Kramers (bookstore) facts for kids
Kramers, 2025
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| Private | |
| Industry | Bookstore, Restaurant |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founders | Bill Kramer, Henry Posner, David Tenney |
| Headquarters |
Washington, D.C., U.S.
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Key people
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Steve Salis (owner) |
Kramers is a famous independent bookstore and cafe in Washington, D.C.. It's located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Since it opened in 1976, Kramers has become a special place for people in the area. Authors, politicians, and neighbors all meet there.
Kramers was one of the first bookstores in the country to have a cafe. This idea became very popular and inspired other stores. Many well-known people have visited Kramers, including Barack Obama, Andy Warhol, and Maya Angelou. The store was also involved in a big legal case about customer privacy. In 2016, Steve Salis bought Kramers.
Contents
The Story of Kramers: A Washington D.C. Landmark
How Kramers Began
Kramers first opened its doors in August 1976. It was started by Bill Kramer, David Tenney, and Henry Posner. The store is located at 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. Just two months later, they opened Afterwords Cafe in the same building. The cafe had its own entrance on 19th Street. The building itself was built in 1920 and used to be a car showroom.
Bill Kramer wanted to create a place where people could enjoy reading and eating together. At the time, not many places offered both. This new idea quickly became a hit! Other bookstores, like Harvard Book Store, soon added cafes too.
A Popular Meeting Spot
In its early days, Kramers was open 24 hours a day. It quickly became a favorite spot for everyone. People loved to visit, whether they were local residents, famous authors, or politicians. It was also known as a great place to meet new friends. One newspaper even called it "one part bookstore, one part restaurant."
Kramers helped make Dupont Circle a lively area. Many customers remember having their first fancy coffee or special ice cream there. The owners even had fresh bagels brought in from New York City! In 1984, the cafe added outdoor seating. Later, in 1991, Kramers bought the building next door to make the store even bigger.
Protecting Customer Privacy
Kramers gained national attention in 1998. This happened when the store stood up for its customers' privacy. A special investigator, Kenneth Starr, asked Kramers to share information about books a customer had bought.
Kramers decided to fight this request. They believed in protecting their customers' private information. Many groups, like the American Booksellers Association, helped them. Bill Kramer explained that they would not hand over details about a customer's purchases. He said it was important to protect people's rights.
Even when a judge ordered them to share the information, Kramers refused. They were ready to take their fight all the way to the highest court. In the end, an agreement was reached. The customer's lawyers gave the information to the investigator, not the bookstore. This protected Kramers' promise to keep customer purchases private.
Kramers Today: A Lasting Legacy
Even though many independent bookstores have closed, Kramers continues to thrive. It's known as a special place in Washington, D.C. People love its cozy atmosphere, live music, and events with authors. It's often called an "iconic" part of the city's culture.
President Barack Obama and his daughters visited Kramers in 2011. They shopped there on Small Business Saturday. Famous actors like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and John Slattery even filmed a scene for the TV show Veep inside Kramers. Other celebrities like Maya Angelou and Andy Warhol have also stopped by.
In 2015, the store's founders, Bill Kramer and David Tenney, decided to sell the business. They wanted to make sure the cafe could be updated and improved. They found Steve Salis, who bought Kramers in 2016. Salis later became the sole owner in 2017.
Salis oversaw a big renovation and expansion of Kramers. They added more space by buying another building next door. This made the bookstore and cafe much larger. In 2020, the Afterwords Cafe changed its name to All Day by Kramers. It now has a new menu. Kramers continues to be a beloved spot for books, food, and community in Washington, D.C.
