Give the gift of reading at Fifth Street Books
We celebrate Christmas in our home but I'm not an early shopper. At the beginning of December, I was just getting started. I don't have many things to buy but in efforts to still save money, my strategy is evergreen gifts at ''be merciful'' prices.
The people in my circle – family and friends – have many things in common. One of them is reading. We're always swapping or recommending good books to one another. And a book is undoubtedly a gift that keeps on giving.
I'm an avid reader with a modest collection. I typically enjoy checking out books from our libraries. However, as an Alamance County resident, it's almost unthinkable that I've only recently visited a popular local (used) book store.
Fifth Street Books is located at 2267 US 70 in Mebane, inside of the Brooks Distribution Warehouse. And if you're not paying attention, you'll drive right by it.
The front parking lot is small but from my understanding, there is additional parking on the grounds. This is important to know because of the book sale days I've read about. It sounds like things can get pretty busy.
And don't be fooled by the outside appearance of this place. The inside is massive and there are books around every corner! My jaw dropped when I entered because it far exceeded my expectations.
You should also know that the books are organized by genre and there is a separate kid's section. However, they are not alphabetized. Like in a thrift store, the items have specific categories but time is required to find what you want. I just consider it a treasure hunt.
Fifth Street Books has a seating area and a few chairs placed in corners of the store. There's also a bench in the kid's section. Therefore, if you'd prefer to sit & read, you have options. And yes, there are restrooms, too.
If you plan to give gifts for upcoming holidays or for any reason, surely books work well for someone you know. Maybe even yourself. My daughters enjoy reading just as I do and have a few titles already on their Christmas lists. As you can imagine, we're currently on the hunt for another bookshelf.
One last idea is to gift books you already possess-especially the ones you've read but don't plan to hold on to. And if your children have some they've outgrown, save money by passing them on to family or friends. Consider donating as well.
Visiting Fifth Street Books left me curious about other used book stores nearby. I listed a few below that I plan to check out and another one I've visited locally.
More local book stores to check out
- Pages Past-Used & Rare Books, 1837 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro
- Persnickety Books, 347 S Main St, Burlington
- Books Do Furnish A Room, 1809 West Markham Ave., Durham
- Purple Crow Books (new & used books), 109 W King St., Hillsborough
- Reader's Corner, 3201 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
- Quail Ridge Books, 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd, Raleigh
- Page 152 Books, 415-B Brooks St, Wake Forest
- McIntyre's Books, 220 Market St, Pittsboro
This list is, of course, a few of many. Visit the websites for hours and other information. If you have used book stores you frequent and would recommend, please do!
