Reed Books, Birmingham

Tucked into the heart of historic Downtown Birmingham, Reed Books / The Museum of Fond Memories is not your average used bookstore-it’s Alabama’s largest and most whimsical literary time machine. Owned and operated by author, columnist, and self-described “gentle gothic humorist” Jim Reed, this 3,500-square-foot treasure trove houses nearly 300,000 books, with around 45,000 cataloged and searchable online. But it’s not just about books-this is also the world’s only Museum of Fond Memories, a space overflowing with postcards, trinkets, toys, record albums, photographs, vintage flyers, artifacts, and other quirky ephemera.

Reed Books began its journey in 1980 from Reed’s own house in Birmingham’s Southside, moving through several downtown locations before settling into its current home in the O’Neill Building on 3rd Avenue North. The space was once used by the U.S. Government Printing Office bookstore-now it’s a sanctuary for nostalgia lovers, collectors, and curious tourists from around the globe.

Visitors can browse titles spanning five centuries, from rare first editions to comforting paperbacks that feel like old friends. Jim Reed’s books, including the beloved Dad’s Tweed Coat: Small Wisdoms Hidden Comforts Unexpected Joys, are available here-often autographed.

Whether you're searching for a childhood favorite, a historical oddity, or just a quiet place to marvel at the strange beauty of the printed past, Reed Books is a place where memory meets magic.