• Matthew Thorsen

Phoenix Books — With their shops in Essex and Burlington, owners Mike DeSanto and Renee Reiner defy the rumor that bookstores are passé. Of course, hardcovers and paperbacks are just part of the biz; they offer thousands of titles for your e-reader, too.

Other Finalists (Inside Chittenden County)

• Barnes & Noble
• Crow Bookshop
• The Flying Pig

Bear Pond Books — One of several independently owned bookstores in tiny Montpelier, Bear Pond keeps on turning pages. With book clubs, author events and educator resources, the store has been "matching readers with books since 1973."

Other Finalists (Outside Chittenden County)

• Bridgeside Books
• The Vermont Bookshop