New Indy bookstore opens that promises to sell banned books
Over the past weekend, a new bookshop called Loudmouth Books made its debut in Indianapolis. This unique bookstore, proudly owned by local author Leah Johnson, is being hailed as “Indy’s sole outlawed book haven.” Located at 212 E. 16th St. in Herron-Morton Place, it opened its doors to the public on September 30th and will operate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday.
Leah Johnson’s establishment is part of the growing independent bookstore scene flourishing in Indianapolis. Her store’s mission revolves around offering a curated selection of literature authored by, dedicated to, or addressing the experiences of Black, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities. It also features books that have faced bans or challenges within educational and governmental institutions.
This is perhaps what inspired the store’s name which is based on the idea of refusing to stay quiet. The opening was also announced on the store’s official Instagram page which was captioned: “It’s a little late, but it’s sort of like Christmas Eve over here, all anticipation and nerves.”
The inspiration for Loudmouth Books stems from a recent surge in legislation that enables censorship, a trend observed in several states, including Indiana. Leah Johnson’s motivation to create this haven for diverse voices was ignited by witnessing her mother, State Representative Renee Pack, actively opposing such bills during legislative sessions.
