Monograph Bookwerks

Lovely gem that provides a great selection of art, vintage designer books and interesting objects. Fantastic place to kill time and learn a little something 🤓

Monograph Bookwerks is the bookstore version of the academy award winner for best foreign language film... You've never heard of it, but once you experience it you're forever transformed. Cutest, smallest, most obscure, most deserving of your patronage... places like this define Portland.

BEST gem in Portland. This tiny, magical store is filled with new, old, rare, and perfectly curated literary TREASURES. Have never gone in without finding a stack of books that I couldn't live without. LOVE the layout, the staff, the vintage print ephemera, shop soundtrack, ceramics, and bits and bobs tucked throughout the store. I visit every single time I'm in town.

One of the best bookstores I’ve ever visited - one could easily spend an hour or more ogling at all of the curious finds at Monograph. Amazing array of vintage posters, historic prints and pamphlets, and books on everything from architecture to the teachings of the Black Panther Party. The owner is incredibly kind and helpful, on top of it all!

If you're interested in art history this little store has a fascinating niche selection. It's a densely packed store for it's size, but it's sure to have something to pique your interest. Check it out if you're in the area.

What an amazing collection of history! Items from across the world and time periods, in amazing condition. Was great to find little presents and mementos for my family and friends.

Great, select selection of art and architecture books. Tastefully put together, this hole-in-the-wall bookshop is one of my favourite places in Portland. Monograph is a true gem in the Alberta Arts area.

Honestly, one of the best gems in Portland with a really thoughtful collection. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable and very kind!

I love how I feel exploring this shop because it elicits a sense of nostalgia for the quaint bookstores of yesteryear. Monograph Bookwerks offers an expertly-curated collection of books, art, vintage ephemera and gift items. The owner has done a remarkable job displaying product in creative vignettes throughout the store, with richly hued books standing like sentinels of history, art, literature and culture. This environment really is my happy place. I love the scent of aged paper and polished wood. I feel inspired by the thousands of voices and ideas presented on the pages here, and I can't imagine a world where places like this don't exist. Monograph Bookwerks is located in a popular area of NE Alberta, brimming with fascinating retail shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Street parking can be a bit difficult on weekends and evenings, but visitors will be far more likely to find spaces if they venture down the side streets. Look for the brightly colored arrow proclaiming "Books," pointing to the ivy-covered shop on the corner. It's so important to shop small and local, and to support the business owners who pour themselves into creating enchanting establishments like this. So take a moment out of your busy life to explore this delightful corner of Portland. Hopefully you'll enjoy your visits just as much as I do.

It's been about 10 years since my last review of Monograph Bookwerks and I continue to stop in every time I visit Portland (2-3 times a year). I should say try, as the store has limited weekend-ish hours that doesn't always match my travel schedule. In my opinion, this part of Alberta Street has gone downhill over the years and with a few really disappointing closures (e.g. Ampersand Books). Yet, Monograph is worth the trip and the experience of wading through a relatively tight collection of well curated books, prints, maps, and an occasional curio. I enjoy peeling through the layers, while knowing that my next experience will be different and equally as interesting. Monograph Bookwerks also has a nice online store, which I take a look often. The Owner also does Book Festivals of which I saw him at one in San Francisco. In that case, he was mostly selling the expensive stuff that were probably being marketed to other sellers. This "brick and mortar" store however, features very nice selections for all budgets.

I love MBW. It's chock full of fascinating book, magazines. Zines, posters, tchotchkes, and all manner of cultural artifacts. It's like a museum where everything is for sale.

This place is really small, a few steps down and you'll find yourself in a dimly lit little area with books on all sides (I went at around 4:30pm).. Not a lot of space if a throng of people were to go in. But the selection of books are very interesting and different.. lots of books on all sorts of things like architecture and art. Little knick knacks and old postcards/pictures available for purchase too. Really quiet in there when I went, which isn't necessarily bad- just different. On my inside, I noticed on the overgrown wall where the entrance, a tiny door on the ground with a tiny animal appearing to go inside! Haha, I thought that was nifty and really weird how that caught my eye from across the street. Check this place out if you're looking for a small bookstore with various books on different subjects.

One of the best bookstores I've ever visited - one could easily spend an hour or more ogling at all of the curious finds at Monograph. Amazing array of vintage posters, historic prints and pamphlets, and books on everything from architecture to the teachings of the Black Panther Party. The owner is incredibly kind and helpful, on top of it all!

Find every book you never knew you needed here: the rare ones, the out-of-print-ones, the ones you wish you'd asked your great uncle for before the estate sale. Monograph carries a carefully curated selection of rad art and design books. Feels like you're in an eccentric art professor's living room-turned-study browsing through awesomeness.

This very small bookstore stands out in its art book focus. It is run by two Portland artists. The store has mid century design objects and also serves up select original artworks. They have store events too. If you like your art books and art books browsing with knowledgable human advice, this is the place.

This is a tiny shop, but if you like books, especially art and design books, do pay a visit. I was visiting Portland, and might not have bought the big, heavy, gorgeous book I did, but the friendly, helpful proprietor offered to mail it for a VERY reasonable price... and it almost beat me home. Highly recommended!

One of the best arts related bookshops I've been to. Interesting selection and some nice rarities. I had ordered a book online through Monograph because an artist I appreciate had a book launch in the shop. The signed book arrived quick, packaged well and even a protective sleeve added. Will be back next time I'm in Portland.

Definitely worth a wander around. The first time I tried to go here, though, the shop wasn't open during business hours. I returned a few days later, determined to take a closer look at the cool book and objects I window-peeped. Lots of cool stuff. If you love art, you'll probably dig this place the most.