Salt City Reads

Salt City Reads opened in 2019 with a mission to create a bookstore that looks like Syracuse: diverse, resilient, and full of potential. Founded by two former Syracuse City School District teachers, the store prioritizes representation across every section, ensuring that the city's Black, Latino, refugee, and immigrant communities see themselves reflected on the shelves. The children's and young adult sections are the heart of the operation, with school partnership programs that put books into the hands of students who might not otherwise have access. The store also serves as an informal community center, with meeting space available for neighborhood groups and nonprofits. Despite its youth, Salt City Reads has already earned recognition as a vital institution in Syracuse's ongoing downtown renaissance.