Whether you’re looking to spend hours perusing carefully curated shelves or just want to pop in to grab a beach read, Tampa Bay’s bookstore scene has you covered.
From an upscale space with a boutique vibe to a Great Depression-era establishment filled to the brim with volumes, Tampa Bay has a bookstore for every kind of bibliophile. Go ahead and add a book from these five stores to your shelves, we won’t judge.
AN UPSCALE VIBE
“Dedicated to the beauty of the physical book,” Oxford Exchange features an artfully arranged selection of titles, perched on custom oak shelves and vintage gateleg tables. Here, Tampa Bay bibliophiles will find everything from new releases to beloved classics, bestsellers to signed first editions. Located in a remodeled stable from 1891, Oxford Exchange is home to its well-known bookstore, as well as a daytime restaurant and a shop filled with a self-proclaimed eclectic range of goods. It also hosts literary and cultural events, including monthly book clubs and an annual book fair.
A ROCKIN' SELECTION
It’s easy for book-lovers to get lost in the shelves, only to emerge, hours later, exhausted from their literary adventures. Never fear, Mojo Books & Records provides a way for readers to recharge and head back to their search for their new favorite book. In addition to its large inventory, the store serves manually brewed coffee. Tampa Bay’s largest independent book and record store, Mojo sells and buys a range of both new and used, fiction and nonfiction books. Visitors to the store can also flip through vinyl records, CDs and DVDs. Hang around and catch an in-store concert—Mojo is a part-time show venue.
A HISTORIC HANGOUT
Hailed by locals and the press as a “mecca” for books, Haslam’s Book Store is a must do for bibliophiles visiting St. Petersburg. The historic spot opened in 1933 and now covers 30,000 square feet with 300,000 books. Visitors to Florida’s largest new and used bookstore can attend book signings and events. After their brick and mortar visit, bookworms with an affinity for video games can visit Haslam’s website to download “Doom” and help fight the virtual monsters that have invaded the bookstore.
A FAVORITE FOR ALL-AGES
Want to read a Floridiana novel during your time in Tampa Bay? Inkwood Books has you covered. The independent bookstore carries a range of genres, including fiction, current events, biographies, poetry, cookbooks and kid’s books. Bookworms young and old can join an Inkwood book club and discuss a wide variety of publications (over a glass of wine, for those attending the adult meetings). Inkwood Books also stocks unique cards and gifts and plans to roll out a book subscription service in the near future.
A PLACE TO DISCOVER THE CLASSICS
Boasting everything from “the classics to the obscure,” Back in the Day Books is a unique Dunedin locale. Owned by a two-term president of the Florida Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association, Back in the Day Books focuses on collectible books, fine bindings, literature and non-fiction, but claims to have something for every taste.
This article was originally written via research for WhereTraveler.com. Here’s a link: Tampa Bay for Bibliophiles
📍 Tampa Bay, Florida
