Sundog Books - Seaside, FL

Sundog Books, Seaside, FL

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I don’t think there’s an indie owner anywhere that wouldn’t trade places with owner Linda W. at Sundog Books.  This bookstore is blessed with many advantages that other indies just don’t have.  This is why they’ve enjoyed an almost 40 year run in the bookstore business.  As Linda told me, location, location, location.  Situated perfectly in the downtown circle surrounded by multiple small businesses and many food wagons.  The store is also just a stone’s throw from the beach so you can get your beach read and be back on tour towel in less than 5 minutes.  Best of all, the store and city circle are packed with tourists.  Granted, I visited during Spring break but there have been few bookstores I’ve visited that have been as busy as Sundog.  A constant stream of customers filing into an already packed store the entire 90 minutes of my visit.  Ironically, many of the locals will order their Sundog books online, always an option if you can’t visit in person.  The final check mark for the location is the perfect weather, sunny skies, and gulf breezes.  This puts EVERYONE in a good book-buying mood. 

Sundog offers all new books and a wide variety of sidelines in a medium-sized crowded space.  Part of that crowdedness though is because of the customers of all ages and from all over the country.  This just helps contribute to the vibrancy of a healthy bookstore.  I thought the books and sidelines offered for tourists was especially good.  In addition to puzzles, stickers, greeting cards, and journals, the store merch offered was outstanding with much to choose from.  Hats, hoodies, t-shtirs, sweatshirts in all sizes and colors and mugs all make for great items for tourists.  

My only disappointment was that I didn’t get here a few years ago to meet the store’s co-owner, Bob, who founded the store with his wife Linda.  Bob is gone but his staff pick recommendations remain and I can tell we would’ve had a really good chat.  I can also tell after talking to Linda and Kennedy, a bookseller, that Bob’s presence continues to be felt on the staff at Sundog, a legacy that all in Seaside can take comfort in.  

Readers, this is your place.  Follow the Florida panhandle coast and eventually it will lead you to Seaside and Sundog Books.  Discover this legendary and successful bookstore deserving of national attention.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  Sister Lumberjack, Candace Simar.  Historical fiction that follows a handful of characters in the logging camps of northern Minnesota in the late 1800s.  Challenges of severe winter weather, hunger, fighting and drunkenness, and devastating injuries.  Sister “Lumberjack” is a nun from Duluth who is trying to help the lumberjacks with an option for medical care if needed and raising money for an orphanage.  Recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  The Wager, David Grann.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Memorial Days, Geraldine Brooks.  George: A Magpie Memoir, Freida Hughes.  Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, Grady Hendrix.  Two Sundog t-shirts.  Not purchased but gifted, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri.  Thank you Linda and Kennedy.  

Up the steps and into the store.  

Tropical view looking away from the store before entering. 

Sidelines and store merch available on the front porch.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  

Looking directly to the left from the front entrance.  

Looking to the right just inside the store.  

Variety of greeting cards inside the front door.  

Stroll over to the right side of the store and enjoy this view.  

Sundog offers a wide assortment of greeting cards.  Perfect for tourists on vacation.  

Attractive table display near the front of the store.  

Left side of the store looking over the checkout counter and toward the back. 

These make perfect tourist souvenirs.  

An assortment of Penguin's classics.  

If you forgot to pack your reading glasses for your vacation they've got you covered.  

Lots of books of interest for tourists.  

Overview of the children's area.  

Looking into the back hallway at the very rear of the store.  You'll find lots of store merch in this area.  

Get a Sundog t-shirt like this.  

 

They have lots of store merch to choose from in the back hallway.  

Don't leave Seaside without a Sundog mug.  

View looking from the back hallway toward the front of the store.  

Get a Sundog hat to go with your t-shirt.  The store's variety of Sundog merchandise is outstanding.  

Spring breakers can find their school tumbler here.  

A cross-section view of the store.  

Be sure to check out the staff favorites, front of the store on the right side.  

Many bookstores post thought-provoking quotes throughout their stores.  

Words of wisdom for our current times.  

With Kennedy, one of the fine booksellers at Sundog Books.  Thanks for a great visit.  

Open Books Bookstore - Pensacola, FL

Open Books Bookstore, Pensacola, FL

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Regular followers of this blog know that my support and endorsement of independent bookstores is 100%.  They are an absolutely and necessary part of our fabric, our culture, and even more so during these turbulent times.  But this indie is critically important to so many people that cannot visit in person and many who will never visit here.  Most indies have some sort of a local social cause or organization that they support with donations.  Open Books, however, is a 100% non-profit used book store that supports all the prisoners in Florida state prisons or jails.  As store manager Johnny told me, prisoners are not allowed to receive books in the mail from just anyone.  They can only receive books by mail from bookstores or publishers.  Enter Open Books, founded in 2000 with the specific intent to provide books for incarcerated individuals.  Any prisoner who would like any books can receive them for free simply by mailing a written request to Open Books telling them what title he/she would like.  On the day of my visit the mail came with about two dozen letters from prisoners requesting books.  

The store is located in a residential area.  I thought this would be great for walk-in neighborhood customers but Johnny told me that most customers drive here.  This sometimes includes tourists and Spring breakers.  They do not have online book sales because they don’t have the staff for it.  

Open Books has at least 20+ volunteers.  Some work as sales staff in the store and others work as book packers.  Again, the store is 100% volunteer.  If you live in the Pensacola area consider joining their team.  You’ll be supporting a worthy cause and will be surrounded by books.  The bookstore acquires their books by donations only.  I know I’ve been in other indies with similar non-profit missions but I thought the principles and goals of the Open Books Prison Book Project were excellent.  Also watch for their $1 book sales held twice a year.  As Johnny told me, they have approximately 50,000 books and they need to clear inventory.  

In addition to Johnny, I got to meet volunteers Trey, who has been there 5 years and Brandon who was there for his first day.  All three were super to talk to and best of all, they and all the other volunteers are providing an essential service to a population in need.  Thank you for leading by example, Open Books.  Blessings to them all.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Sister Lumberjack, Candace Simar.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Not purchased but gifted,  Into The Beautiful North, Luis Alberto Urrea.  Thanks Trey and Johnny.  

The back of the store is very attractive.  

Front entrance.

An award-winning bookstore.  

Just inside the store find some of the bargain books available.  

Unique art by local artists, mounted on the front wall of the front room.  

Check out these numbers for 2024.  Well done Open Books.  

Below the checkout counter in the front room you'll find vintage editions for sale.  

Can't find the right book?  Consider a store t-shirt.  

This is the back wall in the front room.  In addition to the books, you'll see lots of creative artwork by talented local artists.  

Attractive display in the front room.  

Overview of one of the neat book rooms.  

You'll ALWAYS be able to find a bargain at this bookstore.  This is just some of the youth fiction available.  

This is the back room, used for storage and book packing.  

Another view of the back room.  

Trey showed me the day's mail which included MANY requests for books.  

Just a few of the antiquarian books offered, a great store for collectors.  

Twice a year you can stock up on books at $1 bargain prices.  

Looking into the side room, on the right of the main front room.  

One of the long book aisles in the side room.  Start browsing.  

If you're in Pensacola and looking for a volunteer opportunity, consider joining the great team at Open Books and contributing to a worthy cause.  

L-R:  Store manager Johnny, Trey, and Brandon.  Three of the fine volunteers I met at Open Books.  Thanks for a great visit.