Sisterhood Bookstore was an independent bookstore and feminist community hub specializing primarily in books, art, and products by, for, and about women, located at 1351 Westwood Blvd in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California founded by Simone Wallace, Adele Wallace, and Gahan Kelly in 1972. The bookstore operated for 27 years and permanently closed in 1999. Sisterhood Bookstore retailed feminist books spanning subjects including poetry, Chicana lit, political and social theory, lesbian lit, childbirth, aging, spirituality, sexual violence resources, women’s fiction, UCLA textbooks, non-sexist childrens’ books, and much more.

When Sisterhood Bookstore was established in the early 1970s, it served as a community hub for supporters and activists of the women’s movement. Throughout its 27 years in operation, Sisterhood Bookstore hosted hundreds of feminist author readings and book signing events which included activists and writers such as bell hooks, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Gloria Steinem, and Octavia E. Butler. The store served as a gathering space and literature resource for women, LGBTQ+ and allies, Chicanax, and BIPOC community members. In the rear room of the store, there was a bulletin board where customers were encouraged to pin community announcements including but not limited to event flyers, business cards, housing or roommate classifieds, and creative collaboration requests. Many friendships, creative partnerships, and community connections were created because of the Sisterhood community bulletin-board.

Sisterhood Bookstore’s proximity to UCLA and street corner visibility drew in students and contributed to a large portion of the bookstore’s sales which included textbooks. Many event collaborations and partnerships occurred over the years with many UCLA academic departments and student organizations.

Sisterhood Bookstore was forced to permanently close due to the inability to compete with bigchain bookstores, a struggle many independent bookstores were faced with during this time. Sisterhood Bookstore had been facing financial hardship due to dwindling textbook sales from UCLA students and rapidly changing markets when a Borders superstore opened at the opposite end of the block on Westwood Blvd. in 1995. In an attempt to keep their doors open, Sisterhood Bookstore’s owners hosted multiple fundraisers in the form of anniversary events, comedy shows, and donation solicitations from both everyday customers and feministsupporting celebrities. Despite these community fundraising efforts, Sisterhood Bookstore permanently closed during the summer of 1999. When Sisterhood Bookstore closed, the community it served lost an irreplaceable, unique resource center.