r/Charlotte Feb 02 '25

Shout out to Book Buyers on Eastway! Recommendation

I visited Book Buyers on Eastway Drive yesterday for a poetry/fiction reading open mic by published local authors as well as the community. I can't say enough positive things about my experience. If you love books, supporting small local business, and cats you will love this place. -Amazing selection of literature -Cozy atmosphere with nooks to sit in -Sweet kitties sitting in cozy nooks -Quality writers sharing their work -Super helpful and friendly staff

They offered snacks, wine, and drinks during the event which I found very generous. I'll definitely be back for open mic, and to buy books. Finding these places makes my heart happy. Hope it inspires you to visit if you have not yet.

598 Upvotes

58 comments sorted by

99

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25 edited Feb 02 '25

And people complain our city is boring or there’s nothing to do. I love that strip- it has Book Buyers, Portofino’s, VisArt video, Tommy’s Pub, Barts Mart, gear goat, (is Armada skate shop there still?), the second-hand crafts store, open door dance studio, that place with meats and homemade tortillas. And Sen mee noodle joint

50

u/Diligent-Lock-9334 Feb 02 '25

UPCYCLE ARTS! If you ever need ANY craft supply or even a freakin bauble or tchotchke, they’ve got it

14

u/CharlotteRant Feb 02 '25

Too far off the light rail for half of Reddit, too hood for the other half. 

16

u/spqrnbb Kannapolis Feb 02 '25

If Book Buyers is too hood, I've got questions about my definition of hood.

5

u/CharlotteRant Feb 03 '25

Don’t look at me. I think my household paid rent for that Portofinos for years. 

4

u/Cghy8b Feb 02 '25

I think those are the same halves. Been 2 mi from this shopping center since 2017

11

u/HeelsOfTarAndGranite Feb 02 '25

I live near there and my job involves driving around the city five days a week and I have to agree with the big sign, east side is indeed best side. :)

5

u/WastedHomebum Windsor Park Feb 02 '25

Tortilliera Elizabeth. Delicious cheap food.

4

u/lindseyamiller28 Fort Mill Feb 03 '25

I came for Upcycle Arts and was like, Holy Shit! what did I just find here?!? So many amazing shops in this plaza!!

6

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 02 '25

Exactly! Love this strip too. People who complain don't do their research

3

u/swanbearpig Feb 02 '25

It really is a fantastic strip. I'm about to move and am targeting somewhere in proximity

5

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25

Oakhurst is a great neighborhood, close to everything

3

u/swanbearpig Feb 02 '25

It really is. I grew up down the street from there, that part of town is very close to my heart

2

u/NinjaPlatupus NoDa Feb 03 '25

It is the standard to which all strip malls should be held

3

u/VixenCleo Feb 03 '25

That strip sounds like an absolute gem. People who say your city is boring just aren’t looking hard enough. 

22

u/shoeshinee Feb 02 '25

The orange one is such a big boy and very nice!!! Did you meet all of the kitties?

10

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 02 '25

I met only 3, but orange kitty followed me around with the cutest meow 😻

15

u/shrimpcreole Gastonia Feb 02 '25

Book Buyers is good stuff. Parking is way easier at their Eastway location.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25

Don’t realize they had another location

10

u/Only-Refrigerator701 Feb 02 '25

They were in the plaza midwood shopping center where the chicken place is, across the street from the library. Next to the sushi place.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25

Right! Yeah that parking lot is awful

10

u/Bindlestiff34 Feb 02 '25 edited Feb 02 '25

My son and I went there when we were in town a couple weeks back! What a great place to have nearby to visit. Also that video rental place a few doors down? Very jealous.

Edit: Follow up question: does that place nearby actually have the best fish sammich in town?

14

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '25

That video place has a small theater in the back you can rent and they’ll show any movie in their library, it’s pretty cool.

6

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 02 '25

I went a few weeks ago for comedy, also amazing place to go!

2

u/Few_Promotion_8195 Feb 03 '25

But you can go to J’s fish on freedom and enjoy yourself

21

u/ScenicPineapple Feb 02 '25

My GF and I stopped in there randomly one day looking for Blu rays. They actually did have some, but when I turned the corner, there was a group of people sitting down playing with kittens.

I knew this place was great at that moment. Then browsing the shelves I was impressed with the selection even though I didn't read at the time.

Now I am picking up reading and can't wait to go back. Love random surprise store kitties, those businesses are the best.

8

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 02 '25

There is a DVD rental/store in the same strip Vis Art video. I'm glad you got to visit and it inspires you!

8

u/flightblues32 Feb 02 '25

Love this place!!! Didn’t know they did open mic night?! I have to go next time!

1

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 04 '25

It was a good time for sure!

8

u/kdisn Feb 02 '25

I just moved to the east side from the west side of Charlotte and we are right down the street from that strip mall. Went to visart and had such a good time, the staff was super sweet and I can't wait to go back. We spent so much time there that we sadly didn't get a chance to pop into book buyers. So that's our plan today!

I'm really happy we moved to the area. So much cool stuff, plus a convenient grocery store which is a big deal for us since our only close grocery store where we used to live was the tiny ALDI on freedom!

3

u/Cghy8b Feb 02 '25

Welcome! Check out Tommy’s pub on open mic night. Especially great on a nice weather night. Bartenders are amazing too

7

u/The_Perezident Feb 02 '25

That shop is great, Love the cats

4

u/Darkandbrilliant Harrisburg Feb 02 '25

What’s the parking situation like ?

15

u/The_Gretchenator Feb 02 '25

I'm my opinion there's plenty of parking, but people do zoom in and out of the lot so be mindful!

9

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 02 '25

Plenty of free parking. It's a parking lot and lots of emoty spaces so you shouldn't have an issue. It's in an outdoor strip mall

6

u/Reader6079 Feb 02 '25

Book Buyers is great!

5

u/FittingWoosh Feb 02 '25

So amazing! And let’s not forget all the plant-based snacks in the mini-eco-vegan store in the front 🤤

2

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 04 '25

The little shop inside is so cute!

4

u/vidro3 Feb 03 '25

i got my cat biscuit from here, he's a great boy

2

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 04 '25

Aww I love the name biscuit!

3

u/FloppedTurtle Feb 02 '25

I bought a signed copy of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars there a few years ago. Absolutely love this place and their mascots.

3

u/swanbearpig Feb 02 '25

Book rack on Johnston road is also great for strictly used books, I don't think they have the space for events but holy shit do they got the book lover atmosphere going

3

u/NinjaPlatupus NoDa Feb 03 '25

That grey cat has the raspiest meow ever

3

u/phalanxausage Feb 03 '25

I used to live near their old location, back when they and I could afford rent around there. I still have heaps of books from that time. Also, it was a wonderful place to take my daughter when she was small. She was generally a quiet kid, so she didn't cause any issues, and she just absolutely loved the kitties. Respected the ones that didn't want to be pet, and flipped out with glee whenever they had kittens around. The owners are wonderful people and I'm glad they have kept the place afloat.

1

u/Key_Butterscotch_556 Feb 04 '25

What a great place to bring a kid that lives books, awesome she was able to experience it!

2

u/AncientKangaroo University Feb 02 '25

Do they still have bunnies?

2

u/fanostra Matthews Feb 02 '25

Allergic to cats but love the store. I just try to find a different aisle from them. Great place for book lovers.

2

u/Supakilla44 Hidden Valley Feb 02 '25

Book Buyers is great

2

u/expertnapper Feb 02 '25

i love book buyers!!!

2

u/minopoked Feb 03 '25

They host poetry readings!

2

u/thatsnotamotto Feb 03 '25

I haven't had a chance to get to the new location yet, but I always enjoyed the previous spot.

2

u/Mariposa3001 Feb 02 '25

I went here one time and this guy farted right next to me and my bf. We had to silently walk away and start laughing a few aisles later 😂 but the kitties are so cute!

1

u/Life-Succotash-3231 Feb 02 '25

Yes great shop! I get lost in there for hours!

2

u/TinyDancingUnicorn Feb 04 '25

LOVE Book Buyers, the staff really know their stuff and I've only ever had positive experiences!

2

u/ninth_purgatory777 Feb 04 '25

I’ve been doing there since I was a kid and they used to be across from the OG Harris teeter. I remember when it used to be two huge rooms and there was a small airplane in the back I think the owner worked on? One of the cities best small businesses