Subterranean Books

Subterranean Books Open 11-7 Every Day We opened in October 2000 and moved down the street and expanded in March 2021. We also have a free frequent buyer program. Seriously.

We focus on the independent book store best sellers, a diverse fiction collection, children's books, history, and anything else we think is really interesting. Our big categories are literature, music, film, pop culture, children’s, cultural studies, history… Our smaller (but no less important) include religion, crafts, science, nature, cookbooks, gardening, travel…

The entire staff has input on

what we stock, so the store is always evolving and improving. We listen to our customers, as well, eavesdropping on what books they’re talking about. We listen to the radio, read newspapers, magazines, blogs—we’re always looking for tips on what’s out there and what our customers might like. If we don’t have something in stock we can always order it for you—either here through our website or in-store. We’ve always had it—since day one back in October of 2000—and it’s always been important to us. We know you have many options about where you can buy books and we really really appreciate that you chose us. The buyer program is free to sign up for and takes just moments while you’re in the store. We’ll need your name, zip code, and the last four digits of your phone number. Then every time you check out we’ll ring your sales under your account and after you’ve bought 20 books (or shirts, or magazines, or stickers) the computer will average out what you’ve spent and apply that average as a store credit. And it does it all automatically. There’s no carrying of a card or remembering where you’re at. (Although we can easily look up your account to tell you how close you are.) We’re a tiny staff of 7 and woman-owned, and we’re all avid readers and are always excited to make recommendations, talk about what you just read—that you just hated or that you think absolutely everyone should read, and take it as a personal affront if we’re not able to figure out what that book was that you heard about on NPR two weeks ago that had something about family and Africa in the title. We LOVE those challenges. So, thanks for checking us out. And please come back.

It's one of my favorite times of the year: the release of Harper Perennial 's Olive Editions. If I were a collector, I w...
09/04/2026

It's one of my favorite times of the year: the release of Harper Perennial 's Olive Editions. If I were a collector, I would have started hoarding these years ago. Each year there are 8 thematically related titles released with fantastic covers. This year's theme is fantasy. They're cheap, too! www.subbooks.com

Meet the Rep: This is Nichole. She's our Penguin Random House children's sales rep. We have FIVE separate PRH reps becau...
09/04/2026

Meet the Rep: This is Nichole. She's our Penguin Random House children's sales rep. We have FIVE separate PRH reps because they publish So. Many. Books. Some of our reps are phone sales reps.

I've had Nichole for a few years and she is fantastic, but I've never met her, have no idea what she looks like, and only know from caller ID that she probably lives in Maryland. It's tough sorting through all the hundreds of kids' books published each season (everything from tiny newborn board books, to upper end YA chock full of drugs, s*x, violence, and crude language.) She talked me into carrying Bluey because "Bluey books will pay your rent". And she is correct! Thanks, Nichole, for everything you do!

One Subterranean sees this photo as a "What are you reading?" image and another sees it as "Look at me, not that!" What ...
09/03/2026

One Subterranean sees this photo as a "What are you reading?" image and another sees it as "Look at me, not that!" What is your take? www.subbooks.com

This truly is a display contributed to by all of us because I DID have to read Moby Dick in high school and *hated* it. ...
09/02/2026

This truly is a display contributed to by all of us because I DID have to read Moby Dick in high school and *hated* it. I've since had many conversations with folks saying it shouldn't be read until your 40s. Anywho, I guess one could also interpret this as "Books I Wish I'd Read in High School [and Was Supposed to Have Done So]". www.subbooks.com

  That Marlon James is getting a LOT of press and is supposed to be fantastic! www.subbooks.com
09/01/2026

That Marlon James is getting a LOT of press and is supposed to be fantastic! www.subbooks.com

We have super good taste around here. Also, we may do a display comprised of single word titles that refer to food.   ww...
08/31/2026

We have super good taste around here. Also, we may do a display comprised of single word titles that refer to food. www.subbooks.com

Just FOUR DAYS LEFT to get the rest of your stickers and turn in your passports for the   The response and enthusiasm al...
08/28/2026

Just FOUR DAYS LEFT to get the rest of your stickers and turn in your passports for the The response and enthusiasm all summer long has been heart-warming. ❤️❤️📚 www.subbooks.com

It's a rockin' Friday night. So glad to see live-bands-on-the-sidewalk is still cool! We're here till 7:00! ❤️ My punk r...
08/21/2026

It's a rockin' Friday night. So glad to see live-bands-on-the-sidewalk is still cool! We're here till 7:00! ❤️ My punk rock heart is full.

Address

6271 Delmar Boulevard
St. Louis, MO
63130

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7pm
Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 7pm

Telephone

+13148626100

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