Discover the Tiny Bookstore Founded by a Literary Legend

What do Ernest Hemingway, Judy Blume, Elizabeth Bishop, Jimmy Buffett, Shel Silverstein, and Tennessee Williams have in common?

These luminaries of the written word, along with many others, have all called Key West their home.

That’s right: the gorgeous South Florida destination, renowned for its sun and high spirits (and key lime pie!), is much, much more than a beach destination. Key West’s literary heritage remains a vibrant part of its culture thanks to the annual Key West Literary Seminar, guided literary-themed walks, and museums. And at one small bookshop, eager readers will find much more than some tempting titles. Books and Book @ The Studios Of Key West serves up community spirit alongside comfort reads. 

Every bookshop has an important place in the community it serves, but there’s something special about Books and Books. Emily Berg, the store’s manager, shares: "I believe that, in general, bookshops are community builders because what we’re putting on the shelves are ideas. All books, fiction and non-fiction, picture books and how-to manuals, are the physical form of a unique viewpoint."

She goes on to add: “In our specific case, Books and Books @ the Studios is part of a larger arts non-profit organization. The Studios of Key West was founded with the vision of bringing world-class artists to the island and connecting them with local audiences and artists. The bookstore supports the literary portion of this vision by connecting writers to readers and readers to each other."

The Studios are like a warm incubator for phenomenal creativity. Your quick visit to the bookshop might be the beginning of your visit, but before long, you’ll find yourself drawn to the ever-changing art exhibitions which take place in the building. You might stick around for a bit, lingering for a concert, heading up to the rooftop to soak in the sunset (and perhaps enjoy a cocktail or two), or maybe even signing up for a class. Some people love it so much they never leave, becoming artists-in-residence and moving in (short-term!). Hundreds of writers and artists have since come to Key West through the Peyton Evans Artist Residency (PEAR) Program that’s part of The Studios. Berg shares that Key West is a smaller town than most visitors realize, and there’s a good reason why The Studios and the bookshop have such a magnetic draw, saying: "The staff and volunteers of the bookstore love to support other community organizations and events because in addition to it being good for the store. It’s good for the community in which we live."

In town for just a day or two? You can still soak in what Books and Books has to offer for readers and the community at large. Berg encourages visitors to start with the staff recommendations: "If you don’t have a lot of time in the store I’d say you’ll learn a lot about our staff based on what they’re reading." Those recommendations include suggestions from Berg herself, along with another name you’ll be familiar with: Judy Blume.

The celebrated author, especially beloved for her children's and young adult fiction, is a co-founder of Books and Books with her husband, George Cooper.

Yes, you might very well see them helping in the store! But the real stars here are the books, the perfect keepsake from a wonderful trip.