11/08/2026
Cubalibreros: We Are the Champions, My Friends!
On a day like today 13 years ago, Cuba Libro, the country’s only English-language bookstore and café, opened on the corners of Calle 19 & 24. As one of Havana’s first private enterprises turned Local Development Project, we never lacked for challenges (and critics). But we forged ahead, believing our vision of an ethical, community-building third space dedicated to providing great literature and coffee, plus social safety net services, represented a positive model sorely needed.
And many of you did too.
With a very heavy heart, we are sad to announce that Cuba Libro has closed, unable to maintain our “oasis” in the current economic context compounded by US sanctions and capitalist market mechanisms. Rather than focus on what this loss means for our community, our Team, our donor recipients, and visitors, we want to focus on the impact we’ve made.
The dogs we rescued (Tobito!), all the students in our free yoga classes and writing workshops, our English-language tutors who made lifelong friendships, the artists who showed at our gallery, the hundreds of pounds of donations delivered to hospitals, schools, and vulnerable populations, the safe space we provided for our LGBTQA+ fam, the weddings and proposals, the Cuban chef-dining experiences, the parties!
And then there’s our Team. So many reside outside of Cuba today, but those that remain face dire shortages in electricity, water, gas, food, and medicine. If you’ve visited us, you know in ‘carne y hueso’ the stellar young Cubans who made the project work – and against all odds. Each person who joined our Team left their mark and we made memories of a lifetime together. There are not enough words of gratitude.
We are currently making our last donations (one of our biggest in history) and will be giving away our books in the near future.
And we have an ask: There are several really talented Team members looking for work (they are vetted, honest, and well-trained!) if you know of any positions and we welcome your memories and stories from our 13-year odyssey; feel free to email cubalibrohavana at (gmail).com. we thank you deeply. Pa'lante con swing.
