Independent Bookstore Directory

The Brown Bookstore has strong traditions as an independent university bookseller. Book stocks include a diverse front-list and back-list of titles, reflecting the wide range of academic, professional and the general book interests of the Brown community and area residents. Breadth of customer book interests requires special ordering services and good relations with the gamut of academic and trade publishers and book distributor services. Knowledge of distributor and publisher order response is critical to meeting customer expectations including special orders – a major focus of the staff.

Store Hours

Monday – Friday:

9:00am – 6:00pm

Saturday:

10:00am – 6:00pm

Sunday:

10:00am – 4:00pm

Our Story

The Brown Bookstore has been located at 244 Thayer Street, on the corner of Angell & Thayer, since the opening of the Brown Office Building in 1970. The Bookstore is an anchor store to the Thayer Street retail district on College Hill in Providences historic East Side. The Bookstore attracts students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors, area residents and professionals. The Bookstore is known for its general and academic book selections, and quality Brown gifts and apparel, cards, stationery, supply and computer products, also for its friendly atmosphere and good service. Self-operated by Brown University, the Brown Bookstore is proud of its status as an independent university and community focused bookstore.

Since 1992, Books on the Square is the independent bookstore in the heart of historic Wayland Square.

We are Providence’s convenient independent bookseller because we’ve got plenty of free parking directly around the store and along neighboring streets.

• Handicap parking available directly in front of store.
• Four spots reserved in the lot behind the bookstore on Medway Street.
• Free 2 and 3-hour parking along Angell and Medway Streets, Wayland and Elmgrove Avenues.

SNOW/SEVERE WEATHER CLOSINGS

For the safety of our customers and staff, we will be closed whenever the city of Providence implements a parking ban, or when common sense says that the weather is too dangerous to travel in. Book clubs and author events will be cancelled and rescheduled to a later date whenever possible. If weather is questionable, please call (401) 331–9097 to make sure we will be open when you arrive.

OWNERS

Merc and Rod Clifton

rmclifton@booksq.com
401-331-9097

Store Hours

Monday – Thursday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Friday & Saturday: 10:00am – 7:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

We are proud to be Rhode Island’s newest bookstore located in downtown Pawtucket across from the historic Slater Mill. With over 6,000 books in bright, new comfortable surroundings, we welcome readers of all interests to visit, browse and enjoy our books.

Stillwater Books carries titles from all your favorite authors — from John Grisham, Clive Cussler and Stephen King to Danielle Steele, Heather Graham and Sandra Brown — and many are priced 40, 50 or 60 percent below the original retail prices! And if you don’t see what you are looking for, ask us to place a special order. We can order tens of thousands of additional titles, most of which will arrive in just a few days.

And by the way… our used books aren’t what you might expect to find in a typical used bookstore. Though some show a little wear, most are nearly as new and clean as the day they were printed — and most are under $10!

Our store is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM (and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sundays in December). In the coming months, we will be featuring signings and events with several local Rhode Island authors. We look forward to meeting all the booklovers in our community.

Store Hours

Monday – Saturday: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday: Closed

The story of independent ideas and human rights in America is incomplete without the Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663. Authored primarily by Newporter John Clarke and signed by King Charles II, the Charter created in Rhode Island the first self-governed political state in North America, acknowledged the rights of indigenous peoples to their own land, and guaranteed its settlers freedom of religion. Historian Thomas Bicknell called the Charter “the grandest instrument of human liberty ever constructed.”

Store Hours

Monday – Wednesday, 10am – 5pm

Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 8pm

Sunday, 12pm – 5pm

OUR STORE

The name of our bookstore is a tribute to the Newporters of 1663 who placed their faith – literally – in the power of the written word to enact change and secure essential liberties.

Founded in 2020, Charter Books is a Newport-based business whose mission is to cultivate community and a robust local culture through a broad selection of books, programming, and the free exchange of ideas. We’re committed to exceptional customer service and the values of inclusion, diversity, and independence.

Steve Iwanski

FOUNDER

Steve Iwanski grew up in Tiverton and got his start in retail working summer jobs at the Sakonnet Boathouse and the Army-Navy Surplus. He graduated from Tiverton High School and the University of Notre Dame. In 2010 he joined Teach For America and taught high school English for four years in the Mississippi Delta. In 2014 he was hired as a bookseller at Turnrow Books in Greenwood, MS. When author and owner Jamie Kornegay stepped away from the store in 2016, he asked Steve to serve as manager. Under his management, Turnrow was Main Street Greenwood’s 2017 Retailer of the Year and the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Small Business of the Year. He also served as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee and served for two years as a board member of Main Street Greenwood. He’s excited to bring his passion for community and bookselling back home to Newport County.