When I tell you this bookstore is absolutely beautiful and eclectic, I truly mean it. From floor to…read moreceiling, the shelves are packed with books ranging from vintage finds and timeless classics to newer reads, making it feel like there is something here for every kind of reader. They also carry stunning leather bound books along with drawing supplies for the artists and creatives out there. Wandering through this bookstore felt like stepping into a magical little world that I genuinely did not want to leave. Even though we stopped in close to closing time, the owner never once made us feel rushed or like an inconvenience. She was incredibly welcoming, kind, and happy to have us there. This is exactly the kind of local shop I will happily return to again and again, not just to continue exploring the endless stacks of books, but to support and see the wonderful people who run it as well.

January 24, 2026 - Old Books on Front Street is the friendliest bookstore I ever encountered. There…read morewere some inconveniences, yet they were unavoidable & being taken care of the best they could. This is why I am rating this bookstore 4.4 stars - rounds off to 4 stars. Excellent customer service - 5 Stars. The owner of the bookstore was at the entrance and greeted me & others immediately when we entered the bookstore. Upon entering, I noticed many areas were sectioned and off limits. I found out later that they were placing books back in the bookshelves after they were taken away to repair broken pipes in the store and to prevent them from getting damaged. There were a literary jukebox and vending machine dispensing capsules with quotes - both out of order. I still had a good time wandering around the bookstore and browsing books there. I found a book in the clearance section for 25 cents and purchased it. Despite the inconveniences in the store due to the building being old and being repaired by the owner herself, I am impressed by how personable & amicable the owner was and that she was repairing the pipes in the store by herself instead of hiring someone to do it. I know when the books are organized back on the shelves that I will probably come back and spend more time here. This is a bookstore to see in Wilmington again and again.

Photography by 3Spade7Star @3Spade7Star_photography…read moreJanuary 24, 2026 Papercut Books is the most whimsical indie bookstore experiences I ever had & has the most pretty & eye catching displays I ever saw in a bookstore. They sell vintage books, clothing , fanciful items, handmade bookmarks, and upcycled jewelry amongst antique furniture and comfy seating areas to read books. One can spend hours browsing new and old books in this bookstore for hours. The Netflix Series: The Summer I Turned Pretty was filmed there - starring Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno and Christopher Briney. The bookstore was filmed in the scene where Laurel and Susannah see writer Cleveland Castillo at the Whale of a Tale bookshop (Episode 1.3) (Episode 1.3) One of the most unique and joyful bookstore experiences I ever had in my life. A definitely go see place for book lovers in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Fun little spot to stop in a see. Some rare and unique finds here. Sit back and enjoy your new or…read morerare book in a comfy chair.

Great little find! Super friendly and helpful staff. Good selection - although religions and…read moreself-help sections could be expanded to mutate. Great coffee. I can see myself reading my new book outside on the patio in the rain. Highly recommend.

Cute little bookstore with a coffee shop. I like that it had a large parking lot but the book…read moresection was lacking. They had a few new books and used but overall nothing crazy.

Cute little shop on the outskirts of downtown wilmy. The area was a bit odd for a bookstore and…read morethey didn't have hardly any books, but they did have some good ones. I just wish they had more

Drove 25 minutes to get here. Checked the hours. Its closed. Waste of time and energy to get hereread more

My son found this hidden gem as he was looking for some books to read. The Used Bookery is very…read moreunassuming and very unique bc it has a consignment shop with ladies clothes inside it too. You can find books, magazines, textbooks and books for the kiddos! Oddly enough, I wasn't looking for anything but found a book I've been wanting to read for a while now. And it just showed itself! Right there staring right at me near the register! Best $5 I ever spent! Such a fun vibe! The nice lady behind the counter was kind and knowledgeable! Go check it out!

Selection seemed good but you won't find any newer or recent titles--the down side to used books…read morebut not the shops fault. Overall it was a bit chaotic with books everywhere but it adds to the personality of the place. There are a lot of more common authors like Koontz, James Patterson, etc. There was a fair amount of each category and the lady at the desk greeted us and was helpful. I think the prices were fair although I didn't find anything I was specifically looking for (my to be read list is already pretty long)

This is the prettiest Barnes and nobles I've visited yet. The gift and goods section is impeccable!…read moreThey have a large selection of gifts and the biggest selection of kawaii items I've ever seen! I saw staff going around to make sure they sweep up any excess dirt while customers were shopping. The store is very clean, even their Starbucks cafe. Great location

Thank you for your help Oliver! I came in for a coffee and to buy the new hunger games book. Oliver…read morehelped me find the book and then check out. He was super nice and helpful. Thank you!

It's one of the first B-A-M I've been too and honestly it was bigger than expected inside. The…read morechoices seemed pretty normal for a bigger box book store, still prefer Barnes and Nobles for their cafe and their special edition classics. There seemed to be a fair amount of merchandise around books and anime-- personally outgrew that but others would appreciate it. I wish they had a clear, dedicated clearance area, I probably missed it, but it was difficult to spot. The prices seem to be pretty average for a bookstore like this- higher. Service was nonexistent, we weren't greeted as we entered or left and there weren't any employees around to ask them questions. Don't expect much..

Huge collection of books, stationery, book merchandise, puzzles, book nooks, etc and a pretty good…read moresize discount section in the rear of the store.

Squidco, is one of the few sites dedicated to truly fine jazz, modern/contemporary, and…read moreexperimental music. Artists such as Matt Mitchell, Tim Berne, Ken Vandermark, and many others are well represented in the stores catalog. The online store offers succinct reviews/descriptions of the music, as well as brief, usually four 2 minute, audio samples. Really nice. P S "a squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous" ________________ Don Van Vliet

Squidco is an online music store that sells improvised, composed, experimental, unusual, and other…read moremusic from labels and artists around the globe. They have a retail store located downtown and sell physical media - CDs, LPs, DVDs, magazines, books with a primary catalog that revolves around improvised music: Jazz, Free Jazz, Electroacoustic-Improv, Downtown New York, etc. Once or twice a month, they hold live music shows featuring a variety of musical artists from their catalogue, as well as local artists. The shows are really unique, and unlike any others I've been to in Wilmington. They're also really cheap! Usually $5 (I've never paid more than $10), and you get free snacks and wine!