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Adams Avenue Book Store
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
3502 Adams Ave(between 35th St & Wilson Ave)
San Diego, CA 92116
Neighborhood: Normal Heights
(619) 281-3330
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Wed 10 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Adams Avenue Book Store
Review Highlights
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"Fiction/Literature section seemed to have a nice mix of..." In 4 reviews -
"4) Lots of rare books, out of print, hard to find, but also..." In 4 reviews -
"Now this was a place I could spend some time in." In 3 reviews
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69 reviews in English
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Review from Alex D.
San Diego, CA
2/5/2012
It's a really lovely shop. They have a surprisingly large collection of books (Two floors) and so many of their collectors' items are in pretty wonderful condition.
I think some of the used books are a little overpriced (which almost had me giving them 4 instead of 5 stars), but their children's books collection is ample and can be relatively cheap. -
Review from Travis M.
San Diego, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this bookstore. I always end up spending too much money when I come in here, but I always find something good to buy. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with cats walking around everywhere and two stories of books lining the walls ( and sometimes floors.) sometimes the books will be signed or valuable in other ways so you have to check the price, but you can spend hours in here looking through the selection.
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Review from Adie L.
San Diego, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Neat place! I like an independent book seller and there aren't many these days. Nothing fancy, but there is a small-ish seating area downstairs. Great prices with a total "mom and pop" feel since the signs for each section, biographies, religion, and more, are all handwritten or typed up on a computer and printed out. Liked the bookstore cat that was sleeping in the sunshine and the proprietor was kind and helpful. I spent awhile there because I was waiting for my car to be serviced down the street at Smitty's.
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Review from Kristin F.
San Diego, CA
8/1/2011 9 photos
I'm a lover of bookstores and books in general, so my first trip to Adams Avenue Book Store a few weeks ago was incredibly overdue.
A comfortable low-key bookstore that, with the exception of several employees apparently working through piles of new arrivals, was nearly empty when I stopped by mid-afternoon on a weekday. During my first 10 minutes in the store I was warmly greeted by an employee who told me to flag her down if I needed anything, and then after that I was left to myself, which I very much prefer while shopping for anything.
Lots of popular common titles as well as rarer and older titles. There's something for just about everybody here, including a particularly monstrous religion/theology collection upstairs. Also upstairs, among other genres, is the cooking/diet book section...in an old kitchen! How cute is that?!
Heads up to those with cat allergies: from my experience there's at least one kitty that appears to call Adams Avenue Book Store home, and judging by the local photos that Yelpers have posted, there are additional kitties at the store. I didn't mind the cat and have no allergies; just looking out for others.
Great place to spend a few hours being inspired, but Adams Avenue Book Store didn't prove stellar enough to get me to the cash register. In fact, I found about 10 books that I was interested in buying, but all 10 or so books didn't meet my standards because they were too expensive and/or in poor condition. As much as I'd love to support Adams Avenue Book Store, I can find most books on http://Half.com in nearly new condition for half the Adams Avenue Book Store price, shipping included. -
Review from Jessica N.
Norman, OK
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a great used book store with cheap prices! I called ahead to see if they had the two last books in the twilight saga (embarrassing? A little.) and then stopped by to pick them up. The employees were friendly and gave me a great nearby lunch spot recommendation upon my request.
Try picking up a book and heading down to the country kabob for some Greek food! -
Review from Jeanna W.
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wait a minute, there are businesses that don't serve alcohol on Adams Avenue!?!
Oh, wow, hey, this is pretty neat. There are books from all sorts of different genres, perfectly labeled for your convenience.
Aww... look at the wittle kitty cat taking a wittle kitty cat nap on the cozy chairs.
Hmm... what do those stairs lead to? Christianity, cooking, and European language books? Inneresting combination...
4 books for $18?
That's what I'm all about.
Mark this as the day (the day I went here, rather) that I start learning about Flanner O'Connor and her wildly dark imagination.
Thanks, Larah, for being so kewl.
Roger.
Ian.
Jen.
Masa.
Jen's friend.
Tony.
... other... people... there... -
Review from Masatoshi T.
San Diego, CA
1/8/2011
Adams Avenue Book Store is my new favorite used book store. The cozy interior layout, the cats, and the various decorative knickknacks on the shelves help to make the place feel more like an old bookworm's home rather than a store. In fact, the faux kitchen area where they keep the cook books suggests that the building may have been someone's home at one time. When I passed by a closed door on the 2nd floor that was marked "private", I had a brief fantasy that on the other side lay my bedroom where I slept at night after spending my days reading.
Since I don't read much non-fiction I will limit my review to the fiction section on the first floor. On the one hand, their fiction selection was somewhat smaller than that of 5th Avenue Books in Hillcrest. On the other hand, this bookstore had a much better selection of the Classics. Faulkner, Henry James, the Brontes -- if its the Classics you're looking for, you have a very good chance of finding them here. If, however, you're looking for a more contemporary book or a genre book, you will have better luck at 5th Avenue Books.
One thing that I found confusing about this store was the way they distinguish between "Literature", "Fiction", and genre books. Usually, book stores have one "Literature" section and the rest are all genre (sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, horror, etc.) To make matters worse, the categorizing seemed somewhat arbitrary. For instance, I found Shusaku Endo in the literature section, but Junichiro Tanizaki (probably Japan's greatest modern novelist) in the fiction section. I found A.S. Byatt in literature, but Marilynne Robinson in fiction. I thought this was kind of puzzling. -
Review from Yojimbo S.
San Diego, CA
12/24/2011
I've been to used/rare bookstores all over the world and without a doubt, this is one of my favorites. They have an extensive selection of rare and collectible editions. They even have a section of obscure, independently published chapbooks. The store resides within a historic old 2 story house, so make sure you visit the 2nd floor and each room on it. The use of the kitchen as the cooking section is clever an apropos. Essentially, this is a bookstore, run by booksellers, for bibliophiles. They even sell dust jacket protectors and specialized erasers for removing pencil marks without causing damage to the pages. This is truly a treasure trove in the neighborhood of Abnormal Heights. If you're a book collector and in the area, it would be criminal to not stop by.
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Review from Maureen C.
San Diego, CA
11/27/2010
I am hopelessly, unabashedly, completely in love.
Adams Ave Book Store fills every longing I have for my eternal love of books and the only way I can truly get away from it all.
2 stories of very well maintained books; everything from a leather-bound encyclopedia of microscopes (nearly purchased this one for the novelty and beauty of the old-fashioned literary care) to Joseph Heller's "Closing Time" to Montaigne's "In Defense of Raymond Sebond" (these last 2 I did purchase).
Heaven!
2 adorable felines add to the magic of the place, but, as all cats do, are much cooler than you, so leave you alone to delve into the shelves.
Take a few hours out of your day, come on in, have a cookie or 2, and support this lovely local haven! -
Review from Etah C.
San Diego, CA
2/21/2012
I love this place. The staff is really friendly. The environment is very cozy and book-like. There's cats running around and a couch. It's two stories. They have a good selection of every genre. The sell a lot of very old and out of print books. I'm talking old like, the spine crackles when you open it, yellowed pages. There might be a signature in it dating from a century ago. Very good stuff. I remember one time they were selling pages from a bible. I forgot exactly what bible it was, but it looked like it was printed with movable-type. I do wish this place was bigger though. But for its small size, its a very good book store.
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Review from Jen S.
3/12/2011
This place is great! The selection of books in the literature section is awesome, the prices are fair, and the owner and his employee are very friendly, and they have two cats that hang out in the book store all day. It is a fun and cozy atmosphere.
There are some older, unique books that you just can't get at Barnes & Noble (a crap company, in my opinion).
I bought the Devil Tree by Jerzy Kosinski, In Praise of the Stepmother by Mario Vargas Llosa and The Cave by Jose Saramago for $16. What a deal! -
Review from Sharon L.
9/26/2010
I might as well cut out a giant check to Adams Avenue Bookstore right now because I already know that I'll be coming back. This place epitomizes everything I look for in a bookstore: wide selection of reading material, quiet atmosphere, very reasonable prices. Readers will feel comfortable enough to browse without being disturbed.
I've fallen in love with the layout. The store winds its way onto a second story. It looks as though closets have been converted to small reading rooms. The place is guarded by a nice cat that keeps to itself. I could spend hours here.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Andy C.
Carlsbad, CA
8/8/2008
I WANT TO LIVE HERE!!!!
All the books here in this shop are so amazing!!
I came in here today after having lunch with fellow yelpper, Abigail G, and we had a little field day in this store. After walking around for the first maybe 5 minutes, I found the children's section that I was looking for and found a book that had an interesting backside description about the book, so I ended up getting the book. After walking around the sections and little hallways, Abby discovered the upstairs area and we went on exploring. Still blown away by the whole feel of the lovely book store, I was blown away by the two story hardwood flooring and the vast amount of books in this area!!!!
I love everything about this book store and the two cute little cats that walk around the store as if they own it.
This bookstore is awesome and I totally plan on coming back here and getting more books. -
Review from Paula D.
6/1/2009 1 Check-in Here
There have been many reviews of this venerable book store. I wanted to add my two cents from a historical perspective.
My family moved to Normal Heights in the early 60's. One of my first memories was going with my Mom to the Adams avenue book store. Way back then it was owned by Julie, a lovely woman who loved her store and the customers who came there. We would cycle through this book store and the Kensington library to satisfy our collective voracious appetite for books. This is where I learned to love reading as a great escape and enjoy the community of people who appreciated good books and particularly older used books with a history of their own. -
Review from Rene A.
San Diego, CA
9/2/2010
I'm a huge fan of this bookstore and my only wish it that it was closer to my house.
They have a very large collection of books and they don't mind browsers although I usually end up buying something.
I know that eventually books will probably go away and everything will be electronic but there is something wonderful about holding a real book in one's hand.
If you love books you will love this store. If you don't then why are you reading this? ;) -
Review from Joshua A.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2008
This is one of the only book stores I have ever experienced that loves books more than me. Each book is classified by the people who work there, so the personality of the workers who breath the air here and create such a magical space goes into where you find everything. What goes in literature versus simply fiction? It's always interesting to see.
I have found some of my favorite books here, both new discoveries and great editions of favorites. Check it out and give your business. It's not easy being a non-corporate anything these days. If you wouldn't want to be locked in a corporate office all day, don't give them more money!!! Shop local and love Adams Ave Book Store.
Last I checked you can search for titles online as well, but it's no replacement for wandering without specific aim. -
Review from April P.
11/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I came to this bookstore in hopes of finding some classic children's books to add to my collection. I didn't have any luck in that aspect but I did find The Hunger Games trilogy for less than $22 total. And they were all in brand new condition! How could I not buy them? Especially since I'm not looking to pay the cover price for books that I'm not looking to keep on my bookshelf.
I'm really hoping to come back here sometime and have the same luck with recent released books. -
Review from nicole c.
7/20/2009
I absolutely love Adams Avenue Books. From the nearly toppling shelves of books, to the chubby cats basking in the sun on the windowsill, to the mere whim of an idea that I could buy seven books for 20 bucks.... the whole thing makes me geek-gasm.
Sometimes I get a vibe from the guy that works there (who is incredibly nice) that he's not keen on my shouts of glee every time I come across a read I've been dying to check out. But it's a store, not a library, and I get a little pitchy when I'm excited. So sue me.
If you're on a hunt for a good book and would rather steer clear of the steep prices at Borders and Barnes and Noble (not a hater, just poor!), check out Adams Ave Books. I'm not gonna throw the other Adams bookstore under the bus, but their selection is DISMAL.
"It's like comparing apples to some fruit no one's ever heard of."
- Maeby Funke -
Review from Abigail G.
San Diego, CA
8/9/2008
This is a great used book store that has plenty of personality and spunk.
They price their books pretty decently and it's nice to see a place that is packed floor to ceiling with literary works... begging for you to explore every nook and cranny.
The second story is my favorite, being that you could tell it was a converted housing unit at one point and the cookbooks are rightfully kept in the kitchen. Their foreign language section is slightly sparse, but I managed to find an Italian poetry book - which I'm extremely happy about.
Word to those of you with allergies... the kitties... are everywhere... so take some claritin or be prepared to suffer. -
Review from Don A.
San Diego, CA
11/17/2009
I went to Adams Ave Book Store last night in search of Heidegger and Kripke after reading some reviews here on Yelp. Parking was easy to find next to the baseball field (take a right at the intersection where the bookstore is located if you're heading east on Adams). The guys working there were helpful but not pushy or intrusive. They showed me to the philosophy section on the second floor, which is extensive and very well-priced; I ended up with a stack of perhaps ten books (I found the exact ones I was looking for, plus many others I'd wanted for some time, but hadn't been able to find elsewhere), many of which are charming out-of-print editions from the 1950s and 60s.
The atmosphere is perfect for a bookstore, quiet classical music and just the right number of friendly wandering cats. I'll definitely be back soon. -
Review from daeman c.
San Diego, CA
7/16/2007
This is EVERYTHING a used book store should be! From the cats sunning themselves in the window only looking up as if to say "oh, it's you" to the smell of, ummm, the smell of. . .what the hell is that smell? Decomposing paper? Dusty book jackets?
It never fails. Everytime I need a gift for someone and I can't come up with anything (which is often), I just cruise up the street to AA Books, spend a few hours poking around, and I come out of there with something that I know the giftee is gonna love. And if they don't I'll just take it for myself -- I mean, I DID spend three hours picking it out!
Don't miss out on the upstairs either!Listed in: AbNormal Heights!
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Review from Kristen M.
San Diego, CA
10/15/2007
The first time I visited I probably bought around 20 books. It was awesome. It is in a huge, old house complete with fatty kitty, and there are books in every room, even some in a closet. The staff is super nice and helpful. Perusing the huge selection is a great way to spend some time.
Also, when I went they were having an open house, so there was coffee and cookies and snacks, oh my! -
Review from Kinsee M.
San Diego, CA
9/19/2006
Enter.
It's a cool old Victorian house.
There's a cat cleaning itself in the window.
Books are everywhere; jammed in every possible place.
It's got everything you need: sci-fi, fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks even.
You walk upstairs and more books crowd around your head. You look at your watch and an hour has already flown by. That's the magic of Adams Ave. Books. It's a home-away-from-home. A place where you can get lost because you feel so comfortable. A place where you can escape modernity and return to a place where the written word is revered. It's heaven. -
Review from Borneo G.
San Diego, CA
9/15/2010
I am an avid reader and am partial to cats. This used bookstore not only has a lot of books to choose from, but they also have these cute kitties!!! If you're not a fan of cats, it's not a problem, they won't come to you unless you prompt one of them (who is naturally curious and friendly).
But anyway, it seriously feels like you are in an old library...there are shelves and shelves of books, all ranging from literary classics to travel to modern fiction, you name it. I am a huge lover of American classics, so I was very happy to see that they had a large selection of authors such as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. There are a couple books that are discounted outside, so be sure to look at those.
Anyone who is an avid reader like I am will be amazed at this store. I wish there were more like it in North County, but I guess all the more reason to visit the heart of San Diego. :) -
Review from Ste F.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2007
I firmly believe this place ought to change its name to "Heaven." I've been in twice, once just to browse and once helping a friend look for reading list books. They only had one or two of the list he was tracking down, but honestly, what's the point of a used book store if it's got the books you NEED? Case in point: My first step into the store and I run smack into a neat book of litcrit on the "New Acquisitions" shelf--always a good sign (for me, at least)-- then I stumbled back to the poetry and criticism section only to find a relatively hard to come by book of poems by St.-John Perse on the shelf and an interesting, well-written yet easy to read book on the literary treatment of oracles in an unsorted stack on the ground. So within about five minutes I've found a long-ago recommendation from a trusted friend and a completely unexpected book on a topic I'm always curious about.
Then I think, "Well, I've got two books. That's enough. I'll just wander around and look idly over the history section." Then I notice stairs behind the history section. Then I notice that said stairs lead to more books and promptly ascend them. At this point, upon seeing an entire other floor of books to peruse, I realize that this place is indeed Heaven.
Three or so full bookshelves of philosophy, a full bookshelf of litcrit (whereas most places have half of a single shelf if you're lucky), three shelves of poetry (and not just Robert Frost anthologies-- we're talking a decent selection of everything from poet bios to chap-books)-- and I didn't even take more than a glance at the "Literature" section since my fiction plate's pretty full after graduation gifts and a great run at a used book store before I moved out here.
Highlights: Relatively large selection of poetry, literary criticism, and philosophy. Fiction/Literature section seemed to have a nice mix of modern classics and oldies but goodies.
I look forward to spending a lot of time and most of my money here. -
Review from Adam V.
San Diego, CA
12/2/2006
This place smells like old literature, which is to say this place smells good. Wise, safe, nostalgic, comfortable -- like an old friend who says things like "You always do that." It smells like clouds smell like to birds. Like the sound of rain. Like the night before the first day of school.
And they have a lot of great books, too.
AV -
Review from Soleil Moonshine S.
San Diego, CA
10/27/2009
I somehow managed to mix up Adams Avenue Book Store with William Burgett Books (see above review), the Kensington bookstore that is close to closure. This was kindly brought to my attention by Adams Avenue's owner (again, if my review caused any confusion or inconvenience, I offer my sincerest apologies and/or a weeklong, unpaid internship of cleaning up after your deliciously corpulent cats.)
That notwithstanding, Adams Avenue Book Store warrants a five-star review for reasons I shall state at a later date (lack of adequate mental contributions will not permit me to write a review; not to mention, I fear I may screw this up again). Update pending..
What was that I said about reading comprehension?
Oh yes..
Foot in mouth, party of one.Listed in: Booked for the evening..
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Review from Michael R.
Louisville, KY
5/17/2009
I'm not sure why I waited until recently to visit this wonderful bookstore. Maybe it was because I spent two years I spent working at Borders with my employee discount giving me an incentive to buy new. Or maybe I was just crazy. I know this much, I'd be crazy not to go back.
Standing in the doorway, the view of the ground floor with its towering stacks and narrow aisles was enough to convince me that they must have an extensive selection. And they do. The part I saw first was just for fiction. They have books on art, film, religion, books in foreign languages, cook books, kids' books, you name it.
But it's not just the selection that makes this place so nice. It's the atmosphere. They have put books in every space imaginable. Upstairs, what was once a kitchen now makes a charming room full of cook books, housekeeping books, and more. The staircase to the second floor is lined with bookshelves. There are a few chairs and even a chess set. And, being a cat-person at heart, I appreciate the contribution of the feline residents to the overall mood.
I went in with no specific agenda and walked out with three books that arguably have little in common with each other aside from being novels. And best of all, it was during a sale, so I only spent $12!Listed in: Adams Avenue
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Review from Rachel M.
San Diego, CA
8/10/2007
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the distinct lack of old-book smell. This was a good thing. The next thing I noticed, after spending several minutes perusing tall shelves of books at the front of the store, was that there were more books in the back. Great! Then after venturing to the back I realized there were even more books upstairs. There were even shelves of books ON the stairs. The best part, however, was arriving at the top of the stairs and seeing a big, fat tabby cat sprawled out on the landing. Now this was a place I could spend some time in! And I did. Highly recommended.
P.S. You gotta love a shop that shelves its plentiful and diverse cookbooks in an actual kitchen...Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Matt R.
4/10/2007 1 photo
San Diego's best used bookstore. They are better for handsome copies than cheap paperbacks, but the selection is good, and most importantly in this day & age when ordering a used book online is so easy, it's just fun to poke around in there.
The owner is a cat who sits in the window. Bring a mouse, get a discount. -
Review from Vareen O.
San Diego, CA
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is SO big. Staff is super helpful. I walked in about 15min before closing so I didn't have a chance to really check everything out. I could spend hours here and prices are ridiculousy cheap.
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Review from Thea T.
San Diego, CA
3/27/2007
This place is one of my favorite used bookstores in SD, and definitely in Normal Heights. The two cats are adorable- the brown tabby follows you around everywhere (maybe he's got a hidden camera attached to his collar to make sure you're not stealing? Ok, probably not, but it would be bad-ass if he did).
Upstairs is an insane collection of Christian theology- take the adjective 'insane' to mean what you will. I think it's a bit nutty, but the theology buff would go crazy in this place.
Being into queer theory, continental philosophy, and critical race studies, I thought some (ok, all) of the books in those fields were totally miscategorized, but that's my pet peeve with book stores in general. They're a bit thin in these areas, though I did pick up a cool new Freud reader, and saw they were holding Lacan's Ecrits for another customer.
Anyway- I'm on spring break now so I shouldn't be writing about books. Off to the liquor store instead... -
Review from Gayle L.
San Diego, CA
12/2/2009
As cool bookstores continue to close throughout San Diego, Adams Ave Bookstore remains where it has always been...at the top of the pile. I am a San Diego native and remember visiting the store when I was a kid.
Few things have changed here and that is the best part. Here you will find an extensive and intelligent selection of reading material that puts Borders and Barnes & Noble to shame. Time stands still in the quiet almost meditative atmosphere as you dreamily browse the bookshelves overflowing with bound treasures of knowledge in every subject imaginable.
The staff is helpful and friendly, never pushy. They leave you to your dream-space and intercede only when called upon. An added bonus are the 2 friendly cats. Cat lovers be sure to seek out Bartelby, the 20lb orange cat, who is probably sunning himself in one of the windows or sacked out on one of the chairs. He is eagerly awaiting to meet new friends and borrow their lap for awhile.
All in all a sublime experience. -
Review from Sarah D.
San Jose, CA
8/26/2010
I love this place! When I think of a good time this is another place that should be added to Sarah D's approved!
It looks like a small store but once you are inside its just heaven! They have everything imaginable you could possibly want! I am allergic to cats but it's ok because I take my allergy pill before I go.
I love the cooking books but also love history even though it does get a little boring at times. They have a great selection of childrens books. My kids love this store also! When they are cranky I just tell them I'm not going to take them here and they immediacy change their behavior!
If anyone I know is reading this; a gift certificate to this place would be a great gift to me during the holidays! HINT-HINT. -
Review from C.M. F.
Los Angeles, CA
6/12/2010
So awesome.
Their new space is beautiful. Always tell myself I'm just "going in for a little while," and always come out an hour later with 3 or 4 more books than I intended to get, which is way more than I can say for larger/chain retailers.
And there are cats! Who doesn't love cats?
I love you Adams Ave. bookstore!! -
Review from Marisa J.
San Diego, CA
6/30/2011
Great selection and great people running the business. I also ADORE the cats lounging around.
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Review from Y N.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2007
It is nondescript from outside, but do yourself a favor and come on in. Once inside are a ton of obscure out of print books, that you'll simply see no where else. There is charm here. The hardwood floors will creak with every step you take. The lighting is natural lighting which makes it feel like a cozy home library.
And then there are the 2 cats... I'm very allergic to cats. I get hives and sneeze. Ugh.
Still it doesn't keep me away from this wonderful bookstore ( I just can't stay longer than an hour.) -
Review from Female C.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/31/2011 16 photos
1) LARGEST USED BOOKSTORE I've ever been to. Two stories, almost entire block (name is in huge letters on top of the building as seen in pic on yelp), about 10+ rooms full of books! Half the size of a Borders but packed with more books than Borders has in certain subjects.
2) Helpful staff - witnessed longtime employee Alice rushing to answer phones and helping customers. She is SUPER nice! The majority of used book stores have very indifferent/snotty/rude staff but she is super cheerful and friendly.
3) PRICES REASONABLE: Bought about 25 books: Half them were $5 each, the rest $7 each and two were $10. I checked about 50 books and they are almost all cheaper in this bookstore than available on Amazon (even with Amazon Prime) and cheaper than Amazon's used section. Rare, out of print books at $30-50 are still cheaper than Amazon's used section.
4) Lots of rare books, out of print, hard to find, but also tons of new releases (still available in Borders but for $7-10 instead of $25)
5) Childrens books and psychology/self-help share a room downstairs
6) 2 rooms filled floor to ceiling with: Religion, Christianity, Philosophy, Prayer (3 bookcases), Theology (6 bookcases floor to ceiling), Bibles (mostly KJV and large table sized), Bible commentaries, Bible languages, NT studies (3 bookcases), OT studies (3 bookcases), help on preaching, etc
7) One room with cookbooks
8) And most important: BATHROOM available for customers (THANK GOODNESS!!!)
9) Free Street parking for 2 hours. I had to move because I was there for 3-4 hours!
10) Starbucks right down the street! heehee...
Will come back to this bookstore again and again everytime I come to San Diego. -
Review from Deb L.
San Diego, CA
3/13/2009
Creaky floors, dusty old-book smell, sleepy cats, quirky architecture and loads of eccentric titles. I had no idea a place like this existed in San Diego and am so happy to find that it does!
My favorite sections (so far): the cookbook section in the sunny "kitchen" upstairs and the surprisingly large architecture/photography sections on the stairs.
Coolest find (so far): a leather-bound medical reference book from 1895. -
Review from Annie C.
Poulsbo, WA
8/18/2007
I love the cat, he is so fat and squishy :) The book selection is better and more selective than the other bookstores on Adams and it is much, MUCH easier to locate things in here. However, I never found the hardback fiction section... only the paperbacks. Very odd.
There isn't a whole lot of the popular literature in here, which is mildy disappointing, but perhaps a good thing.
Prices are a little higher than I am used to for a used bookstore, but the books are in excellent condition.
