Used Bookshops in Boston, DC and Seattle

Ashlene · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 14

Hi guys

I will be visiting these locations during Summer and I always enjoy checking out used bookshops whenever I visit the US as they often have a lot of different authors. I know a lot of people have moved onto e-books, but I still enjoy picking up paperbacks and wanted to find out if anyone had any suggestions for used bookshops with good romance sections in Boston, DC or Seattle?

I will be staying in the main city centres, but visiting most of the tourist trap areas so am happy to travel to any places accesible by public transport without going too far e.g a 4-hour journey!

I usually read historical and suspense novels.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated - thanks very much!

kim_mac · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Boston, MA

In the greater Boston area, I love the Used Book superstore (it's a chain).

http://www.usedbooksuperstore.com/

I went to the one in Burlington and spent two hours there with my kids, spent $40 and walked out with bags fulls of books and videos... look online for their weekly specials as well.

You could also try Annie's Book Stop (http://www.anniesbooks.com/locations.html) but I didn't enjoy the experience quite as much.

Enjoy!

Sandlynn · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 1613 Location: Washington, D.C.

In the Washington DC area, I would recommend Silver Spring Books, partly owned by Cynthia Parker. (She's the romance book expert and collector at the store and she has plenty.) The store is within walking distance from the Silver Spring metro stop on the red line at 938 Bonifant Street.

I cannot believe there's a Youtube video of Cynthia and the store, but here's one that someone created for a class project! Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezHFmsT9LAw

Salaisuus · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 49

In Seattle, try Elliott Bay Book Company (though I should admit I do not know if they have used books there after they moved - they had a huge used book section at their old store downtown, though) http://www.elliottbaybook.com/

and Half Price books are great. There is on in the U District neighborhood http://www.hpb.com/027.html and one in the Capitol Hill neighborhood (not too far from Elliott Bay Book Company) http://www.hpb.com/079.html

Twice Sold Tales is good, too, but I do NOT recommend the Capitol Hill neighborhood location unless they have remodeled the store and put in new carpet and taken the cats out. The place was famous for the cat pee smell.

Those are the ones I have been to myself. This one also looks pretty good, in the Ravenna neighborhood:
http://ravenna.thirdplacebooks.com/

When you come to Seattle, do not jaywalk.

Susan/DC · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1602

I second Sandlynn's recommendation of Silver Spring Books. Cynthia is both extremely knowledgable about romance and very nice. The shop is small but packed with romance, mysteries, and various other books

If you are looking for a broad selection of used books, from fiction to non-fiction to various genres, you should try Second Story Books. They have a store in DC and one in Rockville. The DC store rarely has romance, although they will have authors like Nora Roberts and Jennifer Crusie, whom they consider general fiction. I've never been to the Rockville store, but I've heard that they do have romance. They are a far bigger operation than Cynthia's. I've attached a link to their website, so you may be able to search for specific authors/titles before you go.

http://www.secondstorybooks.com/

Sandlynn · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 1613 Location: Washington, D.C.

Another used book store in the DC area that has (or, at least, had) a sizeable selection of romance is the Book Alcove in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which was bought out by another bookseller and is now called Wonder Book.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/wonder-book-gaithersburg

I have taken the metro out there, to the Shady Grove station, but the store is a bit of a hike from the station.

Ashlene · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 14

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I will definitely put them on the list!

Susan/DC · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1602

Thought I should also add a mention of FOLio at the Chevy Chase, DC public library. FOLio (for Friends Of the Library) sponsors a used book sale every Saturday, located in a big room on the second floor of the library. Until Labor Day trade PB are $1 (they are usually $2), and other books are priced as marked, usually only $3 or $4. My husband bought 10 jazz CDs there today for $20. They also have MM PB, including lots of mysteries and romance, for 50 cents. Not only do readers get great bargains, but it supports the library.

Ashlene · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 14

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who made suggestions about used bookstores. I particularly liked Silver Spring Books in DC which had an excellent collection and Cynthia was very friendly and helpful, she really does have a passion for romance books and knows her stuff. If you ever go to DC then I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in used books.