INDIANAPOLIS — Indy Reads Books, the beloved nonprofit bookstore that serves as both a literary hub and a workforce development program for adults with low literacy levels, is opening a second Indianapolis location this summer, expanding its reach on the city's northeast side.

The new store will occupy 3,200 square feet in the Eastgate shopping center on East Washington Street, bringing the organization's book sales, literacy tutoring, and adult education services to a part of the city where those resources are especially needed.

"Literacy is a foundation skill for everything else in life," said Indy Reads Executive Director Margaret Thornton. "When we expand, we're expanding access to employment, to health information, to civic participation — not just to books."

The original Indy Reads Books location on Massachusetts Avenue opened in 2012 and has grown from a small storefront to one of the best-known independent bookstores in Indiana, attracting national attention for its dual mission of bookselling and literacy education. The store employs adults who are simultaneously participating in the organization's reading and workplace skills programs.

Programs at the New Location

The Eastgate location will offer all of Indy Reads's core programs, including one-on-one adult literacy tutoring, GED preparation, English as a Second Language instruction, and digital literacy workshops. The new space includes a dedicated tutoring center with six private rooms and a community meeting space available for neighborhood use.

An author event series is planned to launch with the opening, featuring Indiana authors and nationally recognized writers with connections to Indianapolis's literary community.

The expansion was made possible by a capital campaign that raised $1.4 million from individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors over 18 months. Indy Reads received a $300,000 anchor grant from the Central Indiana Community Foundation.