A familiar name in books has opened in North Stafford. Books-A-Million has opened its doors at 1240 Stafford Market Place, Suite 101, filling a long-missed gap in the community since the old Borders bookstore closed its doors years ago.
The new store, located at Stafford Marketplace, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony this week in partnership with the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. Residents and local business leaders joined to celebrate the long-anticipated arrival of a new bookstore in the growing North Stafford retail corridor.
Julia Smith, District Manager in Training with Books-A-Million, shared details about the store’s upcoming festivities.
🎉 Grand Opening Celebration
The Grand Opening Weekend is set for Friday, November 7, and Saturday, November 8, featuring a lineup of family-friendly events and giveaways.
- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, with the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce
- Special Guests: Face painter, balloon artist, and Belle from Beauty and the Beast appearing throughout Saturday
- Freebies: Attendees can take home a reusable Books-A-Million tote bag and enjoy cookies while supplies last
- Prizes: Gift card drawings will include five $100 gift cards and one $500 grand prize winner
📖 A Community Connection
Inside, the new Books-A-Million offers a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles, a vibrant children’s section filled with books and toys, and specialty departments like Faith Point and Pop Culture, featuring anime and manga for younger readers.
The store also kicked off a Holiday Book and Toy Drive in partnership with the Stafford Education Foundation, aiming to support local students and educators with resources they need for learning and literacy.
“We’re so excited to be within the community of Stafford now,” Smith said during the ribbon-cutting. “Customers have been nonstop this week and raving about how excited they are.”
🗞️ A Return to a Beloved Spot
For many longtime residents, the bookstore’s return carries special meaning. The former Borders bookstore once stood in the same shopping center and served as a local gathering spot for readers and coffee lovers.
Uriah Kiser, founder and publisher of Potomac Local News, recalled holding weekly news meetings at the Borders café while working for the Stafford County Sun newspaper years ago.
“It’s wonderful to see a bookstore back in Stafford Marketplace,” Kiser said. “Bookstores are more than retail — they’re community spaces that bring people together.”
Books-A-Million’s arrival marks the second major ribbon-cutting in as many days in Stafford, following the opening of My Eye Doctor in Embry Mill. The momentum underscores growing business investment across the county.
