What great used book stores am I missing out on in Seattle? for Questionland Seattle

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What great used book stores am I missing out on in Seattle?

The book stores have changed so much since I lived in Seattle last. Elliot Bay and Capitol Hill Twice Sold Tales have new Stores. They are wonderful but not as comfortably grungy. Left Bank was moved for earthquake up grading. Now U District twice sold tales and Ophelia's Books are gone. What book stores should i be hanging out in? I loves Magnus Books and Third place in Ravenna but I need some new opinions, preferably used books and away from tourist centers. Where are your favorite stores with character?

Finger Games asked in Other Books & Writing 10 months ago | Report

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Inner Chapters in South Lake Union is a great one. They have a cafe and beer, too.

And Mercer Street Books in Queen Anne is a lovely, well-curated bookstore.

Up in Greenwood, there's Balderdash Books, which is kind of similar in feel to the late, lamented Abraxus crossed with the U District Twice Sold Tales, and Couth Buzzard Espresso Buono is just up the street from them.

It's not strictly used, but I really like Ada's Technical Books on Broadway. It's nice to see a good science-minded bookstore in town.

I know I'm forgetting a couple; I'll come back when they come to mind.

Paul Constant answered in Other Books & Writing 10 months ago | Report

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If you like the obscure and the quality, check out John Lang Books in Ballard. Short hours (12-5 Tue-Sat or by appointment), but it's full of odd treasures. Strong in Western Americana of all kinds, and lots and lots of interesting paper ephemera.

There's a neat little cluster of used stores down on Stone Way below 36th, including Seattle Book Center, B. Brown (amazing science fiction and mystery first editions), and a nautical book shop, if that's your thing.

My favorite used bookstores in Seattle are in the tourist zone, though -- Wessel & Lieberman (all kinds of stuff), The Globe (fantastic for art books), and tiny but sweet Newberry Books down in the basement of the Grand Central Arcade

There's also Globe Books in the upper U-District, and Spine and Crown on Pine Street between Summit and Bellevue.

In addition to David's Victoria suggestion, if you find yourself in Vancouver, be sure to check out MacLeod's downtown -- it will boggle your mind, and possibly topple over onto your head as well, in the grand tradition of messy used bookshops with ten times more books than shelf space. If you ask nicely about a particular subject, they may take you down the street to the enormous annex, which isn't open as a store separately but is stacked to the 20-foot ceiling with rarer items. It's like a cathedral of books in there, in dozens of subjects you've never even imagined.

Fnarf answered in Other Books & Writing 10 months ago | Report

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Gotta represent for my home zip, the 98118: Columbia City Book Exchange, right on Rainier, nice laid back spot.

I do like Arundel books down at 1001 first avenue (right down the hill from the library) - an interesting selection of titles there.

But boy, I know - I grieve the loss of Beatty and Shoreys, they were so much fun. If you're looking for a book browsing holiday (apart from the obvious trip to Portland), Victoria BC has some GREAT old book shops for browsing. My grandparents used to run used bookstores up there, actually, and their stores are closed now, but many others from that day are still in operation - I especially liked a little shop called Renaissance books, I think it was.

David Wright answered in Other Books & Writing 10 months ago | Report

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I've recently moved to the Greenwood area and have started to greatly enjoy Balderdash Books. It appears to be (I've only been in a few times and haven't really chatted too much) owned by a woman, who has been there every time I've gone in. Two of the three times I've been there the woman's 10-12 year old son (assumed) has been there, working alongside her and having great interactions with her. The store has sweet, friendly, and not over-sensitized or sad cats, although no cute/dictatorial signs about them. The proprietor has two racks of $1 paperbacks sitting outside on the pavement to lure you in (and they're not all Danielle Steele or James Patterson "novels," either)! I need more time to know if they're going to regularly carry books that sneak up on me and make me want them, or whether the organization of the books they do have is optimized for customers, but I do know that they're reasonably priced, quiet, crammed-full (an essential quality for bookstores, imo), located right by my bus stop, and that the owner/manager is friendly and glad to answer questions. Those are most of my criteria for used-book store greatness.

I do also really like Twice Sold Tales' new Capitol Hill location. I like feeling like I am wandering into a book labyrinth. Also, book happy hour (25% off after 6 pm Sun-Thurs, after 8 pm Fri/Sat)! It seems like the staff have become more friendly and accommodating as well.

If I'm in the U-district, I'll usually look in on Magus- it's *slightly* more pricey than what I usually am looking to pay, but usually makes up it for by having titles not available elsewhere and excellent, excellent atmosphere. My other regular U-district stop is at Half-Price, but the browsing experience there is kind of subpar. I feel like it's a used-book store for people who don't really love to read (Is that weird?).

Sphinx answered in Other Books & Writing 10 months ago | Report

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