Mama Bessie's Place

This store has it all! It's a used book store with excellent prices and selection. They also have a…read morecoffee shop inside that offers sandwiches as well. The other half of the large space is a Habitat for Humanity re-store with tons of furniture, Knick-knacks, lights and pretty much everything else you can think of! They have some tables throughout the bookstore that you can sit and another area upstairs with more tables. There is always a space outside where you can sit and enjoy!

This is an excellent combination of café, bookstore and thrift/furniture store. I have visited many…read moretimes over the past few years and always seem to come across something unexpected, whether that is a book, CD, vinyl record or game. The book prices are particularly good and make it easy to take a chance on an unfamiliar author or genre. The café serves very good coffee. On this visit I had a cortado, which was strong, smooth and well made. The staff were friendly, helpful and attentive without being intrusive. What I like most is the atmosphere. During my visit I saw families browsing books while enjoying a drink, friends meeting for coffee and people having informal meetings. It feels like a place where you can spend time rather than simply stop by. The balcony seating looked especially appealing for reading or quiet study, with a good view over the café below. A place with plenty of character, and one I will be returning to again.

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Book Buyers

4.1(107 reviews)

1.5 mi

My favorite bookstore in all of Charlotte. I have been going here for years and the owners are…read moreincredibly friendly and fair as well. The cats there are very sweet and the selection of books has me browsing the store for hours. Would recommend to everyone who wants a good read or would like to donate their lightly used books.

Super friendly and helpful cashier! She kindly showed us every section we were looking for…read more Everything was very well organized. The whole place has the wonderful bookstore smell. I could have spent hours in here! Prices were a little higher than eBay or Thrift Books online, but I like that this was a local and in-person place.

Food + fantasy horror books! Im here for it

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Park Road Books

4.5(70 reviews)

3.2 mi

Such a cutie book store with so many rows of options and a cure kids section in the middle to slow…read moredown and create meaningful moments with your little ones. There are so many stationary items, journals, bags, cards, and puzzles as well. They even have baggu bags! Everyone there is so kind and welcoming. One release day of Threshing Day, I called ahead to confirm if they had the deluxe edition and if there were any more in store. They were so kind and held the book for me under my name until I got there to pick up and was honestly just as excited to hand me the book as I was to recieve it. Always happy to support local

Amazing local book store. The staff were all so sweet and friendly. They offered up lots of local…read morerecommendations. The book selection is fantastic with just enough to not get you overwhelmed and pricing is competitive. We both picked out several books to entertain ourselves!.

Threshing Day (Deluxe Edition) at Park Road Books on release day

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Paper Skyscraper

5.0(1 review)

2.7 mi•Uptown

Locally owned & operated

34 years in business

I was looking for some Charlotte NC (souvenirs) and this was the only place I found. With variety…read moreof souvenirs and other beautiful things.

From the owner: Find the best cards and Gifts at Paper Skyscraper - Charlotte's award-winning card and gift store…read moresince it's founding in 1989. We have over 30,000 cards and gifts to find the perfect selection for your holiday shopping list and stocking stuffers. We feature books, cards, stationery, home accessories, frames, bath and body products, kid's books and toys. And have a special emphasis on architecture and design. You will find a sense of humor everywhere you turn and something for everyone on your list and yourself.

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Paper Skyscraper

4.7(272 reviews)

2.9 mi•Dilworth

Cute shop with whimsical and specialty items. Cute gift shopping here! I bought a pen that writes…read morewith turquoise ink.

I really wanted to love this place, especially because the products were adorable and perfectly…read moresuited to my style. Unfortunately, the customer service was deeply disappointing. The employees greeted other customers but did not acknowledge me or the other person I was with, which I initially tried not to take personally. However, while I was browsing for a gift, we noticed them repeatedly watching and staring at us. I didn't want to acknowledge it at first, but after we got to the car, we both brought it up and realized that the behavior was quite obvious. We were both left feeling the same way: it appeared to be racially motivated. I understand that employees may be expected to monitor the store, but the attention directed only toward us felt especially obvious. As a person of color, we both felt extremely racially profiled and unwelcome. Their behavior was difficult to ignore and made the experience extremely uncomfortable. It was pretty sad because we honestly couldn't have believed our morning together would lead to this.

Kitchen cloth

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That’s Novel Books

4.7(9 reviews)

3.4 mi•North Charlotte

Bookstores like That's Novel have my devotion. Just walking in, I felt an intense sense of peace…read moreand contentment. I'm surrounded by books and all is right in the world again. They have more than just new copies of the latest releases! They have used books! They have cute gifts like candles and art and jewelry and more! They have detailed staff picks that are featured! Books are clearly organized in ways to make them easy to find and you'll find every genre here. And there are reading nooks, so you'll never want to leave. I almost feel like a new book is like a pet that you'll take home and cherish forever. I'm so grateful for a woman-owned bookshop like That's Novel.

I just love a book store like this one - new AND used books! Everything is organized nicely by…read moresubject/genre. They also had a little section with cute gifts, stationery, merch, etc. Service was friendly, too. Out front they had a rack of cheapo $1 paperbacks - that's my kind of scene. I love going through old paperbacks to find a hidden gem. I found a pulpy Kojak paperback that I got for my sister.

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Ruth’s Attic

5.0(1 review)

6.0 mi

After visiting the Billy Graham, home and completing the walkthrough tour we exited into the…read morelibrary. We visited the bookstore for some souvenirs. They had lots to choose from for children, women, men, household items and lots and lots of books. The store was a good size and tons of books were there for your choosing. A couple of books caught my attention so Im taking them home with me. Found a couple of other cool items that I also purchased. Prices are as expected since you're at a tourist destination.

They have jewelry

I an the way truth life

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Quotes

The Grounds Bookstore and Cafe

4.8(16 reviews)

10.5 mi

I have been coming to the Grounds for quite a while now. It is located in the atrium of the…read moreMecklenburg church. They have specific hours. They also have excellent coffee and teas as well as some juices and pastry options. Their coffee is equal to what you may get at. SBX. They have a large sitting area as well as one upstairs that you can sit and enjoy, work, or enjoy times with friends. I highly recommend that you stop in.

Love this place!!! Decided to meet up with a friend for coffee (well tea for me) and she suggested…read morethis place as 'the perfect spot'. And it was. I read through some of the other reviews and I want to set the record straight. Yes, it's inside a church but there is a separate entrance. Yes, there are Christian books but also other genres. Yes, the coffee is very affordable BECAUSE all the staff are volunteers. No one is getting paid and they LOVE what they do. All smiles and great service. The proceeds go to local and global missions of the church. Win, win all the way around. The place itself is very spacious. Two levels. The seating areas are comfortable and far enough apart you can have some semiprivacy if you need it. My friend who brought me says she comes here all the time to study (she's in college). All of the staff knew her by name. (love places like that) I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't really speak to the coffee (although my friend says it's pretty good). I am a tea drinker though and they have a variety of flavors, some refresher juice drinks, a few pastries. Please support. Every now and again if you're thinking of getting coffee or a pastry, choose them. Why not? Do some good for the community through others who are committed to giving back.

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The Book Rack

4.4(41 reviews)

8.3 mi

Kimber was Very helpful gave me options for a book I requested. It was not in but said someone…read morewould call me when it came in. Linda

I feel like I found a gem and wonder where have I been…read more This is a little bookstore that sells new and used books. I mean can this get any better. First time I went. I brought two books on house plants and planting in containers. I couldn't find any pies making or pound cakes baking books that were on my list but I emailed them to today to ask if any of these are available. They replied right away. Even though they didn't have the books I wanted. The customer service was great. They're willing to reserve these books if those come in. The cost of all the used books can be $5 to $8 which is great.. And if you follow them on Instagram. There's specials sometime. Go check them out

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Most books can be $5 to $8

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

3.6(58 reviews)

3.5 mi•SouthPark

I've always loved Barnes & Noble. Growing up, it was one of my favorite places to escape for a few…read morehours with a good book or spend time studying, so every time I visit one, it brings back that same comforting feeling. This location is especially nice because it's two stories and has such a great variety of books and gifts. Whether you're into history, business, fiction, religion, children's books, or even board games and puzzles, there's something for just about everyone. I also loved how each section included little descriptions and recommendations to help you discover something new instead of just browsing shelves. I went in looking for a book on Mongolian history and warfare as a gift, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many options they had in that section. I also spent some time browsing in the religion section, which had a nice selection of Bibles, devotionals, and Christian books. I ended up finding the cutest bookmark to go with my gift. I do wish they had a few more bookmark designs to choose from since there were only a couple of rotating displays, but I still found a couple I loved. One thing I think could be improved is finding specific books. The website does a great job showing whether a book is in stock, which saved me a trip, but I wish it also told you the aisle or exact section. It took me a little while to find both the history book I wanted and another book in the business and technology section. It wasn't a huge issue, but it would've made shopping a little easier. The café is another reason I enjoy Barnes & Noble. I love that you can grab a coffee, find a comfortable spot, and spend time reading without feeling rushed. It really makes the store feel like more than just a bookstore. The cashier was incredibly kind and made my visit even better. We ended up talking about the bookmark I picked out, and she even took a moment to write down the Bible verse I had on my phone because she loved it so much. She also explained the membership program and everything that comes with it, including the tote bag, without ever making it feel like a sales pitch. She saw my rewards and let me know how close I am to getting a deal on my next book purchase too. The store itself was clean, including the restrooms, and I appreciated how organized everything was. The only other challenge was finding an employee when I had a question. There didn't seem to be many associates on the floor, so it took a little while to find someone to help. Thankfully, I didn't mind exploring because that's part of the fun at Barnes & Noble anyway. I also have to mention how adorable the children's section was. It was thoughtfully put together with books, games, educational toys, and fun gifts, making it a place that's just as enjoyable to browse as the rest of the store. Overall, this is a great location with a huge selection, a relaxing atmosphere, and friendly staff. I'll be happily back!

Love this barnes & noble location. It's very spacious and has a 2nd level. Very organized and well…read moreput together. While we were looking around, the nice lady asked us if we needed help finding a particular book. And she was able to answer all of our questions. Loved the willingness to help! They had some mark downs on some books, the prices are a bit high compared to ordering off Amazon, but I love the fact that you can grab a book and read it, and no one bothers you. This alone makes it worth the price! I hate that this is so far from me, but will always make it a point to stop by when we're in the area.

Kids' department

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The upper edge is uneven

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Susan A.

16 years ago

I have been a long time customers of Mama Bessie's Place - actually for the past 2 years to be exact. Everytime I go, I always find something neat and learn something new. I love the owners as they are very knowledgable and are more than willing to share their expertise with you. The place brings a warm, cozy and welcoming environment. I highly recommend this place to any one who is fascinated and eagr to explore new things. read more

London M.

6 years ago

I can find a lot of everything here. Everyone is helpful and friendly Definitely a go to place for me.

Mama Bessie's Place - spiritual_shop - Updated October 2026

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