Steel City Books

Steel City Books wears Pittsburgh's blue-collar heritage on its sleeve, celebrating the stories of working people through an exceptional collection of labor history, industrial literature, and contemporary fiction rooted in real life. The store occupies a converted storefront on Bloomfield's Liberty Avenue, with exposed brick walls and vintage steel-mill photographs creating an atmosphere that feels authentically Pittsburgh. The labor history section is one of the most comprehensive in the country, drawing researchers and union organizers alongside casual readers. Contemporary fiction selections favor gritty realism and stories of ordinary people, while the memoir section is full of voices that mainstream publishing often overlooks. The cafe serves Commonplace Coffee, and the store hosts monthly labor history discussions that regularly pack the house.