Independent Bookstores $$

Tombolo Books

Grand Central · St. Petersburg

Tombolo is what a bookstore looks like when it's built by someone who actually knows how bookstores work. Alsace Walentine spent 16 years running events at one of Asheville's best before coming to St. Pete. The curation shows. New titles land on Tuesday — follow @TomboloBooks on Instagram to see what just arrived before you make the trip.

“"Our community can count on us to provide a space where they can explore, learn, be curious, and gather." — Kelsey Jagneaux, Events & Marketing Manager”
What to get

The New & Notable Table New stock arrives every Tuesday and lands here first. This is where Tombolo's curation is most visible — a rotating selection of what the team is actually reading and recommending. A Blind-Date Book Wrapped in brown paper at the register with a few clue words on the outside. A Tombolo tradition. Pick one. It's the kind of thing that turns into a favorite story. An Event on the Calendar Most author talks are free with an implied ask to buy the book. Check tombolobooks.com — two to three events run most weeks. The Thursday morning kids' storytime is particularly worth showing up for.

Insider tip

Enter from the courtyard on Poetry Alley, not the 1st Street front entrance. You'll pass through the shared patio between Tombolo and Black Crow Coffee — grab a coffee before you browse. Parking is available in the courtyard and within a block of the store.

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