Find your next great read at these 17 local bookstores in the Wilmington area

Cheryl M. Whitaker, Wilmington StarNews
·5 min read
Old Books on Front Street, family-owned and has been in Wilmington since the early 1980s, is located at 249 N. Front St.
Old Books on Front Street, family-owned and has been in Wilmington since the early 1980s, is located at 249 N. Front St.

Are you a bookworm? Do you love to read and collect books? National Book Lovers Day is celebrated Aug. 9 every year. While not a holiday, most bibliophiles would agree that the love of reading should be done 365 days. Book Lovers Day invites people to celebrate reading and literature. So put away any technology that would distract you and pick up a book instead.

Here's a list of some bookstores in the Wilmington area that cater to all kinds of subjects.

Did we miss yours? Let us know via email at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.

Brunswick

Azio Media - Books, Music & More: It's at 280 Holden Beach Road in Shallotte at The Gingerbread House. The local indie bookstore carries a variety of books. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 910-755-3322.

Books & More: 10152 Beach Drive, SW Unit 2, Calabash. The store carries a large selection of used books (and has a small selection of new books). Hours 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 910-728-8779.

Islands Art & Books: 6885 Beach Drive, S.W., Unit C, Ocean Isle Beach. The store carries only local books, such as ones on local history, outdoor guidebooks, fishing, cookbooks, and children's books. It also carries books that have taken place in eastern North Carolina and local writers. Hours 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Details: 910-579-7757 or islandsartstore.com.

Pelican Bookstore: Located at The Village at Sunset Beach, 1780 Chandlers Lane, Unit 10B. The bookstore carries children's books, new releases, historical fiction and New York Times bestsellers, and a classic section. It also has a selection of used books. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 910-579-8770.

New Life Christian Books & Gifts: A family-owned and operated Christian bookstore is located at 5285-11 Main St., Shallotte Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Memory Lane Comics & Toys in downtown Wilmington is located in a building that dates back to the 1700s.
Memory Lane Comics & Toys in downtown Wilmington is located in a building that dates back to the 1700s.

New Hanover

Fanboy Comics: 419 S. College Road (University Landing), Wilmington. Carries a large selection of new and used comic books. Hours: 11 a.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Opens at 10 a.m. Wednesdays for new releases. Also open 1-6 p.m. Sundays. 910-452-7828.

Lucky Finds Books and Records: 5041 New Centre Drive, Suite 118, Wilmington. Carries a selection of used nonfiction, history and art books. Open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 757-277-5851.

McAllister & Solomon Used and Rare Books: 4402 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington. The bookstore recently celebrated its 30th year and it specializes in history and literature, selling a wide variety of books on world, state and local history, African American, and early history. The store also carries poetry. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 910-350-0189.

Memory Lane Comics: Opened in 1983 and is currently located at 201 Princess St., Wilmington, selling new comic books and graphic novels. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. And for the resale of vintage comics and collectibles, visit Memory Lane Comics II, located at 222 Princess St., Wilmington. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Saturday. 910-392-6647.

Old Books on Front St.: A family-owned store, it's been in Wilmington since the early 1980s and is located at 249 N. Front St. A general interest bookstore, it carries new and used books, a large variety of local history and foreign language books. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Wednesdays) and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 910-762-6657.

More: Why is downtown Wilmington’s beloved used bookseller fighting city hall over a giant crumbling wall?

Papercut Books: 200 Market St. Unit 100, Wilmington. The bookstore carries a vast variety of used and new books, different genres of nonfiction and fiction, young adults, and more. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. 910-660-8607.

Pomegranate Books: An independent bookstore in the historic Borkenhagen House in the city's Winter Park neighborhood, it's located at 4418 Park Ave. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 910-452-1107.

Port City Book Club: Is both a children’s bookstore and book club, focusing on curating books that are inclusive, empowering, educational and fun. The owner, Cambria Roland, is a huge advocate for education and has also been promoting teacher and school wish lists for schools to add more books to their shelves. In addition to being a bookshop, we also host community events for kids as well as adults. Recently launching, Not Your Mother’s Book Club, a book club for book loving adults. Roland is hoping to open a bookstore soon in downtown Wilmington, for more information, email hello@portcitybookclub or visit portcitybookclub.com.

More: These little Wilmington libraries offer books and community. Here's where to find them

The Fuzzy Needle Records & Books: Carries gently used books and special edition books. It is located at 716 S. 17th St (Cargo District), Wilmington. Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Details: 910-538-6367

The Roasted Bookery: The bookery (On its Facebook page, "We aim to amplify BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors and characters in literature.") meets at local markets weekly and will order and do local delivery for free each Thursday. For more information, visit https://theroastedbookery.com/ or call 910-508-3146.

The Used Bookery: At 6770 Market St., Wilmington, the store carries a variety of use paperbacks and hardbacks. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. 910-313-1137.

Quarter Moon Books, Gifts & Wine Bar at Topsail Beach has all sorts of books.
Quarter Moon Books, Gifts & Wine Bar at Topsail Beach has all sorts of books.

Pender

Quarter Moon Books, Gifts & Wine Bar: 708 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach. The store carries a large section of beach reads with fiction, nonfiction, used book and children's sections. Hours 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays. 910-328-4969.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where to find bookstores in Wilmington NC