By Madison Stevens

The Shenandoah Valley is made up of nine counties that stretch about 150 miles. Along the way, travelers find small towns full of character with fields of farm animals, winding back roads and hidden treasures, including charming and quaint used bookstores with stories of their own. 

Nothing compares to the distinct smell of an old bookstore. It’s the type of smell that brings back old memories and leads us to discover more about the past. As you stroll through the rows of books, music and works of art, you’ll likely be inclined to pick up something new. Here are some of the best bookstores to visit as you make your way through.

Charlottesville

Daedalus

Daedalus is a maze of stacked books that specializes in all genres. A used bookstore founded in 1974, Daedalus itself is an adventure. Over 100,000 books are stacked from the ground to the third floor ceiling, taking up one room after another and following a spiral staircase leading to the bottom floor. Strolling through this bookstore is exciting, as you’ll  find a new room in each direction you turn. Once you think you’ve reached the last one, you’ll find another. 

As for where the name came from, it “could be the labyrinthian nature of the bookstore itself,” Tom Cogill, a volunteer at Daedalus, said. Owner Sandy McAdams was inspired to name his used bookstore after one of his favorite authors’ book characters. 

“He’s (McAdams) a huge fan of James Joyce and Stephen Dedalus was the main character in a lot of Joyce’s stories, although it was spelled differently,” Cogill said. “Sandy did say that he misspelled the name of the bookstore, that it should have been spelled like Stephen Dedalus.”

Those visiting Daedalus may be fascinated by its charm and enthralled by the addictive nature of the labyrinth, even if they don’t read. According to Cogill, McAdams wanted to relocate his previous store and found this building for sale in Charlottesville. 

“He didn’t fall in love with Charlottesville per se, he fell in love with the building,” Cogill said. Located right near the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, the adventurous aspect of the store is enough to encourage anyone to walk in.

The collection started with a set of books that McAdams transported to Charlottesville in a rail car, but now most books are donated by people who are downsizing their own collections. Although the books seem to be arranged chaotically at first glance, the varying colors of the book spines in contrast with the green and white walls make it resemble an art gallery. The soul of this bookstore stands out in the design of the books themselves and in the people that represent it. 

Heartwood Books

Heartwood Books is a quaint building with a short set of stairs and black metal railings leading up to the door. On the side of the building is the street name, Elliewood, painted vertically in large red letters and a beautiful heartwood tree that covers almost the entirety. At the entrance of the building, large windows showcasing the collection of books inside invite the customers in. 

The shelves contain rows of literature, art and history books. Red paper signs hang from the ceiling with handwritten names of genres and book labels. The natural light from the huge windows adds to the essence of the store itself and is the perfect spot to visit on a rainy or sunny Sunday afternoon.

The name Heartwood comes from the middle part of the tree, Art Collier, a store volunteer, said, “supposedly it’s the strongest part.” He said Paul Collinge, the owner of Heartwood Books, has an eye for finding used and rare books that people will love. 

Located near the University of Virginia, Heartwood Books opened at this location in 1980. Collier credits the business’s long-term success to Paul Collinge, the owner, and his “feel for the business.”

“He [Collinge] knows what good books look like and what people will buy,” Collier said. “Someone can come in here with five boxes of books and they’ll look like pure trash and he’ll find one box of really good things because he knows so much about the book business.” 

Harrisonburg

Downtown Books

It’s easy to leave Downtown Books with gifts you didn’t intend to purchase — that’s just how many detailed, collectible items the bookstore has. When entering the store, you’ll find a vast postcard collection, a wall of DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, posters, comics and novels. The postcards are special because they contain images of all kinds, including abstract designs and patterns, photos of young couples from the 1940s, a bright red car on a beach, the Eiffel Tower and so much more. 

Inside, there are impressively tall stacks of books that seem to defy gravity and create a wall in the front of the store. The retro sign matches the vibe of the inside of the store — the store opened in [year] — transporting patrons back in time with old books, films and music. Outside of Downtown Books, a prominent green and black sign hangs above the entrance with big, bold letters. A collection of bins also sits outside containing a multitude of free items: books, postcards, CDs, VHS tapes and photographs.

Owner Bob Schurtz, a JMU alumnus who first took over the store in 1978, said he leaves books outside to be taken for free, encouraging more people to read and appreciate books, especially during the pandemic. People continue to drop off boxes of used books to contribute to the collection, whether the store is open or not. 

Gift and Thrift

Gift and Thrift has a large collection of books of all genres, but it’s a massive store with clothes, household items, antique furniture, crafts, toys, games and more. The vast green room contains stands, shelves and carts full of children’s books, magazines, cookbooks, biographies, movies and sheet music. Although this store is massive and holds many different items, the book section is perfectly organized with eye-catching displays and looks like a brand new bookstore.

Shoppers can also find stands with stuffed animals as well as decorations, including framed maps, baskets, vases of flowers, greenery and large mirrors. Each section is labeled with a blue sign hanging from the ceiling and a pink sign displaying the genre. Some genres include Christian fiction, old favorites, educational books, quilting, romance novels and even a local books section. The books range from old to brand new, only costing 50 cents each.

According to the Gift and Thrift website, the store is sponsored by the Booksavers of Virginia, a nonprofit with a mission to benefit the Mennonite Central Committee and MCC provides aid and relief for job creation, reforestation and water projects, agricultural development and peacemaking and justice. Gift and Thrift also offers flash sales and holds silent auctions for special items.

Lexington

Bookery Limited

Walking through Bookery Limited, you can enjoy peaceful classical music while gazing at the colorful art that hangs from the ceiling, including pictures of cats, bunnies and other framed posters. With books stacked from the floor to waist level, sitting on tables and filling long hallways of shelves, it’s easy to browse for hours. 

Marysue Forrest, the owner of Bookery Limited, is a JMU alumna ‘69 and former writer for The Breeze, JMU’s student newspaper, in 1968 and 1969. 

“It’s very much a pleasure to see young people [in the store],” Forrest said. 

Forrest became the manager of Bookery Limited 30 years ago when the store was three years old. One of the main driving factors in owning her bookstore, she said, is making books available to the public. She said her favorite part of owning Bookery Limited is getting to encourage young readers and revealing the joy of a good book. 

The shop holds over 40,000 new, used and rare books, newspapers and maps and is especially well-received by the college students of Lexington, including from Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University and Southern Virginia University. The books come from all different locations, including from people’s homes or book sales in Charlottesville, and there’s a large collection of classic novels and literature. 

“We’re a big source of a lot of books and for [people] to come in and find something that they might enjoy is a big pleasure,” Forrest said. “That’s a high for me — that somebody comes in and cares about books.” 

The Historian’s Books

The Historian’s Books is a brick building located on downtown West Washington Street and has an old-timey door with a glass window and a mail slot. The Historian’s Books has dark brown and cherry-red wooden floors, a massive window that allows the room to fill with natural light and a fireplace to make the experience even cozier. 

It’s the small details that matter here — for example, the holiday themed bears that owner Frank Calesnik,\ puts on display and changes out each holiday as well as the poinsettias he continues to grow from Christmas all year round. 

Calesnik added some of his personal books to his collection in the store, and some of them are new. His goal was to focus on historical books — anything from ancient times up to the present. 

“I can’t have as many books as Barnes & Noble, but I can have more history books than Barnes & Noble,” Calesnik said.

Calesnik said most of his customers are visitors of Lexington, so“they want to go away with a piece of history.” With Stonewall Jackson’s house and Lee Chapel nearby, The Historian’s Books is the perfect location for tourists who are looking for a souvenir. 

Staunton

The Avocado Pit

The Avocado Pit is one of Staunton’s prime tourism hot spots, according to owner Andrew Gutterman. Not only does this used bookstore have a large collection of literature, but it also contains unique items including comics, art and decor. Near the back of the room are large paintings of flowers and special decor, including old-timey clocks, greenery, classic comic posters and animal shaped-book holders.

The name Avocado Pit comes from the pit-like location of a store that owners Gutterman and his wife opened previously in Charlottesville. The building itself sat near the street at the bottom of a downslope surrounded by buildings, resembling a pit. 

Gutterman described himself as a “generalist bookseller.” His collection comes from thrift stores, yard sales and donations, although the largest source has been the Goodwill outlet store. As readers browse, they can enjoy classic rock music, and chairs are available throughout the store for reading convenience and comfort. 

By shopping at your local used bookstore and diving into a good book, you can learn more about history and the people around you. Take your time as you walk through and don’t be afraid to start a conversation with the owners, employees and volunteers. The Shenandoah Valley can be appreciated for its beauty and the history it holds, especially in the literature that lasts forever.