Everyone knows about the Kuwait Bookshop located in the basement of Muthana Complex but not a lot of people know of the one located near the Sheraton roundabout. The Kuwait Bookshop at the Sheraton roundabout is their original location and has been there since the 1960s. I passed by last night with a friend and we ended up picking up a couple of books. Their top floor is full of old stuff and you can even find prints from the 70s just sitting on the shelves untouched and covered in dust. If you’ve never passed by there you should before the building ends up getting demolished. They’re located right on the Sheraton roundabout in Kuwait City to the right of Al Sawan Travels.
Note: The pictures in this post date back to 2010
11 replies on “The original Kuwait Bookshop”
Looks like entering a time machine.
This is exactly why this bookshop will fade away like all other bookshops in Kuwait. Being a “time machine” is nice and fun and all, but when I used to go there, I wanted today’s books, not last year’s books. I ended up buying most of my books in Bahrain, Dubai or from Amazon, until shipping became too expensive for books. Then I got myself a kindle.
This bookstore rents so much space, yet most of the books there are out of date. It needs to re-invent itself, or it will whither and die, just like the others.
I’m hesitant to go! imagine freaky stares and rapists!
What freaking stares and rapists? Wtf.. just go.
Do you not drive because you’re worried a tank will come out of nowhere and crush you
Epubs.
I remember the last few months of Family Bookshop in Salmiya. I bought a few Christmas cards, a travel guide to Bangkok (from 1992) and a small booklet for learning Thai phrases. When I went to the counter I was told to pay however much I wanted. I ended up paying nothing as they said their credit card machine was down.
Salmiya used to be so much fun to hang out with old Jeita, Family Bookshop, Musical Bells, Swan lake and numerous other joints where we felt right at home.
I remember getting my first motor trend back in 1989
Those old bookstores often have quirky things – old books on Kuwait that are no longer published, educational supplies that are quaint – sometimes you can find a real treasure. Great report, Mark, I wish I had known about that one.
I remember buying books from there ages ago.
The current generation can buy everything online and if these stores don’t keep up with the times they’ll be long forgotten and close up.
Ah Great! Looking forward to spending some time out there and picking out some vintage books. Thanks! 🙂