19 of the best indie bookstores in virginia
ilysm books in rva!
if you’re wondering “what are the best bookstores in virginia?” look no further — i’ve got you covered! virginia (and especially richmond) is blessed with SO MANY good indie bookstores. we have options, y’all! what a gift!
i often think it’s my personal mission to financially support the small businesses i love (aka my way of rationalizing the money i spend at them) and bookstores are my FAVE.
there are SO many more i haven’t yet visited (a good problem to have!) but i have personally explored and supported all of the shops on this list, and i’ll keep this updated as i add to my adventures!
here are 19 of my favorite indie bookstores around virginia:
legend: 🏳️🌈= lgbtqia+ owned, 👑= woman owned, 🤎= bipoc-owned
indie bookstores in richmond, va:
ilysm books
📍 119 w brookland park blvd, richmond, va 23222
🏳️🌈👑🤎
a community-centered bookstore committed to nurturing a safe space for discovery, curiosity and connection.
bbgb books
📍3003 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
👑
while our specialty is children’s books, we feature books for the entire family, from wee ones to adults. we focus on those particular titles which prompt us to look at the world a little longer, a little closer, and a little differently.
shelf life books
📍2913 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
the largest independent bookstore in Richmond, VA. We have new books on our lower level and five rooms of used books upstairs. Two cats, Page and Mylar, roam their bookish queendom.
Our shop has been serving the Richmond community for over two decades. Located in the heart of Richmond’s Carytown district across from the Byrd Theater, the store is staffed by long-time patrons and is a hub for local authors and book lovers alike.
fountain bookstore
📍1312 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23219
👑🏳️🌈
Opened in 1978, the Fountain Bookstore is an independent, general, full-service bookstore serving the Metro Richmond area and the world!
Fountain hosts more author programming than any other entity in the state of Virginia. Check it out! We also ship these autographed copies worldwide.
You will find enthusiastic booksellers happy to talk about their favorite books at Fountain and you will also find a quirky selection of cards, gifts, and more!
small friend records & books
📍1 N Lombardy St, Richmond, VA 23220
👑
Small Friend Records & Books is a woman-owned book and record store in Richmond, VA with a focus on the radical, weird, and obscure. We opened in April 2018 on 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom, and after a year and a half at that location we moved to our current space at the corner of Lombardy and Main in the Fan.
book people
📍10464 ridgefield pkwy, henrico, va 23233
Book People RVA has been serving readers around the world since 1980. Known as the Richmond metro-area book provider for those who prefer a warm, customer-focused buying experience, Book People offers new and used fiction and non-fiction titles and many literary genres
indie bookstores in petersburg, va:
resist booksellers
📍233 N Sycamore St Suite B, Petersburg, VA 23803
🤎
We work hard to support readers, dreamers, activists, and book clubs. Resist Booksellers Is Not Your Average Book Retailer. Our brand shines light on the thinkers, dreamers, and leaders who came before us. Those that weren’t afraid to stand up for the rights of others. The current generation, who picked up the batons and ran at lightening speed. Breaking down barriers and never accepting no for an answer. And for the future generation who are just getting started.
indie bookstores in crozet, va:
bluebird & co
📍5792 Three Notch'd Rd, Crozet, VA 22932
👑
Crozet's cheerful one-stop shopping destination. We cultivate community and delight our visitors with unique finds for their library, closet and home.
indie bookstores in charlottesville, va:
new dominion bookshop
📍404 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
👑
New Dominion Bookshop is located on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall at 404 East Main St. We are an all-new bookstore, and we host events featuring renowned authors and local writers.
2nd act books
📍 214 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
👑
2nd Act Books is a one-of-a-kind shop, offering used books in great shape, that is truly a gathering place in the community.
We give book junkies a place to indulge their habits at affordable prices, and provide a place for book-lovers of all ages to spend time together enjoying the adventures of imagination.
indie bookstores in midlothian, va:
midlothian book exchange
📍13198 midlothian tpke, midlothian, va 23113
👑
In October of 2020 Dorryce and Caroline bought the 30+ year old bookstore from the Kerby Family, the original owners. Thanks in part to the community, estimated 175,000 half priced books and 7200 square feet of space, the store has become one of the best used bookstores in the Mid-Atlantic.
the little bookshop
📍1244 sycamore square drive, midlothian, va 23113
👑
As a resident of this community, Mary Patterson has long recognized the need for an independent bookstore in Midlothian. Reading has always been a passion of hers, so she decided to invest her time and energy to develop a business plan for a new bookstore that would offer personalized service and a carefully chosen selection of books. Come browse our shelves or join us for one of our community events througut the year and enjoy the newest outpost for book lovers in Central Virginia.
indie bookstores in alexandria, va:
friends to lovers
📍301 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314
🏳️🌈👑
Friends to Lovers is the first romance bookstore in the DC area. We believe in celebrating love, and embracing the stories that bring us joy.
indie bookstores in mt crawford, va:
green valley bookfair
📍2192 Green Valley Ln, Mt Crawford, VA 22841
Located just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the Green Valley Book Fair is a discount outlet store featuring over 500,000 new books, puzzles, crafts, and more – all at up to 90% off retail prices.
indie bookstores in fredericksburg, va:
riverby books
📍805 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Used and rare books bought and sold, everyday.
novel
📍212 william st, fredericksburg, va 22401
👑
Novel is a community-focused bookstore with a mission to foster a love of reading and build connections. We offer a curated selection of books focusing on new releases, book club picks, personalized recommendations, gifts, and subscription boxes.
indie bookstores in chesapeake, va:
novel grounds
📍1501 Cedar Rd #120, Chesapeake, VA 23322
👑
Novel Grounds is a fictionally inspired book and merchandise company.
The dream for Novel Grounds was always a bookstore. While the military moved us around the world, I opened an online store and it has grown into the Novel Grounds you now see over the last decade.
Design by design we want to bring your favorite novel to your closet, and now to your shelves. When you shop on Novel Grounds, or in our store, we want every reader to feel welcome and comfortable.
From books, to clothing and accessories we have a little bit of everything in the shop! Specializing in the tasteful clothing designs to fit your favorite books, we have a variety of collections in the shop both online and in store.
Our storeroom is proud to shelve 90% Indie romance authors from a variety of genres that continues to expand each day!
Novel Grounds has prided itself since day one on our inclusivity and diversity in not only sizes for our products, but also in pricing. We charge the same price across the board for our items and will always choose to partner with brands that value inclusivity as much as we do.
ps —
if you don’t have a great local indie bookstore, or if you’re more of an audio or e-book reader, there are still ways to support independent bookstores! i personally love (and am an affiliate with) bookshop.org (which now has ebooks!) and libro.fm for audiobooks — both give you options to select the indie your purchases will support, which is a win-win.
happy reading!
if you’re wondering “what are the best bookstores in virginia?” look no further — i’ve got you covered!