Best Indie Bookstores in Trumbull County, Ohio

Love the new-book smell - or the thrill of a great used find? Explore indie bookstores in Trumbull County, Ohio, from Cortland to Niles and Kinsman to Vienna. These independent shops offer new, used, and rare titles, cozy nooks, and community events, making it easy to plan a book-lover’s day in Northeast Ohio.

If you’re searching for a new addition to your bookshelf, then look no further than Trumbull County. The county is home to a number of indie bookstores. Each offering a wide variety of genres for all ages, many also featuring special events or author signings. Stop in, check out the selection, and find your next literary treasure!

Inside Papa’s Book Shoppe in Cortland, Ohio: readers gather among floor-to-ceiling shelves while a guitarist plays in the cozy, wood-beam bookstore.

Papa’s Book Shoppe | Cortland

(978) 660-6928 | papasbookshoppe@gmail.com

Located at 193 W. Main Street in Cortland, Papa’s Book Shoppe is a 1,600-square-foot, 100-year-old carriage-house-turned bookstore opened in 2023 by Larry Lo Verme (aka Papa).

Handcrafted Amish barn beams and solid oak flooring provide the perfect setting for book lovers to traverse the store’s three floors, exploring an inventory that includes new and used paperbacks, hardcovers, and leather-bound books, as well as vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs. The store also has ongoing Bible studies, and Papa plans to resume jam sessions and open mics in the spring.

The store is open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. For more information, visit the website and follow Papa’s Book Shoppe on Facebook.

Open book with wooden “Once Upon a Bookstore” bookmark in a cozy reading corner; children’s and YA shelves in the background, Vienna, Ohio.

Once Upon a Bookstore | Vienna

(234) 830-0051 | Uponabookstore@gmail.com

A former dentist’s office is now home to Once Upon a Bookstore, opened in 2023 by Alex Hagood-Derthick and her mother, Julie Hagood. It was Julie’s dream – a year in the making – and it has quickly become a favorite spot for adults and children alike.

Located at 351 Youngstown Kingsville Road in Vienna, the store offers a wide assortment of used books for children and adults, along with cookbooks and puzzles, all at wallet-friendly prices. In addition to special events, the store hosts children’s story time and book club meetings, each held once a month.

The store is open Wednesday and Friday, 12:00–6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, follow Once Upon a Bookstore on Facebook and Instagram.

Rows of well-organized shelves packed with paperbacks and hardcovers inside Market Square, a large used bookstore in Kinsman, Trumbull County, Ohio.

Market Square | Kinsman

(330) 876-3178 | mktsqkinsman@gmail.com

Market Square, at 6406 Kinsman Nickerson Road in Kinsman, has books – lots of books! According to owner Don Sutton, the 18,000-square-foot store holds more than 200,000 well-organized books covering most categories.

Sutton opened the store in 1986, but the building itself dates to 1894, when it was a general store and retail space. In addition to books, Market Square offers new and used housewares and hardware. Wallpaper and borders; antiques, vintage collectibles, and curios; and, for music lovers, a selection of records – 45s and LPs. If browsing all those treasures whets your appetite, Market Square has a small deli with everything made from scratch and the oldest continuously operating soda fountain in Ohio.

The store is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter. For more details, visit the website or follow the store on Facebook.

Storefront view into The Paperback Shack, a destination used bookstore in Niles near Youngstown, Northeast Ohio, with rows of wood shelves packed with paperbacks.

Paperback Shack | Niles

(234) 430-2164 | Lisa@thepaperbackshack.com

If you have a reading preference for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, paranormal, romance, western, or YA, then The Paperback Shack at 6058 Youngstown Warren Road in Niles is a must-visit. Owner Lisa Didiano bought the 1,200-square-foot store from the original owner in 2015 and has since built a loyal following among fans of those genres.

The well-organized inventory makes it easy to find the used book you want. While you’re there, check out the selection of shirts, mystery book boxes, stickers, 3D book nooks, and customized gift baskets.

The Store is open Tuesday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In addition to teaching writing classes, Didiano hosts a number of events, including a twice-yearly sidewalk sale and the annual Indie Author Bash, and participates in the Fall Bookstore Crawl. For more information, visit the website or follow the store on Facebook and Instagram.

Group of young adults shopping and smiling at Eastwood Mall Complex in Northeast Ohio, walking past toy stores and national retail shops

The Eastwood Mall Complex | Niles

Just across the street from the Paperback Shack is the Eastwood Mall. The place to go if you want to find that perfect book for yourself or to give as a gift.

In addition to BAM, a nationwide bookstore chain open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The mall is home to Leana’s Books & More and Eastwood Mall Library, the newest branch of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

Storefront of Leana’s Books & More inside Eastwood Mall in Niles, Trumbull County, Ohio—tables and shelves of new, used, and bargain books at an independent bookstore.

Leana’s Books & More | Niles

(330) 978-4094 | vince@leanasbooks.com

In 2024, owners Vince and Leana Hillard opened Leana’s Books & More at 5555 Youngstown Warren Road in Niles, inside Eastwood Mall – their third location, with the other two in Austintown, Ohio, and Grove City, Pennsylvania.

The 2,500-square-foot retail area features tables and shelves with about 16,200 new, used, and bargain books. Customers can place orders on the store’s website and pick them up in-store. Leana’s Books & More also hosts author signings at its Austintown and Eastwood Mall locations.

The store is open Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit their website or follow the store on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Children’s section at the Eastwood Mall Library in Niles, Ohio—low bins and shelves filled with picture books and chapter books; part of the Warren–Trumbull County Public Library.

Eastwood Mall Library | Niles

(234) 830-2300

In 2025, the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library opened its newest location in the JCPenney concourse at the Eastwood Mall, Niles. According to Cheryl Bush, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, the goal is to connect with and serve Trumbull County residents in a welcoming space that functions as a popular, convenient community hub.

The 2,500-square-foot branch offers a wide selection of books, movies, and other materials; public-use computers, printers, and Wi-Fi; and a robust schedule of programs for children, teens, and adults. Family Storytime for families with children ages 3 and older takes place every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. beginning in October. Additional events for all ages are scheduled throughout the year and listed on the library’s website calendar.

The branch is open Monday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., and closed Sunday. For more information, visit their website.

Where to Stay in Trumbull County

If you’re visiting from out of town, the Eastwood Mall area has three hotels where you can relax after all your shopping.

These include the Residence Inn by Marriott Youngstown at 5555 Youngstown Warren Road. Hampton Inn & Suites at 5581 Youngstown Warren Road, and Fairfield Inn at 1860 Niles Cortland Road SE.