South Main Book Company among 7 Bookstores Every Book Lover Should Visit, According To Southern Authors

“Salisbury is my hometown, and South Main Book Company has been in our historic downtown, in some iteration, since 1998. It’s housed inside a historic building with creaky, original hardwood floors, beautiful architectural details, and—the pièce de résistance—antique library ladders,” says Kristy Woodson Harvey, a New York Times best-selling author whose most recent book, Beach House Rules, was released this past May. “South Main is also incredibly supportive of the community and its schools, and hosts author events, book clubs, silent reading nights, and more to bring everyone together,” she adds.

While in Salisbury, the home of Cheerwine, she also suggests a visit to Hap’s Grill, an afternoon exploring the other shops along Main Street—including Caniche and Salisbury Wine Shop—and finishing the day with something sweet. “I’d recommend savoring some homemade ice cream at Spanky’s, which has been a downtown staple since 1928, and grabbing a few cupcakes and Rice Krispies treats from Abigail’s for the road,” she says.