Front and center, the iconic Original Farmers Market, right beside The Grove, sits one of Los Angeles’ most quietly legendary spots: Sheltams Newsstand, also known to regulars as Sheltam Books or simply the Farmers Market Newsstand.

If you know, you know.

For nearly 50 years, this unassuming stand, owned by Paul Sobel, has been a magnet for magazine lovers, collectors, creatives, and curious passersby. In a city that constantly reinvents itself, Sheltams has done something rare: it has stayed exactly what it is, and in doing so, become irreplaceable.

Step inside and you’re immediately surrounded. Rows upon rows. Stacks on stacks. Glossy covers from every corner of the world. It’s not just a newsstand, it’s a living archive of print culture. From everyday staples to obscure international editions you didn’t know existed, Sheltams carries one of the most extensive selections of magazines in Los Angeles. Fashion, design, politics, niche publications, it’s all here, packed tightly into a space that somehow holds the world.

But Sheltams isn’t just about magazines.

It’s also one of the last places in LA where you’ll find a true, old-school newsstand experience—complete with newspapers, tobacco products, and even a walk-in humidor. Add to that its role as a contract postal unit, and suddenly this small space becomes something much bigger: a hub of daily life, conversation, and connection.

There’s a rhythm to the place. Locals stopping by for their usual. Stylists hunting for references. Tourists stumbling in and realizing they’ve found something special. Conversations spark between shelves. Recommendations get passed across the counter. It feels human, hands on, refreshingly real in a world that’s mostly gone digital.

And yet, Sheltams isn’t standing still.

While its physical presence remains a cornerstone of the Farmers Market, the newsstand is stepping into the future with a new online magazine shop bringing its globally sourced selection beyond Los Angeles and into homes everywhere. It’s the same carefully curated experience, now just a click away. Rare imports, bestselling titles, hidden gems, delivered with the same decades of knowledge that built its reputation.

Still, nothing quite replaces being there in person.

Because places like Sheltams don’t really exist anymore. Not like this. Not with this history, this depth, this character. It’s one of the last of its kind in Los Angeles, a true cultural fixture that has outlasted trends, technology, and the steady disappearance of print spaces.

Sheltams Newsstand isn’t just a shop.
It’s a time capsule. A community. A reminder.

And in a city that moves fast, it’s something worth protecting and holding onto.

Contact

Phone: (323) 934-0318

Email: info@sheltamsmagazines.com

Address: 6333 W 3rd St #818, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Hours:  hours to Sun 9am to 7pm