A Resident Cat Guards 30,000 Used Books At This Sprawling North Carolina Bookstore
The bookstore has a security guard, but he occasionally falls asleep on the shelves.
Fortunately, being adorable appears to be part of the job description.
At one North Carolina used bookstore, a resident cat keeps watch over thousands of secondhand stories while readers disappear into aisle after aisle.
The place has the wonderfully dangerous energy of somewhere you enter for one book and leave carrying six.
There is no rush, no polished chain-store feeling, and certainly no guarantee you will stick to your original shopping plan.
Then you spot the cat stretched beside the books like he owns the entire operation. Frankly, he may.
Consider your next literary treasure hunt officially supervised.
Around 30,000 Used Books Fill This 4,200-Square-Foot Shop
Step through the door and the smell hits you first, that sweet, papery scent of old pages and well-loved covers. Shelves rise high on every side.
Somewhere in here, roughly 30,000 used books are waiting for new owners. Book Buyers fills a roomy 4,200-square-foot space in Charlotte.
So how big is 4,200 square feet?
Think of a space larger than many family homes, packed almost wall to wall with stories. Paperbacks lean against hardcovers, and worn spines in faded reds and blues line up like a quilt.
Prices stay friendly, which makes it easy to leave with a stack instead of a single title. Here is a smart tip before you go.
Bring a short list of authors you love, but stay open to surprises. With so many titles packed into one room, the best find is often something you never planned to buy.
Wear comfy shoes too, because an hour can slip by quickly once you start pulling books off the shelves and flipping through their pages.
The shop sits in the Eastway Crossing shopping center at 3040 Eastway Drive, Suite B, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205.
Resident Cats Still Wander The Aisles Between The Shelves
Meet the real managers of the shop.
Deena, Junior, and Inky are the resident cats identified in recent coverage, strolling the aisles like they own the place, and honestly, they kind of do.
You might spot one curled up on a low shelf, napping beside a row of mysteries.
Another may pad over to sniff your shoelaces before deciding you are worth a friendly head bump. Their quiet steps and soft purrs give the whole store a homey, lived-in feel that big chain shops simply cannot copy.
The store’s late longtime cat Page had one of the most fitting bookstore names imaginable and remains part of Book Buyers history.
It is a little joke that makes book lovers smile every time they hear it. A few manners help keep everyone happy.
Let the cats come to you rather than scooping them up, and keep your voice gentle if one is dozing.
Kids especially enjoy watching them, so remind younger visitors to pet softly.
Got allergies? Plan ahead with whatever helps you feel comfortable.
For most visitors, though, a whiskered greeter turns a simple book run into a memory worth sharing later at home.
The Store Has Been Selling Secondhand Books Since 1999
Back in 1999, flip phones were new and most people still bought music on CDs.
That same year, a family-run shop opened its doors in Charlotte with a simple plan: give good books a second life.
For more than two decades, the store called the Plaza Midwood neighborhood home. Owner Richard Rathers did more than stock the shelves.
He actually built the pine bookcases himself, and those sturdy wooden cases are still holding books today.
Staying open that long is no small thing. Many independent bookstores across the country have closed as online shopping grew.
This one kept going by sticking to what readers love, which means fair prices, a deep selection, and a warm space to linger.
The shop has also become a gathering spot for local creative folks. Writer workshops and open mic nights for poetry and fiction have brought people together to share their own work out loud.
When you visit, take a moment to look closely at the shelves.
That handmade wood carries years of history, along with countless books that passed through readers’ hands across Charlotte and beyond.
It feels a bit like browsing inside a family story.
Six Long Rows Make Browsing Feel More Like A Treasure Hunt
Ready, set, search!
Six long rows stretch across the store, and each one feels like a trail through a forest made of paper. Walking down an aisle, your eyes jump from title to title.
One shelf might hold a crisp hardcover that looks barely opened.
The next could offer a crackly paperback with someone’s old bookmark still inside.
That mix of surprises is what makes hunting here so much fun. Unlike shops where everything sits at eye level under bright signs, this layout rewards patience.
Crouch down to check bottom shelves.
Glance up toward the top rows too, since some gems hide where few people look. Want to make your hunt smoother? Try these simple tricks:
Start at one end and work steadily through each row so nothing gets missed. Pick a few backup genres in case your favorite section is picked over.
Set aside a little time at the end to return to anything you almost grabbed.
Families sometimes turn the visit into a friendly game, seeing who can find the oldest book or the funniest cover. However you play it, those six rows turn an ordinary errand into an adventure with a prize at every turn.
History, Art, Literature And Fiction Are Only The Beginning Of The Selection
Curious minds will have a hard time choosing just one section.
History buffs can trace wars, empires, and inventions across shelf after shelf, while art lovers will find thick fine arts books filled with paintings and sketches. Fiction takes up plenty of space, from page-turning mysteries to timeless classics.
Philosophy books sit ready for anyone who likes big questions.
Literature fans can hunt for poets and novelists both famous and lesser known. The store also carries a strong collection of African American fiction and non-fiction.
These shelves celebrate authors, history, and voices that every reader can learn from, whether you are building a school report or just exploring new ideas.
And yes, Harry Potter fans, there is something for you too. The popular series often shows up on the shelves, which is handy if you are missing a book or two from your set.
Here is a helpful idea for mixed groups. Let each person pick a section to explore for twenty minutes, then meet up to swap discoveries.
You might come home with a history book, a classic novel, and an art guide, all for less than one new hardcover would cost.
A Children’s Corner Gives Younger Readers Their Own Place To Explore
Little readers get a spot all their own here.
Bright picture books, chapter books, and early readers fill a cozy children’s corner made for small hands and big imaginations. Kids can sit on the floor, flip through pages, and decide what they want to take home.
That sense of choice matters.
When children pick their own books, they often feel more excited to actually read them. Prices are another reason parents smile.
Many children’s books here cost very little, so families can grab a whole stack without stressing over the budget. It is a great way to fill a summer reading list or keep a bedtime basket stocked.
Try making the trip a small tradition.
Some families visit before school breaks or after a good report card, letting kids choose a few treats for their shelves.
Others bring old books to trade in their minds for new ones, keeping the cycle of reading going. One more bonus for young visitors: the store cats sometimes wander nearby.
Spotting a furry friend while reading a story about animals can make the afternoon feel almost magical, and that kind of moment helps grow a lifelong love of books.
An Eco-Friendly Shop Inside Adds Vegan Goods And Unexpected Finds
Hidden between stories? Not quite.
Nestled inside the bookstore sits a second surprise called The Greener Apple, a small eco-friendly shop with a big heart. Lee Rathers, the daughter of owner Richard Rathers, runs this green little market.
It started with just a few bookcases inside the store.
Over time, it grew into a well-stocked spot for vegan and earth-friendly products.
The shelves hold a fun mix.
You can find vegan snacks and food items, natural body care like gentle soaps, and cleaning supplies made with the planet in mind. There are also pet products, toys, and eco home goods that make useful gifts.
Snack lovers might grab a crunchy treat to enjoy on the drive home.
Anyone trying to cut back on plastic or harsh chemicals can pick up simple swaps for the kitchen or bathroom. Shopping here pairs nicely with the spirit of a used bookstore.
Buying secondhand books keeps paper in use longer, and choosing greener goods carries that same idea into daily life.
It is an easy way to support a family business in North Carolina while trying something new for your home.
The Entire Book Collection Had To Be Moved By Hand When The Store Relocated In 2022
Imagine packing tens of thousands of books into boxes, one armful at a time.
That was the giant job facing this family when rising rent pushed the shop out of Plaza Midwood.
The move was a slow, tiring process.
Every book had to be carried, boxed, transported, and shelved again in the new space at Eastway Crossing. Several other independent businesses made the same shift to that shopping center, giving the area a fresh local energy.
The Eastway Crossing shop reopened on February 7, 2022, followed by a grand-reopening celebration in June.
Loyal shoppers walking in found something comforting: the familiar layout had come along too.
Even better, Richard Rathers’ original pine bookcases made the trip, so the store still feels like the place people remembered. Think about that the next time you pull a novel from a shelf.
Someone held that exact book during the move, making sure it landed in the right spot.
The story also shows how much small shops in Charlotte, North Carolina, depend on hard work and community support.
Buying a book, attending a poetry night, or simply telling a friend about the store helps keep these shelves full and those cats happily on patrol.
