The Spirit of Revolution Reigns at Babylon Falling

Babylon Falling, a 600-square-foot space in San Francisco, is primarily a general bookstore, as well as a gallery space, said owner Sean Stewart. "It is a concept-driven independent bookstore with a focus on the spirit of revolution ... and a culture spot where we embrace no 'ism' and strive to be as inclusive as the space allows." On June 26, Babylon Falling will celebrate its first anniversary with a party, a DJ, and drinks.

Stewart, who grew up in Jamaica, said that Babylon Falling refers to a "call to end oppression of all kinds." He added, "The phrase is in the ideology [in Jamaica], in reggae music, in conversation, just something people say whether it's in music or in the streets."

At its anniversary party, the bookstore will debut an exclusive Babylon Falling T-shirt line, featuring designs by artists who have exhibited or will exhibit their work at the store. The line is the result of an organic process of collaboration with the artists, and the shirts are screen printed locally. Artists contributing designs for the debut series of T-shirts are Emory Douglas, Peter Simon, David Choong Lee, Robert Bowen, Le Bijoutier, John Felix Arnold III, D Young V, and Simon Benjamin.

Babylon Falling, in the lower Nob Hill area of San Francisco, carries about 3,000 titles with an overall slant on "the theory, practice, and history of revolution." Stewart gave a quick tour: "On one side of the store is primarily nonfiction, history, media, politics, and philosophy. We've got a bunch of history. On the other side is fiction, graphic novels, art, design, and photography.... The middle is hardcover and paperback new releases."

The store's sidelines include DVDs, artwork (prints, posters, and originals), T-shirts, and collectible vinyl toys, many from Muttpop.

Asked how he got into bookselling, Stewart said that it was "just something I wanted to do" and that Babylon Falling was "an extension of everything I'm into in my personal life."

ABA's new movement to promote independent businesses, IndieBound, is right in line with Babylon Falling's overarching credo, said Stewart, who had just received his Literary Liberation box. "The timing is exactly right for a collective initiative," he noted. "While I won't use everything in the Liberation Box, the things that I do display, I display proudly."

Branding the concept of being an indie appealed to Stewart, as did that the fact that the IndieBound marketing materials don't attack the chains. "I like that it is about celebrating independents and not bashing the big box stores, because I'm positive that ignorance is at the core of the support for the big stores. This will plant an important seed in people's consciousness about the value of supporting independents. In this age of bookstore obituaries, I welcome the positivity." --Karen Schechner