Local zine publisher to open used bookstore in Church Hill

Local zine publisher Brian Baynes is set to open a used bookstore in Church Hill. (Courtesy Brian Baynes)

A local zine publisher is turning a new page in Church Hill.

Brian Baynes is set to open Brian’s Books, a used bookstore at 2514 P  St., on June 14.

The shop will offer a mix of vintage and used books, magazines, collectible books and some new, independently published books and zines. 

Baynes, who moved to Richmond in 2010, and to Church Hill in 2014, is no stranger to the Richmond literary scene.

He’s the founder and publisher of Bubbles, a fanzine for comics and manga. A lover of comics since his high school days, Baynes started Bubbles in 2019 and has since published 22 issues. He’s also long been involved in organizing events like the Richmond Zine Fest, bringing his love of the craft to other Richmonders. 

Over the years of working on Bubbles, Baynes said he’s become increasingly involved in the rare comic collecting world. His time traversing for special comics has taken him to bookstores far and wide, and cemented his love for the industry. 

“I’ve always been a huge fan of used bookstores. Whenever I’m traveling, that’s something I always want to seek out. I hope I can be that for someone who’s traveling through Richmond, and also supply to the local people.” 

Opening a bookstore has been a dream of his for many years, and he’s starting small to make it a reality. He recently signed on to rent the small P Street space that spans just 360-some square feet. 

Despite its size, Baynes aims to cast a wide net with Brian’s Books, offering an array of fiction and non-fiction books, comics, magazines and zines on everything from music to skateboarding. 

The Brian’s Books interior, which is still a work in progress ahead of opening. (Courtesy Brian Baynes)

“It’s very small. I might not always have exactly what you want like a big used bookstore, but I think you can always find something interesting. So come with an open mind is kind of my idea,” he said. “I’m excited to get interesting books into people’s hands.” 

Although the space is small, Baynes said it’s the right size for what he’s trying to achieve. 

“I really want the space to feel full. That’s the kind of feeling I like when I walk into a used bookstore,” he said. “That felt like a manageable amount of space of books to get.” 

Baynes said that the storefront has been vacant for many years before being recently renovated; he is the first person to occupy it since the late 1980s. Being a Church Hill resident for over a decade, Baynes said he didn’t consider opening the shop anywhere else but the neighborhood. 

“I really love Church Hill. I really feel like I want to be a part of the neighborhood in even more of a way,” Baynes said.  

Baynes said he’s hunted for inventory for the shop across the region’s thrift stores, through buying people’s collections, scouring the now-closed Azalea Flea Market, and anywhere else one could imagine looking for books.

“It’s a lot of sorting through and a lot of hunting. To me, that’s kind of the fun. I like having the mission of the book,” he said. 

Baynes will continue to work on the Bubbles zine alongside operating Brian’s Books. Currently projected hours for the bookstore are Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Brian’s Books will open its doors June  14 at 11 a.m. 

Elsewhere in the local book scene, used bookstore ILYSM Books opened its doors earlier this year in Brookland Park. 

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