My wife and I left about 10:30 this morning to go hit shopping at some used book stores in Seattle. Earlier this morning I had taking out a phone book and made a list of book stores in certain areas. I didn’t plan on going to the University district thinking the used book stores there would have a lot of text books. I chose Green Lake, Greenwood Ave, and South Seattle.
First we headed to the Green Lake area. I had two book stores listed for this area. We visited both locations and found that neither of the book stores was here anymore.
No we headed to the Greenwood Ave area. There were two book stores supposed to be here. We didn’t even find a location with the address of the one, but did spot the other book store. But unfortunately there was some sort of street fair going on and there was no parking anywhere near the store. It was difficult just driving in the area.
So we headed off to South Seattle. There was supposedly a bookstore named McDonalds Book Exchange at 3633 E Marginal Way S, but what we found at the address was a place filled with produce boxes and no sign. It didn’t even look like it might be an online bookstore. Oh yeah, then we go stuck waiting for a long slow moving train that actually came to a complete stop leaving a line of cars stuck unable to go anywhere. Eventually the train started moving again, and we were able to go.
Then there were a couple of the stores were in West Seattle. The first store turned out to be not a store, but a house that was for sale. The second store actually was a book store, and there was another used bookstore a few doors down. I did buy a book here.
Then we headed on. We headed over to Airport Way. There was supposed to be a bookstore there, but there was some sort of Art Fair going on. I looked all over for parking maybe a quarter to a half mile away, and couldn’t find anything. I am not even sure if the bookstore is still there or not.
We headed over the Rainier Ave, and found yet another bookstore had bit the dust, and was now a fitness center or something.
Basically, if you are interesting of scouting out the used bookstores of Seattle, don’t frigging bother. The used book stores in Seattle suck! I spent 4 hours and only managed to visit two of them. It was a frustrating waste of time!
Too bad you did not find Abraxus Books. 5711 24th ave nw. coverted library. Even the librarians shop there.
Comment by tony topalian — January 14, 2008 @ 12:38 am
well u should have hit the University district. there are 5 great book stores that are not filled with text books.
Magus Books
Twice Sold Tales (2 locations)
Comment by CC — February 13, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
There are tons of used book stores in Seattle. Seattle is used-book heaven. It’s not the bookstores that suck, but out-of-date references and guides to them. Sorry you had a frustrating trip. It’s hard to find you way around a city based only on guidebooks and phone books and the internet; the info is never totally up-to-date.
The Powells (gigantic book store in Portland) of used bookstores around here is Elliot Bay Books, in downtown Seattle. Twice Sold Tales in the University District, Capitol Hill, and, I think Wallingford are major ones. But there are bookstores tucked all over. I am not recalling names because it’s sort of like, “You know, that used book store near the pet shop” when we’re heading out for one.
The big used-book chain is Half Price Books, with stores all over. People tend to resent them because they pay sellers so little, but you can get great buys there (probably because they pay sellers so little.)
I think the used bookstores tend to move around because they are not typically huge moneymakers and when the rent goes up, they need to find cheaper digs.
Comment by Susan — February 24, 2008 @ 10:06 pm