Main Street Books — Local services in Davidson

MSB is the exact bookstore every Hallmark movie should feature: a cute and cozy store situated in the heart of one of America’s most quaint and progressive small towns.

SHOP LOCAL: I love that its owner is a Davidson College alum and supports this progressive enclave with intentionality and heart.

DIVERSE SELECTION: The children’s section offers the loveliest, thought-provoking diverse books that teach time-worn lessons through beautiful prose and illustrations. A chain bookstore with a bajillion times more space still is beaten hands down by MSB.

MUST-SEE SECTIONS: I have a path I follow almost every time I visit, depending on volume of shoppers.

First, the table immediately inside the door. Those are the newest books hand-selected by this knowledgeable, exceedingly well-read staff.

Now turn to your left and peruse staff favorites (I’m a Jessica/Adah follower — always spot-on for my tastes in novels and historical literature).

On the top shelf, let loose and select a “blind date with a book” — brown paper-wrapped selections with handwritten descriptions but neither title nor author shared. Worried you’ll get something outside your genre comfort zone? Exactly! Try it!

The front windows generally feature a holiday or two of the month, and as you peek in more closely, you’ll bump against a table/area with fun little gifts, often by local artisans.

The left side of the store houses new fiction with a fun selection of popular or new-to-you books in both hardcover and paperback, followed by nonfiction and poetry.

Now just follow your nose throughout the store (smell those new bindings? Fresh ink? Maybe it’s my imagination, but I also hear the soft murmur of book lovers comparing notes)… from a section featuring local authors to a gorgeous selection of cookbooks and middle-grade classics.

Heading back to the front? Hope for a long line so you can take in the new titles featured on the shelves to the right of the register.

Time to check out? Encourage the staff member to go slowly so you can inspect every tiny little fun object or sticker or gift-you-never-knew-you-needed-to-give (or keep for yourself! Your secret is safe!).

Perhaps my favorite (for real this time) section is the rolling bookcase out front if weather allows: those are the books locals have bought online to pick up later. You know you are in a special place when these brown-bag beauties sport hand-written first names (and maybe a last initial for the Jens or Olivias who outnumber the local Maureens or Emmalines). And you (ok, I) know you’ve (ok, I’ve) probably exceeded your (my) book budget if the staff member who fulfilled your order knows you enough to add a personal note.

Book budget, book schmudget!

CONCLUSION: Don’t miss this small town gem — or the incredible book knowledge each staff member seems to have. (Ask them how they get all that reading done, because they’re always helping customers so, do they...

Main Street Books was greatly renovated this year, and I just visited the other day with my family. I am greatly impressed. It has everything a fantastic independent bookstore should have: a unique and beautiful interior, a curated selection of the best new and classic books, an amazing selection of greeting cards, bookmarks, and other book-related items, and an incredibly warm, friendly, and helpful staff. And a GREAT kids section, which my two girls (and myself) enjoyed. I...

I love bookstores. The more charming, the better. This bookstore has all the charm. It’s independently owned and has such a vast array of unique books! I love that they put staff yearly picks and suggestions along with the books. During the time I went they also had Galentines surprise books. It’s located right across from the college where you can wander and even hangout and read whatever you buy. Everyone in the store was so nice as well. Taking everyone...