This is a great little local bookstore. We went here for the first time during the Christmas holiday to browse the shelves. It has a great selection from children's books right up to current adult books. The staff was friendly and offered to help us find anything when we arrived but also left us alone to look which I always appreciate. There is a cafe attached which offers simple non fancy coffees. My daughter was absolutely fine with that since a simple black coffee is her way to go. We purchased a few books that have been on our TBR and will definitely be back soon! read more

Cute place packed with great options. It's near the waterfront, and the employees were friendly and helpful.

I was so excited to visit the independent bookstore as tgat is something I look forward to when I travel. I wanted to see their display of banned books. They no longer have a display of banned books and when I was there the worst author in the history of authors was doing a reading (12/6/25). My husband and I agreed that we needed to leave ASAP because that author was the most annoying person in the history of people. We did purchase one book. read more

Ngl I was disappointed with this store... I had higher expectations and they hardly had any dark romance..

Great selection of books for everyone! From kids books to local favorites it was a great hit. Cute little gem hidden in Norfolk

Cute book store with cafe attached. Unfortunately, the cafe was closed so I didn't get to check it out. Plenty of books to choose from, from children's to teen to adult. Great location, right across from Seldon Market. Friendly staff greeted me when I came in and were very friendly when I made my purchase. All books seemed to be cover price - no bargain or sale section that I saw. Worth checking out for sure! read more

Excellent selection and well organized. The staff were super friendly and had some wonderful suggestions! For series, I noticed they stocked multiple/all books in a series, not just the most recent... which isn't always the case with smaller bookstores. Plenty of places to sit/perch while browsing. A fantastic indie! read more

What a find! If you are Norfolk - don't miss this! The mix of classics and contemporary and focus on All voices - is exciting!

This is a really cute little hometown bookstore right across from the Hilton on the MAIN in downtown Norfolk. It has a small cafe inside that was closed when I visited on a Sunday about an hour before they closed, but I looked at the menu and it looked like it had some yummy items on it if you're in the area and wanted the small cafe feel. The cafe has tables and a few booths and a large counter/display area. The bookstore itself is fairly small and cozy with some cute decor and some interesting books and items. The guy inside was friendly and greeted me quickly and offered assistance if I needed. Fun to browse. But they're tiny! read more

I adore this cozy little bookshop, with its abundant selection. I often find books here that I don't see anywhere else, and they have good representation of literature from other countries. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it's lovely to just wander the shelves discovering new treasures. I never leave empty-handed! read more

What do you think of you think of a quintessential bookstore? Do you think of: 1) Friendly staff who knows books? 2) Books from all genres and years? 3) Comfy and cozy chairs to read? 4) Cute and unique stationery and Knick knacks? 5) Window view of a beautiful city? 6) Smell of coffee? Then Prince is your book store! This is my go to place for a bookstore! It is so adorable and makes me so happy as a biblliophile. This place has been a staple in Downtown Norfolk and features so many books of various interests. You can't have a downtown without a great bookstore. Yes, you might pay more compared to a retailer place but it is worth every penny and investment. It is hard to walk out with something great from Prince Books! read more

One of the last local book retailers in Norfolk, for that matter the area. You just cannot find bookstores like Prince anymore. So right now I am willing to tell everyone that a half star bump for local is warranted. Located in the Waterside area of Norfolk in a building that suits it well. Beautiful brick with nice architectural features, even a really cool antique clock on the corner. It has a perfect union with the Lizard Cafe which I have previously written a review for. Parking is a pain and for the most part off street, but there is garage parking too. Serious construction is going on across the street, unsure what the project is. The interior is not large, so they do what they can. I did not see a periodical area, but could have missed it. They do have a small children's area which is appealing to me. The store is old, looks old and frankly is quite dated. However, I will chalk is up to charm and not deduct here. What I would like to see is some updated carpeting, but get it...small business and big overhead in this building. I've been to the store twice and the second time I made a purchase on a book they ordered. No additional cost to order and it was only a few dollars more than amazon, but equal with no shipping. It was in within three business days. So I was happy. Service was friendly by the young woman who waited on me. This is what is a must if your trying stay alive with the huge online and big box book sellers. There must be some differentiation for the little guy trying to survive and it usually is service. I found it to be above average on both visits. Give Prince a try the next time your looking for something. Keep in mind they can order almost anything they don't have in stock . Then a selfless plug Lizard Cafe before, or after you shop...they are so good. I am probably at a 3.5, but rounding up and hope they can old it together through the hard times of the book retailers. read more

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I love bookstores and this one is definitely up there. It's fairly small but there's a good selection of books from children's, hard and paperback fiction, psychology, and biographies. And of course, everything in between. There was one lady at the counter and she was very nice. They have a quaint little cafe attached, The Lizard Cafe, that looked enticing, but unfortunately, it was closed. I would have liked to have eaten a little snack with my new books I purchased. The location is perfect since it's across the street from Selden Market and other gems spots. I'll be coming back for sure! read more

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This is definitely not a Barnes & Noble. It's tiny. It's adorable. It's for the book dorks out there. It's a-book-dorkable. Okay, so that's a little weird. Let me scrape up some credibility here. I was first introduced to Prince Books through a friend who invited me to a local author's book debut event. (Lydia Netzer's "Shine Shine Shine". Read it. Love it.) While browsing the store, I saw something for everyone. Magazines, postcards, maps, travel books, etc. There's a cafe here as well, from which delicious smells were issuing like the scent of Granny's kitchen on Christmas morning. Heavenly. Sorry (not sorry). The children's corner was where I was inexplicably drawn. Or 'splicably, since I had my toddler along and he's a veritable book FIEND. They're kind enough to provide tiny chairs and some toys over there. On another visit, the employee wo-manning the register helped me find a book, and ordered a book they didn't have in stock. I had a lovely call from them when it came in earlier than expected. Make sure you grab a "Member Discount Card". It's free, don't fret. They'll stamp it for every $11 you spend. Ten stamps and you get $11 off ($15 or more). read more

Prince Books - Made me laugh as we were walking out. - Bookstores Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

It was Sunday morning and I was waiting to pick up a book before my flight back home. The door says they open at 11am on Sunday. I tried my luck at 10:58am to see if it was open. No such luck. They opened at exactly 11am! I walked in and the cafe was not open. I'm not sure if they open on Sundays, but my friends have eaten here for lunch and they tell me that their tuna salad sandwiches are OUTSTANDING. Unfortunately I never had a chance to try it. Maybe next time? I wanted to get a word search book. They only had one, and it was 10 lbs heavy so I decided to skip it. I walked around and saw a lot of interesting reads as well as cards for every occasion. They even had a shelf of sale items. I perused over these books, and just my luck found a really great deal on a book I've been meaning to buy!!!! Whats great about this store is that it is a local independent bookstore. This helps the economy because 68% of the money spent goes back to the local community. This helps to create local jobs as well. It also helps the environment because less packaging and less transportation equals less of a carbon foot print. read more

Prince Books is a fabulous small business bookstore in downtown Norfolk! The space that they are in is gorgeous and they carry any type of book you are looking for and if they don't have it, they will order for you! The people in the store are always so friendly, chatty and helpful! On more than one occasion, I have dove into book convo with their employees and have left with an armful of books and a happy heart! I highly recommend that book lovers check them out and throw business to our small independently owned businesses that make our area great! Prince Books is a great one so give them your patronage! read more

I appreciate the fact that the lady working up front allowed me to bring in my dog (they are not allowed in the cafe though, probably because of health code). Anyways, this bookstore is a charming little spot located right in front of Grain/Fruitive/Selden Market etc. There are many different genres of books to look at and as I mentioned before, a quaint little cafe connected to it. Overall, really nice place with friendly staff! I would recommend this spot to anyone walking around downtown Norfolk :) read more

Awesome spot in downtown Norfolk! Friendly folks to answer questions a great layout. So helpful!!

Potentially charming bookstore with the exception of extremely abrasive and rude staff. Reminder to be kind to others! read more

A charming little bookstore. Not a big place, but they certainly have some cool titles in different sections: history, sic fi, current events, local interest, etc. The cafe was closed when I visited (open 11-3?), so I can't comment on that. I obtained an exploring Tidewater book (useful for a new resident - Prince Books is listed in there!), a hiking guide for Virginia, and directions! And their discount program is a stamp on a card they keep. 1 stamp for every $11 purchased. When you have 11 stamps, you get $11 towards your next purchase. Happy to see a bookstore like this, especially in area that does not have many bookstores in general (the usual choices are a national chain or small used bookstores with a limited range). I'll be back. read more

MY FAVORITE! Prince Books almost always has what I'm looking for, if not they will order it. The staff knows you by name within a few visits, and are so very friendly and helpful. They have discount cards they'll keep on file for you at the store. They carry lots of local titles and are always bringing in new authors and having events that are free to the public! (edited to add 9/07): A new and huge Barnes & Noble just opened in MacArthur Mall across the street - NOPE, still going to Prince Books! They know me by name and I feel at home here. The food and drink in the coffeehouse is excellent. Grab one of the coconut macaroons from the jar on the counter, you won't be sorry. Also some of the best coffee around. read more

I don't have the emotional attachment to Prince Books that a lot of my Norfolkian friends seem to have. But it is a very nice little bookstore. And of course they are holding the flame for indie bookstores everywhere. The addition of the Lizard Cafe right next to to this location (it's an open layout where the two are connected) in downtown Norfolk was a great choice. They do a lot of in-store readings and author appearances, which is cool. read more

love this gem of a bookshop!! always has an amazing selection of new and old books and is cozy and aesthetic inside and out!

We all know that reading is not the most popular activity in America and with the advent of monster bookstores like Barnes& Nobles, the mom and pop neighborhood bookstore would seem about as profitable as the bookmobile. But leave it to Norfolk to have a store that may be more nostalgia than commerce and leave it to Norfolk to show us what a bookstore can really do. If literature and haughty intellectualism are now hip, then Prince Books is on the forefront. I came here for a poetry reading by the great Tim Seibles (creative writing professor at ODU and amazing poet--check out his books at all the major booksellers) and it was awesome! Seibles fit perfectly with the laid back décor and if smoking was allowed, the whole night would have had that beatnik feel. I've never bought any of their books (which I'm sure are a bit pricier than other places) but they definitely have great events for the artsy set or even just us wannabes. read more

Great little bookstore I got to see while in the city for an event. I did not get to try their storied coffee because their cafe closed early on Sundays. But it was a great spot to sit, read, or hang out with a laptop and some friends. read more

A great little book shop. I've been going there for years. I always used to enjoy the poetry readings when I was in high school. The shop is small, so expect to get a lot of personal attention. The employees love to help you out and make recommendations. They'll also leave you alone to wonder around. Prince Books has a good selection of new releases, but it's not big enough to house everything. They will order you any book they don't have. Nowadays, it's easier to order online or go over to Barnes and Noble across the street. But it feels good to support a local shop that brings so much culture to Hampton Roads. read more

Prince Books - Bookstores Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

It's a small bookstore with a cafe, but the downside was that the cafe isn't open on the weekends. It's worth checking out the store, because you're bound to find something or at least I did. I'm a bibliophile, so this place was heaven on Earth. If they don't have something they'll order it for you. I wasn't aware of how the punch card worked, so I declined it this time around. It's definitely a store that I'll return to next time I'm in the area, but not a place I'd drive out of the way for very often. It's worth supporting local bookstores, because there aren't many and it's amazing when you do find one. read more

I was in the area and walked by so I decided to stop in. It has a very cozy feel. The cafe looks nice and has a relaxed atmosphere. The actual bookstore side is small however, they have a good selection and books I haven't seen anywhere else. A huge downfall for me is the lack of friendly customer service. When I walked in I wasn't greeted by the guy at the counter nor did the lady fixing the shelf near where I entered say hello or offer assistance. Such a shame because it's a really nice place otherwise and I would've loved to shop there. read more

I Love Local Bookstores! I was in town for a few days and ordered a book I wanted the first day, which they said would be in the next day. Well, as (my) luck would have it, their shipment was lost by FedEx for a few days. When I went in, they offered to call regular customer who had ordered but not yet picked up the same book and see if they would mind if I took their book and they waited for mine. No problem! Outstanding service! Would one of the big chains done that? Don't think so! Shop this place.....support great customer service! read more

Cute little neighborhood bookstore! Many local books and a nice selection of other topics/genres. The kids corner is also tucked away in the back, which helps increase the distance between them and a quick escape out the double front doors. Haven't had a chance to check out the cafe, but it's nicely sized and well lit. A very quiet, nice place to browse and likely do some silent reading or study. read more

I love this place, a great, locally-owned bookstore. If they don't have it, they'll order it.

Definitely the best indie bookstore in Norfolk. Good selection and friendly service. The coffeeshop had local, sustainable food and a cool atmosphere. Norfolk doesn't have many of these alternative outlets, so I was pretty happy to find this one. Highly recommended! read more

Pretty cool little indie bookstore. Nice selection. Needs a little training for the help...clerk seemed a little put-off having to wait on customers. read more

A great little book store. The people who work there actually read books and make interesting recommendations, which will not be the usual best seller/new release fare. An excellent shop. read more

Book nerds: this place is for you. I love Prince Books because you can tell that someone is puts real thought into the books on display. I always find something (or multiple things) appealing. It's not like a Barnes & Noble that only has whatever some algorithm has determined is most likely to sell. I go in there with my Goodreads to-read list ready but I never need it. The layout is cute and accessible; there are chairs for you to sit down and the shelves are well organized. I haven't tried the cafe yet but the atmosphere and selection are enough to keep me going back. read more

Not a friendly service...fun store. Coffee Shop often out of supply. Love the poetry readings there.

These guys are just amazing when it comes to customer service. I really love the collection of books they have. Best place ever. I'd definitely recommend this place to all my friends and family. read more

Rarely in my life have I been spoken to as rudely as I just was at Prince Books in downtown Norfolk. While waiting to meet someone for lunch I ducked into this little bookstore (which I frequent and have bought from before) and began browsing through some titles, adding a few to my "To Read" list that I keep in a notebook. After being asked twice by the staff whether I needed any help, I was approached a third time (this time by the owner) who asked if she could provide any assistance in "actually buying anything." When I responded that I was still looking and making up my mind she replied, "As long as you know that this is not a showroom." I had her repeat herself three times to make sure I heard her right. Last I checked, bookstores were supposed to be places that foster intellectual curiosity and a desire to read (and then maybe eventually buy). At what point did the consumer's dollar become more important than the girl thoughtfully assembling a literary wishlist? I am completely disgusted by this experience and though I have always been happy to support small businesses, I guess I will be taking my money to the big chain booksellers. At least there I can spend an afternoon reading against a bookshelf without getting told to open my wallet or get out. read more

A great ambience immediately you walk in. I love how they treat their customers. I especially enjoy the fact that they have a variety of books to choose from. These guys are just amazing. read more

We are staying at the Marriott around the corner on a family 'Staycation' from NC. We passed by this bookstore yesterday while doing the tourist thing at the battleship... and truthfully could not WAIT to go back! I took my five year old son with with this morning to pick out a new book. They have a cozy little corner with a mini-rocking chair that made it easy for us to have quiet time while he made his selection. They had such a wonderful variety of books - some with info slips regarding the book and author; a great touch! Sadly, my son wouldn't select the book about the dog that needed glasses (Douglas Needs Glasses, I believe), although we laughed reading through it (spoiler alert - he brought home a beehive instead of a tennis ball!). We will likely be back, again, this week to grab another read and to try out the cafe (so many vegetarian options! Thank you!!). Top notch customer service, special touches all over the shop (the handmade signs and love of Harry Potter showed such personality and love for this place). Well worth the visit to Norfolk JUST for this shop! read more