This Old Bookstore On Oxford’s Square Turns A Quick Escape From The Mississippi Heat Into A Two-Hour Family Afternoon
We only ducked inside to escape the Mississippi heat for ten minutes. Two hours later, nobody in our group wanted to leave, and the kids were still stretched out with picture books while the grown-ups hunted signed copies.
A creaky old building full of stairs, windows, and cozy corners turned an ordinary stop into the best part of our weekend. If your family loves a cheap, cool, all-ages outing, this one belongs on your list.
A Corner Building On The Courthouse Square
Picture a brick corner storefront facing a busy courthouse lawn, with big windows glowing in the afternoon light. Square Books sits at 160 Courthouse Square in Oxford, the county seat of Lafayette County in north Mississippi.
It is an independent, locally owned bookstore, and it anchors one of the prettiest small-town squares in the state.
Getting there is a straightforward drive for many Mississippi families. Oxford sits roughly 75 miles southeast of Memphis, and Tupelo families can often make the trip in about an hour.
From Jackson, plan on a longer ride of close to three hours, which makes it a natural day-trip or weekend anchor.
Square Books is not just one shop, either. The family of stores around the square includes the main store, a dedicated children’s store called Square Books, Jr., a bargain spot with cookbooks and maps, and Rare Square Books for collectors.
Visitors often describe hopping between them as part of the fun.
For parents, that layout means everyone can find their own corner. Kids can head to picture books while grandparents browse Southern history nearby.
A single square holds the whole plan, so there is no need to load everyone back into the car between stops.
From A Second-Floor Shop To A Century-Old Drugstore
Back in 1979, Richard and Lisa Howorth opened a little bookstore on the second floor of a building overlooking the Oxford square. Nobody could have guessed how far it would grow.
Seven years later, in 1986, the shop moved into its current home, a former drugstore that was already more than a century old.
That history still shows in the building itself. Wooden stairs, old windows, and the bones of a longtime Main Street business give the place a feel you simply cannot copy in a strip mall.
Grandparents who remember soda-fountain drugstores may spot familiar details right away.
How does a small shop last more than four decades in a college town? Part of the answer is roots.
Longtime regulars describe it as a pillar of the Oxford community, and some grew up visiting as children and still stop in as adults.
Owner Richard Howorth is known for greeting guests and talking books, including titles by his late friend and Mississippi author Larry Brown. That personal touch is the kind of family-run warmth that is getting harder to find.
It turns a quick shopping stop into a small lesson in Mississippi history.
Square Books, Jr. And Its Kid-Sized Kingdom
Kids get their very own store here, and they seem to know it. Square Books, Jr. opened in 2003 on the east side of the square, giving the children’s section a full building floor instead of a single aisle.
The goal, according to the store, is a lively, comfortable space where young readers feel it is truly theirs.
Shelves hold picture books, early chapter books, middle-grade novels, and young adult fiction. Beyond books, you will find educational toys, puzzles, and games.
That mix means a toddler and a twelve-year-old can each find something without anyone getting bored.
Tired parents, take note. A couch waits for grown-ups while little ones settle in at the play table or cook up pretend meals in the play kitchen.
Families mention the kids loved the children’s store while adults explored the main shop.
Hours differ slightly from the main building. Square Books, Jr. runs Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Browsing costs nothing, so a visit can be as budget-friendly as you need it to be.
Wednesday And Saturday Storytime Mornings
Ten o’clock on a Saturday morning may be the sweetest time to arrive. Square Books, Jr. holds storytime regularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m., on a biweekly rhythm.
It is a simple, free-feeling way to start a family day in Oxford.
Why does storytime matter so much for a road trip? Little ones who have been buckled in a car seat need a soft landing, and a read-aloud gives them one.
Afterward, they are often eager to pick out a book of their own.
Older kids are not left out. The store hosts book clubs for early chapter book readers and middle-grade readers, which can be a nice option for local families or anyone visiting often.
Clubs give reluctant readers a reason to finish that next chapter.
Because schedules can shift, it helps to check the store’s event calendar before you leave home. Holidays and special events around the square may change plans.
Aim to arrive a little early, since parking near the square can take a few extra minutes on busy mornings.
Pair storytime with a stroll around the courthouse lawn, and you have a gentle, low-cost morning.
Upstairs Coffee Bar And A Balcony View
Climb the stairs in the main store and the whole mood shifts. A coffee bar tucked upstairs serves coffee, tea, and cold drinks, and a balcony looks out over the square.
Some guests only discover it on a return trip and wish they had found it sooner.
On a steamy Mississippi afternoon, the air-conditioned interior is a real relief. Grab a cup, carry your new book to a seat, and let the kids flip through their picks while you rest your feet.
Seating is scattered around the building, so there is usually a spot to perch.
The balcony gives a front-row view of the courthouse and the bustle below. Grandparents can enjoy people-watching while younger kids point out passing cars and busy shoppers.
It feels like a small reward for making the climb.
Visitors describe the coffee as delicious, and prices at a small bar like this are often modest compared with fancy cafes. It is not a full restaurant, so plan a real lunch elsewhere on the square.
Still, a warm drink and a good chapter can stretch a quick stop into a long, happy hour.
Signed First Editions And Southern Shelves
Book lovers often gasp a little at the signed shelves. Square Books carries an impressive stock of signed books and first editions from Mississippi, Southern, and major American authors.
The store even runs a signed first editions club for serious collectors.
Mississippi history and Southern culture get plenty of space, too. That makes it a good spot to find a book about your own corner of the state, or a gift for a relative who loves local stories.
Local favorites are set apart so they are easy to spot.
Families with teens may enjoy the staff pick shelves, which visitors say offer a nicely varied selection. Handwritten notes tucked among the books help guide browsers toward something new.
Hard-to-find titles show up here more than you might expect.
Not every treasure is a book. Notecards, notebooks, journals, small gifts, and book accessories fill in the gaps, which helps when a child wants a souvenir that costs less than a hardcover.
Setting a small budget before walking in can keep everyone happy.
Nearby, Rare Square Books sits above the children’s store, offering another stop for grown-ups curious about older and collectible volumes.
Framed Photos, Fun Rugs, And Old Wooden Stairs
Hundreds of framed photographs line the walls, showing authors and well-known visitors who have stopped in over the years. Kids may not recognize many faces, but they often enjoy the game of spotting a picture on every landing.
Grown-ups tend to linger, reading captions and remembering names.
Look down and you will notice cheerful rugs underfoot. Look up and sunlight pours through plenty of windows.
Visitors describe the space as eclectic and artistic, with charming displays and little notes tucked around the shelves.
One regular compared the feeling to sitting at grandma’s house with hot chocolate and a favorite book. That cozy, lived-in quality is why families lose track of time here.
Nothing feels rushed, and there are many nooks to curl up and browse.
The stairs are part of the charm, but they are worth planning around. Accessibility details for the main store and the children’s store are not spelled out publicly, so families with strollers or wheelchairs may want to contact the store ahead of time.
Author events are often held at the nearby Off Square Books location, which is noted as wheelchair accessible for many programs.
Parking, Hours, And Practical Planning
Planning ahead makes the day smoother. The main Square Books is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Remember that Square Books, Jr. keeps its own, slightly shorter schedule.
Here is the budget-friendly part: free parking is available on the second, third, and fourth floors of the downtown parking garage, except during certain special events. Paid curbside spaces and off-street lots surround the square too.
You can pay those by kiosk, app, or text.
Timing matters in a college town. Ole Miss weekends, move-in days, and football Saturdays can pack the square, so quieter weekday mornings may suit families with little ones.
Summer visits are easiest early, before the afternoon heat builds.
Credit and debit cards are accepted, and the stores are fully air-conditioned. Browsing is free, so the only real cost is whatever books, toys, or drinks you choose.
A small spending limit per child can turn the trip into a fun lesson in choosing.
If you are pairing this with other sights, William Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, is close by for older kids interested in history.
A Saturday Plan For Every Generation
Some outings please only half the car. Here, the six-year-old gets a play kitchen and storytime, the teenager gets young adult shelves, and grandma gets signed Southern novels and a balcony seat.
Few stops in north Mississippi balance all of that so easily.
Cost stays flexible, which matters for many families. You can spend a whole morning browsing, reading, and exploring three floors without buying a thing, or you can leave with a stack of treasures.
Parking in the garage can be free, and walking the square costs nothing.
Would it suit a rainy afternoon? Absolutely, since the air-conditioned rooms and comfy corners offer an indoor escape in any season.
Fall and winter trips pair nicely with a warm drink upstairs.
For the best experience, start at Square Books, Jr., wander to the main store, and finish with a snack on the balcony. Check event calendars before driving, and ask staff about accessibility if you need it.
With a little planning, this old bookstore can become a family tradition, the kind of place kids ask to visit again every time Oxford comes up.