Founded in 1969, Left Bank Books is the only independently-owned, full-service bookstore in the greater metropolitan area of St. Louis.

Left Bank Books has a cultural and progressive political focus. Specialties include: modern literature and poetry, the contemporary art and performing arts scene, political analysis, African-American , feminist, gay and lesbian literature; psychology and high quality, multicultural children's books. Our regular customers come from the immediate neighborhood, the greater metro area, and the two-state area of Missouri and Illinois. The St. Louis Metropolitan area has a population exceeding 2.5 million people.

Other features of the store include an extensive used book department and an art gallery featuring nine to twelve shows annually by local artists. We have offered a 10% discount on all hardbacks in the store for twenty years, and have a variety of discounts for educators and institutions.

Owners and operators of Left Bank Books have always been intimately involved in community organizations; many are writers or artists. Some have advanced degrees in education, history, or literature.