By Victoria Gaffney
There’s no doubt that Northern Virginia is filled with a strong sense of the past, often influencing a lot of its activities. The area boasts countless events for the history buff, not least of which is a trip to a local used bookstore.
With Kindles and e-books on the rise, many of these quaint shops are closing, but this area is still home to some unique spaces to explore timeworn tomes. Engaging with passionate owners and managers who enjoy discussing these works is one of the perks of these more intimate literary settings. Here are some local places to indulge your interests, each with a strong focus on history, but unexpectedly unique features as well.
Located appropriately in Old Town Manassas, Prospero’s Books is a must for the history aficionado. Housed in a 104-year-old building originally designed for men’s clothing, the store features large display windows and boasts 93,000 titles at any given time, says manager Bob Chase. The shop was named for the Shakespeare character Prospero from “The Tempest.” Chase explains that when Prospero was made Duke of Milan, he was given a library; “I prize (it) above my dukedom,” Prospero says of his library in the play.
The store specializes in rare and out-of-print books, as well as maps and prints. Set on the very landscape where the first and second battles of the Civil War took place, Chase explains that their location likely drives their focus on military history. The shop also has extensive children’s and Afro-American history sections. Their “discover local authors” area features 18 Virginia writers at any given time, and they often host talks and signings.
Hours:
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, noon-6 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Location:
9129 Center St.
Manassas, 20110
703-257-7895
Husband and wife Diane Wilson and Ken Mahnken run their 9-year-old shop,“Already Read Used Books” in Alexandria. With over 25,000 volumes, this cozy store doesn’t just house great literature; here visitors will get to meet and spend time with cats Sweetie Pie and Gwenie Bee as well. When they select works for their collection, Wilson explains that they try to look for the lesser-read classics by well-known authors.
What makes this place especially distinctive is their bookbinding business located in the next room. Unlike other services like this, Wilson’s and Mahnken’s “Alexandria Book Binding” offers affordable repairs for simple fixes, mostly for cookbooks and bibles, and occasionally texts run over by a car. “We’re more book doctors than conservators,” Wilson explains.
The store receives all kinds of visitors; “many people that come in still love the smell of books,” says Wilson. She also feels that the use of Kindles doesn’t necessarily mean the end of physical volumes, particularly since there are plenty of works not available on them. Wilson feels there’s still something to be said for coming in and exploring the shelves; Amazon doesn’t allow for that same sense of exploration.
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday and holidays, noon-6 p.m.
Location:
2501 Duke St.
Alexandria, 22314
703-299-8406
One place that’s not to be missed for history enthusiasts and bibliophiles alike is “Bookhouse” in Arlington—an actual house for books. Owner Natalie Hughes has been with the business at this100-year-old building since she started it 45 years ago. Carrying titles published as far back as 1850, the shop has a wide array of old volumes, some with and without dust jackets. Specializing in American history, half of the store features this subject. Everything else—from world history to art to architecture and religion—is contained on the second floor.
Boasting valuable antiquarian titles, this place still has something for everyone with books ranging from $2 to over $5,000. Hughes, 84, will be closing Bookhouse in a few years. Before it closes, her goal is to make sure everything in their collection is sold; as a result, many of the works are affordable.
Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
Location:
805 N Emerson St.
Arlington
703-527-7797
4. Claude Moore Colonial Farm Bookstore
Located in an idyllic location, the “Claude Moore Colonial Farm Bookstore” in McLean is a cozy spot to sit back and leaf through a broad collection of old volumes. Tucked away on a winding road, the shop is literally off the beaten path. The titles are inexpensive and Phil Hanson, manager, explains that people can leave with a box (or more) filled with books. Featuring a kitchen, the store offers a space to enjoy coffee and cookies next to a collection of cookbooks and gardening texts. There is also a place to sit outside where the nonfiction is located.
Hanson explains that the store features a theme with a related display that changes every two weeks. Given the time of year, it’s currently focused on Irish history. Oftentimes events will correspond with the theme; they once had a Japanese tea while displaying volumes related to Japanese history and culture. For fun they also have a typewriter set up where people can test out this now-antiquated machine. Hanson explains that it’s entertaining to read what various people write. The reactions of children, unsurprisingly, can also be funny. He once heard a child say “Hey, mom look, the keyboard’s attached to the printer.”
Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m.
Location:
6310 Georgetown Pike
McLean 22101
703-442-7557
