found in miami beach – one of the last of the great indie bookstores?
While shooting this week in Miami Beach, I happened to wander into Books & Books on Lincoln Road, and found one of the last of the dying breed – the local independent bookstore.
The shop is not expansive, but it is well-designed with small, intimate rooms each displaying a carefully curated selection of children’s classics, coffee table tomes, travel books, art editions, and fiction. The books are dislayed with a bit of reverence (quietly suggesting that whispering might be in order).
Visiting this non-virtual storefront was an unexpected pleasure, especially since most of my book purchases now come courtesy of amazon.com (and I’m pretty sure there’s a kindle in my future). It was so nice to be able to touch books again, peruse shelves, and appreciate some wonderful book design. I picked up a fresh copy of Gil Adamson’s Help Me, Jacques Cousteau and headed out to their outdoor cafe to raise a glass to one of the last of the great bookstores.
Closer to home, very happy to report that a new Books and Books is opening. Books & Books Westhampton Beach will open on July 1, 2010. Just in time to pick up some summer reading.