LGBTQ-owned businesses in Tampa, FL

Tombolo Books

Tampa, FL

Tombolo Books is St. Petersburg's independent bookstore, open since 2019 in the heart of the Grand Central District at 2153 1st Ave S. We're woman-owned, founded by Alsace Walentine and co-owned by Candice Anderson, and everything about this shop reflects the belief that a great bookstore belongs to its neighborhood. Our name says a lot about who we are. A tombolo is a slender sandbar that connects an island to the mainland, and that's exactly what we hope to be: a bridge between readers, writers, and the community around us. Step through our doors and you'll find warm wooden shelves stacked floor to ceiling with carefully chosen titles, hand-written shelf-talkers pointing you toward staff favorites, and a colorful, sunlit storefront that has become one of St. Pete's most photographed corners. We stock new books across every section, from Florida fiction and literary novels to mystery, science fiction, poetry, and children's stories. We're especially proud to champion books in translation, work from marginalized voices, and titles from small independent presses that the big chains too often overlook. If you're looking for something specific, or just want a recommendation you'd never have found on your own, our booksellers love nothing more than putting the right book in the right hands. Beyond the shelves, Tombolo is a gathering place. We host author events, book club nights, signings, and community conversations that bring readers together throughout the year. Shopping local here means supporting a small business that reinvests in the writers, presses, and neighbors who make St. Petersburg such a vibrant, literary city. Whether you're a longtime local or discovering the Grand Central District for the first time, we invite you to browse a while, chat with our staff, and leave with a stack of books you can't wait to open. Come find your next great read at Tombolo Books, where every visit connects you to a little more of the world and the community right outside our door.