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Autumn Leaves Used Bookstore
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
115 East State StreetIthaca, NY 14853
(607) 273-8239
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Autumn Leaves Used Bookstore
14 reviews in English
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Review from Susanna L.
OZONE PARK, NY
12/10/2011
This bookstore is great for finding quirky, one-of-a-kind books for super cheap prices, but I mostly go here for the cafe upstairs. It's a great area to study without distractions (via the internet), and I love their hot apple cider.
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Review from Stephanie L.
Fremont, CA
10/24/2010
My partner and I were visiting Ithaca for a day, and, knowing Ithaca's reputation for used bookstores, spent a good portion of our day's wanderings perusing different "book barns." We stopped into Autumn Leaves while waiting to eat dinner, and easily spent a good hour browsing through the selection of political science, cultural studies, cultural criticism, and even the Youth Literature sections. We were impressed with the organization of this bookstore compared to some others we'd seen that day, and I also appreciated the bright lighting and ample comfy seating. The store manager was nice and amiable, and we felt comfortable hanging out and reading while we tried to kill time. We didn't even realize there was an upstairs until much later, because the first floor was so absorbing.
My partner finally found the Angela Davis book he'd been trying to find all day. I dunno if that speaks to Autumn Leaves' selection or their organization, but either way, we liked it! -
Review from Patrick J.
Boston, MA
2/25/2007
I have very particular things that I look for in bookstores. Dim lighting. Shelves so overcrowded that the bookseller has resorted to stacking books on the floor. Small isles with bookshelves 12-15 feet high. Little nooks. Large art book sections. I like to feel like an archeologist when i'm in a bookstore. I like having to push aside stacks of books to access more stacks of book. I like stores where books aren't properly labeled so you have to open the book and flip through it, not knowing its subjects or contents. I like bookstores that are dark, mysterious, and romantic.
Autumn leaves isn't my type of used bookstore. Its well lit. There is tons of space between isles. The bookshelves never extend beyond eye level. Its clean. The art books section is somewhat limited. Everything was well labeled and in clear view (ie, you don't need to dig for books. I'm big on the digging process). The prices are also on the high side.
Autumn Leaves may be perfect for other types of book buyers; those who want a more traditional retail experience. It also sells used records, and has a cafe on the upper level. It just didn't click with my particular preferences. But check it out, judge for yourself, and always support your local bookstores!!! -
Review from Phil H.
Philadelphia, PA
7/12/2008
This is a wonderful used bookstore, one of the best I've been in. Their selection is constantly changing. I've gone in looking for one particular book, not finding it but finding others that I wanted to read. I go back a week later and the first book I was looking for...yeah, they had two copies.
It's on the Ithaca Commons, so it's relatively quiet. There is an amazing collection of LP's available downstairs, the entire basement is full of LP's. There is a cafe upstairs (i never used it) and there are still more books up there. The staff is great, very helpful, very knowledgeable. They even have rare, out of print, signed books! -
Review from Rebecca W.
Ithaca, NY
7/9/2008
I like this bookstore and I like many of the choices made by its owner, Joe. There is tons of space, with new books out on the carts when they come in. Sections are clearly labeled and the staff know their books. The upstairs cafe is a really nice, relatively quiet, laid-back space for actually talking, eating, reading, or working on your laptop.
The store hosts an ATM machine for the local credit union - and this machine charges no fees for any user (although your bank may still charge you), and you can make credit union deposits at this location.
A substantial part of the upstairs real estate has been set aside for progressive community organizations for office space, meetings, trainings, etc. -
Review from Kedar D.
3/3/2010
This is a hippie cafe located on the second floor of a used bookshop on the Ithaca Commons. While they do offer vegan bacon and seitan, their sandwich/panini choices looked really dull and it wasn't clear to me that they could do quality vegan versions of their egg-fish-and-cheese-heavy standards. The cafe is pretty basic.
Unfortunately, they don't offer vegan breakfast sandwiches or even the option to substitute tofu for egg in many of their sandwiches and dishes, which seemed surprising to me, given that they do offer seitan and vegan bacon.
I did get a vegan cookie from them ($2.70 with tax) which was pretty dry, hard and not terribly tasty.
While I enjoy the vibe at this place, it's currently not up to snuff. Add some vegan breakfast sandwiches, veganaise and egg substitutions and I might come back. -
Review from Terry K.
Ithaca, NY
2/13/2011
An excellent selection at pretty good prices. Autumn Leaves is an Ithaca institution. The owner works hard at livin' the legend of the laconic indie bookseller, but that's part of the charm.
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Review from Holly C.
Brooktondale, NY
1/11/2009
Autumn Leaves is a great book store. You can sell your used books there for cash, they Have a cafe and lounge upstairs for relaxing. They have really good toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and really tasty homemade cookies for cheap. In the basement they have a lot of used records for good deals. Its been there for years and I don't think its going anywhere any time soon. They don't have any parking, there is a loading zone in the back but if your longer then 15 min. they will ticket you!
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Review from Harry F.
Washington, DC
4/19/2009
As mentioned in previous reviews, this place is well-lit, well-organized, and has a fairly large selection. However, the selection is not at large as if it could be if the books had been crammed into rows and rows of tightly compacted shelves a la The Strand and other warehouse-style sites. This dilemma presents a used book buyer dialectic on preferred bibliophile environments; maximum stuff at the expense of organization and creature comforts on one end of the spectrum, sparse pickings in an excessively lit and decorated showroom at the other. Autumn Leaves balances this nicely, avoiding the feel of a warehouse but still providing enough light and space to see the books. Further, if you really want the warehouse element, trek downstairs for their extensive used vinyl collection. Great variety, good prices, wonderful hidden treasures among the vast stacks of 45's sold at bulk prices. The cafe upstairs is also very nice; good simple sandwiches, excellent coffee, and comfortable seating.
The only thing that prevents my doling out five full stars (and consider this review 4.5 stars, pretty darned good) is the store's hilarious but mildly annoying selection in terms of history, political theory, and other humanities texts. Granted, this is simply an inevitable consequence of drawing on a large college town for cast-off books for inventory, but there's a thoroughly twisted circumstance to be found on these shelves. You'll find a fairly sparse selection of basic historic surveys, academically rigorous cultural studies, and solid reference materials... but shelf upon shelf of communist treatises, anarchist manifestos, Marx/Engels/Trotsky/Lenin biographies, non-violent resistance and public disobedience manuals, etc. The juxtaposition in selection between the mainstream and loony books in these sections is pretty funny, but an impediment to any real reliance on Autumn Leaves for decent books in this genre. Otherwise, though, perfect... and, really, this quirk makes it all the more perfect for the Ithaca Commons. -
Review from Marya A.
Astoria, NY
4/23/2010
The books are well organized, it's nice that there is a cafe upstairs, and the records section in the basement is amazing.
The only problem is the selection isn't always fantastic because you have to rely on other people's book choices that they sell back.
The clearance carts in front of the store are always good for some cheap finds though. -
Review from Andrew M.
Wellesley, MA
5/19/2007
I spent a lot of time in Autumn Leaves when I was taking classes at Cornell. Their selection looked a LOT like our shelves at home, and it's just a nice place to relax with a drink.
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Review from Jenna L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/8/2009
I really admire multi-use spaces, and Autumn Leaves does well at offering a variety. It not only has a basement vinyl room, Angry Mom Records...see my comprehensive/infatuated love note review of it.., in addition to the main bookstore floor, but also has an upstairs cafe with a great study area & accessible plugs/free wifi, and upstairs meeting space for a workers collective? Rad!
I've found some great social studies/critical theory/cultural studies books here at great reasonable prices, and I've only been in 3 times.
This place is a gem. -
Review from Kat H.
Beverly, MA
4/4/2007
I normally will walk out of used bookstores with gads upon gads of books; I don't think I bought anything here. What I did appreciate though, was the upstairs cafe; the coffee is decent and there are plenty of tables, though I don't remember there ever being a crowd. A perfect place to do homework for_real_. The downstairs bookstore is very well organized--great for the student rummaging for required reading--but deals with more slightly used books than anything truly rare. Want a used Barnes & Noble edition of Jane Eyre? Check. Want a not_too_ hard to-find-but-still-unique reprinted British edition with woodcut illustrations? Save your time. Many of the books inside I found way too expensive for their condition, but they do have a few racks outside where I've been tempted by some fascinating titles for a dollar or two. A good mix of titles for the myriad of college students, a nice place to hang out, and Autumn Leaves rates pretty well.
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Review from Kai P.
Denver, CO
1/29/2010
They have no computer inventory for any of their books that they have in the store so if you can't find something that's on the shelf (which, by the way are really well organized, by authors last name) then your out of luck, don't expect them to 'look it up' to see if they have in stock a certain book you are looking for, as I was told by the staff that they do not have records of their books to look thru. I could not find any of 6 popular books (non fiction memoirs) that were published in the last 15 years one day that I was ardently looking for so yea that was obviously quite annoying and a negative of the store. On the plus side, it's a ideal 'trading' book store as you can sell some of your used books there for cash or get a credit for books you buy in the store :) Upstairs, they have a cafe and reading lounge upstairs for relaxing, reading and chit chatting that is pretty cool. Fun staff that are friendly, smart and talkative, real reasonable priced books, a great store to waste hours of time in for sure!
