Visit 5 Favorite Ohio Bookstores

Black Cat Books & Oddities, Medina: Inside a pair of century-old houses, visitors can experience scenes inspired by favorite stories, from the romantic Pemberley Room based on Jane Austen’s beloved novels to the Raven’s Roost, complete with a mannequin of Edgar Allan Poe, to the kid-friendly Secret Garden room. The array of titles, as well as gifts and other curiosities, are cleverly curated in each room, providing an opportunity for book lovers to immerse themselves in imaginative spaces and even take a selfie in their favorite book setting. blackcatmedina.com

NeverMore Used Bookstore, Toledo: When Mitch and Freddie Balonek were looking for a name for their used bookstore, they chose NeverMore for a couple reasons: Their customers would never more have to pay too much for quality pre-owned books, and “nevermore” is a quote from a favorite literary classic, “The Raven,” by Edgar Allan Poe. Their inviting store leans into its name with its outdoor mural of Poe. Inside, ravens large and small perch from the tall shelves packed with new and gently used books in a range of genres. facebook.com/NeverMore2856

The Book Loft, Columbus: Nestled in the city’s quaint German Village, this ginormous bookstore measures a full city block of several historic buildings combined into one labyrinth of books and bibliophile gifts. Pick up a map or purposely get lost in the 32 rooms. The staircases are lined with book-themed socks, T-shirts and other novelties, and the store boasts the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles in the Midwest. The landscaped courtyards offer pleasant places to read and enjoy the neighborhood’s ambience. bookloft.indiecommerce.com

Loganberry Books, Cleveland: When this charming shop opened in 1995, it only sold collectible leatherbound and used books with niche focuses on women’s literature and history and children’s literature. Through the years, Loganberry Books has stayed true to those roots but has also grown to hold more than 150,000 new and used volumes across every subject in a fairy-tale setting masterfully decorated with architecturally salvaged bookshelves and decor. Don’t miss taking a selfie in front of the mural on the shop’s exterior wall. loganberrybooks.com

Ohio Book Store, Cincinnati: The pleasant smell of thousands of books greets those who walk into the historic Ohio Book Store. Then they see the bookshelves, filled floor-to-ceiling with more than 300,000 mostly used books and magazines across the building’s five floors. The shop has a section specializing in Cincinnati history and repairs and binds historic books, such as family Bibles. The store has been open since 1940, and current owner James Fallon, who runs the business with his two sons, started working for the original owner when he was just 13. ohiobookstore.net

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