Scrinnameless sent me a wonderous account of a used bookstore in Mobile, Alabama, that got me thinking. Get a load of this:
While waiting on my cousin to get out of work (my day to pick her up), I walked over to a nearby used bookstore I’d been in before, and, thanks to your influence, I began to notice the romance novels.
…And, holy fuck, The Book Corner is loaded. Hundreds of Silhouettes, and hundreds again of Silhouettes special editions. Two shelves of historicals. A shelf of contemporaries. Old-school novels out the wazoo.I am not exaggerating when I say my hasty figuring on the back of the business card puts them at a couple of thousand romance novels. Next time I’m out that way, I’m bringing the camera so I can take some pictures for you.
Anyway, it’s kind of a small, out of the way place, so I want you to put the word out to the Bitchery: Next time they’re in Mobile, or if they’re ever in Mobile, they have to stop by this place and buy some books.
It’s the Book Corner, at Schillenger Road and Airport Boulvard, found in a corner in that strip mall between Airport and the Wal-Mart.
I have never had cause to go to Mobile, but now I totally want to go. Like damn.
And Scrinnameless (who promises me pictures of Ye Heaping Big Selection of Romance) has given me a good idea, but I want your opinion: do you think a collaborative map of Bookstore With Good Romance Selections (Used and new!) would be of use to Ye Fabulousse Bitchery?
I can name two good bookstores near me, one used, in New Jersey, and one new, in Manhattan. I’ve started a map (see below) and would welcome your suggestions as to where we romance readers can find good used and new romance selections.
It would seem to me that with independent bookstores closing frequently now, we should make it as easy as possible to find the romance.
If you’d like to contribute, please feel free – anyone should be able to edit that map. And I welcome your contributions—all the better for me to plan a Smart Bitch Road Trip when the book comes out!!
Great idea, SB Sarah! Alas, I have not been able to find a store where I live that is worthy of being on the map. Bookstores around here are snobs about romance, in my experience. But this would be a great resource when I travel.
Road trip? Book tour? Make it to NorCal and I am SO THERE, at the bookstore of your choice. I’m still not over missing the Bitchin’ fun at the RWA conference last year (stupid wedding!).
I can’t give you the exact address but in London, Charing Cross Road, there is a bookstore that specifies in romance novels and mysteries. Their basement is stuffed with all sorts of crime, the first floor has nothing but romance.
I’m sure someone else knows it too.
yay! fabulous initiative. I would love such a map! Unfortunately nothing to contribute. I’d like to know the name of the Charing Cross Road store, ‘cause I’ve been there and nothing immediately comes to mind so it seems I’ve been missing out on a gem.
Mari, it was Murder One on Charing Cross Road. Emphasis on ‘was’, unfortunately. They closed 24th January. I went there for a Sherrilyn Kenyon signing last Christmas: the staff were awesome and even brought us hot mulled wine as we queued outside in the freezing cold (the shop was too small to contain the queue!). My non-romance-reading friend was astonished at the number of titles—and the amount of man-titty on display.
I think this is a great idea. Unfortunately, we don’t have that many used bookstores in Germany, at least not in my hometown, which isn’t exactly small with its more than 580,000 inhabitants. But I really like to make a tour of the local bookstores whenever I’m travelling abroad. This is one of my favorites in Florida:
Book Bank USA
Largo Mall
10500 Ulmerton Road
Largo
And then of course, there’s
Haslam’s Book Store, Inc.
2025 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713
Thanks for the info, Cat.
Such a shame. I’ll be going to London in a couple of weeks and I’d counted on going there.
My favorite UBS, in the heart of “Historic” downtown Melbourne, FL.
On The Shelf
824 E. New Haven Ave
Melbourne Fl 32901
They have TONS of romance novels. Along with about any other kind of book there has ever been lol!
And it’s just as you would expect. Crammed like OMG to the rafters, and with that cool smell/atmosphere a book lover just knows is a good thing!
Hmmm. Why can’t I get my local ubs to save on the map? I must be doing something wrong. Anyhoo, here’s my fave:
Harbar Book Exchange
1033 Semoran Blvd # 137
Casselberry, FL 32707
(407) 834-0153?
Awesome used book store! Not only do they have a bajillion romance novels, but the two ladies who run the store are mega-knowledgeable in all things romance. Love one author and want to find another who writes in a similar style? These ladies should be able to help. Love, love, LOVE this bookstore! They’re the single biggest reason for my TBR mountain.
Hmm, that map is only showing up for me with one landmark denoted: Nariman House in Mumbai.
So, where oh where is this UBS in New Jersey? I just moved out here, and I can think of nothing better than a Saturday spent trawling through a good bookstore for OOP wonders!
Jerry Clouiter Used Books in Woodland, CA has a huge mass-market romance section, and while their book buyback only pays in store credit (but they took a lot of books I couldn’t get other nearby bookstores to look at—it may just be that Davis, being a college town, tends to glut its used bookstores’ inventory), they’re very generous about how much credit you can use on mass-markets (but only mass markets—they have to make a profit *somewhere).
They also have very large military fiction, Western fiction, and SF/fantasy sections.
I have at least 3 used bookstores around me (one is actually a sci-fi/fantasy store but actually does carry romance) and I will need to double check the stock on the other 2 stores first.
I would love to see this map since I am making my cross country tirp in March and if there are any on my route, i will definately stop in! And then mail the books home to myself. LOL
SB Sarah queried:
I think yes, but there has to be something that really makes it worthwhile to go there. Is sheer volume the deciding factor? Is it that both used and *new* are available? If the first is true then I’ve a faboo location near me:
Paperback Trade Inn (http://www.paperbacktradeinn.com/)
145 East Fourteen Mile Rd
Clawson Mi 48017
(248) 307-0226
The selection? Rows upon rows upon rows of used. Now, for your other criteria of new books, well…this is where they fall down. There’s a small but good selection but technically used for the most part. I think their trade in policy is generous and reasonable for everyone, though some people might need to ask for it to be explained. Knowledge of the owners? Pretty darn good in my book considering that the typical conversation that I’ve heard sounds a great deal like a HaBO entry. Do you count parking? Easy access and dangerously close to one of the area’s best sushi places.
So, does it count? It would in my book but maybe other people may be judging by different criteria.
You might want to talk to site owner SSBiggie at Lunchinabox.net, who implemented her Bento Store Locator (http://lunchinabox.net/bento-store-locator/). The concept isn’t that much different in my eyes from a romance novel store locator.
I am super inept this morning and cant figure out the map 🙁
My family and I have been frequenters of The Almost Perfect Bookstore in Roseville, California for over a decade. Not only do they have aisles (and aisles and aisles) of romances of all flavors, the staff (specifically the owner) are SUPER knowledgeable and always have great suggestions for new authors or new books.
The Almost Perfect Bookstore
1901 Douglas Blvd # 82
Roseville, CA 95661
I’ve been to that bookstore in Mobile, in 1995, and I remember it very fondly! 🙂
Here are my recommendations:
The Book Rack
3501 Dayton Blvd
Chattanooga, TN 37415
Lovely old store with separate Regency and Gothic sections that carries old series back to No.1 and a big bargain corner. It was slated to be closed in March, much to my dismay, because the owner wanted to retire after 34 years in the book business, but her customers convinced her to keep it open! 50%, 25% trade-in credit, 80/20 split on trade/cash when buying.
Grumpy’s Music and Books
3905 Hixson Pke
Chattanooga, TN 37415
I’ve found real treasures there for very little money. They also carry vinyl and CDs.
MacKay’s Books and CDs
6435 Lee Hwy
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Real deals to be had on newish categories and they also carry CDs, games and DVDs. Their parking lot is always full, as in can’t find a spot regardless of time of day. They don’t give much credit (that’s how they sell some of the things so cheaply) and they don’t carry older categories, but I’ve found some fabulous textbooks there and some treasures in the Regency section.
They are moving soon to a bigger store (further down Lee Hwy).
America’s Thrift Stores
6401 Lee Hwy
Chattanooga, TN 37421
While it’s completely unorganized, they have a humongous romance section where I’ve found a few treasures.
The Book Legger
4001 Holmes Ave Nw
Huntsville, AL 35816
Very good sized romance collection, quite some older categories. 50%, 25% trade-in credit.
The Bookshelf
Madison Plz
Huntsville, AL 35801
Mostly romance and mostly new(er) stuff, but I heavily shop their bargain section (3 for $1, 2 for $1) and have found quite a few great new-to-me authors that way. 60%, 30% trade-in credit
I can’t wait for that map! 🙂
Oh yes, that would be lovely. And if someone could point me to a great used bookstore in Chicago (I’ll take Chicagoland!), it would be great. I have some wonderful used (and new) bookstores in my neighborhood (Hyde Park) but none, except for Borders, that carry romances. At all.
I think a map is a fantastic idea!
Other than the two online sites (that I assume most people already know):
http://www.paperbackswap.com
http://www.bookmooch.com
There is also a great used book store in Manassas, VA with a terrific selection of all used books, but especially romances. My mother loves getting her Intrigues there for a quarter each. They also sell DVDs and CDs and do also take trade (though they don’t give you much for it).
McKay’s Used Books
8389 Sudley Rd
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 361-9042
I used to live in the NY/NJ area, and I had a list of about 30 bookstores within driving distance of my house. Unfortunately, most of them have gone out of business since then – very sad! But there is one that I still visit:
Book Trader
494 Inman Avenue
Colonia, NJ
They used to be located in Rahway on St. Georges Avenue, but they moved a couple of years ago. Their prices are a little high, but they have great selection and a good trade-in policy.
These two stores are in the northern NY suburbs, and I haven’t visited them in a while, but I think they’re still around.
M&M;Paperback Exchange
2294 State Route 208
Montgomery, NY
Bookworm
1797 Route 376
Poughkeepsie, NY
Both very romance friendly, with a lot of older books.
There used to be a great store in Connecticut, with a huge selection of older books, especially Regencies. They also had all the old series books, including Candlelight, Second Chance at Love, etc. The last time I went there, the store was gone. I hope some romance lover got those books, because I hate to think of them being trashed.
Karen
My favorite UBS is:
C & W Used Books Inc · (703) 491-7323 · 14583 Potomac Mills Rd
Woodbridge VA
They’ve a good selection & it’s shelved out by subgenre: paranormal, contemporaries, historicals & categories. There’s a small selection of traditional regencies, but it’s shrinking. The store is also good for SFF & mysteries. Sometimes there are a few romances in the audiobook section.
The manager told me they’ve only signed a 5 year lease (as opposed to the usual 10 years) because the landlord can’t keep an anchor store in the shopping center. They’ve been there for ages, but now I’m afraid they’ll disappear due o lack of traffic. 🙁
Dog Eared Books in Independence, MO has 1/2 of the store dedicated to romance books! And it is not a small store. I could spend half a day there looking through all of their books. They have historicals, contemps, categories, paranormals – all separated by category and alpha.
Dog Eared Books
3623 S Noland Road
Independence, MO 64055
816-833-8889
Thank you guys – especially Lori S for the address I might be able to use. One thing I thought I’d never find over here was a good old Aussie style book exchange! My Mum was addicted to romance novels (no surprise where I got my own compulsion from) and we used to take bags full of them to the book exchange in the little country town we lived in every couple of weeks – that place was 3/4 full of romance novels (there’s a word for that… nirvana)! Nothing like cheap books and being able to offload the non-keepers for some credit against more books.
My aunt (she lives here in FL too) finds most of hers at thrift stores. If you like the decades old Harlequins and Silhouettes then that might be a good choice too 🙂
As for new bookstores, Barnes and Noble and Amazon keep me in more books than I can handle 🙂
Just delurking to add my favorite UBS in the Metro Atlanta area, which is also the only UBS I know of in the area.
Book Exchange
2956 Canton Road
Marietta, GA 30066
(770) 427- 4848 ph
They have a really great selection of both romance and non-romance books. If you can’t find it, just ask the owner and she can tell you exactly where it is. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable, not to mention extremely person. The second time I went into her store about a year and a half elapsed since my first visit, but she remembered who I was.
Alas, I have recently moved from Atlanta, but luckily, I found a great UBS just a mile down the road from where I work which just also happens to be named Book Exchange.
Great idea! Yes please send addresses for any UBS in Northern New Jersey. I’ve been longing to find a good one in this area for some time.
COAS in Las Cruces, NM lots of Romance
2 locations one on the Downtown Mall and one on South Solano
http://www.coasbooks.com/
Almost Perfect Booksellers
1901 Douglas Blvd Ste 130
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 781-7935
half the store is romance, you name they should have it.
I’m all for a map of used bookstores. There are 2 near me (I’m in PA) which I will have to look up the names and location when I get home…but I know of one where I have been ordering from online and the service is quick and friendly, and the books are super cheap. The store is call Abooktrader and they’re located in FL.
Abooktrader
The website is: http://www.abooktrader.com/
Location: 41 3rd Street NW, Winter Haven, Florida 33881
I’ve never been to the actual store so I can’t say how big their store is. From what I’ve been looking for and ordering for the past several years, they have a pretty good selection. Furthermore, if there are any books that are not listed online, an email to the store have yielded additional selections.
There’s an absolutely huge used book store in Midlothian, VA. It’s in a strip mall, and the size of two or three strip-mall-size stores. Forget shelves and shelves of romances, they’ve got rows. I mean, like 10 rows of various types of romances novels—everything from old (and I mean old) Harlequins, Zebras, etc, to historicals, paranormals, and everything in between. It’s also got one of the best trade in plans I’ve seen, since they give you 25% credit for your books (the store near where I live only gives you 10%). Books are all half-price. They’ve also got a good selection of mysteries, fantasy/sci-fi, classics, and children’s. Pretty much like many used book store, just bigger.
It’s just called Book Exchange, and the address is 13198 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA 23113.
If you’re in central VA, it’s definitely something to check out.
There is a good used bookstore near me, with two locations:
The Carolina Book Rack
1332 North Pleasantburg Drive
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
23 Shoppers Drive
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
Trade-ins are good for store credit. About half the store is some variety of romance – series, regency, general historical, contemporary. They also have a limited selection of new books. There’s a bargain table up front that usually has a good number of romance titles on it.
im always on the hunt for awesome used book stores. there’s one minutes away from me, and their romance selection is monstrous! ive known of it for a few years now and i’m fairly certain that i still haven’t seen even half of their inventory lol
i’m almost 100% positive that this is it (i always forget to catch the name, i just know where to go by memory)
U-Trade-M Book Centers
2706 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY 11756
Phone: (516) 796-3131
i don’t know if he has any system of keeping inventory, i don’t see how he could, its all kind of choatic, but i keep coming back cause i’m always finding hard to get books there 😀
Thank you Jordan! I’m in Dunwoody, but willing to travel to Marietta for a good UBS. The one nearest me on Holcomb Bridge is a clip joint. Their exchange policy is absurd.
If you’re in Huntsville AL check out my two faves which I miss like family. Note, the black romances are at Bookshelf 2.
Bookshelf 2
256-830-4424
Madison Plaza
930 Old Monrovia Road
Huntsville, Alabama , 35802
Book Shelf 1
256-881-5040
5000 Whitesburg Drive
Huntsville, Alabama , 35802
I love the way they even break down the subgenres. Hella cool.
Since a couple of people mentioned Atlanta, I have to add my favorite Atlanta-area bookstore. It’s a ways out to Snellville, but it’s worth the trip – a huge selection of romance, especially older Regencies, series books, etc.
Paperbacks
1977 Scenic Highway N
Snellville, GA
The Book Nook chain has a hit-or-miss selection of romances, but I’ll never forget the day I went into Book Nook and found a dozen Mary Balogh Regencies, sitting on the floor. Score! I tried not to do the happy dance until I got out to the parking lot.
I’ve got a couple good UBS in Lexington, KY for ya’ll.
The Thrifty Bookworm is my favorite. Excellent selection and great trade in policy. They have a semi-annual sale where every book is 75% off the cover price. They’ve been in business for over 20 years and know their stuff!
http://www.thriftybookworm.com
Reincarnated Books
285 Southland Dr
Lexington, KY 40503
Has a very good romance selection.
It’s been a while, but I’ve spent many hours haunting the aisles of Katy Budget Books in Katy (Houston), TX. http://www.katybooks.com/
KBB handles the book sales at my RWA meetings, and if memory serves, they also handled the sales when RT was in Houston a couple years ago.
When I first started seriously reading romance- both for pleasure and to study the market- this place was a god-send. They had tons of titles, and I was able to tear through many a backlist with their help.
I think the map is a great idea and I am going to put in a shameless plug.
My boyfriend and I run a used bookstore. We have a large romance section with a variety of sub-genres and category romance titles.
We have a fair trade policy for mass market paperbacks. We also have a quantity book deal for mmpb as well. The more you buy, the cheaper each books gets.
We also have a selection of hardcovers and trade paperbacks in our romance section.
Books of North County
1011 S. Santa Fe Ave suite H
Vista CA,
92083
http://local.yahoo.com/info-20849647-books-of-north-county-vista
Ah I love me some old bookstores. I spent Sunday at one and it was STACKED with romance novels! So muchly awesome. It was nirvana for me and I had to restrain myself to not buy all of the pitties.
Hey! I live in Mobile and I didn’t even know about that UBS! I’ve been going to:
Bookstop
6345 Airport Blvd # 0
Mobile, AL 36608
…since I was a kid. If anybody wants old school regencies they’ve got a zillion. I’ll have to make the drive out to WeMo (West Mobile) and check this other place out!
Reno has several UBS’s, one of which has a huge—to me—romance selection: three+ long rows of very tall shelves. I’m not much of a category reader, but I was impressed that their Harlequin SE’s and other categories were arranged by number instead of author name (perhaps that’s the preferred method anyway). Anyway, their staff is very knowledgeable about all subjects and while the store is a little claustrophobia-inducing—all those books, so little space—they always know where to find what I’m looking for. SciFi/fantasy and mystery are also well represented. Their exchange policy is based on a points system that completely baffles me, but seems to work to everyone’s benefit.
Paperback Exchange
131 Vesta St
Reno, NV 89502
Another UBS has a great 1×2 exchange policy: get one used book in exchange for two used books plus 50 cents. Their romance section covers multiple rows, but they don’t have any categories.
Book Gallery
1203 Rock Blvd
Sparks, NV 89431
Years ago, there were so many mystery bookstores around the world that someone published a mystery bookstore directory. It was fabulous, something I packed for every city to which I traveled. I’m heartbroken that Murder One has closed; I was at their new location just last year, a required stop on all my trips to London.
I second the recommendation for the Paperbacks in Snellville, GA. Whenever I get down to the Atlanta area, I make sure I swing by there.
Karen, where’s the Book Nook? I still waiting for a religious experience like you describe, grin. I’ve found 2 Mary Baloghs that way, one at a Goodwill, one at Grumpy’s in Chattanooga, but never hit pay dirt like that before. 🙂
I’m only missing 19 of her OOP books, but I wouldn’t mind finding them all in one place just waiting for me to pick them up, grin.
If you are in the DFW area, there’s a UBS smack in the middle that I love. Excellent selection of romances, lots of old, old stuff. They do have a trade-in discount, which I don’t use so I don’t know the specifics, but last time I was there I was told about a discount based on accumulated purchases. Yay!
The Book Rack
(817) 274-1717
2304 W Park Row Dr # 15
Arlington, TX 76013
I recommend BJ’s Books in Warrenton, VA, in the strip mall opposite the hospital. They have a fab selection of all kinds of books, and a romance section lovingly arranged by subgenre and then alphabetical by author.
In one of the northern offshoots of Houston is Book Land, a used bookstore with a crazy romance section that takes up most of the middle of the sizeable store. There are so many subdivisions there’s even a labeled “paranormal romance” section where all the Laurel K. Hamilton books lurk. It has an impressive sci-fi / fantasy section as well. The only drawback to the store is that it’s in a seriously shady strip mall devoid of most of its tenants. Still, I make sure to stop by whenever I’m in town.
Book Land
7135 Louetta Rd Stuebner Airline
Spring, TX 77001
they were trashing this commercial on the morning news program. no one liked it.