There is just nothing quite like it: a huge, historic, independent book store, where you can get lost, wander for days, and love every minute of it. Sitting just south of downtown Columbus, within the charming neighborhood of German Village, The Book Loft is one of our favorite attractions. There's a reason people love this store so much... 32 reasons, actually.
The Book Loft holds an astonishing 32 rooms of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
When the store opened in February of 1977, it started with five rooms. Then, as other stores in the building closed, the Book Loft just kept adding rooms full of books.
Today the Book Loft takes up an entire street block!
The building that houses this incredible store is a pre-Civil War structure that once housed general stores, a saloon, and a nickelodeon cinema.
The store carries an estimated 500,000 books.
Yup, that's half a million!
You'll find books on everything from philosophy to language manuals, works of fiction to fun magazines.
Book signings are often held here.
Some of the recent visitors include Urban Meyer and Ernest Cline.
The Book Loft also strongly supports local writers.
They love to host signings and book release parties for local authors. You'll also see lots of books featuring local topics, like local wineries and hiking guides.
The Book Loft is so big that they have a store map and lengthy directory!
You can find this store directory on The Book Loft website, here. It gives you an idea for the actual magnitude of their collection! It shows where you can find books on specific topics, and some of the rooms even play music fitting to the books it holds!
The store also has a wonderful courtyard.
Here you can relax and flip through your new finds, or just enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the neighborhood.
The Book Loft is open every day 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.
You'll find The Book Loft at 631 South Third St., Columbus, Ohio, 43206.
If you'd like to see a little preview of the magic hiding within the walls, check out this cool compilation of interactive 360-degree photos shared on YouTube by See Inside Ohio... but you really should go visit this amazing place in person!
All right, be honest, how much time have you spent perusing this incredible store? Share your experience with us!
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