Arkansas’ 9 Must-Visit Used Bookstores For Book Lovers
If you’re a book lover, you know the magic of stepping into a cozy, cluttered used bookstore, where each shelf holds a new adventure. Arkansas, with its quirky charm and rich history, has some of the most delightful spots for book hunters.
Perhaps you’re searching for a forgotten classic, an old mystery novel, or just want to get lost among rows of pages? Rest assured that these bookstores in this state have something for every kind of reader.
Arkansas’ used bookstores are full of stories waiting to be discovered. Pack up your reading glasses, bring your love for books (and maybe a coffee), and let’s embark on a journey through the best spots where the next chapter of your reading life awaits.
Trust me, these places are worth the trip, and they might just become your new bookish haven.
1. Book Traders Bookstore, Conway
Book Traders Bookstore is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a hidden spot, full of books you never knew you needed. It lives at 1120 Hogan Ln Ste 1, Conway, AR 72034, where parking is easy and the welcome is immediate.
I walked in with a tote of trade-ins and walked out with credit that stretched like taffy.
Organization is the unsung hero here. Genres are clearly marked, series are kept together, and the trade system is straightforward enough to make you feel savvy.
I swapped some books and discovered a shelf of golden-age mysteries priced to move quickly.
The vibe is hands-on and practical, so your browsing time pays dividends. I found a first paperback of a favorite sci-fi trilogy and a cookbook that reads like a travelogue.
Prices are reasonable, and the turnover means regulars know to check back often for newly shelved treats.
If you love the ritual of bringing old reads to fund new ones, this place will feel like a victory lap. It is efficient but never sterile, friendly without being pushy, and reliably rich in finds.
I left with credit remaining and that smug, satisfied feeling only a well-played trade can deliver.
2. The Book Worm, Benton
The Book Worm is the kind of neighborhood shop that remembers your face and your favorite trope. You’ll spot it at 1500 AR-5 Ste B, Benton, AR 72019, a snug storefront with an open door and a slow, contented heartbeat.
I popped in on a weekday and felt like I had wandered into a book club mid-smile. It’s one of those cozy spots that makes you feel right at home, even if it’s your first visit.
The shelves are lined with an impressive selection of paperbacks, especially romance, thrillers, and fantasy, all priced kindly enough to experiment. As I wandered the aisles, I found a mystery novel that became my favorite find of the trip.
Shelves are tidy but not precious, the kind of order that invites hands-on exploring.
One of the most charming parts? The local-writer shelf that made me linger, full of books you won’t find on every shelf in town.
There’s also a clear trade policy that makes it easy to bring in your old books for something new. It’s the kind of store where kids chase each other between aisles, and book-lovers chat about their latest finds.
I left with two paperbacks and a promise to return, which is pretty much the point.
3. Once Upon A Time Books And Café, Springdale
I wanted a bookish breather and a snack, and Once Upon A Time Books and Café answered like an old friend. You will find it at 462 E Henri De Tonti Blvd, Springdale, AR 72762, a cheerful stop where the espresso machine sings backup to the rustle of pages.
I walked in for a quick peek and left an hour later, coffee cooled and heart warmed.
The layout is breezy, with featured carts that make browsing feel like grazing at a buffet. Mystery shelves bump elbows with YA and cookbooks, and the café counter lures you back when decision fatigue hits.
I sipped a latte, flipped through a culinary memoir, and felt that practical joy of decent prices and clean copies.
Staff picks actually read like human recommendations, not just cover art you have seen on Instagram. They nudged me toward a regional history I did not know I needed, then laughed when I returned five minutes later with three more paperbacks.
Seating is scattered and comfortable, so lingering feels encouraged rather than tolerated.
Go for the browse, stay for the brew, and let serendipity do its thing. The café makes it easy to slow down, annotate, and convince yourself that, yes, you do have room for another paperback.
I left with a croissant crumb on my sleeve and a stack that tasted like good decisions.
4. Dickson Street Bookshop, Fayetteville
Some bookstores feel like a memory you accidentally walk into, and Dickson Street Bookshop is exactly that. Located at 325 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR 72701, it hums with the rhythm of a college town and the patience of a well-loved library.
I slipped inside on a sunny afternoon and immediately slowed down, like the door had a gentle brake built in.
Aisles twist into each other, shelves leaning with the weight of poetry, Ozark histories, and paperbacks with cracked spines that telegraph a good time. Have you ever asked a question at a bookstore and had the staff answer it without hesitation, sending you to a corner you never would’ve thought to explore?
That happened here, and I discovered a section I might never have found on my own.
Prices are the pleasant kind of old-fashioned, and turnover is brisk, so you can browse in the morning and find new gems by evening. The energy around Dickson Street means coffee and snacks are a short stroll away, fueling round two and three of browsing.
I left with a Southern Gothic stack and the certainty this place understands why you came.
Visit this bookstore if you crave the hunt and want a store that rewards curiosity as much as budget. It’s for readers who like a little labyrinth with their literature, a little dust with their discovery.
I walked out grinning, bag heavier, shoulders lighter, and thinking, this is why we chase used-book serendipity.
5. Books By The Pound, Searcy
Books By The Pound is a thrill ride for bargain hunters and commitment-phobes alike. The shop sits at 1010 E Lincoln Ave, Searcy, AR 72143, and yes, the name tells the truth.
I grabbed a cart, tested my self-control, and promptly failed in the best possible way.
The setup is delightfully chaotic: sorted tables, big bins, and scales ready to seal your fate. You scoop, you weigh, you grin at the total because somehow a stack equal to a house cat costs less than lunch.
Staff keep things moving and restock often, so the hunt never goes stale.
Genres cohabitate, which means a poetry chapbook might nudge a hiking guide, and that collision births inspired choices. I found a set of essay collections and a near-pristine cookbook I had been stalking online for months.
The place rewards curiosity, patience, and the willingness to get your hands a little dusty.
Bring a tote, clear your schedule, and embrace the serendipity that a price-by-weight model invites. It is ideal for building a home library on a budget or experimenting with authors you have only side-eyed.
I left with a trunkful and a receipt that felt like a magic trick I got to keep.
6. It’s A Mystery Bookstore, Berryville
I love a theme, and It’s A Mystery Bookstore delivers delightfully on-brand intrigue. You will find it at 107 Public Square, Berryville, AR 72616, cornered by courthouse-square charm and neighborly waves.
I stepped in and immediately felt like a side character in a whodunit about to get upgraded.
The shelves lean into mystery, crime, thriller, and a surprising vein of true crime, with a side of spy craft. Staff recommendations are written with winks and clues, nudging you toward old-school detectives and contemporary twist machines.
I asked for a locked-room suggestion and left with two, both excellent.
Prices are solid, and the curation is tight, so browsing feels more like following breadcrumbs than sifting haystacks. There is a small cozy chair cluster where I previewed first chapters until my pulse did the choosing.
They also keep a respectable used hardcover section for those who like dust jackets.
Come ready to play along with the theme and you will walk out energized. If you crave plot puzzles, atmospheric settings, and villains who monologue, this shop is a bullseye.
I carried my bag back to the car like evidence, thrilled to crack every case.
7. Friendly Bookstore, Rogers
Friendly Bookstore is exactly what the name promises and a little more. It sits at 1114 W Poplar Pl, Rogers, AR 72756, a tidy space that feels like the community’s living room.
I wandered in on a Saturday and immediately clocked the Friends of the Library spirit humming through the aisles.
Prices are wonderfully gentle, and the sorting is better than you expect for a volunteer-driven operation. I found recent bestsellers next to classics, children’s picture books by the armful, and a local-interest shelf that reads like Arkansas cliff notes.
Volunteers chatted about upcoming library events and slipped me a map of the sections.
There is a generosity to the selection that makes browsing calm and effective. You do not have to elbow your way to a win; the wins are stacked politely and labeled.
I loaded up on paperback travelogues and a hardback biography that felt like a steal.
If you love the idea that your book habit helps the community, this is your spot. It is clean, cheerful, and refreshingly straightforward, with finds that reward both newcomers and regulars.
I left with a stack and the pleasant afterglow of having done something small and good.
8. The Book Store, North Little Rock
Stepping into The Book Store feels like finding a long‑lost friend who happens to know every great story ever written. Nestled at 3832 John F Kennedy Blvd in North Little Rock, this independently owned used bookstore has been a cornerstone for readers in the region for decades, with tens of thousands of preloved books across every genre imaginable under one roof.
You can easily spend hours browsing through dusty classics, vintage editions, quirky nonfiction, and contemporary paperbacks. And honestly, that’s the best part, losing track of time as you get lost in the stacks.
The space is warm and welcoming, with staff who genuinely want to connect you with books you’ll love, whether you show up with a wishlist or just the urge to browse. I was honestly impressed by how easy it was to uncover rare editions and unexpected gems among the stacks, and I left with more books than I planned but zero regrets.
If you cherish slow afternoons and surprise discoveries, The Book Store is exactly the kind of literary hideaway you’ll want to return to again and again.
9. Beautywood Books, North Little Rock
Beautywood Books on 1704 N Main St is a cozy, community‑focused used bookstore that feels like the literary equivalent of a warm hug. Their shelves are filled with gently used titles spanning fiction, nonfiction, classics, and contemporary reads, all curated with care to appeal to casual readers and voracious bibliophiles alike.
What sets Beautywood apart is its inviting, conversational vibe. You can browse, chat with someone who knows their shelves well, or just take a minute to let the atmosphere wash over you.
Locals often praise the friendly staff and the sense that this isn’t just a shop, it’s a place where stories are shared and community happens organically. My favorite part of visiting was discovering authors I hadn’t even heard of before; it felt like the books chose me rather than the other way around.
Whether you’re building your home library on a budget or hunting for that next must‑read, Beautywood Books is a delightful and genuinely enjoyable stop for any book lover.