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    Firestorm Books

    3.9 (57 reviews)
    InexpensiveBookstores
    Closed 3:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Jamie J.

    Great & unique bookstore, I'm so glad I checked this one out. I felt welcome and received good service. There were many different genres of books. And I loved the greeting cards! Parking can be limited so I went to Izzy's coffee a door over, got some good coffee and walked over.

    Nighthawk H.

    My first impressions of this store were very positive. On the outside I saw art, band posters, and posters in reference to their political beliefs in regards to various social causes; which I absolutely loved. I walked in and the man behind the counter was very sweet. I went to sit in the bookstore section. The bookstore had a wide variety of great books to choose from. We sat down on the couch to have our coffee and look out the window. While we were hanging out in the bookstore area my husband noticed an extremely small and discreet sign that was stuck in the bottom corner on one of their front windows. It read "neighborhood watch area, police not allowed," and referring to them as "uniformed gang members." After seeing this we got up and immediately left. As a business you are entitled to your beliefs, but like the rest of your signs you should make this one much bigger. Why was it the size of an index card among a sea of much larger signs? Why is it nestled in a corner? If you feel passionately about this, then make the sign bigger so that people can decide if they want to give you their money. Don't be sneaky about it. Not all cops are bad. There are people who make bad calls in every profession and all walks of life. That doesn't mean you shouldn't want to work with your community police to help the bigger picture. How do you feel when people do these kind of things to the LGBTQ+ community? Just be aware that the people who you refuse to serve coffee to, will give their life to protect you.

    Lakisha M.

    Ok so I've never ever ever ever been to a book store like this!!!!! It is so damn cool, dope, awesome and whatever other adjective one can come up with. The lady at the desk is amazing and is a local so she knows her shit. They have books for every one and every body!!! Super inclusive, doesn't matter your race or sexuality, there's something for you. And they have pins for your Jean jacket which I am heavy into. The bathroom is all gender approved and has a box for needles because hey...they're inclusive. Condoms in there as well. And it's in a diverse area which I feel has been gentrified but the atmosphere is chill and positive

    Herbal blend bubble tea.
    Shannon F.

    I have frequented Firestorm Books & Coffee off and on for years. In my experience, this bookstore is very predictable in what you will get, every single visit. What you take away from that experience is highly dependent on various things, I would guess. Like: Your comfort level being in the presence of certain media topics, your need to be welcomed with an overly jovial attitude (because you're not getting that here...), or your desire to be checked on, or catered to, while browsing. Again, you're not going to get that here and that's necessarily not a bad thing either. Personally, I like the hands-off approach of the staff on the bookstore side - but, that's me. It makes for a peaceful and quiet visit - and I like that. Small sections, but quality selections. You can tell that Firestorm puts a lot of thought into hand picking the books they choose to sell. Cute selection of things for the kiddies like stickers, animal erasers, etc. Great selection of cards, postcards, and social justice books, zines, stickers, pins, magnets. The cafe side of the store is always clean and tidy. Prices clearly marked on counter items. Easy to read and, organized menu. Friendly and attentive guy behind the counter (today 7/16). I was greeted and kindly asked what I'd like within 30 seconds of approaching the counter. Very walkable area of west Asheville. Plenty of on street parking.

    Cute. I get it!
    Kipper S.

    Firestorm is one of those few remaining places that you can point to and say, that place made Asheville special. Sure, it has moved, and evolved, but it stands tall and true no matter where it finds itself located. I challenge you to find a better self governing employee owned cafe bookstore co-op anywhere in the world. Firestorm recently relocated to west Asheville and the new space couldn't be more beautiful. Hardwood floors, large windows letting in tons of sunlight, an open cafe, and a well stocked independent bookstore. There's ample seating for reading, conversing, working... I'm writing this review as I sit at their well powered cafe bar. Electricity for everyone!!! If you're in to HYPER independent literature there's a lovely zine rack as well. Something about Firestorm feels homey to me. Not even the fact that I used to enjoy their board game nights in their downtown location. (I wonder if they still ever do these here)... No, Firestorm reminds me of my years spent in San Diego, hanging out at the Che Cafe... an anarchist vegan collective... Firestorm is like the nice older sister, who has been there, done that, now she smiles and welcomes you into her home where she has prepared a lovely afternoon tea for you. Parking can be a challenge, especially in the late morning, as they're located extremely close to Sunny Point and get the trickle down breakfast parking maelstrom. If you live close enough to walk here I don't understand why you aren't here more often. The only other sad note for me caused by the transition to this new location is the loss of the classic bagel sandwich.... Where ever will I get a bagel sandwich with sprouts on it while sipping delicious cold brewed coffee now? All things change... but it doesn't mean that I can't reminisce over the days that have passed. If you're a local who cares about supporting your fellow locals, well prepared coffee, and great reads, you owe it to yourself and Firestorm to be a regular.

    Sam T.

    As we were about to leave Asheville on Memorial Day I saw Firestorm as we had parked near it on the street. What an awesome bookstore! It was beautiful to walk around and see books you would not see in the big retailers. The children's section was so diverse and full of wonderful selections. The staff was welcoming and helpful as I bought a couple of patches. What a lovely bookstore!

    Selena Y.

    I wandered over here while waiting for a table at Sunny Pointe Cafe and was pleasantly surprised to see a coffee shop connected to the bookstore. I ordered a lavender latte (they have a large selection of syrups!) but the barista put wayyy too much syrup in my drink. The lavender flavor overpowered the coffee and it almost tasted kind of soapy...not really appetizing. I probably took a risk trying something less traditional but I still didn't find anything particularly special about the coffee. Other than the cafe, the adjoining bookstore is pretty neat and a nice place to browse.

    The stamp on the outside of the box

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    11 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Great selection of books. Staff was kind and they had a lot of lesser known titles and authors. Great sci-fi/fantasy selection.

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    2 years ago

    Great bookstore. Friendly employees. What's not to like? Go buy a book here. They are great.

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    2 years ago

    I always like visiting different bookstores when I travel . This staff seemed rude and weren't the friendliest .

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    7 years ago

    By far best bookstore in town. Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff and I care deeply for everything they stand for.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Firestorm Books

    Review Highlights - Firestorm Books

    Firestorm is not to everyone's taste, but they're a wonderful and essential addition to West Asheville.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Setting up for an event near the cafe.

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe

    4.4(260 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$
    Established in 1986
    Free estimates

    Malaprop's will forever be one of my favorite indie bookstores. I first fell in love with it back…read morein 2021 when I lived in AVL. I liked the name so much because I was the type of person who used malaprops a good amount. It's extra charming because you're able to order something from their cafe while reading your book. This spot is deceptively huge. The different sections are very intentional and beautifully organized. I had an especially great time looking at the "Beautiful Books" section this visit. I ended up falling in love with a short stories book by Chips Hardy that I took home. I also adored their graphic t-shirts here. I am not a big t-shirt person, but always want more graphic tees, so was so excited to love this one so much. I had a really special experience with one of the booksellers here on my recent visit too. I could not find The Enchanted April in the fiction section and when I asked, one of the booksellers got really excited about the author and that book. She passionately told me how wonderful the book was. We were sad to see it was sold out, but suggested I check a bookstore a block over. I love this bookstore and think everyone should make it a stop on an Asheville trip.

    Very cool independent bookstore in downtown Asheville complete with an adjacent cafe and tables for…read moresipping, reading, or conversing. It seems as though it's only open until the afternoon though, as it wasn't staffed when we were there. But there's still plenty of seating if you wanted to sit a spell. The bookstore portion is really well curated with a nice "local" section featuring local writers and interest. I love checking out this section when I travel and there was a ton to dig into here. They also have a good sized kid's section most notable thing is how many books they offer with autographed copies. That means they seem to bring in a ton of writers which is so exciting for the Asheville community. Speaking of community, I peeked at their events calendar and it looks like they have a ton of book clubs in a variety of different genres that meet regularly. So no matter your interest (romance, science fiction, mystery, horror, etc) you can find a meetup. Some are hosted in store but others in local breweries, libraries, and other third spaces in the area. Excellent offerings across the board!

    Photos
    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - This is the first counter you see inside the doors

    This is the first counter you see inside the doors

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Coffeeshop seating area

    Coffeeshop seating area

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Interior. Photo by Kevin Dern.

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    Interior. Photo by Kevin Dern.

    Downtown Books & News

    Downtown Books & News

    4.3(52 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    We were in town to visit the Big Crafty craft show at the nearby civic center and were wandering…read morearound nearby. We stumbled onto this unique bookstore and spent some time perusing their wares. Definitely has that old bookstore feel rather than an antiseptic megastore. We didn't purchase anything during out brief stop but this is the type of store we would patronize if we lived nearby. It might seem a little scrappy for some, but we support independent bookstores.

    So racism. Been…read moregoing to this shop for 6 years. On new year's day, I walked in with my mom and noticed they were selling a $13 Confederate Cook Book. I told the man with glasses and also bald that it's s not okay to sell this. He immediately said "Why" And proceeded to tell me how they're also thinking about having Hitler's Mein Kampf in their shop. He basically forced me into a "intellectual" convo about the power of disturbance. Little does he know I actually confront nazis online everyday. I also know that the only person buying a Confederate cook book is a racist white person. You also made it very affordable for them. It was enclosed in plastic, so it could've had very violent content in it that the shop was protecting for the "right" customer. I then proceeded to tell him he had this cookbook out with no context and who is he selling this to? He listened and said thank you for the feedback. I then said you're a white man who doesn't get to have opinions about it. Dear Man, You forced me to confront your racism and affinity for kkk literature. Then proceeded to try to find a debate in it. You're not at the level of deep thought you need to be.

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    Downtown Books & News - Interior

    Interior

    Downtown Books & News
    Downtown Books & News

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    Barnes & Noble - Schindler HT 330A elevator, Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

    Barnes & Noble

    3.7(25 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    This is the other Barnes and Noble where I tend to shop most often, though less so than the…read moreBiltmore Park one due to distance and time. I'd rate them both four stars, but this one is probably more a 4.5, because in small ways, it's a bit better, while in other small ways, Biltmore has the advantage. First, the Asheville Mall's advantages: The overall book selection is larger, and new releases are generally on time, even outside of popular genres. Their table displays are always set up with plenty of eye-catching color and features; I always stop to browse even if I don't buy anything. I love book-themed knickknacks, mugs, and so forth, and this B&N always has some cute ones in stock. And as a fairly recent Harry Potter nerd (finally opened my letter at age 31; long story), kudos for the quality HP merchandise on sale. :) I found a Ravenclaw and Slytherin pillow there and I love them (yes, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are still on my wish list). Furthermore, the foods and drinks on offer tend to be fresher and prepared more quickly, and again, there tends to be a bigger selection, with seasonal changes. For instance, this is the only B&N I've gone to in my region, where I could consistently find ginger cookies in the winter (which is a shame, because they're good). Now, if you hit this bakery at the wrong time, you may well get a stale cookie or scone (so maybe still don't grab your goods after dinner, unfortunately). But overall, I like this bakery better. This store is at a disadvantage when it comes to accessibility, because you can only access the upper level via escalator, which is tough with my depth perception. Well, I take that back. There *is* an elevator at the back, behind the cafe (or if you are upstairs, it's near the kids' section). But it rattles, it smells like stale coffee and urine, and honestly, it doesn't always feel very safe. So if you do need or want something from the upper level, I'd either (A) chance the elevator (B) go up with assistance or (C) have a clerk pop up to get it for you. This plays into another disadvantage, in that many if not most of the "specialty sections," such as Christian fiction, romance, and mystery/thriller, are on that upper level. Again, you do have options, but I definitely understand the need and desire to shop independently and take your time to browse, so, just take that under advisement. Overall though, this is probably your best bet if you really want a "full" bookstore experience.

    Pretty decent Barnes and noble and Starbucks that's been here awhile. The mall is a bit empty these…read moredays so you can always find parking. That's a positive. The space is big and clean. There are great cozy nooks that are wonderful for kids and adults alike. There is a big range of price options- things on sale and new releases too. The Starbucks is definitely not my favorite. When I asked if a cheesecake was on sale, the cashier said "well does it say it is in the case?" Yikes. I asked because I couldn't tell. I also was showing my Starbucks card but they mentioned I couldn't use it after I ordered. Just be aware.

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    Barnes & Noble - Discount cheesecake

    Discount cheesecake

    Barnes & Noble - Schindler 9300AE escalators @ Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

    Schindler 9300AE escalators @ Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

    Barnes & Noble - Escalator well, Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

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    Escalator well, Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

    Firestorm Books - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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