Shops where books are bought and sold to customers.
Compound of 'book' (from Old English 'bōc,' from beech tree, whose wood was used for early writing tablets) plus 'store' (from Old French 'estor' meaning 'supply'). Modern bookstores became common in the 18th century.
Independent bookstores became cultural symbols—they're where authors first read work, where book clubs gather, and where communities find belonging around shared stories—which is partly why they're being revived after nearly disappearing to online retailers!
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