You know how the best bookstores exude an aura of mystery? One that’s steeped in intellectual reach while surrounded by the hush of a library? One where you’re never really sure what the hours are?
Voila. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Ghinkgo Books! Formerly Heartwood Books, wedged between Take it Away and Coups, this is a must-visit bookstore!
In early 2026 the store’s ownership shifted from founder Paul Collinge to a consortium of UVA students.
The four primary owners, all undergraduates, intend to ramp the re-christened Ghinkgo Books into a first-rate rare and used bookstore. They’ve extended their hours, introduced music, readings, and other events, and are determined to “build build community at UVA and Charlottesville.” Think of Ghinkgo Books as a 40,000-volume book club right on Elliewood in a hallowed space with creaky floors, a dusty ambiance, and meticulously shelved classics.