Kramers turns fifty and remains a Washington living room
The Dupont Circle bookstore-café celebrates half a century with events, a public party and a community built around books.
Kramers is celebrating 50 years in Dupont Circle, reaffirming its role as both an independent bookshop and a meeting place in the heart of Washington. Founded in 1976, it combined shelves, food service and cultural programming from the outset, creating a model that feels familiar today but was unusual at the time. The anniversary calendar culminates in a public party on 24 October, while the store continues to host book clubs, author talks, workshops and evening events. CBS News’ coverage also recalls visits by public figures ranging from Barack Obama to Andy Warhol. Rather than a nostalgic milestone, the 50th anniversary tests a formula that remains vital: selling books while creating the time and space for people to gather.