A Family-run Treasure in Downtown Charleston

When Polly Buxton was a teenager, she had a dream: to own and run an independent bookstore in her hometown. Today, that dream lives on King Street. Buxton Books, tucked downstairs from the iconic Charleston Library Society, is a small slice of literary heaven, brimming with thoughtfully curated titles for readers of every age and interest. Though modest in size, the shop has, over the past decade, welcomed some of the biggest names in contemporary literature, carving an outsized and enduring role in Charleston’s vibrant literary scene.

Books, and the connections they create, have always mattered deeply to Buxton and her husband, Julian. In fact, it was a chance connection with beloved local author Pat Conroy that set the couple firmly on the path toward opening their bookstore. On the evening of Conroy’s death, Buxton picked up My Reading Life and opened to a random page. The words she found stopped her cold. Conroy wrote, “When I die, my religion tells me I’ll go to heaven, and I hope someone got that story right. I’ll make a request that I get to live in the Old New York Book Shop on the night of a book party.” The moment felt like a sign. The Buxtons took a leap of faith and began turning a teenage dream into reality.

From the beginning, Buxton was intentional about building something lasting. “We partner with individuals and organizations with shared values,” she says. “Organizations that support our tagline, ‘Books connect us.’” Those partnerships, with local institutions like the Charleston Library Society and the Gaillard Center, have allowed Buxton Books to host major literary voices in intimate settings. From bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe to celebrity chef Kardea Brown, the calendar is filled with events that celebrate stories, words, and the connections they spark. Each gathering offers the chance to meet a writer, hear a story, and leave with a book that lingers after the evening ends.

“I’ve frequently told our team and the community that truly independent bookstores are singular in character,” Buxton says. “We’re born of passion, purpose, and connection to our communities. We know books can be bought quick and cheap, so our passion and purpose is to connect with our community. At events and in the bookstore, we frequently have what I describe as ‘small-town moments,’ where we’re collectively changed by a conversation or individual interactions with people we care about and who care about us.”

In a world that often rushes past the quiet magic of shared stories, Buxton Books stands as a reminder that some dreams—carefully tended—don’t just come true. They bring a community together, one book at a time.

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