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I went here the other day for the first time in several months, and I realized I hadn't Yelped it yet!
Beer's Books is definitely one of my favorite used book shops. They have the largest selection of any shop in town. I come here when I need books for school, and I almost always find them plus some other books I "need".
They have a cute chubby tabby too!
I had been looking forward to checking this place out for a while, and I have to say I was disappointed.
There were a couple of novels that I was looking to pick up, nothing fancy, but was unable to find any of them. The shelves were fairly disorganized and the folks working behind the counter seemed snobby and unfriendly. Also, I was unclear as to whether or not they served beer in addition to coffee, as no one was running the cafe area.
I left sober and bookless. All around, a failed venture.
Cool bookstore and great prices on the sidewalk. Had we not been on foot I would have bought a bunch of the $1 hardbound books and a couple of the 50 cent softbound. I thought it was pretty much well organized for a used bookstore and lots of subjects. Will be back.
It was nice weather when I stumbled upon this shop. I got out of work early, I was bored, and I decided to take the super long way to the bus stop while trying to remember where the broken fortune cookie place was.
I got in, started looking around, then my best friend called my cell phone. Oh... They have a cell phone policy. Makes sense. The staff doesn't like the chatter. I'll go outside. Which I did.
I looked around the boxes and crates of old books, all the while their staff eyeing me. Like I was going to walk off with one of their bargain basement 75-cent paperbacks while gabbing on the phone. which i didn't.
I didn't buy a book that day either. I'd go back, if i could recall what street they're on.
They have old stuff. They have new stuff. The staff doesn't really offer help, but will if you ask for it I'm sure. I was browsing for almost an hour here and finally landed on about 2 books I settled on. I wish they had more NEW paperbacks, because the majority of their selection seem to be used, but in good condition, and some even in not so great condition. The place is big enough, but they organize their sections by signs on the actual shelves (somewhat hidden), compared to the more convenient signs hung above or something. I'd come back if I'm super bored, but I'd probably look for the book online and call in first to see if they have it.
They have a good amount of cheap comics as well as many videos. There are some bargain boxes with books inside for $1 each too!
I love small, independent bookstores. Treasures await the patient browser.
I went to Beer's the last time I was in Sacramento (about 2 weeks ago). I seem to think I had been there before, but at a different location. The first thing I noticed was the discounted titles on the sidewalk. They were super cheap and my gf and I found a couple of books. Then, I noticed that they had a 'lunch special' which was a discount on all titles during lunch. I thought that was a great idea and ended up getting a few awesome picks on the cheap.
The selection of books was decent: every space was utilized and they had a great cross section of titles. I thought the prices were a little on the high side for some of the used books, but independent booksellers have to eat too, right?
The employees were in their own universe, which I relate to and really expect in this kind of bookstore. I like to walk in and get lost in the stacks: I don't need a lot of personality thrown at me. Book people.... we're a strange lot. And I'm on the mild side of this!
And there was a cat, which is something you don't see at Borders!
This is a good bookstore to stop in if you want to scour the stacks and find something new or something old that you've had on your mental wish list for a while.
Go buy a book: It's still the best entertainment for your buck.
I came by the other day and then I realized, I don't come here enough. I really like Beers because their prices are decent and very decent on the used stuff. The staff is also really nice. I called about a book and they checked for it but didn't have it. I went in a few days later and the guy at the register said that he remembered me calling. So I asked about some other books and he pointed me directly to where they were. I was able to find something else and got it for 10% off because it was during their happy hour lunch! Now that summer is approaching, I will definitely have more time to read for leisure so I will need to pick up more books from Beers.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. It's just too unorganized. There was this weird dude sitting in the war section just reading in a chair the entire time, and though it was obvious I wanted to look at the stuff on the shelf behind him he didn't budge...just sat their reading like it was a library.
Then I also felt like the workers there were a little snobby. I could tell they were rolling their eyes as I purchased my readings on Lenin & Trotsky, "Oh how cliche." My response would be, "I would have been in and out of here in 5 minutes with this cliche stuff if you'd organize the shelves in some way!" Needless to say, won't go back.
Great place with amazing potential for literary finds of new things to read.
I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.
I soooo miss your 15th and L location! But, your new diggs while large, are not as quaint, but I still luv you - used, nearly new reads? What's not to like? Nice selection of well-kept books are abundant. On a recent visit, I brought my pops here to find some Asian Culinary books -and I have to say we found many and had to really weed through them.
I love books! (oh, my poor garage of unpacked treasures), mostly reference type books, or classic novels (and a few strange comics). Once upon a time in my ol' West Sac there was a tiny little used book store "The Book Mark" that I loved - and another that mainly specialized in classics "Time Tested Books" off 21st, not to mention that 1/4 of my measly paycheck back in the day went to Tower Books - Damn it - I still have a gift card for Tower in my wallet - antique later - maybe?.
I am a bit of a nerdy bibliophile. But, I have to say Beers has the best of both worlds! . . . even if you are a bit further down the road now - damn urban development interlopers!
Beer's Books:
The only thing that would further highlight the glory that is beers books is if they served beer. Docked on star because they dont do readings. But, indeed, exactly what a used bookstore should be!
I've been looking for used copies of several herbal medicine books for months in San Francisco without any luck. Today I walked into Beers Book Center and found three of the books I'd been searching for sitting right on the shelf for less than $5 each.
They also have an amazing selection of cookbooks.
I didn't make it past those two sections because they have so many books, but I am going to assume that everything else is amazing too. I'll be back to confirm this.
In Portland, Beers would have been a three-star joint, but here in Sacramento, it is a literary oasis. They have a broad selection of both used and new titles in subject areas that most mainstream bookstores (yeah Barnes and Noble, I'm looking at you) might shun. Where else will you find new editions of academic books on war in ancient Greece?
Beers is helping to preserve the concept of browsing in a bookstore. You go to a bookstore looking for something. Maybe they don't have it, but they have other titles on the shelf where it would have been and they might be as good or better than what you were looking for. You would accidentally stumble on new knowledge.
And they can do this because they aren't too big and intimidating. They aren't a small mom and pop joint either, so you won't feel oppressed by the sea of 1950s era hardbound editions of Faulkner and Kon Tiki.
Beers is a dandy bookstore & I almost always find something when I visit. This store is worth a trip if you are in the area. My special area of interest is used non-fiction books & they have a respectable selection in that area.
Five stars for the mellow medium-haired cat with the teary right eye who likes to hang out on the counter, tail lazily flapping.
Three stars for prices-- not the best bargains.
I like Beer's books. What's not to like with a name like Beer's? I really like the young blond girl that shelves books, YUMMY! Sorry, don't mean to be a sexist pig, but she's a cutie! Their selection of used books is great and their prices are unbelieveable. Sorry, I refuse to use spell check and I suk at typing.
one of the better book stores i've been too.
Don't expect to get everything though. Never been there when they've had E. Abbey, J. Fante, and the philosophy section could be bigger. Still, great place to get a cheap book. Employees have no idea of used selection usually, but i dont really expect them to.
It's like they back up a truck and dump the books in. There is little to no organization, although they have taken the time to label the shelves. The books are not always in a very good condition. The staff is the polar opposite of helpful and friendly. Good luck trying to find something you're looking for. Other than that, I love the place.
Yes it is handy that I live right around the way from here, so we go in more than we probably otherwise would. We love supporting local businesses whenever we can, though we really preferred their location on L Street (and yes it was stuffed full but it was fun to find little book treasures there). They have a decent selection of books, though I got a bit pissed when I tried to sell some of the 100s of paperbacks that my mom had amassed since she reads voraciously and they said they weren't "Beers" kinds of books since many were romance novels (hi snooty book folks millions of people around the world read these books and you could probably sell them like hotcakes). As you can see I've had my own run ins with the somewhat snooty staff, and I'm a book person and like to find random titles to read. You can't beat their erotica section (not found in your usual smaller used book store). I've been to Powell's in Portland and yeah it is amazing, but it is almost too big and the selection is many times overwhelming. If I'm looking for a good book to read while I'm on a trip, vacation or over the weekend Beer's is the place to go. They also have old textbooks which are great for my wife who's a teacher.
Yes the parking here sucks, but hey try riding a bike, walking or taking the bus (it goes by here every 15-30 minutes and the light rail is only 4 blocks away). I wish I wish that Beers would stay open later since I pretty much have given up on going here during the week since I don't even get home until 5:30pm and they close at 6pm.
this was my first visit since they moved to the new location, i was not dissapointed. as usual...
- Staff was helpful and awesome...
- prices were amazingly cheap (only topped by thrift store prices)
- nice selection of books
go there... buy something ...support something good in sacto.
An economics section consisting of nine books isn't really cutting it for me, although the fiction and history sections seem respectable. The selection seems to lean toward New Age/crystals/metaphysics/occult subjects so this may be a good choice for those with interests in those areas. I'm not sure what's going on with the cafe but it looked closed for good when I was there on a Saturday. Layout is cluttered. Personally, I find large collections of VHS tapes sad; I'm sure that contributed to the overall feeling of vague depression that I experienced as I left Beer's.
Beer's is exactly what a bookstore should be.
Large, overstuffed shelves full of every genre imaginable. I freequently find stuff here that I couldn't at Borders or Barnes and Noble. (Even when I was in college, I found stuff here when the bookstore sold out!)
The prices are totally reasonable (right around 75% of cover for a good condition used book), and the location is pretty and quiet.
I found an OED here once.... but I was too poor at the time (between jobs). They get a great selection of trade-ins.
And a bookstore that has a cat?
That's rad.
I stumbled upon this bookstore by accident after getting lost trying to go to Wishing Well (mind you, I live in suburban Elk Grove, so the only thing in downtown I'm familiar with is the mall and Old Sac)...I saw SHELVES of books, so I was really curious and distracted on my way to Wishing Well. Wow...books galore. Forget the used bookstore in Elk Grove, I'm going here. I found LOTS of art history books and biographies that Borders had only a limited selection of, with twice the price. I bought 2 books on Impressionism, and the Diary of Anne Frank, and came out with only $23. If this had been at Borders or some other chain store, I would've expected to pay $15 more. The staff is pretty friendly too, they didn't seem to mind my curiousness and clumsiness when I first went in. Oh, and they have a pet cat that roams around the store, which gives me another reason to add stars, because I'm a big cat lover. Hope to come back soon!
Have to agree with the negative comments about the staff. Ive been in there and gotten the feeling that my business wasn't really wanted. If you close at 6 then close at 6, i was being shown the door 10 minutes before. I mean i could see if it was midnight or something but 6?. And i have a problem with that closing time too, i mean people have jobs that get out close to this time, why close so early? Its sad to say but if i go to some chain store i know I'm going to be treated well and they will be consistent with their store hours and they will be open hours that are convenient for the customer. If a small independent book store wants to compete they really need to step up the customer service a bit. I do go there cuz i like my used books and our options are limited here in sac. I miss living in the mission-castro in SF, lots of great used book stores in the area.
The only thing that would make Beers better were if it was open all night and 8 times larger. I mean, it is big enough, but bigger is always better. Take, for instance, cars. Clearly, any rational person would prefer a 37 foot Geo Metro to the standard 8 foot. But, since they don't make that car anymore (an absolute shame), we'll have to create one ourselves. You and I. Together. We can do it. Now, let's get out there and change some lives.
My favorite bookstore in town. Beers you are wonderful. And now even more so because you have COFFEE! I do miss the other location, it was so much more seedy, but hey sometimes one has to change with the modern times. Especially when forced to change with the modern times when your stupid city managers give away your land to yuppies....but I digress.
I like to occasionally spend an entire night in Beers Books, buying copious amounts of reading material, and feeding my dirty little habit of collecting obscure cookbooks. The nice part is, I can get a giant sack full of words for less than $100. Try that, Borders!!! It is nice that there is a big fat kitty cat roaming around too.
This place is second in my heart only to Powells Books in Portland, Oregon---and well, that place is just Book Orgasm Heaven. Last time I was in Beers they had been closed for an hour and just let me wander around aimlessly till I was done shopping/reading. Nice. Everyone go there now and give them your money.
i could wander in this store for hours. at every turn there's another shelf of books full of titles you never knew you'd be interested in. i came in with only a few minutes until closing but i never felt rushed. i fact, i just sat myself down on the ground and perused through a few music books before quickly deciding that i couldn't find a better deal anywhere else.
my perfect day would include walking down to the bookstore (as street parking may be a little tricky during the day) getting a hot cup of coffee right inside the store and then snuggling up against the cold concrete floor with enough books to take me to another land for just a few hours.
Kind of average, I am a bibliophile but this is just a big store with a bunch of books tossed in. No real guide or direction. The staff are nice and very friendly but for the raves here I expected much more. I mean people are comparing it to bookie heaven, Powell's in Portland, and this is not even close.
As a long time Beers shopper (over 20 years) it is a shame to hear such negativity about the store, especially anthony b . Those of us who appreciate a good bookstore understand its quirks, whether it is randomly shelved books or otherwise. Sure the staff can be prickly-so can anyone-but they can also be very helpful. This store is an institution and has done its best to serve us used book buyers for a long time, so don't knock it for the rest of us. who would want the business of a customer that shops there and then runs home to complain about it and then has the nerve to keep going back? would you prefer a borders in place of beers? no one is forcing you to go to tower or beers or anywhere else. The prices and selection are amazing, if you want chain store books and their forced polite manners (or they get fired) despite your "i need my used books" plea, then so be it. and i forgot how personable and friendly san francisco is (insert joke here)-like it or lump it-this is not sf, nor does it claim to be. if you want to shop at beers, get there earlier, dont trash a place because the people who work there want to go home too, or do their jobs not count as much as yours? beers is open later on the weekends, or did you think that was just for soccer moms?
i guess what is really the problem here is the hackneyed 'little store vs. big store" mentality. there is no competition and there is no comparison as they serve two different functions. it is unfair to compare a corporate approach to that of an independent bookseller or retailer. they are different entities. independent book stores, or other businesses, are just that, independent. they are bound to have a personality, if you don't like it you don't have to go, i will gladly buy the books you are missing while you sit at home and whine on the internet because you don't think you were treated well. boo hoo.
my daughter and i just went to beer's books during second saturday. it was an awesome experience, everything about it, and i'll tell you why.
we rode our bicycles which was great since we really don't live that far. there is always sufficient bike parking at beer's, and that rocks. during second saturday is a really good time to shop at beer's because you get 20% off your stuff, how cool is that?my girl wanted some graphic novels, and i was going to grab a cheapie paperback copy of steinbeck's, the grapes of wrath(i'm on vacation from work, and i am determined to finish this book before i go back.) i also got a hardcover, copy of james baldwin's novel, if beale steet could talk(for $4!!!!). i get so proud of myself when i can:
1. do my part with my family to reduce harmful toxins by not driving
2.encourage my girl's love of books, as well as my own!
3.get a great deal
so, this review should say something,even though i didn't actually talk about the store .it's interesting to note, that the general manger of the store is a fat kitty kat, and if you don't believe me, ask the man behind the counter.
anyways, go to beer's books if you want to find really great books, new as well as used, at a super amazing price(especially on second saturday!)
I can't think of a better choice for a first review.
Beers Book is my favorite bookstore in Sacramento and while that may not be saying much, there are a few things that make this bookstore noteworthy.
1. All the caffeine and literature a girl could ask for in one small room.
2. An obscure location, which means you don't get pretentious yuppies or college kids taking up space.
3. A shelf full of old classics in their original print edition, with the gold trim around the edge of the pages and old binding with the thread coming undone. (I once found an original translation of Shahnameh here!)
4. In fact, they have good translations, period. If you're interested in non-English writers, they have a pretty good selection of translated texts considering they are a small independent book store. If you look long enough, you can even find some original language texts - I found my favorite anthology of Borges poetry here.
5. They will buy back almost any book from you. I have seen homeless people sell old books here on more than one occasion.
6. There are always cool trinkets you can buy your friends for under two dollars - they will feel special. (Look in the baskets next to the cash register).
This great bookstore is a downtown staple of Sacramento. It's a great place to while away an afternoon. They have lots of used and new books. They have old videos, books on tape and so much more! They also have loads of old comics too. I really like the art on the walls by local student artists. I wish this place had air-conditioning though sometimes in summer it can get really steamy there. They also sell graphic novels, beyond the everyday bookstore sections. I picked up a big book of limericks here; you never know what you will find in this place!
Consistently offers the best selection and prices in town. I really don't think anyone would argue with that assertion. When the Mason's/Park Spermatorium and Date Rape Family Fun Center kicked these guys out of their digs at 15th and L, we all worried that the new sleepy, Southside Park location would = RIP. Fortunately, the good, loyal people of Sac came through.
Went here recently ... after ummm.....maybe 20 years? I practically was born in Beer's Book Center - my mom would wander around the store. So, when I urgently needed a book on sourdough fritters ... the 350,000 recipes on the internet just weren't cutting it ... I went to Beer's. I was not disappointed. I didn't find the book that had the *ultimate* recipe in it, but bought 3 *three* sourdough cookbooks! for less than $10! life is good
I started shopping at Beers Books in 1966 at the original location on J Street when it was across the street from Capitol Books, a defunct used book store. It seems everytime they move they get smaller, but they do have very interesting people who work there and a wide selection of books. The area surrounding their current loaction is starting to grow which is good. Beers is a Sacramento Icon that more people should discover. If you can't stop by during lunch or after work, try Saturday or Sunday. There are a couple of restaurants cross the street and the 'Fox and Goose' and 'The Waffle Square Country Kitchens (one of the best kept secrets in Sacramento for a meal) are just down the street.
This is the old address. The new one is at S and 10th or something. They've added a cafe. It's the best used bookstore in Sac, although I loved Barnstormer and Bookworm too.
I love this place from the minute I step in and get that great waft of old book smell and see the cute (HUGE) cat sitting most likely on a box of books. They have a lot of random books, and you may not find something you are looking for in particular, but you may come out with something you've never heard of. The prices are great on used books but some of the new books are way too overpriced. Especially when it's more than places like Barnes & Noble. The majority of staff aren't exactly friendly, especially if you're trying to sale/trade your own books. They often give you very little for your books, but if you're selling/trading books you no longer want, it's a good way to get new books there! I definitely suggest getting a store credit as it's more generous than the cash out option. There's also this weird lack of air and heat in there. After about 20 minutes I always get lightheaded. It's weird and not sure why, maybe poor ventilation? All in all I love going there and buying way too many books to read.
When I was a kid, this was the place to buy old comic books like Superman and Dennis the Menace in Mexico. This is the fourth location I've shopped and it's still the same. Good books at great prices and a knowledgable staff. I have to admit that I've gotten a little lazy and shop Amazon for a lot of used books now, but I still love coming here to smell the old books and find unexpected surprises. You can't do that on the internet unless you hit the wrong key or something. I wish they opened at 9:00, then I could grab a coffee on the way into work (O.K. I'm a late sleeper) and peruse the books before getting down to business.
Sacramento, CA
Category: Bookstores
Sacramento, CA
Category: Bookstores
Sacramento, CA
Category: Bookstores
Sacramento, CA
Category: Bookstores
Sacramento, CA
Category: Bookstores
My neighborhood purveyors. Okay, you may notice…
Where I spent my College years in Sacramento…
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