A reference for all the book lovers out there.
Somewhere among confectionary hearts, groundhogs, and those last cold nights, one forgets a keystone aspect of February: it’s a great time to curl up with a good book. February marks a time to read before winter disappears; it is a chance to catch up the books forgotten in busy summers, hectic winter breaks, and holiday parties. And no community is better equipped than Winter Park to help you find books to fit your preference, price range, and atmosphere.
Here are just a few.
The Independents
There is nothing quite like an independent bookstore. Homegrown and individually owned, these mom-and-pop establishments sprout up in unexpected places. The books they sell are fun, diverse, and personalized. In Winter Park, there are a wide range of these stores that cater to various tastes.
Bookmark It
3201 Corrine Dr., Ste 201
Atmosphere, food, beautiful location—Bookmark It has it all and more.
Located on the second floor of East End Market, a food and culture hub that takes pride in all-things local, Bookmark It features books by Orlando authors, poets, and artists, as well as books on cooking and farming in Central Florida. Here, you can find various books that focus on juicing, raw foods, fresh eating, or a simple vegan diet. There are cookbooks and food books of all flavors that compliment the independent businesses downstairs.
Bookmark It’s owner, Kim Britt, is incredibly involved with the local Orlando literary community. This has allowed her to select the pick of the crop for her shelves. The well-selected young adult and poetry sections both reflect Britt’s knowledge.
I recommend purchasing books from Bookmark It, grabbing lunch downstairs, and then taking both outside to the patio, where you can eat and read alongside their thriving garden.
Writer’s Block Bookstore
124 E Welbourne Ave.
Writer’s Block Bookstore offers books for a variety of readers. Being small, the bookstore shelves only one copy of a certain book at a time. This makes it easier to browse shelves and discover a new author, or find the lesser-known works of your favorite authors. Writer’s Block Bookstore caters to both mainstream book demands, but also picks up on the less publicized gems.
They have a fantastic children’s section and a phenomenal baking section. Writer’s Block also pays homage to Florida’s local authors with a whole section dedicated to authors from the state.
They also have some fun book curios. It’s here that I found my favorite candle: Henry David Thoreau by Paddywax. Slightly musky with an overtone of pine, this candle is one of multiple. You can purchase scented candles inspired by Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, and Edgar Allen Poe.
Brandywine Books
114 S Park Ave.
Brandywine Books is one of the great hidden spots in Winter Park. It is a world-class cabinet bookstore, nestled behind Barnie's Coffee and shaded by famous Florida palms. Brandywines is an indepdent bookseller, which specializes in rare and unusual books. If you are searching far outside your Barnes & Noble then you might have luck at this location.
They have a website where you can browse but the store hosts the main selection of books and products. The prices may run high for the more unusual pieces, but a selection of inexpensive paperbacks can be found right outside.
A Comic Shop
114 S Semoran Blvd.
A Comic Shop should be the first stop for those looking for a comic store that is clean, easy to navigate, and equipped with a capable and friendly staff. The walls are lined with comics. The minute you step in, you are surrounded by the collection. The folks that work at A Comic Shop are nice, and make navigating the world of comics simple and fun. Even if you are new to comics, they can help you find a niche you like. In fact, the staff is just as ecstatic as the buyer when they help discover something new the buyer has not read before.
The Penny Savers
As a college student, I am familiar with the sound of two pennies rubbing together. Well, with inflation, I am more used to nickels and dimes, but the sentiment is the same. I have spent a good amount of time searching for bookstores affordable enough that I can use change. These searches have taken me to multiple locations in Winter Park.
New Leaf Bookstore
460 E New England Ave.
The New Leaf Bookstore is located inside of the Winter Park Library. Books have been sold at this location for 33 years, first through semi-annual sales and now every day of the week. You don’t have to have a library card to shop here, which is great, because the store is by far the cheapest option for amazing books in Winter Park. The bookstore sells popular hardbacks and paperbacks for anywhere between two to three dollars. Less popular books sell for below this.
The New Leaf Bookstore is easy to get sucked into. There is a great assortment of travel books and classics. There are records, CDs, DVDs, and magazines. New Leaf Bookstore has everything: diet and lifestyle, fiction, nonfiction, sports, memoir, biography, and young adult. Many of the books that find their way here are donations or books pulled from library circulation. This is how they get many relatively new books on a daily basis.
Stardust
1842 Winter Park Rd.
Stardust has being hipster in the bag. The work and study/bar/restaurant/live music venue/coffee shop, a destination for students and community members alike, serves amazing food and drinks. Often overshadowed by the food and music culture is the small used bookstore inside. This ragtag bookstore, comprised of three shelves and nothing more, is actually one of the best in the Orlando area.
Perhaps, best of all, Stardust doubles as a restaurant and prime study location. You can subtract the artificiality of Starbucks and remove the continuous stream of people. You can browse books in peace, far away from the reach of the standard selection. The book prices are high for a used bookstore, falling between 3-6 dollars.
Little Free Library
Various locations
Little Free Library has boxes scattered throughout Winter Park and Orlando. In a way, these little libraries act as windows into the community. Individuals place used books or unread books in the free libraries for public consumption.
What does a Little Free Library look like? Well it is basically a mismatched box standing on funky stilt legs. Whatever is inside this box, easily accessed through a swinging glass cabinet, is up for grabs. The books can be taken, taken and returned, or just browsed through. There is only one rule with Little Free Library: You have to give a book if you take one. The system exists on shared community generosity.
If you want to find a Little Free Library, the closest one is near Dinky Dock, but they can be found throughout the Central Florida area. Keep your eyes open.
Barnes & Noble
2418 E Colonial Dr.
Of course, I can’t close a booklist without mentioning Barnes and Nobles. The Barnes & Noble I prefer near Rollins is located in the Colonial Plaza Market Center. As far as Barnes & Nobles come, this one is the pick of the crop. Both floors are decked with amazing fiction, nonfiction, magazines, poetry, vinyl, DVDs, and CDs. There is a Starbucks equipped with an indoor study area. You can tote your purchases into this section of the store and settle down for hours.
Of course, the campus bookstore is a first stop for books close to home. The bookstore sells both textbooks and bestsellers. Rollins students can charge their purchases home as well as order books and have them sent directly to the store. And you can always check out a book for free from the large collection in Olin Library.
Now go forth and find every book imaginable. Regardless of your book taste, one of these stores will have something for you.