While exploring downtown, it’s difficult to turn a corner without encountering a bookstore. Between Downtown Books, The Historian’s Books and The Bookery, visitors and residents are sure to be satisfied with the town’s reading selection.
Lexington has a population of just under 8,000. The city’s small size has led to questions about how all these businesses stay in operation.
Cate Cox, ’28, explained that while these bookstores were a major reason she was drawn to W&L, the town’s small size has made her curious about how so many independent bookstores can survive.
Owners of these businesses argue that the literary abundance is no coincidence.
“Lexington is known as a reading town,” said Paige Williams, the owner of Downtown Books. “For a town our size, we do have quite a few bookstores, but each is different, so we don’t overlap very much.”
Each store carries its own distinct selection of books that caters to a variety of audiences.
“It’s a college town, and it’s a historic town,” said Frank Kalesnik, the owner of The Historian’s Books. “I specialize in history because Lexington tends to attract historical visitors.” He said many tourists and residents are fascinated by his selection and its representation of the town’s rich history.
The Bookery, which has been operating for more than 40 years, strikes a balance by stocking its shelves with older titles and new releases.
“The store itself has a lot of history,” said Victoria “Tori” Murphy, manager of The Bookery. “Many of the books have been here as long as the store has been here.” She explained that the “old feel” and nostalgia of the store attract many customers.
Downtown Books offers a variety of new titles and books that a general audience can pick up and read.
Lexington’s academic environment also helps bring potential customers to town. With Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute nearby, Lexington attracts students, faculty, visiting scholars and family members.
Despite the presence of these universities, the small bookstore owners explained that the university bookstores do not compete with their businesses because of the different products they offer.
“They sell textbooks and school merchandise,” Williams said.
While the university bookstores serve a specific academic purpose, Lexington’s independent bookstores operate within a different ecosystem and mindset.
Instead of competing, Lexington’s independent bookstore owners said they support one another. If a customer cannot find a specific title at a shop, they are often referred to another store downtown.
“It’s not really a competition, it’s more of a cohesion,” Murphy said, a sentiment echoed by the other bookstore owners.
That cohesion is reinforced by a loyal customer base that is willing to support local businesses, Williams said. Several bookstore owners noted an increase in shoppers who deliberately chose to shop locally, even when cheaper online options are available.
“People want indie bookstores to survive,” Williams said. “Those loyal readers are what keep us going.”
