Bridge Books: A New Bookshop in Downtown Johannesburg

Remember Griffin, my fellow American Joburger who cruises the streets selling books from a suitcase? Well, he’s not just selling from a suitcase anymore. Griffin now has his own bookshop, Bridge Books, right in the middle of downtown Joburg. I visited the shop last weekend and it’s awesome.

I am so excited about this shop. It’s on one of downtown Joburg’s most iconic streets, Commissioner Street, just around the corner from the Johannesburg Public Library. The shop is located in a beautiful building, 85 Commissioner Street, which used to be the headquarters of Barclay’s Bank and will soon house a trendy food court (to be called the City Central Food Hall) and a high-end restaurant. This is an exciting, historic, and very safe section of downtown Joburg. Bridge Books is on a balcony overlooking the ground floor of the building, with floor-to-ceiling windows and great light.

I was too shy to talk to this man dressed in fabulous traditional attire. But I’m told he is an author named Unathi. I saw him signing someone’s book.

Bridge Books has an amazing selection of new and used, mostly African books, at great prices – much cheaper than those sold at mainstream bookstores in the Jozi suburbs.

Perhaps best of all, Bridge Books is selling a series of Joburg-themed postcards featuring the photography of…me.

I even witnessed an actual person buying two of my postcards. I found this exciting.

Seriously though, you should go, and not just to buy my postcards. (Although you should definitely buy my postcards.) Bridge Books is a great excuse to get into town and have a different kind of shopping experience. The shop also has an excellent coffee bar, selling single-origin coffee from Bean There.

Bridge Books is at 85 Commissioner Street, between Harrison and Loveday Streets, right across from the Library Gardens Rea Vaya station.