Step inside the Old Florida Book Shop and you’ll be greeted by walls of filled-to-the-brim bookshelves (complete with rolling ladders), antique artwork and maps, and glowing Tiffany table lamps. Oh, and Peter the cat! Because every bookstore needs a shop cat.
Started by book and history enthusiast William Chrisant, the shop boasts over 50,000 items. It’s mostly books, of course, spanning categories from art to natural history to poetry to fashion and textiles, but there’s also antique furniture and other one-of-a-kind goods. The store has been a staple in Dania Beach since 2009, but existed in many different iterations before then.
A rich history
Chrisant officially started the shop in 1978 in Akron, Ohio. Inspired by famous booksellers Otto Harrssowitz and B. H. Blackwell, Chrisant decided to purchase and collect all the books he was reading for graduate school. Pretty soon, he had a large enough collection to open a book shop, which he did in a local Ohio antique store. He later expanded to an old Ohio schoolhouse, then to a space in Cleveland, and even opened an additional spot in Shaker Square.
In 2009 Chrisant made his way down to Florida, and brought his storied book shop from Ohio to Fort Lauderdale where he now runs it with his family.
Chrisant is an active member of the book community here, serving as a member of the HistoryMiami Museum, the Florida Bibliophile Society, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ of America, and more.
The Old Florida Book Shop is definitely a collector’s paradise, and you’ll see more high-end tomes for sale on their website. In person though you’ll find more accessible options. And, a fun feature the store has is shelves full of books for only $1 that live in front of the store 24/7! You can even purchase them when the store isn’t formally open and just slip your money through the slot in their door.
Location and hours
📍 The Old Florida Book Shop is located at 3426 Griffin Road in Fort Lauderdale. It’s open:
⏰ Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Call for holidays)