Visit to the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA

Metal bell with green petina hanging above the main hall of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA

Date of Visit: October 25, 2019

Every time I visit a new destination – or have an opportunity to explore a little more – I always seek out local bookshops. Most of the time, they were nice stores with some unique titles that you won’t find at a Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.

But the best of the best bookstores are destinations in and of themselves.

That’s certainly the case at Harrisburg’s Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

The Midtown Scholar is located in – you guessed it – the Midtown section of our State Capital. It’s located just across the street from the iconic Broad Street Market and less than a half mile from the State Museum and the State Capitol complex.

View through a wrought iron railing on the second floor of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore looking out over the main lobby area

Walking in the front door, you get a sense of the scale of the building. What is now the Midtown Scholar was formerly a department store and there seems to be endless amounts of shelves to explore.

Interspersed on the shelves are books both old and new. Midtown Scholar offers both brand new titles and pre-owned books – fiction and non-fiction.

Tucked off to the side is the “Little Scholar” children’s area which offers titles for kids of all ages. Again, the shelves are a mix of old books that I remember having at my grandparents’ house growing up and new releases, with everything in between.

Sandwichboard sign advertising "Books by the Foot" with a ruler to mark the heigh needed to get a percentage off

A special section offers a “Book by the Foot” discount where bibliophiles are encouraged to stack up their books to earn 10%, 20% or 30% off their purchase.

One of my favorite parts of the store, though, is the Scholar Underground. As the name suggests, the area can be found at the bottom of a set of stairs in the main building. It’s not that I’ve found many titles here that appeal to me, but I love the catacomb-like feel of the area.

Sign reading "Scholar Underground" above a staircase leading to a basement filled with bookshelves

Eventually, if you take the right turns, you’ll find your way to the rare books room. Unlike the cold cellar feel, the room is well appointed with hardwood floors and antique furnishing. Books in this room are for serious collectors only and are locked in cabinets that can be opened by the room’s attendant.

No trip to the Midtown Scholar would be complete without grabbing a drink from the café. (My go-to is chai latte). I take my mug to a seat on the second floor and sit down with one of my new purchases.

Checkout counter for the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Cafe

The main level of the Midtown Scholar has a stage which plays host to a variety of events, most notably talks from nationally renowned authors.

If you’re an avid reader like me, a visit to the Midtown Scholar is well worth the trip.

When You Go

Parking is available on the street and in parking spaces across the road at the Broad Street Market.
The Scholar hosts author events throughout the year. Visit their website for a full calendar.
In addition to the coffee shop, the Midtown Scholar rents space to a breakfast and lunch spot, Tammy’s Just Baked Cakes & Pies