The best book, hobby & craft shops in Sylva

“Cozy and Content is Franklin's indie nook for new and used reads plus a small-batch Appalachian apothecary, tarot decks, and curious gifts. The storefront closed on September 26, 2026, but the shop lives online with local pickup, plus thoughtful recs via Jenn’s Picks and The Lantern.”

“When your living room smells vaguely like Tuesday, The Modern Deer steps in with candles that turn chaos into cozy. Perfect for quick gifts, post-skillet refreshes, and everyday mood setting, this Waynesville spot makes it easy to find scents you’ll actually want to light again.”

“Whether you're chasing Appalachian fiction and poetry, great outdoors guides, or a Staff Pick that actually hits, City Lights Bookstore keeps shelves stacked with local voices, used-book treasures, and even audiobooks/ebooks. Plus, trade your well-loved reads for store credit and keep the cycle rolling.”

“Underground Sylva is that downtown spot where you pop in for a record and leave with new or vintage vinyl, a weirdly perfect cassette, a stack of CDs, maybe a crystal, a tropical plant, and a killer tee. Curated, cool, and very Sylva... you’ll probably bump into friends.”

From the Sylva newsletter, September 23, 2026