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Tag: Virginia

Blacksburg Books – Blacksburg, Virginia

Blacksburg Books – Blacksburg, Virginia

Blacksburg Books in Blacksburg, Virginia, opened its doors in the summer of 2021, filling a much-needed void in the downtown district as the city’s only independent bookstore. The vision for the shop arose when local attorney Laurie Kelly was gifted the 1,000+ personal library of a recently deceased neighbor. Seeing that as a sign to make her long-held personal dream of opening a bookshop a reality, she then began amassing additional titles. When the shop opened last August, Kelly had…

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Appalachian Books - Norton, Virginia

Appalachian Books - Norton, Virginia

Carlie and Lloyd Tomlinson had a very eventful 2020. The couple married, moved, bought a house, and opened Appalachian Books in Norton, Virginia, all in the span of a few months. It was a goal that they imagined would take years, until serendipity – and the COVID-19 pandemic – altered their plans. When the pandemic led Carlie to be furloughed from her job, and thwarted their planned honeymoon, the couple found themselves staying with Lloyd’s parents in Lee County, Virginia. “We were…

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Oracle Books - Wytheville, Virginia

Oracle Books - Wytheville, Virginia

Randy Shell, owner of Oracle Books in Wytheville, Virginia, had a simple yet potent mission when opening the used book and record shop in late 2018. “People asked me, do you really want to open a bookstore? Can you make a living?” he says. “I said I’m not looking for a living, I’m looking for a lifestyle.” And, in that regard, he appears to be succeeding in spades. Upon entry to the downtown shop, Randy greeted me with a friendly smile, a…

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COVID-19 Edition: Chop Suey Books - Richmond, Virginia

COVID-19 Edition: Chop Suey Books - Richmond, Virginia

While bookstore explorations are on pause, let’s look at how a Richmond staple is keeping books in the hands of customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Richmond, Virginia’s Chop Suey Books was named Virginia’s best bookstore in 2019 by MentalFloss, and it’s easy to see why. From an expansive inventory spanning two floors, a friendly staff, a cool vibe, a unique history, and a friendly bookshop cat, Chop Suey checks all the boxes of a fantastic indie. The shop came by its…

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