Amazon is convenient, there are great deals, and it’s reliable, but often people forget about their local shops and retailers. Local bookstores offer a way to get involved in the community and still get the books you enjoy. Readers can join in with others in surrounding areas by going to local bookstores that are small businesses and run by people in your community.
Western Loudoun offers many local small business book stores, including Birch Tree Bookstore. This bookstore has a variety of plants inside to bring in the fresh air. There is a plant clinic towards the back of the store for plants in need of revival. In the plant areas, you can find a variety of books on plants, pots, soil, and a variety of different types of plants to fill your homes. Leah Fallon, one of the partners for Birch Tree, handles the bookstore side of the shop explains, “Our plants are lush and healthy, with a plant expert at the store to help you find your next new plant baby. “
Birch Tree Bookstore also has multiple book clubs, and every reader can find one that fits their interest. Fallon remarks, “Our 13 book clubs are hosted by community members who are committed to choosing and reading the books and leading the discussions monthly. You can find our book clubs on our website. They fill up quickly and members are guaranteed a seat at any book club.”
Sections of the store are dedicated to the staff’s top picks, literary classics, romance, and fantasy, with a wide variety of books being offered to readers throughout the community. To start off the new year, Fallon recommended Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn for a historical fiction read and for a more middle grade reading, Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus. Birch Tree also has a variety of book themed stickers that go great with all genres of books. For those who are fans of particular books, the store also offers decorative bookmarks that go with some of the books throughout the store.
“First, we recommend that reading aloud to plants is good for your health and mental well being,” remarks Fallon, showing just how well the two parts of the store combine to help with all your reading, plant, and mental health needs. Birch Tree Books is the perfect store for picking out fresh plants to spruce up your house and a new book to read over the long weekend.
Books and Other Found Things located in downtown Leesburg offers a wide selection of used books, as well as the works of local artists. This fun shop is great for those looking for a deal on books, there are multiple sections throughout the store that offer a variety of books to choose from. The owner of the store, Allen Robinson, explained how the store started, “When we moved from Hawaii to Virginia, all that we had was books and bookcases, so we decided to give it a try.” When they moved to Leesburg, they happened to come across the building which the store is now located in and saw it was for rent, and then decided it would be a great used book store. The bookstore has now been open for 12 years.
“I like people and I like books, so it works,” said Robinson. The store caters to all types of readers. Robinson loves being able to interact with the store customers as they come in and getting to work with books daily.
Robinson owns many books and has boxes of books that he has not even touched, but many of the books in the store come from people who are trying to settle estates. He will get the books for a good price and put them in storage lockers or the store to be sold. “I get a person’s lifetime collection,” explained Robinson. This allows for multiple different types of books including those about spies, science, and totem poles.
Downtown Leesburg is perfect for book finding and learning about the community. Visiting the area allows all types of readers and people to learn and explore their community, while still supporting small businesses.
