Gorge Books

Gorge Books is as singular as Ithaca itself, a bookstore that has refused to compromise its identity for five decades. Founded in 1975 by a collective of Cornell graduate students, the store maintains its cooperative structure and activist spirit to this day. The environmental science section reflects both Cornell's research strengths and Ithaca's deep commitment to sustainability. The radical politics section spans anarchism, labor history, and social movements with a depth rarely found outside major cities. A self-published zine and chapbook rack near the entrance supports local and DIY publishing. The cafe serves fair-trade coffee and vegan snacks, and the hand-lettered signs throughout the store are the work of a local calligrapher who has been contributing since the early days.