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Categories: Music & DVD's, Comic Books, Bookstores [Edit]
200 N Locust StMon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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My wife and I were strolling through Downtown Denton and decided to stop in at the book store. Primarily, we were looking for childhood books to read to our daughter when she is older.
Recycled Books is a hidden treasure! The store is almost a maze due to the fact that there are so many books and sections that span multiple floors. Its actually a little fun to wander through there!
The ends of each bookshelf are labelled with not only the category (automotive, business, science, children's, etc) but also have a sample of the contents of that shelf listed.
For example, downstairs, in the business section, one of the shelves might also say (opening a business, opening a catering business, making money at home), etc. I found that to be helpful since this place is HUGE!
Something that we didn't know until we checked out is that the prices for the books are written on the inside cover. And usually its just a number with a dash next to it without a dollar sign.
We walked in to spend about $50 on children's books and left with clsoe to $200 worth of books ranging from automotive to business to children's books to making beer at home.
Lastly, don't let the look of the place fool you. This isn't a bunch of old junk that nobody cares about. The selection contains classics and relatively new books alike.
If I die and am allowed to pick my version of heaven, Recycled books would be it.
I have spent countless hours exploring the nooks and crannies and always finding hidden surprises and the magical way that the staff can always fit in one more bookshelf when you thought it couldn't be done.
All of the sections in this store are teeming with great finds. Don't miss the foreign language section under the stair case or the oceanography section in a tiny little niche.
The music and video selection is absolutely huge and they have many rare and signed books for the collector. Manga selection is defintely growing.
If there is anyway for you to go to this bookstore I would recommend you do it. Also, hit up Beth Marie's while you are in the area.
Best record dig in the metroplex.
I can easily spend two to three hours here browsing their selection of used records. I frequent local Half Price Books to dig for records as well, but I have never left Recycled empty handed. If you're a DJ looking for sample material or just a fan of vinyl you won't be disappointed. The only thing that could make the record-digging experience of Recycled better would be the availability of record players to preview some of the vinyl before you buy it. This doesn't detract from their rating since I haven't seen anyone else in the area offer record players for listening either.
As an example of what I've found hiding among the records here, the last time I went to Recycled I dug up the following:
Lyrics Born - Hello / One Session promo
Kurtis Blow - Party Time?
KRS-ONE - 5 Boroughs
Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express
Did a search for what we needed to check out in Denton when visiting my brother. My husband is an avid book reader and when he found this spot we HAD to stop by before we left. I was surprised at how huge it was. Upstairs, downstairs, this way and that.. books galore. He was in heaven!
They also had a selection of DVDs and VHS tapes. I own a DVD/VHS combo and still watch my old VHS tapes so we picked up a few of each for a good deal. They had both new and old movies. A CD selection too.
We will have to go back because there were some collectable items he wants to get his hands on. Very cool business!
This place is a dump. And I don't mean it in a bad way at all. It's just that it's toats budget, which is definitely a good thing because that keeps the cost of books and other items down. Not to mention it's huge.
My favorite part is how expansive the place is. Really... you could spend days there inspecting all the aisles of books, movies, records and CD's they have. Days I tell you! I also like the entire make shift bookshelves and the feeling that you're in some weirdo's basement that just can't seem to let go of anything... including posters and random memorabilia.
I wandered to an upstairs area, found a chair and plopped myself in front of a pull cart that was just a bunch of books that hadn't been put away yet I guess. I picked at random by title, read the backs, flipped through and decided I needed some humor in my life. I'm glad that I paid like $27 for three books and after reading the first chapter of one of my selections and the fact that it mentions the word penis like 10 times, I know I made the right choice.
This place is top notch for discount, people watching, book selections and all other things cheap and entertaining. I'm super happy we went inside, can't wait to read my books and perhaps go sell them some of the stuff that's been lying around my house for like a decade, collecting dust.
It also reminds me of a much larger version of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. I don't know if anyone will agree, but that's the feeling I got when I was in there, just not as historic or epic.
All I can say is YAY!
I love coming to this place. It's pretty cheap I would say, especially when compared sometimes to Half-price books. BUT this depends on what you buy. If it's something newer they'll just slash the price in half. I'm happy to say as an English major and wanting to buy a copy of Finnegan's Wake and Pale Fire, I found some new editions for half the price. Barely used. I was totally lucky.
Plus, when I go up to the fiction section, I love looking at the different editions of translated books. There's a ton to choose from. The hard-covers are beautiful.
I also went here to find some great graphic novels. Usually, it's a pretty good place to find all the obscure indies. When I went to the flagship store of Half-price in Dallas and looked through for some indies, I wasn't too impressed. Eclectic finds galore. Also the movies and music of course. All around good service and selection.
Recycled Books has won the all-out cage death match with Half Priced Books for my favorite place ever.
I haven't been here in awhile, but I moseyed over here during my long break between classes today to browse their three (give or take some odd areas) stories of books and other things. I totally sprained my ankle last Wednesday (I am the Queen of Klutzy-town) so all of the stairs/random ramps/levels were kind of annoying but I remained persistent and stubborn enough to find something new to read.
This was a dangerous journey for me. Being unemployed, I shouldn't be frugally spending what is left of my bank account on books. I spent an hour sifting through books and then I spent 30 minutes putting books back that I honestly didn't need. Well, I didn't really NEED any books.. but they were the one's I wouldn't read right away.
They did have a Chuck Klosterman book that I have been searching for FOREVER at Half Priced Books, all of the Christopher Moore books that I've been wanting to read, AND Jen Lancaster's newest book. I also found the Ring (like the movie), which I did not know was originally a book.
I could have spent all day in here but I had a time limit. It made me quite sad. If I had a steady income I would probably come here every day, but since I don't it would only be self-torture.
I've been coming for 10 years now and I still love this place. The bookshelves are a hodgepodge of obscure finds and best sellers, the music selection is heavy on local but also has tons of other stuff, plus everyone who works there is nice and helpful.
Basically, I could waste a couple hours wandering the shelves and sitting in one of the random office chairs they have laying around, and paging through whatever.
I live far from Denton now, but whenever I'm in town I try to pay this little bookshop a visit.
Largest selection of local artist recordings in Denton! Plus so many great cd, dvd and vinyl gems. Keep it up Recycled!
To see all of the music venues in town, schedule of shows, local artists, reviews and more check out http://www.MyDentonMus... It'll keep you up on what's happening in this small city with a huge music scene.
Beautifully unique layout in what I believe is an old opera house. You can spend countless hours here. It's right on the Square in Denton so you can go grab a bite to eat, a few drinks, whatever. Most everything I've seen is very reasonably priced. Worth checking out if you're ever in the area.
One of the few things I miss about Denton!
WHY THE DRASTIC PRICE INCREASE?!
I've been coming from out of town to shop at Recycled for over 12 years now. Over the last year, I've watched their prices on LPs and books climb to meet prices you find online--in many cases, the high end of what you'll find online. In fact, when I asked them about the price hike, they responded "The owner checks prices online." On this last visit, they also informed me that the small discount they give for large purchases has been discontinued.
What's your logic Recycled? Given the economic situation and your relative isolation up there in Denton, why would I drive to see mouldering shelves of over-priced material when I can nab them cheaper on Amazon or for the same price or better on eBay? Conversely, I'm hooked shopping experience of browsing the mouldering shelves and have certainly pulled out my share of gems over the years. This is an experience that grows rarer and rarer across the country.
The point is dearest Recycled, that your inflated prices and frankly rather thin selection has hit the limit of my desire to drive all the way to Denton and exhausted my patience. Unless something changes, you have lost this customer (who spent almost $1000 on his previous visit).
I love the old smell surrounding me when I step inside Recycled Books. This place has been there for me in times of both need and boredom while in college and beyond.
The selection is stellar with a maze of books and vinyl that you can easily get lost in...and then can't find your way out. I like to peruse the music and dvd bins for some cheap finds and unexpected treasures. Though, I wish the music selection contained more obscure stuff.
There is also a porn-esque section were you have to show ID to enter. I found some vintage Betty Page stuff a while back.
Go to Recycled Books if you hope to find something rare and unique, b/c you probably will.
On my list of favorite bookstores nation-wide, this one ranks only behind Powell's in Portland. Right in the middle of a charming if sleepy-assed college town. Great selection of cheap music, art books, classic fiction, poetry, you name it.
It was the best thing that happened to me in Texas.
This is Denton's hidden gem.
spend an hot summer afternoon wondering around the maze that is Recycled Books and bask in the AC. You will not walk out empty handed or broke. Great selection and prices!
I found all kinds of hard to find Japanese music, blues, and soundtracks here. The manga section is actually super cool, they have a lot of interesting selections besides stupid shonen jump type stuff, I bought Kazuo Umezu's Scary Book here! The children's book section is great too with every classic in sight. They also have vinyl.
This place is amazing. Go to it. You will not regret it.
First off I'm a reader of romance books......I had high hopes for this place. True this place is huge, probably the biggest used bookstore I've ever been too. I walked about for about 10 minutes looking for the romance section. Oh, the disappointment. They hid the books near the how-to section. I personally have more romance books than they do!!! What a waste of a lunch hour.
This is a must place to take any book lover while visiting or just passing through Denton. A three story barrage of antique through modern book collections to suit everyone's taste. Definitely a notch above half-price books with it's local flair and rare-to-find edition collections!
Great selection of books. I agree that you can spend hours in the store! Everybody will find something they like. Books on almost every subject for a great price. Used DVD selection is limited.
I could get lost in there for hours. Cheap books, music and movies. They have quite a gigantor selection. However, their jazz and blues section was a bit disappointing. I just wanted a freakin' Skip James record. Also, I found their organization of the art history books a bit scattered and hard to find something particular. But overall, it's the best place to go to find almost anything you need for reading, music, or movies.
Recycled is this huge, rickity, lilac-painted opera house filled to the gills with books on every single freakin' topic. There's a section devoted to BOATS. What's neat is the store was arranged like a maze, so there are little sub-rooms and corners to lose yourself. My book-loving parents had a field day when I brought them here. They purchased over a hundred dollars of used cookbooks! I think it would take me weeks to look through all the rows of books.
The selection of DVDs, CDs and records, on the other hand, is a bit lacking in comparison - unless you're looking for Jazz or a CD from one of Denton's many great musicians (Fishboy, The Baptist Generals, Bosque Brown, etc.). I always come here to browse because, although I usually find something unexpected (a bootleg Sonic Youth record for $5 or a 50 year old copy of Franny and Zooey), I never-ever find anything I'm specifically looking for - especially in the fiction section.
Recycled buys used books, CDs and DVDs, but they're pretty selective.
i have bought some pretty cool stuff from there.
check it...
music:
beat happening-songs to climb the apple tree by, jamboree, and black candy
boredoms- wow2
red krayola- parable of arable land & god bless the red krayola and all who sail across her
books:
mohammed mrabet - the boy who set the fire
amos tutuola-palm wine drinkard
jonathan safran foer-extremely loud and incredibly close
arthur rimbaud-illuminations
harold pinter-complete works 1
that's just a best of i guess.
This is a great used music and bookstore on the square in downtown Denton. Whenever we eat downtown, I like stopping in at Recycled just to browse. I found some fun stuff in the $1 bin around Christmas and I've bought a few other things, mostly CDs, from time to time.
I have been following this store in several locations since about 1987. I am consistently happy with finding a good variety of used books, albums, and CDs. This is my baseline for all used book stores.
This might be the single best thing about Denton. It's really best to go in when you've got a couple of hours and find your favorite section and get lost. This place is HUGE!! I took someone there who had lived in NYC for a few years--he was ready to be scornful of our awesome used bookstore in small town Texas, but it's hard to deny the the wonder of Recycled.
this is a great place to go on a leisurely sunday just to get a great book to read with some coffee later...the books are at a discounted price and the building is phenomenally big with a touch of history!
The best bookstore in the DFW area. Nothing else comes close.
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