Chamblin Bookmine, Jacksonville

Chamblin’s Bookmine is a longtime city institution. As the original location of this local bookseller mini-chain, the Chamblin’s on Roosevelt take a towering, overstuffed warehouse approach to selling their tomes. Established in 1976, Chamblin’s has over a million titles, plus an array of old magazines, maps, atlases, audio books and DVD's for sale. Chamblin’s also buys and sells used books with a generous trade-in policy, which can be used towards their new book collection. The properly-named book mine is a deep trove of hidden gems, stacked floor-to-ceiling with piles of books, shelved on long, rough natural wood shelving. The painted concrete floor offers large yellow arrows help guide customers to their requested section, and a few library tables and chairs beckon you to sit and read for a bit. Literature lovers will certainly get lost in Chamblin’s Book Mine.