Who doesn’t love a good bookstore? As a diligent reader and writer, I’m always looking for a unique, quiet place to explore in search of good books. This week, I’m sharing 3 of my favorite bookstores in my home state, Ohio.
The Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
First up is the Friends of the Public Library, a mid-sized warehouse full of gently used books, magazines, music, movies, and more. Everything is priced reasonably (the most expensive book I’ve bought was $3), and every purchase helps fund literacy and summer reading programs in Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio. Some books are donated by readers around Cincinnati, and some are retired from the Hamilton County library system.
Additionally, if you’re like me and wish you could craft with book pages without –gasp– destroying a book, you can purchase books that are slated for recycling (think damaged covers, bad bindings, etc.) or pre-selected packets of pages that the store put together. I recently picked up an entire box of romance books and poems slated for recycling to use for wedding crafts…for $10!
The clerks are also super friendly, and willing to keep a list of your TBR’s for you, and let you know what they have in stock. I can’t recommend them enough!
Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Location: 846 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45216
Hours: Mon 2-7, Wed 10-5, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-5
Offerings: Books (including vintage/antiquarian), magazines, journals, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles, and postcards
Instagram: @cincylibraryfriends
Website: https://www.cincylibraryfriends.org/
The Dollar Book Swap (Dayton)
My second favorite pick is Dollar Book Swap, a large warehouse filled to the brim with thousands of books, audiobooks, and DVDs. The best part? Every book is only $1.25–and you can bring your old books in for store credit!
If you have a young, voracious reader, this is the place you want to be. They have a wonderful (huge) kids section, including preschool, grade school, and young adult (YA). You can load up an entire box of books for under $30 and keep your reader happy all season long.
One note: I’ve found this store to be very crowded on weekends, so I’d recommend going during the week if you can.
The Dollar Book Swap
Location: 1723 Webster Street Dayton, OH 45303
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10 am – 3 pm
Offerings: Books, audiobooks, DVDs & so much more!
Instagram: @dollarbookswapdbs
Website: https://thedollarbookswap.com/
Black Cat Books & Oddities (Medina/Cleveland)
Last but not least, is Black Cat Books & Oddities, an indie bookstore that sells new books for all ages. We stumbled upon this bookstore on a recent trip to Cleveland, and it’s going to be a mainstay of our trips to visit family moving forward. Why? Because they have themed rooms. Yes, you heard me right! Each room of this old, converted house has a different bookish theme. I won’t spoil the surprise for you, but if you like to plan ahead, you can see their themes here.
Each room is full of books and unique (some handmade) bookish items: jewelry, coasters, bookmarks, tarot cards, and more. If you’re into blind date with a book, they also have a good selection available!
Black Cat Books & Oddities
Location: 420 South Court Street, Medina, OH 44236
Hours: every day from 11 am – 7 pm
Offerings: Books and bookish items
Instagram: @blackcatmedina
Website: https://www.blackcatmedina.com/
Author: Robyn Storm
