Whether Gainesville locals are searching for a new favorite book, a cozy study spot or simply a place to spend hours browsing rows of neatly — or haphazardly — stacked books, the city’s independent bookstores have it all.
Gainesville is home to four independent bookstores, each offering its own unique atmosphere and collection of books.
From well-loved books to carefully curated shelves, these bookstores create an environment where every visit marks a new discovery.
Books and Music, Wormhole
As customers step into Books and Music, Wormhole, they are welcomed with the delicate hum of a record player and the soothing aroma of tea. The bookstore features a wide selection of used books, records, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes.
The owner, or “Chief Worm,” Phil Wurm, said he opened the store around four and a half years ago. Wurm finds joy and purpose in creation, he said, which inspired him to open a store that celebrates artistic mediums like books and music.
Wurm carefully curates the store’s selection, sourcing through donations, personal purchases and trades within antiquarian book circuits.
“I'm always looking for books everywhere I go,” Wurm said. “It's an unhealthy compulsion.”
Books and Music, Wormhole also hosts literary events, local author readings, puppet shows, sound art installations and poetry performances, which are advertised through the store’s Instagram.
Wurm loves hanging out with the people who visit his store, he said, and often witnesses someone walk in unsure of what they'll find before leaving with something that changes their life. Sometimes, Wurm even learns from his customers.
“I love learning, and that's what this vehicle is,” he said. “I'm blessed just to be able to be in something where I can learn something new every day.”
The Lynx
In April, American novelist and short story writer Lauren Groff opened a new bookstore in Gainesville: The Lynx.
The bookstore offers a wide range of genres, along with journals, cards, stickers, decorative items and exclusive store merchandise. It also serves coffee, tea, beer, wine and pastries.
Jackie Davison, the operations manager at The Lynx, said its mission is to share banned books with the Gainesville community and to uplift queer individuals, people of color and local voices.
Upon entering The Lynx, customers are greeted with a section dedicated to banned books, many displayed with an explanation of the reason behind their censorship.
The Lynx also started a non-profit, The Lynx Watch, Inc., which receives donations of banned books and distributes them to organizations like the Pace Center for Girls and the Early Learning Coalition. The Lynx gave over $20,000 worth of banned books last year, Davison said.
“Free people read freely,” she said. “Everybody should have access to any book they want to read.”
In line with this philosophy, Davison said The Lynx strives to create an inclusive and engaged literary community through book clubs. The bookstore offers four book clubs: classics, banned books, romance and Florida literature. Science fiction and fantasy book clubs are set to launch in March.
Each club selects a monthly book and holds discussions about the reading. Sign-ups are completed online through The Lynx’s website.
Its website also features a list of events like author meet and greets, writing classes and musical performances.
“We just provide a place that people can be who they are,” Davison said. “It’s just like a community hub.”
Friends of the Library
On Sept. 30, 1954, Friends of the Library held its inaugural organizational meeting at J.J. Finley Elementary School. The following month, the organization hosted its first book sale and raised $80. A little over 70 years later, it’s established itself as a cherished part of the Gainesville community.
Friends of the Library sets itself apart from a traditional bookstore in several ways. For one, it's not a permanent installation. It only sells books twice a year for stretches of five days at a time. Its first sale of 2025 will take place April 26-30, and its second sale Oct. 25-29. The second-to-last day of each sale is half-price day, and the last day of each sale is 10-cent day, during which products only cost a dime each.
Sue Morris, the book sale publicity chairwoman at Friends of the Library, said Friends of the Library opens its doors to nonprofit organizations the day after their final sale, and the organizations are free to take whatever they're interested in.
Friends of the Library is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Most of its funds are used to support the Alachua County Library District, with the rest going toward scholarships, literacy initiatives within the community, grant programs and building maintenance.
“[Our mission is] to support literacy throughout the community and to support our public library,” Morris said.
During the organization's biannual sales, the books are separated by genre. Each sale also has a special collector's corner area, where it features rare books, first editions, signed volumes and unusual books. This year, it will feature a signed book by former United States President Jimmy Carter and one by his wife, Rosalynn Carter. The collector’s corner is only open the first four days of each scheduled sale.
The book sale also features records, games, CDs, audiobooks, DVDs, art pieces, posters, prints, puzzles and magazines. One of Morris’ favorite parts of volunteering at Friends of the Library is the diverse selection of books they have available, she said.
“Everything has been donated, mostly from our community,” Morris said. “And of course, Gainesville is a university community, so we tend to have a lot of really lovely donations.”
Book Gallery West
Nestled in the Millhopper Shopping Center is Book Gallery West, an independent bookstore owned by former social worker Jan Fronk.
Book Gallery West used to just be called Book Gallery, a popular store for students looking to buy textbooks.
“I would come in, it was so fun, you know?” Fronk said. “It wasn't just books — it was all this other fun stuff. I'd pass it to go to Publix, [and] there it was. And I loved it.”
An opportunity to buy the store came when Fronk inherited some money, so she decided to take a leap of faith and buy the place she had always loved.
Book Gallery West sells used books, with the majority in excellent, almost new, condition. It also sells candles, mugs, socks, self-care products, bags, cards and other knickknacks.
Most of the store’s books come from people who bring in their old collections, Fronk said. Some of those collections are in turn donated to Friends of the Library, for which Book Gallery West is a major benefactor.
A lot about the literary industry has changed, Fronk said, especially with the rise of Kindles and e-books. However, she said she believes her store was able to endure because of its strong customer base.
“I love my store,” Fronk said. “We have staff that have stayed for years. Why? They love it too, just like me. Apparently the community does, too.”
Contact Annie Wang at awang@alligator.org. Follow her on X @wynwg.
Annie Wang is a metro general assignment reporter and a second-year journalism major. She has previously worked on the university desk as the university administration reporter. She enjoys reading and writing book reviews in her spare time.
