The Writer's Block
The Writer's Block is an independent bookseller, publisher, and literacy educator in downtown Las Vegas. It is the first independent bookstore in Las Vegas and second in the state of Nevada.
Its bookstore has been recommended several times by publications and authors including Los Angeles Times, Tayari Jones, and Alta Journal. In 2024, it was chosen as Best Bookstore for the Las Vegas Weekly Best of Vegas list.
Original location
Years before its establishment, 826NYC co-founder Scott Seeley and Drew Cohen came together with plans to found an independent bookstore in downtown Las Vegas. Beforehand, Cohen was warned severally that attempts to open an independent bookstore in the area would fail. In midst of its creation, entrepreneur Jennifer 8. Lee put Seeley and Cohen in touch with Zappos founder Tony Hsieh who, as part of his Downtown Project—a $350-million-dollar initiative to revitalize downtown Las Vegas—helped partially fund the Writer's Block.In 2014, the Writer's Block was opened at 509 Fremont Street, a location previously occupied by a tattoo parlor, with former BSSco. store manager and Archway Editions publisher Chris Molnar.
Behind the bookstore front, at its original Fremont Street location, was the literacy education component of the Writer's Block, known as Codex. Similar in layout to the educational area behind 826NYC's Superhero Supply Store, Codex also featured movable walls, tables and desks. It was used for free writing workshops for children ages 5-18, in addition to readings, signings, and ongoing series such as, the monthly reading by MFA and PHD writing students at UNLV.