I was looking for a local independent bookstore to check out while I was in Charlotte, and after…read morereading so many positive reviews, I decided to stop by Trope Bookshop. I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately it wasn't quite the welcoming experience I was hoping for. The bookstore itself is adorable. It's on the smaller, cozy side, but it's thoughtfully laid out and surprisingly well-stocked. They have comfortable spots where you can sit and read or take your time deciding which books to bring home, which I appreciated. Browsing was easy, and I liked that they carried several books by one of my favorite authors. Their bookmark selection was also adorable, I couldn't leave without buying one. My experience with the staff, however, was a bit disappointing. When I walked in, there were only a couple of people in the store, but I wasn't greeted or acknowledged. The cashier seemed occupied on her phone, and I felt more like I was interrupting than walking into a local bookstore. I walked up to ask if they carried a specific book genre I was looking for, and the response was simply a blunt, "No." Since they didn't have it, I asked if she had any recommendations based on what I normally enjoy reading, and other genres I wanted to explore. After I explained my preferences, she suggested a few different genres and eventually walked around the store gathering several books for me to look through. Ironically, just as she was helping me, the store suddenly became much busier. I appreciated the effort she made putting together a stack of recommendations, and after narrowing them down, I actually ended up purchasing one of the books she suggested. A few of the recommendations were part of ongoing series, which can be a little hit-or-miss for me since I prefer knowing I'll enjoy the first book before committing to the rest. Overall, the bookstore has a great selection, a cozy atmosphere, and plenty to browse despite its size. I genuinely enjoyed exploring the shelves and could easily spend time here. I really wanted this to be a 4-star review because the store itself has so much charm. Unfortunately, the initial interaction with the staff left me feeling like I was bothering her rather than being welcomed into a local bookstore. Customer service can really shape a first impression, especially for first-time visitors. That said, I still left with a new book and a cute bookmark, so I don't regret stopping in. I just hope future visits feel a little warmer because the bookstore itself definitely has the potential to be a favorite.

LERVE Trope!!! I'm getting back into reading and stopped in here on my way to Plot Twist. It's like…read moreyou have to. And I'm here for it lol. The store is soooo cute and well maintained and fun! There were so many different romance categories. I chatted with Tobi, she was so kind and helpful at explaining how the store setup worked. She was super knowledgeable about books too. I told here I was looking for 2nd chance romance books and she had sooooo many suggestions. I bought 2 books and took a bunch of pics lol. I love this lil shop!!!

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.

UPDATE: A few reviewers have commented on the customer service ... I had the opposite experience…read more Owner was super friendly, told me about some other adjacent things he had on the shelves that I might like, and we talked about seeing Leo Kottke 30 years apart from one another. Good dude and an amazing selection. Easily the best selection in Charlotte.

It's always a pleasure when I get the opportunity to go to Repo. (I live in Virginia.) As a…read morecollector of CDs, it's always fun to browse their selection. I couldn't imagine a better selection of CDs in such well kept order. Everything is alphabetical and easy to locate. The owner is friendly and nice to converse with.

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.

Great place! Love visiting Lunchbox Records and wish I visited more often. Most of the time I…read moreonly have time to stop by on weekends. They are always busy (which is great) but sometimes the parking lot in front stresses me out. It's worth braving the parking lot to browse the vinyl and other collectables. Staffers here are always welcoming and willing to help (if you are trying to find something specific). Wide range of music here from Movie Soundtracks all the way through all the genres. Theres always something playing over the stores sound system to make the experience a fun and full vinyl browsing experience.

Lunchbox Records is a small vinyl shop with a wide collection of records available. Though parking…read morewas limited and a bit tight, this is to be expected in Charlotte - it is great they have free parking spaces in general. My date took me here calling it her "secret spot" - yet it didn't seem so underground when we arrived, with lots of couples and friendly faces shopping around. :) They offer CDs and cassette tapes, as well. I had been looking to build my collection of Mac Miller's music, and I was successful - they had almost all his albums, I was pleasantly surprised! Stop by here if you are looking to buy new or used vinyls, or if you're looking to get rid of some older ones. Thank you for a great experience!

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.

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.

Love the Customer service! I go in all the time and ask for certain classic characters i dont have…read moreenough Issues on. Everytime they just get on the laptop n find me tons n store to purchase & enjoy! Thank you. I can honestly say no other store does this 4 me. Odd. But maybe i never ask. I just love Their vibe.

My first visit here in quite a while. I had attended one of their huge Cons years ago. Since I grew…read moreup in the area and collected comics for over 50 years, I was curious to see their new (to me) location. After a dizzying trip through traffic and construction I finally made it. It is certainly impressive being greeted by Spider-man battling Doc Octopus overhead. Tons and tons of comics, magazines, books, games, etc. So much to see hard to take it all in. The only thing I missed were the displays of beloved titles from the 1940s to 1960s. So I was told of a huge comic show in Boston and large stocks were sent up there. A very impressive store. Everyone was very helpful and answered questions that I had. I even brought a small box of my personal comics for them to look over. They liked the books and the condition and we agreed on a price for them. Very nice people and very pleasant atmosphere.

What do you mean there's a cute outdoor café with delicious (and affordable) drinks and food as…read morepart of a video rental store?? Amazing concept. Amazing people. Service was so so friendly. The space is lovely and welcoming. There are board games and a high chair for your little one. You don't feel rushed at all. You see a variety of different people. I loved my banana bread iced latte and turkey grilled cheese on sourdough. On a Thursday around noon, there were a couple tables occupied, so not full by any means, which was surprising given the perfect weather. This is the epitome of a gem and a place Charlotte needs to love, support, and keep around.

Cafe review- This place is so cute and tucked away!!! They had good quality coffee beans and some…read moreselection of homemade syrups (which is something that is a must for a good cafe imo!) I would def check out this tucked away gem on east side. The staff was also very accommodating and kind. Goods are reasonably priced:)