Our Story

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 Impact

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.

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. 

What We Need & What You Get

Donations will be used to help us purchase the last few items that we need to open our cafe. 

We would like to spread our ideas by advertising in local papers and on local radio stations. 

Portions of donations will be used to hold more special events so that we can continue being connected with our community. We want more people to come and utilize this space for meetings, reading groups, poetry readings, art, listening to music, and anything else that brings people together. We want to share The Big Idea with others who will love this store as much as we do.

Other Ways You Can Help

Help us get the word out about our campaign!  With every dollar we earn, we get closer to realizing our Big Idea!  Stop by the store so that you can watch your donations at work!