A Long Afternoon at Driftless Books and Music in Viroqua

A complete Hans Christian Andersen collection, a Dragonlance novel, two historic maps, an art book you did not know you wanted—Driftless Books and Music is built for those moments when a casual browse turns into an armful of surprises.

In Viroqua's former tobacco warehouse district, this is a bookstore with enough shelves, corners and stacked-up visual distractions to occupy a good stretch of an afternoon. Come with a title in mind if you like, but leave room for the possibility that the day's best find may be in a subject you had not planned to visit.

The store holds thousands upon thousands of used books, plus a selection of new ones. Its scale changes the rhythm of shopping: this is less a quick stop for one paperback than a slow ramble through a deeply stocked, delightfully unpredictable collection.

Driftless does not present itself as a place to speed through. Shelves and stacks create a maze-like path through nooks and corners, with more to notice high above the main browsing areas and tucked into the edges of the room.

The vertically layered look suits the inventory. A reader may begin in history, drift into regional material or travel, pause at a display, and emerge a while later with a cookbook, a magazine or a book on woodworking.

Printed-book aroma, eclectic displays and music playing through the space give the browse a pleasantly old-fashioned texture. The hunt is the point, and the density is part of the appeal.

Some parts of the large store can be dimmer than the main floor. It is worth taking the visit at an unhurried pace anyway; this is a place where a spine half-hidden on a shelf can be more interesting than whatever was on the original shopping list.

The range runs from history, biography, art and languages to cookbooks, storytelling, romance and popular contemporary reading. There are books for serious personal libraries, books for a rainy weekend, and the sort of oddly specific volumes that can make a collector stop halfway down an aisle.

More particular corners include Amish romance, Latin-related material, regional interests and travel. Teen and children's books broaden the selection further, so a multigenerational group does not have to split up and wait outside while one person browses.

Comic books and magazines add another layer to the shelves. So do rare books, although the store is not solely a rare-book shop; the pleasure comes from the mixture of collectible material, everyday reading, older editions and newer titles.

It works well for several kinds of missions at once. You might be looking for a book for a baby, a gift for a friend, a long-sought addition to a collection, or simply something strange enough to deserve a place on the coffee table.

Books are only one portion of the visual field. Paintings and sculptures appear throughout the store, adding a gallery-like detour to the usual bookstore routine.

Some artworks are encountered almost by accident, which suits the building. A memorable chipmunk painting is among the pieces that can catch the eye between shelves, while other visual details reward a closer look in corners and along the walls.

Seating areas are tucked among the books and displays, giving the space small pauses between longer runs of browsing. You do not need to treat every section like an assignment; a few minutes with an unusual art book or an old map can redirect the whole visit.

The word “Music” in the name is not decorative. Driftless carries CDs and vinyl records alongside its book stock, so a browse can easily stretch into a second treasure hunt.

Maps are another especially appealing branch of the inventory. Historic maps have a different sort of pull from books: they invite you to study a place, its old boundaries and its forgotten names right there at the counter or in a quiet corner of the shop.

Live music is also presented in the space from time to time, giving the building an occasional gathering-place role beyond its day-to-day retail life. Check current event information if music is part of the reason for your trip.

The children's selection is substantial enough to be more than an afterthought, and a children's play area gives younger visitors their own place in the store. That can make a longer browse easier when adults want time with the history shelves or record bins.

For families, the useful thing here is variety. One person can scan children's stories, another can look through teen titles, and someone else can be happily occupied by regional books, food writing or romance.

The store also keeps a guest book for visitors to sign. After a few hours among all those shelves, it makes sense to leave a small trace of your own.

Beyond the public-facing browse, the operation includes an upstairs area used for overstock and books that have not yet been priced, as well as support for the store's online book-sales business. It is a reminder that a large used-book store is always in motion, with stock arriving, being sorted and finding its way to new readers.

Upstairs browsing has been available in some circumstances, but access should not be assumed as a standard part of a visit. The main rooms already offer plenty of ground to cover.

Online ordering gives the shop another life beyond Viroqua, but the in-person visit remains its own pleasure. On a screen, a listing can tell you the title and condition; in the store, the neighboring shelf may change your mind entirely.

Driftless Books and Music has drawn visitors willing to drive several hours, and it is easy to see why a bookstore of this size becomes a destination rather than an errand. Allow at least an hour or two for a meaningful browse; a fuller exploration can run three or four hours.

The surrounding Viroqua area gives the outing a natural second act, with additional historic buildings and an outdoor art garden nearby. A bookstore visit can be the anchor for a slow day in town rather than the only stop.

Seasonal conditions and hours should be confirmed before making a special trip, particularly in winter. Once inside, though, the best plan is simple: follow the shelves until something unexpected makes you stop.