welcome.

Since 1809, the Andover Bookstore has found a home on Main Street in Andover, Massachusetts. Enter the charming 1850s English tudor the store currently resides in and give yourself over to the ambiance: the exposed wood beams, the cherished smell of ink and paper, and a carefully curated selection of books filling shelves and tabletops in this admittedly small but no less fantastical bookstore.

Collect a stamp or a bookmark when you visit as a keepsake, take pictures, and buy a book, greeting cards, or local artists’ designs to support the country’s oldest independent bookstore!

Our History

The Andover Bookstore originally operated on the grounds of the Andover Theological Seminary, a graduate school founded in 1807, which shared campus space with Phillips Academy. The bookstore was run alongside the historic Andover Press, which printed books, maps, and newspapers such as the Journal of Humanity and the Andover Townsman, until the printing press was discountinued in the 1960s. While the Andover Bookstore has moved locations a number of times these past 217 years, it’s the people who keep the Andover Bookstore alive and well, customers and staff alike.

1809 to 1866. The campus of Andover Theological Seminary

1866 to 1907. 37 Main Street

1907 to 1963. Andover Press at 60 Main Street

1963 to 2018. Olde Andover Village at 89R Main Street

2018 to present. Andover Bookstore’s current location at 74 Main Street

In the News...

Andover Bookstore featured in 'The Book Case' podcast with Charlie Gibson and daughter Kate Gibson

“Andover Bookstore Creates Welcoming Community, a “Third Space”

Massachusetts’ oldest independent bookstore has a long history — and a fight to survive!

"It's a special gem in this town," Andover home to the oldest independent bookstore in US

Meet Our Staff

Joanna

Joanna is the store manager, and graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing in 2021. She's happiest with a book in her hand, whether she's reading it or shelving it.

Karen

Karen has been a part of the Andover Bookstore for more than 30 years. She's an artist (find her watercolors in the store!) and is our traditional introducer for author events.

Chris

Chris works full-time outside of the bookstore as a teacher, but has been a cherished part of the shop's staff since he was a teenager. Whether you need a recommendation for the kids in your life or the person you know who only ever reads history, Chris is your guy.

Caroline

Caroline retired from being a fifth grade teacher and quickly joined the Andover Bookstore team. If you notice the store has been rearranged from one week to the next, know it was likely Caroline, whose mind is always churning with ideas.

Beth

Beth is a busy grandmother who adds a book a week to her endless TBR. When she is not reading or grandchild-wrangling, she is dreaming of her next trip abroad.

Heather

Heather is a literature enthusiast who reads across all genres and all ages. She runs her own knitting and yarn shop, Needle + Purl, works full-time in communications, parents a young reader, and somehow manages to find time to pick up the occasional shift at the bookstore.

Susan

Susan graduated from Emerson with a degree in publishing and creative writing, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at UMass. When she isn't writing, teaching, or doing coursework, we wrangle her back to Andover to care for our beautiful bookstore.

Kaitlin

Kaitlin works full-time in publishing, and is eager to talk to and share enthusiasm with fellow bookworms. Need to find the next best romance to read? Kaitlin is more than happy to recommend one (or five).

Abby

Abby's been both obsessed with books and chronically online for as long as she can remember. She works as a communications leader with over a decade of experience across non-profits, healthcare, and everything bookish, and slots in time to work on our social media.

the Hugo family

John Hugo is the owner of the Andover Bookstore, taking over from his father, Bob Hugo. Bob bought the Andover Bookstore in 1992 and had a number of bookstores across the North Shore before COVID shut down all but one: the Andover Bookstore.