There are two kinds of people: Those who go to bookstores to buy books and those who go to browse. While any bookstore will do for either shopper, the browser's heart skips a beat when she lays eyes on a place like the Hub City Bookshop.
Truth be told, there really is no other place like this bookstore in the heart of Spartanburg (also known as Hub City from railroading's heyday.)
The bookstore helps promote and fund the activities of the Hub City Writers Project and the Hub City Press - the brainchild of executive director, Betsey Teter, a longtime Upstate business journalist; John Lane, author and professor at nearby Wofford College; and Gary Henderson, an essayist and journalist in Spartanburg.
Hub City's goal is to nurture readers and writers while publishing quality works by new and established authors with a focus on South Carolina and the Southern experience.
Since its founding in 1995, Hub City Press has published more than 50 books, including works by Ron Rash, Marjory Wentworth, Philip Gerard and Cathy Smith Bowers. Hub City publishes the winner of its annual first novel competition each year and provides scholarships and workshops for high school students and emerging writers.
Located in the old Masonic Temple downtown, the bookstore also carries the latest titles from other publishers and offers a wide range of children's books.
The Little River Coffee Bar (864) 582-1227 is also located in the building.
The coffee shop is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and has some wonderful offerings. The bakery is open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday and specializes in simply delicious cupcakes. Try the salty and sweet buttercream.
Hub City Bookshop, 186 West Main St., is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (864) 577-9349.
Hub City Bookshop is More than a Bookstore
