Outwords was founded July 9, 1993 by Carl M. Szatmary, one of the founders of the Milwaukee LGBT Film & Video Festival. Originally named "AfterWords," the store on Milwaukee's East Side was a passion project for Szartmary, who had written book and literary reviews for local publications. Outwords quickly became a community hub, hosting author events, book clubs, and film screenings. In 2001, a trademark issue forced a name change, but the store continued to thrive until the 2020s. Hammered by changing market forces, a health crisis, and the COVID pandemic, Szartmary closed the store on its 30th anniversary.