The owner of one of Windhoek's oldest book exchange stores, George Yates, died on Tuesday aged 82.

The late Yates ran a book exchange shop in the CBD called Uncle Spikes Book Exchange.

Yates was the fourth owner of the iconic bookstore and ran it for forty years.

His son, Clifford Yates, who announced his death on Facebook, said his father passed on the baton to him last year as he headed into retirement.

For decades, Uncle Spikes Book Exchange shop has been a dream for bookworms and students on a low budget as books that normally cost an arm and a leg are bought at a low cost or exchanged.

Users of the exchange store paid tribute to him on Facebook, describing him as a friendly man who contributed to Namibia's literary history.

He leaves behind his wife, Suzi, five children, and ten grandchildren.