A quick errand in Searcy can turn into a four-hour treasure hunt if the wrong door catches your eye. Behind one storefront sits a warehouse of books, records, movies, and games, all waiting to be dug through by the bagful.
Shoppers drive from Jonesboro and even 6.5 hours away just to fill a box. There is a resident cat, a restroom people rave about, and a pricing system that makes browsing feel like a game.
Keep reading to find out how this place works, what fills its shelves, and how to plan a visit that actually fits your afternoon.
A Warehouse of Books on East Lincoln Avenue
Books by the Pound sits at 1010 E Lincoln Ave, Searcy, AR 72143, United States. It is a used book store built around one big idea: books sold by weight.
The space is a true warehouse, and the size is the first thing regulars bring up. Shoppers describe it as exactly what the name promises, a large building packed with books.
Beyond paperbacks and hardbacks, the inventory stretches to DVDs, CDs, cassettes, vinyl records, magazines, and sheet music. Even record players turn up on the floor.
Google Maps lists it as a book store with a 4.8 star average across 526 reviews, which is a strong showing for a shop that asks customers to do their own hunting.
Searcy is the setting, a town in central Arkansas, and the shop has become a destination for people well beyond town limits. Some plan whole days around it.
The rest of this article walks through how the system works, what to expect inside, and when to go.
How Pay-by-Weight Shopping Works
Here is the twist that gives the shop its name: most books are weighed at checkout instead of being priced one by one. Customers get a box and a cart, then fill up as they wander.
Hardback books with a marked price are the exception. Those carry their own price, while the rest go on the scale.
Shoppers praise how reasonable the per-pound rate feels. One group reported 15 soft cover children’s books and activity books for 11 dollars, and another picked up 26 paperbacks for around 13 dollars.
Another shopper left with a stack of books for under 100 dollars after a very long drive, which says plenty about how far the system stretches a budget.
Staff are known for explaining the process to first-timers, so there is no need to guess. A quick question at the counter clears things up.
The math rewards the curious. The more you load into the box, the more the visit starts to feel like a game with a very bookish prize.
Sorted by Genre, Not by Author
Alphabetical order is not on the menu here. Books are grouped by broad categories such as fiction, cookbooks, history, romance, classics, and large print, with bins for mysteries.
For some browsers, that is part of the fun. Many say it makes the place feel like a hunt where surprises turn up around every corner.
Others find it a challenge. Anyone searching for one specific title may come up empty, and a few readers wished for tighter sorting.
One helpful tip from shoppers: if a favorite author is on the list, check the genre where that writer would land and scan the spines.
The signs are clearly marked, so finding the right section is easy. It is the digging within each section that takes time.
Going in without a strict shopping list seems to be the winning approach. Plan to leave with something you did not know you needed.
Records, DVDs, and Music Beyond the Books
Books may headline the shop, but the media aisles hold their own. Popular topics from Google Maps include DVDs with 41 mentions, so the movie selection clearly gets noticed.
Music comes in several formats, including cassette, CD, and vinyl. Record players and sheet music add to the mix for anyone building a collection.
Shoppers also mention anime and games among the finds. The inventory is described as changing constantly, so no two visits look quite the same.
One caution from a shopper: check that a disc is actually inside its case before buying, since DVDs here are inexpensive and a missing disc can happen.
A local donor even discovered the shop while looking for a home for old records and books, then planned a return trip to explore.
For a family that wants a movie night and a stack of paperbacks in the same stop, this corner of the warehouse does the job.
Edgar the Furriest Employee
Every good bookshop needs a cat, and this one has Edgar. Shoppers list him as the furriest member of the team.
One traveler who drove 6.5 hours for the visit noted that Edgar was helpful simply by being himself. That is a fair job description for a store cat.
His fans are not the only ones praising the team. Staff members are called friendly in about 60 mentions on Google Maps, making that one of the most talked-about features.
Names like Becky come up for helping customers track down books, and another employee is described as knowledgeable and energetic.
Owners are said to keep a relaxed presence, helping when asked and not hovering when browsing is the goal.
That mix of warm welcome and breathing room fits a shop where people stay for hours. It is easy to see why a feline mascot belongs.
Decor Worth a Photo Stop
Plenty of stores promise atmosphere, but few get shoppers talking about the restroom. Here, the bathroom decor has earned its own fan base, with comments about groovy walls and playful design.
The rest of the shop is described as cute and cozy, with seating areas tucked among the stacks. A visitor from a similar store in northwest Arkansas called this one its own kind of experience.
Photo ops are a selling point too. One guest listed books, music, anime, old stuff, new stuff, and plenty of spots for pictures.
Shoppers also note that the building is surprisingly clean for a warehouse of this size.
The vibe stays relaxed. People feel comfortable settling in with a book, and some think the staff would not mind if a customer grabbed one and stayed a while.
Bring a phone with space on it. The decor makes a good excuse for a few snapshots between aisles.
A Kid-Friendly Shopping Trip
Children get their own adventure here. One family described their five year old pushing a cart and shopping to her heart’s content.
The store carries a large selection of children’s books, along with activity books and games. A play area and plenty of seating give younger shoppers room to settle.
Parents say it is a fun spot to bring the whole family. Kids explore while adults pick up stationery or history titles.
One caution from a parent: those hoping for current children’s and middle grade titles may find the stock more mixed than new.
Hardbacks, including some first editions, have turned up for lucky families, which makes the hunt feel like a prize search.
Since the shop sells used items, the selection shifts. A repeat trip every couple of months, as some regulars do, keeps the finds fresh for growing readers.
Homeschool Shelves and Special Interests
Teachers and homeschool families have noticed this place. Google Maps lists homeschool curriculum among its popular topics, and shoppers confirm the shelves hold materials for it.
Science books and National Geographic magazines are part of the mix. One shopper loaded up on publications about ancient civilizations at a price that felt unbeatable.
Hobbyists find plenty to explore, too. One guest said the shop is a good place to pick up a new hobby or find a gift.
Nostalgic finds appear as well. A shopper located a Bible like one owned in childhood, and autographed books have turned up on occasion.
The selection is broad but not exhaustive. One shopper wished for more religious variety, since a single bin holds titles outside Christianity.
Crowds can gather when homeschool groups visit. Anyone wanting a quieter browse may want to pick a different hour.
Who Will Love It, and Who Might Not
This shop is built for browsers. Readers who enjoy wandering, digging through stacks, and being surprised tend to leave happy.
Families, grandparents, and friends all appear in the feedback. One woman brought her 88-year-old mother and two teenage granddaughters, and everyone found something.
Readers who return books after finishing them find the shop friendly to that habit too, according to one regular.
People hunting a specific title may be disappointed. With sorting by genre only, the odds of finding an exact book vary.
One shopper who traveled a long way said the drive did not feel worth it for a single title, though the prices were good.
The takeaway: pack patience and curiosity, and the visit pays off. Go in with a rigid list, and frustration may follow.
Hours and Planning Your Visit
Hours vary by day, so a quick check helps. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday run 8 am to 7 pm.
Wednesday closes earlier, at 5 pm. Saturday opens later at 10 am and closes at 7 pm.
Sunday is the shortest day, from noon to 6 pm.
Plan on more time than you think. Shoppers repeatedly say they could spend hours, and one stopped near closing time and still found books but wished for more time.
The shop is at 1010 E Lincoln Ave in Searcy. A website at booksbythepound.shop is listed for more details.
Bring bags if you like, though a box and cart are provided. Restrooms and seating are available inside.
Worth the Drive From Far and Wide
Some people live around the corner, but plenty make a day trip. One family drives about 90 minutes from Jonesboro every couple of months and loads up.
Another traveler made a 6.5 hour trip after spotting the shop on TikTok and left with armfuls of finds.
College parents have noted it will become a regular stop once their children start school in Searcy.
The pull is the mix of low prices, a changing inventory, and a team that seems to enjoy the work.
A few shoppers note the distance can be a drawback if you only want one title. Others say the trip is worth it every time.
Overall, the shop earns a soft yes. Give it an afternoon, bring an open mind, and expect to leave with a bag heavier than you planned.
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