It’s easy to overlook at the far southern end of retail development on King, but the excellent Preservation Society of Charleston Book and Gift Shop (147 King St., 843/722-4630, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) is perhaps the best place in town to pick up books on Charleston lore and history as well as locally themed gift items.

The charming Pauline Books and Media (243 King St., 843/577-0175, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) is run by the Daughters of St. Paul and carries Christian books, Bibles, rosaries, and images from a Roman Catholic perspective.

Housed in an extremely long and narrow storefront on Upper King, Jonathan Sanchez’s funky and friendly Blue Bicycle Books (420 King St., 843/722-2666, www.bluebicyclebooks.com, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m.) deals primarily in used books and has a particularly nice stock of local and regional books, art books, and fiction.

The local bastion of indie music and the best place to find that rare vinyl is 52.5 Records (561 King St., 843/722-3525, Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m.).