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Tag: North Carolina

Books ‘N Friends - Sparta, North Carolina

Books ‘N Friends - Sparta, North Carolina

Sometimes it’s the shops you find by accident that are the most memorable. My gas tank was nearing empty when, after miles of two-lane country road, I reached the small town of Sparta, North Carolina, and saw an Exxon sign out of the corner of my eye. Little did I know, an even more exciting sign beckoned at a shop down the block. That’s how I discovered Books ‘N Friends Used Book Store. Narrow storefronts can be deceiving. I stepped…

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Pages Books & Coffee - Mount Airy, North Carolina

Pages Books & Coffee - Mount Airy, North Carolina

Mount Airy, North Carolina, is a bustling community. The hometown of beloved actor Andy Griffith, and the inspiration for Mayberry, the town famously portrayed in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show, the town capitalizes on the connection with a vibrant downtown district full of restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops, and even a museum all with a Mayberry theme.  While the show was a mainstay in my household as a kid, it wasn’t nostalgia that lured me to the area. It was Pages…

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Downtown Books & News - Asheville, North Carolina

Downtown Books & News - Asheville, North Carolina

Bookstore. Newsstand. Magazine and comic shop. Fine art gallery. Asheville, North Carolina’s Downtown Books & News covers a lot of ground - and does it quite well. Downtown Books & News was certainly one of the most interesting and diverse shops I visited on my recent Asheville bookstore crawl. The shop has a vast inventory of used and rare books covering all of the expected genres, but doesn’t stop there. The shop also carries an array of both regional and national…

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The Captain’s Bookshelf - Asheville, North Carolina

The Captain’s Bookshelf - Asheville, North Carolina

The Captain’s Bookshelf, located at the northwestern edge of downtown Asheville, North Carolina, has been buying and selling quality used books for more than 40 years. Opened in 1976 by Chandler and Miegan Gordon, the shop carries a large inventory of “good books in good condition” across a variety of genres – classics, art, history, philosophy, poetry, children’s books, and more. When stepping inside the quaint shop – currently in its third location, where it has been for over half…

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Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe - Asheville, North Carolina

Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe - Asheville, North Carolina

When I first announced a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, and put out feelers for indie bookstores, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café topped everyone’s list of must-sees. The popular shop has been serving the city’s readers since 1982, offering a carefully curated selection of new books for all ages, a variety of author events and readings, a large array of gift items, and a café that serves up locally roasted coffee and fresh baked goods.  Founded by Emoke B’Racz, the shop was established…

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Bagatelle Books - Asheville, North Carolina

Bagatelle Books - Asheville, North Carolina

The latest addition to Asheville, North Carolina’s vibrant indie bookstore scene is Bagatelle Books, specializing in expertly curated used and rare books. The shop was opened in April by owner Patrick Kutcher, who worked in several of Asheville’s independent bookstores before opening Bagetelle, a name which refers to a short musical composition or idea. The shop is inspired by the bookstores of Argentina, to which Kutcher traveled while researching and developing his vision for Bagatelle. After nearly 13 years of…

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Battery Park Book Exchange - Asheville, North Carolina

Battery Park Book Exchange - Asheville, North Carolina

Interested in enjoying a glass of wine with your books? Battery Park Book Exchange is a used bookstore and champagne bar located in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, that provides “the marriage of two of earth’s finest pleasures, books and wine, side by side.” The gorgeous, labyrinthine two-level shop is lined with curated books in all the expected genres, with impressive sections devoted to North Carolina, American, Civil War, and the American South history. The shop maintains an impressive,…

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