Persnickety Books
Persnickety Books is an independent bookstore and coffee bar at 703 East Davis Street in Burlington North Carolina. It bills itself as Burlington's only used bookstore and it has grown into one of Alamance County's favorite creative gathering places. Book lovers come for the shelves and stay for the coffee and the monthly open mic and a busy calendar of clubs and community events. The shop describes itself as an LGBTQ+ safe space and a welcoming place for everyone.
History
Persnickety Books opened in Historic Downtown Burlington in 2017 under original owners Shawna Dron-Gentert and Herb Gentert. In 2019 then-mayor Ian Baltutis and his wife Dr. Kristina Baltutis bought the store and gave it the motto Giving books and people a second chance. The shop partnered with local nonprofits to offer jobs to people returning from incarceration and it redistributes books to libraries and community spaces across the region. Rising downtown rent led the store to move in early 2025 to its current home on East Davis Street where the main floor is roughly 5000 square feet and about double the size of the old main floor.
Atmosphere and Setting
The shop is eclectic and colorful with humorous signage and thousands of carefully organized used titles. Comfortable nooks invite guests to read and work and socialize and it is common to find a chess game underway between the stacks. The move brought the store's coffee bar and art gallery and community gathering spaces along with it so the new location keeps the same cozy creative spirit with more room to spread out.
Open Mic Night
The music and performance highlight is Open Mic Night on the second Friday of every month from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The stage is open to singer-songwriters and musicians along with poets and writers and author readings and just about any creative act. Past nights have featured guitars and handpans alongside spoken word and even juggling. The crowd is warm and attentive which makes it a great first stage for new performers and a relaxed place for seasoned players to try new material. Grab a drink from the coffee bar and settle in.
The Persnickety Coffee Bar
The in-store coffee bar is where books and brews meet. It serves espresso drinks and chai lattes along with tea and treats so guests can sip while they browse or while they listen to the open mic.
More Events
Persnickety hosts a full slate of regular community events. The calendar includes book clubs and writers groups along with craft circles and chess meetups. The shop has also hosted movie nights and art showings in its gallery space. Check the monthly events page for the current lineup.
Books and Book Trade
Shelves hold tens of thousands of used books across fiction and nonfiction and children's titles and more. A trade-in program lets readers exchange used books for store credit and the staff is known for its knowledge and friendly recommendations.
Good to Know
Persnickety Books is at 703 East Davis Street in Burlington North Carolina 27215. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from noon to 4:00 PM. Call (336) 934-4300 or visit persnicketybooks.com for events. Follow @persnickety_books on Instagram for updates.
