Beloved Tampa indie book store to close after more than 25 years

Florida is one of the most literary states in the country, and the area is in the midst of what some consider a literary renaissance. Don’t believe us? Read the recent work of Lauren Groff, Karen Russell, Sarah Gerard, Erica Dawson, Jon Chopan or Tamara Lush for reference. That’s why it’s hard to learn the news that Inkwood Books, an independent bookstore that’s been in the city of Tampa for nearly 26 years, will officially close on March 31.

The bookstore owner announced the closing in a Facebook post. Stefani Beddingfield has owned Inkwood Books since 2013. Beddingfield moved the shop from its Hyde Park bungalow to a fresh spot at 1809 North Tampa Street in Hyde Park.

The quirky shop was a bastion of creativity. It frequently hosted author readings, but, in the age of Amazon, struggled to keep up with daily foot traffic.

We hope residents take the opportunity to shop at Inkwood Books while it’s still open. All books and merchandise at the shop are 30% off and greeting cards are 50% off. Listen, we know they were joking about Tom Hanks flying in and saving this book store “You’ve Got Mail” style, but we’d be totally happy if America’s dad decided to keep this bastion of books in Tampa Heights.

Do you have a favorite book store in Tampa, or a favorite local author? Let us know in the comments!