Six new Tampa Bay bookstores that opened in 2024

Equally important as libraries to our bookish community is the presence of bookstores. Thanks to thriving online reading communities, the publishing industry has been having a bit of a renaissance since the pandemic broke out in 2020. In the last few years, hundreds of new bookstores have opened around the country. Bookish behemoth Barnes & Noble is also having a comeback after opening more than 60 new stores this year.

In the Tampa Bay area, we’ve welcomed several new bookstores, including Black English Bookstore and a new location for The Book Rescuers. There’s also Bookends: Literature and Libations, which is still anxiously awaiting permit approval to open a storefront in a cozy, historic Ybor City bungalow. The newest indie store in the area is Steamy Lit, the Tampa location of the romance-only bookstore that celebrates sex-positive stories and BIPOC and queer authors.

Like the library, indie bookstores are community hubs. Yes, there is the expectation of spending money, but many local bookstores host free book clubs, children’s storytime and silent reading events. That’s on top of author signings and midnight release parties, which are also having a major comeback.

This year, local stores like Tombolo Books, Oxford Exchange and The Gilded Page have hosted authors like Jeff VanderMeer, Ivy Fairbanks, Danielle L. Jensen and L.L. Campbell. Portkey Books threw an entire fantasy ball to celebrate the release of “House of Flame and Shadow” by Sarah J. Maas. The Safety Harbor bookstore will also throw another Fourth Wing release party next month, this time for the third book in the series, “Onyx Storm.”

These indie bookshops add to our growing list of more than a dozen local bookstores in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. For Indie Bookstore Day this year, my answer to the question “What does the Tampa Bay area need in the next four years to be a better place?” with “More bookstores, please.” And keep them coming.

Reading, visiting the library and patronizing local bookstores continue to be some of the easiest ways to fight oppressive conservative politics and policies. Reading quite literally exercises your brain, builds empathy and fosters a sense of progressive moral resilience. Yes, even the stories about dragon riders, sweet and spicy Christmas rom-coms and galaxies far, far away.

Here are six 2024 updates for our list of independent bookstores in Tampa Bay.

The Book Rescuers The Book Rescuers do what their name implies—rescue books and other mixed media and direct them to new homes. They get new and pre-loved inventory from local shops and libraries as well as donated personal collections. Most of their books cost $1-$3. In 2024, The Book Rescuers finally opened in a new indoor (air-conditioned) location with more room for their thousands of books. 8325 Ulmerton Rd., Largo. werescuebooks.com

Bookends: Literature and Libations While they anxiously await permit approvals to open in a historic Ybor bungalow, Bookends is busy connecting with the Tampa community through a mobile bookstore. Find them at pretty much every weekend festival and market, and keep track of their schedule on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Book club gatherings are typically held at Gasparilla Distillery around the corner from the under-construction shop. 2208 E 2nd Ave., Ybor City
The Gilded Page The cozy-cool small bookshop in downtown Tarpon Springs boasts both classics and the newest popular releases. The Gilded Page, like any successful and beloved indie, is also a literary community space with events every week—from silent book clubs and kids storytime to local author events and collabs with other local small businesses. 123 E Court St., Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com

Steamy Lit The women-owned, South Florida-based Steamy Lit collective expanded north with its first Tampa location. The romance-only bookstore is focused on showcasing authors of color, queer and nonbinary writers and exploring and celebrating sexuality and self-love. As bookish communities have boomed since 2020, so has the want for more genre-specific bookstores like Steamy Lit. The Tampa bookstore has romance of all subgenres—from contemporary rom-coms and ultra-popular romantasy to young adult and dark romance. 2832 S MacDill Ave. Unit C, Tampa. steamylit.com

Pressed Founded in 2021, Pressed got new owners in 2024, and Mack and Kaylin Fowler aim to expand the store’s reach even further. Besides selling books and being a beloved “third place” in the community, Pressed partnered with Ethos Coffee Roasters, Honeycomb and Bandidas to have a coffee bar and offer locally made baked goods. 213 E Bay St., Lakeland. pressedlkld.com

Little Bus Books The Pippen family brings its Little Bus Books mobile store all around the central Florida community. Inside the mini airstream are new and used books from local authors, popular national writers and curated collections based on current events and interests. The bus frequently guests at many Polk County markets and also has a storefront location at The Nectary. 1047 E Main St., Lakeland. littlebusbooks.com

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

This article appears in Dec 19-25, 2024.