About Us

the space :
We are located in Bloomfield at 4812 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224.

the idea :
We are a worker-owned cooperative dedicated to the active promotion of radical/alternative cultures through community networking and the distribution of literature. We hope to create a safe and accessible space for people to take part in an open and empowering community. We actively support politics and lifestyles that we deem as alternative, multicultural, woman-positive, queer-positive, class-conscious, and all the things that promote a sustainable community.

The Big Idea specializes in radical and progressive literature that is difficult to find in Pittsburgh. Our focus is on progressive politics, independent publishing and culture, queer politics, feminism, labor, ecology, racial politics, history, sustainability and cooperation. We also carry books without explicit political content, particularly in our used book section, which includes hundreds of previously loved books donated by Pittsburghers. We also carry patches, stickers, posters, locally made bags, T-shirts, and music. All products have an independent or do-it-yourself slant. We also distribute free literature, most of which pertains to local community organizations, events, and projects. We choose our suppliers based on organizational structure (primarily collectives, cooperatives, and independent publishers). Frequently, we accept consignments from local writers, artists, and activists. We are a collectively run, not-for-profit, non-capitalist establishment.

 the history:
The Big Idea collective began in May of 2001 and in September 2001 joined what was known as the Multi-Tool, a multi-use art and activist space at 724 Wood St. in Wilkinsburg. In February 2004, the collective moved to 504 S. Millvale Ave. in the Bloomfield neighborhood, where it was until we moved around the corner in July 2011. We operate as a physical storefront, and we host and allow others to host events in our space free of charge. We also bring our books out to the community through tabling events such as the Working Class History Conference at Pitt, the Eastern Conference on Workplace Democracy, and the Thomas Merton Center Awards, among others too numerous to count.

 the future:
Now in our tenth year as a bookstore, we are expanding into a closed-shop worker-owned cooperative bookstore/cafe. As a cafe, we will strive to serve food and drinks from local, organic, seasonal, fair trade, and sustainable sources whenever possible. We hope to provide a healthy and socially conscious cafe alternative in Pittsburgh. This expansion will also facilitate the creation of ten jobs, while maintaining our time-tested service of providing progressive literature to the community.  

Upon transitioning to our new business structure, we have adopted the worker-owned cooperative model. This structure allows for complete company ownership by workers, and only workers make decisions. We do, however, continue to gain community input through our membership program. Consumers may purchase a Big Idea membership at a sliding scale rate based on their income, and such members discounts on books and other perks, including our annual member parties. 

 The collective at our 2011 annual retreat.