Bristol Bookmark

Bristol Bookmark has been a gathering place for East Bay readers since 2007, when owner Martin Gomes opened the shop on Hope Street with the belief that a great bookstore could anchor a small town's cultural life. The biography and memoir section is the store's crown jewel, filling an entire wall with lives well-told, from presidential histories to debut memoirs by unknown writers. The partnership with nearby Roger Williams University brings a steady flow of students and faculty, and the marine biology section reflects the university's renowned program and Bristol's deep connection to Narragansett Bay. Used books are thoughtfully integrated throughout the store rather than relegated to a separate section, encouraging customers to discover secondhand gems alongside new releases. The store's patriotic exterior, painted in red, white, and blue to honor Bristol's claim to America's oldest Fourth of July celebration, makes it impossible to miss on a stroll down one of Rhode Island's loveliest streets.