Square Books is the bookshop at the centre of one of America's most literary small towns. Opened in 1979 by Richard and Lisa Howorth in a small upstairs room on the Square, the shop has grown into three connected buildings: the original Square Books, Off Square Books across the street (used and remaindered), and Square Books Jr for children.
The main store carries a deeply curated Southern fiction and non-fiction section and is regularly cited as one of the best independent bookstores in the United States. The upstairs café and balcony overlooks the Square and is one of the better spots in town to read with a cup of coffee. The shop hosts dozens of author events a year — the calendar is worth checking before a visit.