Old Town Books

Old Town Books is a general interest independent bookstore in the heart of historic downtown Alexandria, Virginia. From mysteries and thrillers to romance novels, from door-stopper sized non-fiction to kids books - Old Town Books stocks it all in their cozy, browsable shop. Their knowledgeable team of booksellers is at the ready to help connect readers to their next favorite book, and to one another! 

Passionate about bookish events, you can attend monthly book clubs, special author events and signings, and community oriented seasonal events like their popular annual festivals: Spooky Town Books in October, Small Business Saturday and Santa Storytime in November, Books in Bloom in April, and Hot Book Summer in June. Subscribe to their newsletter to bookmark your new literary adventure.

Old Town Books, exterior
Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA, interior

About Ally

Ally Kirkpatrick, Owner and Creative Director of Old Town Books, founded the beloved independent bookstore in 2018 and has nurtured it to become a cornerstone of the Northern Virginia community. As Creative Director Ally leads all brand development and curation– rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful tool for healing. Her leadership is the heartbeat of the positivity, discovery, and inspiration that Old Town Books provides. With a background in creative non-fiction and a knack for entrepreneurism, Ally transformed a modest pop-up shop into a downtown fixture for tourists and locals alike. Old Town Books pays homage to her childhood in Alexandria and the passion for reading that her mother, a retired kindergarten teacher, inspired in Ally.

Ally has a BA in English Literature from American University and a Master’s Degree from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. As a writer she has been recognized with writing residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She was recently named to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 List.

Ally lives in the Fort Hunt neighborhood of Northern Virginia and is working on a memoir. When she’s not at work, she is raising her three young daughters, tending to her massive garden & flock of chickens, or (of course!) reading.