around in this store! Of particular importance, to me, was the back left corner, seemingly dedicated to art, film and music books. I'm a huge film nerd, and an even bigger music snob. Seeing literal shelves of these books gave me a rush of euphoric satisfaction, and I got caught up in the moment with the display of 33 1/3 music books. Someone clearly has good taste who works here, as books focused on The Modern Lovers, Television, The Grateful Dead and Patti Smith were all featured prominently. However, I took it upon myself to put the Bruce Springsteen book on display back on the shelf and replace it with the book on Throbbing Gristle. It may end up being my token good deed for the year, or it may go unnoticed for millennia. Either way, it seemed appropriate. Despite my realistically failed attempts at broadening the horizons of "people who may happen to stumble into the 'music' section of a bookstore one Saturday afternoon," Interabang has done the seemingly impossible and made physical books enticing in the rapid-fire world we live in. If you've been around the metroplex long enough to recall Legacy Books, you will be excited to hear Interabang feels like that place's younger sibling: eager to live up to their older, more seasoned relative, but wanting to be unique and stand out due to their own abilities. It's a fantastic bookstore and a welcome addition to the neighborhood. read more

I'm all about breaking the shackles forced upon me by chain bookstores, and Interabang is excellent proof that independent bookstores are SO much better than the larger chains we've been dependent on. When I visited, there was a signing that was finishing up (some news anchor personality) but the vibe was welcoming, and you could tell the employees really value being a part of a customer's experience in finding their next read. The gal that rang my purchase up was so friendly and invited me to join one of their book clubs. As an out-of-towner, I found myself feeling like I belonged there, I was sad to decline such an offer, because I felt that the Interabang Books employees were really bookish people. Stop in if you get a chance! read more

I went to Interabang last Saturday for a book signing for Stassi Schroeder on her new book. I was super excited because I saw all of Stassi's book tour posts on how she got to interact with fans, they stood in line and were able to take her picture and laugh with her. This was a completely different experience here in Dallas. This might not have been the book stores fault but maybe Stassi's publicist but when we arrived there was no line (which was great) but they were shoving us through the process like we were a heard of cattle. The screen was faced back towards the wall so the only time we could see her was when we were pushed to take the photo in which I had no time to even look at her because I was pushed out. Definitely not what I had paid for and not what had been promised on the ticket. Super disappointed and everyone that was in the store at the time felt the same way. read more

My new favorite bookstore! They have the most extensive selection of children's art books I have ever seen. I was blown away! I have browsed at many art museums and independent bookstores that all seem paltry in comparison. The staff was helpful, friendly, and welcoming to my kids. It's a great bookstore. I will definitely be back. read more

Very cute book store with a nice selection, I enjoyed my time there. Staff was very friendly and accommodating.

This store is amazing!!! I went for the first time with a friend who loves it. They have so many great books!!

Great locally owned bookstore that knows their stuff! Wonderful selection and expert advice make this my go-to book store.

October was my first time at this bookstore, and I have to say that it was an amazing experience! I was there for the Tabitha Brown book signing and had purchased my ticket/book in advance online at the store. I called to find out if they had accommodations for people with disabilities. I was told that they would certainly see what they could do and informed me to call when I arrived in the parking lot. To make a long story short, I was escorted by my son and immediately got discouraged by the extremely long line that had formed well before the doors were to open. When we arrived the staff beckoned for me to enter ahead of everyone else, held the door for us, offered us a chair and water. As Mrs. Brown was finishing greetings with some personal friends, they said to me "She is ready to see you now." As I walked towards my role model, l I began to cry and received the biggest warmest hug from her, and was even allowed to video tape and take pictures with her! This was a gift from my son for my 60th birthday and Interabang staff and Mrs. Brown made it epic! My family and I will be making future book purchases from your location. As with most people during this pandemic, I am very cautious about being in crowds and thanks to you we practically had to store to ourselves! Thank you for going above and beyond in customer service and for amazingly personalizing my experience. I wish your bookstore much success. read more

Interabang is a small independent bookstore in a shopping center that offers folks an alternative to Barnes and Noble or Amazon. They have a nice selection of books, gifts, and knick-knacks. I came here to attend a book signing by an author I have been a long-time fan of. Interabang requires that customers make a purchase at the store to get their books signed, which is a policy I understand and support. As I already owned the book being promoted, I decided to purchase a different book by the author. Interabang ordered the book for me, and it arrived in time for the signing. The signing itself was a great event. The author talked and answered questions for about an hour after which we lined up for signings. I had both my new book and already owned book signed by the author. Interabang has a tradition of having visiting authors sign the back of one of the folding chairs. The signing was well-attended and well-organized by the shop. Since we live in Austin, I don't think we'll be visiting Interabang too often, but I will keep an eye out for signings that I would like to attend. I would definitely return for the right author. read more

I'm giving Interabang 3* due to their author events but this morning was the 2nd time I went in to buy a specific book and was ignored by the staff. I want to support independent book stores, but when the ease of shopping and customer service is right across the street, they are making it impossible to justify the headache. Purchased The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis this morning at Barnes & Noble! Oh Well! read more

We just discovered this delightful bookstore on the southeast corner of the Preston/Royal shopping area. What a great addition to our neighborhood and the whole of Dallas. We stopped in and found a book and some genius stationary that we bought. Curious about the name ?! Interabang refers to the rarely used punctuation mark that is a combination of the question mark and the exclamation mark overlayed on each other. The interior is light, pleasantly designed with space to sit and preview books. There are loads of books on all subjects and a huge selection of fiction. Also, young adult books and a humongous area of children's selections. There are personal recommendation sign cards throughout the shelves by the staff/owners for new or perhaps obscure titles that detail why that particular book made them happy to read. I could see myself checking in weekly to see what's new in books. A small but well curated selection of stationary and accessories for readers rounds out the inventory. read more

First time at this store tonight. Really cool place. The look and feel is very professional but also inviting. Much more comfortable than big stores like Barnes & Noble which feels like the Best Buy of books. Favorite difference about this place is the handwritten random notes reviewing the books. They know what they are talking about about you will not find that at other stores. Definitely try them out. read more

Interabang Books - Bought some books - Bookstores Near Me - DALLAS, Texas

Beautiful store, knowledgable staff. They have a lovely selection of books, much wider than most children's sections in a chain store. The staff are always very pleasant and helpful. The store also hosts a variety of author events and children's story times which are fun to attend. read more

Finally Dallas has an easy-to-access, independent bookstore with a copious collection and variety of topics. The staff is quite friendly, knowledgeable and wants to help. What's unique is the delightful mixture of the mainstream books found in generic book superstores, paired with less available--but high quality--publishers such as Europa, World Noir, and Texas authors like Walt Gragg (The Red Line--no, not a western, but a World War III thriller I couldn't put down). The environment is clean, new, warm and features a thorough children's section as well. Comfortable furniture and benches encourage perusing. It may be a 30 minute drive from my house, but it will be my first stop for any of my future reading needs. read more

I LOVE independent book stores. Except this one. On my first and LAST visit, I bought over $200.00 in books. I started to write a check, and was very rudely told "We don't take checks". I looked for a sign stating such, there was none. I asked if I was missing it, and again, was RUDELY told "No, but we just don't". I asked if he wanted the sale or not. He said" well, OK. And Huffed... I wrote my first and last check at this place. If you are the owner, this idiot should be fired. PS: I buy over $20,000.00 in books a year. That is why I write checks. It is one of my businesses... read more

I have visited this store a few times for author events. The store is somewhat small and congested. The selection of non-fiction books is limited. For a better selection of non-fiction you will likely need to go to Barnes & Noble across the street. The store seems to concentrate on fiction. For an independent book store, it is lacking in several areas. read more

Fabulous independent bookstore; what a delight to visit a store that employs people who read and can recommend new authors and books. In addition to a great selection of books; there are fun greeting cards, stationary, candles and other gift items with competitive prices. Fun childrens' section. read more

FINALLY a fantastic independent bookstore in Dallas. Well-curated yet comprehensive selection, staff recommendations pull out selections that are new to avid readers. Fantastic children's section, large selection and fun, quirky space to browse. Light, spacious interior with nice places to sit. Travel to Dallas frequently for work, and have kept searching for a bookstore like this (like visiting Deep Vellum but it's small), what a great addition to North Dallas. read more

Dallas finally gets a new independent bookstore! Really awesome aesthetic and book selection going on here. Support local businesses!