Yes, you can always get your books in 2 days or less, and shipped directly to your home, but you’ll miss the ambiance of getting to wander through book lined shelves. You’ll miss the smell of new and sometimes used books wafting through the air. You’ll miss the carefully curated kid sections that sometimes offer puzzles and activities and story times. In our fast shopping days the independent bookstore can be a lovely haven for some browsing, shopping, reading, and even enjoying a tasty treat. Lucky for us, there are several independent bookstores in Jacksonville where you can shop for anything from your favorite book written by a local author, to that next novel you want to dive in to.
Cafe Resistance Bookstore & Cafe
Cafe Resistance is a bookstore located in Northwest Jacksonville and is the area’s newest local shop. They carry books that are from black authors, banned books, or books from marginalized voices. The cafe offers smoothies, and snacks in addition to a traditional coffee assortment.
Address: 5007 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32208
Chamblin Bookmine
Chamblin Bookmine is a large independent bookstore that sells both used and new books, along with rare and collectable books. Their goal is to provide a large and interesting variety of titles for in-store browsers. They buy and trade in books everyday and you can turn in your gently used books for store credit or cash. Chamblin Bookmine offers a large section for kids and teens so you’re sure to find books for the whole family.
Address: 4551 Roosevelt Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32210
Chamblin’s Uptown Cafe
A smaller version of the Bookmine, Chamblin’s Uptown Cafe features new and used books as well as locally sourced coffee, bagels, pastries and croissants. This two-story independent bookstore in located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. They also offer trades and buy backs at this location.
Address: 215 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Femme Fire Books
An indie bookstore celebrating diversity in literature, Femme Fire Books is Jacksonville’s newest independently owned bookstore. The Asian-owned bookshop celebrates diversity and sells used and new books across a variety of titles, topics, authors and genres to choose from. They also host lots of great events for families, so be sure to follow them on social media to keep up with what’s going on.
Address: 2766 Park Street, Suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32205
Happy Medium Books Cafe
A new independent book store in North Florida, Happy Medium Books Cafe offers weekly events and are becoming a staple in the community. Events include, Jacksonville Art Guild Art Gallery in the Cafe, unplugged local singer/songwriters weekly, The Silent Book of Jacksonville, Local and National Author book talks/signings, storytimes for kids, in house book clubs.
Address: 2724 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205
Present Tense Coffee and Books
Come enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, some baked goods, and a good book. Present Tense Coffee and Books offers a used book trade in program that can earn you credit towards some new books to read. All of their baked goods and pastries are handmade daily with all natural ingredients and no preservatives.
Address: 2851 Henley Road #103, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Address: 2561 County Road 220, Middleburg FL 32068
San Marco Books and More
San Marco Books and More has a great collection of new books, classics, children’s books and more. They offer old and new books, lots of Jacksonville and Florida history and so much more. This family owned business opened in 1972 and has enjoy getting to know their customers over the years. They offer book signings and other events, and often host a story time in the San Marco square.
Address: 1971 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Story & Song Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro
Story & Song Bookstore Bistro was launched in 2018 and quickly became a gathering place for the Amelia Island community and visitors. When you visit you can enjoy lunch, locally roasted coffee or fine beer/wine in the company of books.
Address: 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
The Book Loft
In addition to award-winning fiction, nonfiction, classics, cooking, and inspirational titles, The Book Loft offers a broad selection of books on Amelia Island and its pirate history, as well as the history of Florida, and the Civil War plus many autographed first editions. In the loft upstairs, they’ll introduce you to a selection of older hardback fiction at half-price. Added bonus, evidently there is a resident ghost, Katherine.
Address: 214 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
The BookMark
The BookMark is a longtime staple in the Beaches Town Center area, established in 1990. As a full service bookstore their experienced and highly trained staff can help select the perfect book, and also special order, gift wrap and ship books/gifts upon request. They offer events such as author visits and bookclubs, so be sure to follow them on social media for updates.
Address: 220 First Street, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
