Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop, the local, queer-owned independent book shop focused on science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, queer, and diverse books, is on the move! The shop will close its location at 432 N. Anthony St. and instead operate as a mobile bookshop. The final day for the Mid-City store is May 29.

According to a press release, the mobile shop will ensure that folks across the area have access to queer books, especially when so many are being challenged and banned, and queer folks are politically under attack. In addition, the mobile shop will bring an inclusive and safe environment everywhere it goes. 

Tubby & Coo’s new mobile shop will travel throughout New Orleans and the surrounding area to offer queer and genre fiction books, build community, and demand social justice. The bookshop is committed to creating safe and inclusive spaces and to being a haven where nerds can discover new stories, have fun, and be their authentic selves.

Candice Huber, a sixth-generation New Orleanian, opened Tubby & Coo’s on N. Carrollton Avenue in 2014, naming it after their Mid-City-raised grandparents. As the only queer-owned bookstore in the city, Tubby & Coo’s focuses on diverse fiction and newer works. 

When the shop goes mobile, Tubby & Coo’s will hold weekly book residences all around New Orleans, including:

• Boozy Book Fair at Second Line Brewing 433 N Bernadotte St., the first Tuesday of the month from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Queer Book Fair at The Domino 3044 St. Claude Ave. on the second Sunday of the month from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Book Shop Pop-Up at HI-BALLZ 4901 Canal St. the last Saturday of the month from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Books & Brews Book Fair for Grown-Ups at Funny Library at Virgin Hotels New Orleans 550 Baronne St. the last Wednesday of the month from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tubby and Coo’s also has plans to set up residencies in Gentilly, Lakeview, and the Warehouse District. To request the mobile bookshop in your neighborhood, you can fill out the shop’s request form here. 

The shop’s additional plans include:

• Little Free Queer Libraries 
• The Book Banned-Its, a list of currently banned and challenged books that will be distributed to anyone in the community, including family, friends, Little Free Libraries, community libraries, and more.
• Book vending machines in queer-owned businesses to increase access to queer books.
• A Little Queer Bookmobile will offer queer books to ensure people in areas without a bookstore or a library can access books where they are represented.

To be a part of Tubby & Coo’s new venture, you can fill out the form here for more information.