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From: [e-mail] (Evelyn C. Leeper)
Subject: Bookstores in Various North American Cities List (rec.arts.books)
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Additions:
    Burlington VT
    Chicago IL
        Chronicles Bookshop
    Minneapolis MN
    St. Louis MO:
        The Book Store
        A Collector's Bookshop
        Star Clipper

============================================================================
Cities include:
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
Houston, TX
Minneapolis, MN
New Haven, CT
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, OR (see Seattle, WA)
Providence, RI
Salt Lake City, UT
St. Louis, MO
Seattle, WA (including Portland, OR)
Washington, DC

[Note 1: Nichael Cramer ([e-mail]) maintains the
Cambridge/Boston list and usually posts it a couple of days after this
appears.]

[Note 2: I collected these comments from a variety of people.  I personally
have no knowledge of many of these places and take no responsibility if you
buy a book you don't enjoy. :-)   Phone numbers and precise addresses can be
gotten by calling directory assistance for the appropriate city.  Call ahead
for precise hours, as even when I list them they are subject to change.]

[Note 3: If you can add information for any of these, in particular
addresses when they are missing, please send it to me.]

[Note 4: I am cross-posting this to rec.arts.sf.written, but the bookstores
listed include *all* types of bookstores, so please don't tell me that a
particular store has a limited SF section unless I have specifically claimed
otherwise.]

Special mention:
    Traveller Food & Books in Union, CT (I-84 at the MA/CT border).
    The upstairs is a restaurant with a gimmick "a free book with every
    meal."  The walls are covered with autographed fan mail from famous
    authors.  The basement is a serious used bookstore.  It's out in
    the middle of nowhere, but definitely worth a visit if you're
    passing by on your way between NYC and Boston, for example.

============================================================================
Burlington, VT:

Chassman & Bem (corner Church and Bank, downtown; 800-NEW-BOOK in NY/NE).
    "They claim to be New England's largest private bookstore; the
    selection is extensive on a wide range of topics, including
    large art, biography, and mystery sections.  (SF section could
    use a bit of improvement; I usually end up special-ordering.)
    Very classy atmosphere.  There's a small cafe in back."
Codex Books (used) (near Church and Cherry, downtown).  Specializes in rare
    and out-of-print books.  Very reasonable prices.
Kids Ink (Masonic Temple, head of Church Street, downtown).  Owned by the
    same people as Chassman & Bem.  Specializes in children's books,
    and usually has public readings by well-known authors once or twice
    a month.

============================================================================
Chicago, IL:

Hyde Park Area:
    57th Street Bookstore (57th & Kimbark).  This is a general branch of
        the Seminary Co-op.  Very good children's book section, and
        a nice collection of fiction, sf, and mysteries.
    Ex-Libris (55th next to Louis Kiernan).  Specializing in
        theological and rare books.
    Krochs & Brentano's (53rd & Lake Park).
    Louis Kiernan Books  (55th Street).  Reasonable collection of used.
    O'Gara's (near the Medici).
    Powell's (with one store on 57th, one on Lincoln north of Diversey,
        and a warehouse at 828 S. Wabash).
    Seminary Cooperative Bookstore (Chicago Theological Seminary
        (58th Street & University Avenue).  "Has a good
        theological section but its only connection with the
        Seminary is that it rents space from them.  It is, in my
        opinion, the best academic bookstore in the social sciences
        and humanities in the world, for English-language books at
        any rate.  Anyone can shop there, but members receive a 10%
        discount on most books and may special-order books from
        anywhere in the world.  Membership costs $30 (for three
        shares of stock).  Members also receive an annual dividend
        and an additional rebate on their total annual expenditures
        (in good years; recently finances have been tight), and if
        they really want to, they can cancel their membership and
        cash in their stock after owning it for a year.  To join,
        show up between 8:30 AM and 5 PM, Monday-Friday.
    University of Chicago Bookstore (59th and Ellis).  General books
        downstairs, slightly academic tilt, but reasonable general
        section.

Other:
    Booksellers Row (North side: 2445 N. Lincoln and downtown:
        408 S. Michigan).  Used books.  North side is larger
        selection, one downtown is very easy to get to.
    Chronicles Bookshop (southwest area: Briar Square, at Route 53 &
        Briarcliff in Bolingbrook).  Has a large selction of sf,
        fantasy, mystery, and thriller, including many that are
        hard-to-find in your chain bookstore outlets.  Will order
        anything in print.
    Guild (and others) (on Lincoln north of Fullerton).  "You should
        hype up Guild books ...  in my estimation.  I've only been
        a couple times, but they have a real nice assortment of
        fiction, poetry, and factual stuff, admittedly leaning
        towards the progressive, but a good source for a variety
        of interesting and often hard to find books (and magazines,
        lots of magazines).  They are so popular that they were
        able to sell memberships when they were having cash flow
        problems!"
    The Stars Our Destination Bookstore (1021 W Belmont, one block
        West of the Belmont L stop, 312-871-2722).  A cheery little
        science fiction haven.  (They moved to this location
        5/1/92.)

If you go to one used bookstore on the Northside, just pick up a map
listing the other ones nearby.  There are about 8 or so within 1.5
miles of each other.

Evanston:
    Great Expectations (911 Foster St near the El tracks, a couple of
        streets north of Emerson just east of Sherman).  "It's an
        interesting place with easy chairs and cats scattered
        around.  I once overheard the proprietor tell a potential
        customer that the book the customer wanted to order was too
        easy to find.  Better bring along your checkbook though; it
        ain't cheap."
    Bookman's Alley (in the alley at the rear of 1712 Sherman Avenue).
        Roger Carlson has taken three large rooms that used to be
        a workshop or warehouse and converted them into a pleasant
        and fairly spacious old bookland.

Others:
    Aspidistra (N. Clark).  HUGE warehouse of used and some new books.
        Cheap.
    Borders Bookshop (near Rte 83, 1/2 mile N. of the shopping
        center in Oakbrook).
    Barbara's Books (one on Broadway about 2 blocks south of
        Belmont, and one on Wells in Oldtown across the street
        from the adult theaters and bookstores).
    Rizzoli (in Water Tower).  "I always feel underdressed when I go
        in there." The Unabridged Bookstore (Broadway a block north
        of Belmont)

There is also a book compiled by Lane Phalen, THE BOOK LOVER'S GUIDE TO
CHICAGOLAND, ISBN 1-880339-06-4, $14.95) which covers over four hundred
bookstores in the Chicago area.

============================================================================
Denver, CO:

The Tattered Cover (2955 East First Avenue, Denver CO 80206,
    1-800-833-9327, tdd/v [phone]).  Huge--4 floors.  Over
    400,000 books in stock.  Considered to be the best independent
    bookstore in the U.S.  Also does mail order to anywhere. Free
    giftwrapping.

============================================================================
Houston, TX:

All Books (Richmond at Greenbriar).  Used bookstore with reputedly good
    natural science selection.
Booked Up (Studewood at E 7th).  Used bookstore with good liberal arts
    selection.
Bookstop ('Alabama', S Shepherd at W Alabama).  A large branch of a growing
    discount chain.  Located in what used to be an old movie palace,
    it's a fairly good general bookstore, particularly popular
    non-fiction.  Fiction genres (esp. sf and mystery) can be mediocre.
    Open til midnight.
Bookstop ('Sharpstown', Bellaire at US-59).  A smaller branch of the chain.
    Same sort of selection but the sf section is somewhat better.
Brazos Bookstore (Bissonet btw Kelvin & Morningside).  Eclectic, but known
    as a literary place, with readings.
Brentano's (Westheimer at S Shepherd).  A large, generic bookstore but much
    more pleasant than most, as armchairs and a coffee machine are to be
    found. Good children's and history sections.
Brown Book Shop (San Jacinto at Bell).  Good for science and technical
    stuff.
Detering Book Dealers (Bissonnet at Greenbriar).  A used bookstore, but for
    literary and rare stuff.
Future Visions (US-290 at Mangum).  Relatively speaking, the Houston source
    for sf and horror.  Due to financial troubles c. 1990, the
    selection has been broadened to include techno-thrillers and the
    ilk.  Author signings every month or so.
Half-Price Books (University at Kirby).  A large branch of the used
    bookstore chain. Pretty good Texana section.
Half-Price Books (Waugh at Hyde Park).  A moderate-sized branch.
Majors Scientific Books (S Main at Dryden).  Good for computer books and
    science texts, *especially* medical tomes.
Murder By the Book (Bissonnet at Morningside).  The Houston source for
    mysteries, especially new stuff. Author signings almost every week.
Nan's Game HQ (US-59 at S Shepherd).  A game and comic shop, but it has a
    rack of new sf, though heavily infested with official D&D pablum.
Rice Campus Store (Rice campus).  Avoid unless looking for something written
    by a Rice faculty member.  Textbooks are expensive and there's not
    much else.
Spectrum Bookstore (Westheimer at Augusta).  A generic bookstore, but a good
    place to hang out while you wait for a movie to start at the
    THX-equipped theater next door.
Third Planet (Bissonnet at Kelvin, preparing to move).  A comic and game
    shop, but they do maintain a very large rack of new and old sf
    books.
Univ Houston Cougar Bookstore (UH campus).  A large campus bookstore,
    usually cheaper than the Rice store.
Univ St Thomas Bookstore (UST campus).  Reputedly good for literature.

============================================================================
Minneapolis, MN:

Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore and Uncle Edgar's Mystery Bookstore
    (2864 Chicago Av S).  Good selection of SF in the front (Uncle
    Hugo's), with the back (Uncle Edgar's) for mysteries.  They have a
    nice newsletter with upcoming releases.  Bargain hunting galore in
    the used stacks.

============================================================================
New Haven, CT:

Arethusa Book Shop (87 Audubon).  Used books, first editions, collectors
    items.  Most are fairly expensive.
Atticus (1082 Chapel).  A rather ho-hum selection of new books.  Its
    virtues are that it's open late (a rarity in this area) and has a
    cafe on the premises.
Bryn Mawr Book Shop (56 1/2 Whitney).  Cheap used books.  Good for picking
    up some light reading (most paperbacks are $.25 apiece).  Open
    limited hours.
Coventry Books (75 Whitney).  Used books, mostly nonfiction or scholarly.
    Also some remainders.  "My personal favorite of the bunch."
Whitlock's (17 Broadway).  Used books on all subjects.
Yale Coop (77 Broadway).  New books, large full-service bookstore.  They
    also have one corner set aside for used scholarly books.

============================================================================
Philadelphia, PA:

Book Trader (501 South St.) The biggest used book store in Philadelphia
    that I know of.  They also sell black & white posters, used
    records, and have a tiny gallery upstairs.  Open every day till
    midnight.
Hibberd's Books (1310 Walnut St.) Sells new, used, and rare books.
    Interesting item in this store is the bag of books in front of the
    store marked "take a chance, change of your life" filled with used
    books that are unknown until it is opened.
Whodunit? (Chestnut--whatever the main street is--around 20th).  Major
    mystery store, mostly used, some new, excellent supply for
    Sherlockiana for those who care about such things (like me!).

And a couple of people write:
"I recommend the "Chester County Book Company" in West Chester, PA (~20
miles or 50 minutes by bus west of Philadelphia).  They don't seem to
turn over their stock as much as most bookstores: there are more older
books than you usually find (at least in paperback).  They have about
50% more books than their shelves will hold; there are many stacks of
books not on shelves."  "CCBC is a pleasant medium sized bookstore,
always good for something.  They will special order anything, so far as
I know.  They have two stores, one in either of the two WC shopping
centers.  The larger one is the regular store.  The smaller one is
filled with remainders and WCU texts."  They also have a pair of very
large birds, confined to a cage, but they smell and squawk, sometimes
quite loudly.  Each of the shopping centers are immediately off of one
of the three Route 202 WC exits.

"While in the area, look for Baldwin's Book Barn, a converted barn.  It
is possibly the largest used bookstore in the Philadelphia area, and it
is glorious.  Exton (the next town over) has another fine used
bookstore.  Right next to the Burger King next to campus is a little old
ladies' little old books' bookstore.  Not much of a selection, but I
always buy a few from them when I'm in the area.  The Downingtown
Farmers' Market also has a few used bookstores, along with stuff you
just don't find in any other mall."

And in Willow Grove is the Business and Computer Bookstore.  "When
you're in the Philadelphia area, you as might as well also check out
Quantum, Borders, U Penn, Drexel U bookstores, and Lame Duck for used
science books.  If `technical' includes architecture, there's
furthermore a specialty store for just that in Center City.  (I've never
been to the Temple U bookstore, so I can't comment on it.)"

============================================================================
Pittsburgh, PA:

Atlantic Books.  An okay remainder place.
The Bookworm (in Squirrel Hill).  A good used bookstore.
Borders (5 miles south on US 19).  A very good book store, and compares
    well with any bookstore short of Powell's (in Portland, Oregon)
    that I've visited.
City Books (on the South Side of the Monogahela river across from
    downtown).  Used.
Riverrun Books (next door to City Books).  Smaller than City Books but the
    two put together are well worth a visit.
Eide's Comic Shop.  A better science fiction section than any store in the
    Boston area (specialty or otherwise).
Pinocchio Bookstore for Children (in Shadyside opposite the west end of
    Walnut St).  The selection here is far better than any in any
    general bookstore.  (It's well-chosen stuff for the most part, not
    shelf after shelf of Sweet Valley High).
Skleder's.  Has a reasonable selection of old books, but nothing to brag
    about.
University of Pittsburgh Bookstore.  Pretty good.

There are several more (St.  Elmo's and Stonewall probably merit additions
as well).  The CMU-SCS-student's Guide to Living In Pittsburgh gives a long
descriptions of the various kinds of bookstores in the area, but it's
probably more information than you want.  (It would take up a whole posting
by itself, and the bookstore pickings in Pittsburgh are a good deal slimmer
than NYC or the Bay Area.)

============================================================================
Providence, RI:

Book Store, Murder by the Book, and Other Worlds (1281 N. Main St).  A
    variety of stores occupying the same space.  Wide selection of used
    science fiction and mysteries.
Cellar Stories (190 Mathewson Street).  Good selection of just about
    everything.  Recently doubled its space.  Contrary to its name, it's
    on a second floor downtown, just off of Weybosset.  Can usually be
    spotted by a banner hanging from the upstairs window.
Sewards' Folly (139 Brook Street).  Eclectic selection.  At about fifteen
    years old, this is the longest-surviving of the used bookstoress
    around here, so they must be doing something right.  Owned by as
    retired couple named (surprise) Seward, this is a comfortable places
    to browse, and only a couple of blocks from coffee mecca ons
    Wickenden Street, so you can conveniently take your purchases and
    enjoy them over a cup of espresso.

============================================================================
St. Louis, MO:

The Book Store (NW corner of Big Bend and Millbrook near Washington
    University).  They have *at least* twice as many paperback titles as
    Library Ltd. in stock, but very few hardbacks.  They also have a
    "buyers club" where they record the cost of each purchase (not
    counting sale books), and after twelve books they give you a credit
    for a percentage of the total purchase price (basically every
    thirteenth book free).  They specialize in mysteries, romance, and
    speculative fiction, these three genres comprising at least 80% of
    the titles in stock; they also have the most remarkable stock of
    women's erotica one reader has ever seen.  They will also buy back
    your used books after you read them.  Parking is a bit of a hassle.
    (The store is in the process of being sold so all this could change.
    12/92)
A Collector's Bookshop (6275 Delmar in University City) (used).  Science
    fiction is upstairs in the back.  Sorted by author's last initial
    only, and the selection is huge and turns over fast.  You can spend
    hours in this place.  It's a real job to search through, but you get
    some real bargains.  Mostly paperbacks, but some hardbacks, trade,
    and book club editions, too.
The Library Ltd. (actually in the suburb of Clayton at Forsyth and Hanley,
    about a half-mile west of Washington U).  A new store, the largest
    bookstore in St. Louis.  A very pleasant store, with couches,
    chairs, and tables for reading areas.  Fills the whole floor of a
    store which used to be a Best catalog showroom.  A large selection
    of discount-price remaindered books, and an extensive display of all
    varieties of current hardbacks, paperbacks, and a reasonable
    magazine selection.
Star Clipper (8100 block of Delmar in University City).  Their stock of
    books is limited--their specialty is comics and SF art (posters,
    books, etc.).

============================================================================
Salt Lake City, UT:

Sam Weller's (273 S Main).  A *huge* place with new books on the main floor
    and used books in the basement and on the balcony.  You can easily
    spend half a day browsing in here.
King's English (1500? S 1500 E).  A cozy bookstore with a resident cat,
    armchairs, and free tea and coffee.  New books, strongest in
    fiction and literature.  Best selection of mysteries in town.

============================================================================
Seattle, WA:

AKA Books & Left Bank Books.  Part of a collective that provides small
    press and alternative titles--former is primarily used books at
    good prices, latter is mostly new titles.
Bailey/Coy Books.  Wonderful, full of good fiction and recommendations
    from staff and customers.
Beauty and the Books.  Run-of-the-mill university used bookstore.
Beyond the Closet Books (1501 Belmont Ave).  The city's best gay &
    lesbian bookstore.
Blackbird Books (3130 E Madison).  Has a good selection of books for the
    African-American community, including toys, posters, children's
    books, and music.
David Ishi, Bookseller (down the street from Elliot Bay).  Lots of old
    hardcovers and memorabilia, but it's a bit expensive.  He
    specializes in fine editions, and will do difficult rare book
    searches on request.
Discount Books.  Has some of the lowest prices, but their selection is
    usually limited.
Elliot Bay Books.  Booklover's paradise. Also has an extensive children's
    section, complete with a playroom for kids as you browse other
    areas.
Flora and Fauna Books (1st Ave in Pioneer Square).  Best nature/outdoors
    bookstore in town, with both new and selected used/rare titles.
Half-Price (University District).  Large collection of mostly used books.
Lambda Books.  The best place for gay/lesbian titles and postcards.
Magus Bookstore.  Run-of-the-mill university used bookstores.
Mystery Bookshop (117 Cherry).  Large collection of new and used mysteries.
Open Books (Wallingford).  Great poetry selection.
Second Story Book Store (Wallingford Center on N. 45th).  Feminist, new
    fiction, lending library.
Secret Garden Children's Bookshop (Greenlake).  A wonderful selection.
Shorey's Books.  Used bookstore with ancient reference books.  Lots of
    dreck, but the occasional book you can't find anywhere else.
Spade & Archer (1101 E Pike).  Mystery bookstore. The Pike St cinema is
    at the back.
Standard Books (65th in the Roosevelt District).  Great bookstore -- open,
    airy, light, current fiction and non-fiction, heavy on politics,
    history, poetry.  Small children's section.  Free Sunday NYTimes
    Book Review.  Staff super-friendly and involved, newsletter, book
    signings and readings.
Tower Books (Lower Queen Anne).  Large, wide-ranging selection of new
    books, magazines, and papers.  Also sells the cheapest IRISH
    TIMES in Seattle.
Twice Sold Tales (on John, not 45th).  Has incredibly good used fiction
    at good prices.
University Bookstore.  Simply massive, with good people to find the book
    you want, and an extensive children's section. "Better than any
    University bookstore I know (including Harvard Coop) for general
    books."

There are also several used bookstores the university area--one along
University Way and a couple on side streets going East, towards campus.

And of course, you might want to consider a day trip down to Portland
(three hours by car) to get to visit Powell's--probably the largest
bookstore in the world.

============================================================================
Washington, DC:

Air Land and Sea (Old Town Alexandria at 1215 King St).  New and used
    aeronautical, nautical, and military books, prints (and
    collectibles, and other knick-knacks).
Borders (Rockville Pike near White Flint mall in Bethesda/Rockville).
    The best.  Aside from having a huge selection, it has employees who
    actually know something about books.  Pricey, but a great place to
    hang out.  Borders has just opened an even bigger store in Tysons
    Corner on Leesburg Pike.
From Out of the Past (Alexandria on Richmond Hwy (Route 1).  Eclectic
    mix of books, sometimes overpriced badly IMHO, but *the* place in
    Washington to buy things like old Life magazines.
Kramerbooks/Afterwords (P St. just north of Dupont Circle).
    Smallish bookstore, but good selection & nice cafe in the back.
    Open 24 hours a day.  Also the regular Kramerbooks at 1875 K Street
    inside International square.  Very good collection of political
    science and technical works.  **NOTE**: Another person says
    these are "[n]ot listed as such (under either name) in the
    current D.C. white or yellow pages.  There is an Afterwords Cafe at
    1517 Conn. Ave, N.W., but I have no notion if it is related."
    Can someone clarify?
The Map Store Inc. (Farragut Sq at 1636 Eye St. NW).  An excellent
    source of maps, travel guides, etc.
Maryland Book Exchange (College Park at 4500 College Ave).  An above
    average technical/university bookstore with some used books.
The Newsroom (two blocks up from Kramerbooks on Connecticut Ave).  A good
    selection of national & international newspapers & magazines.
Olde Soldier Books, Inc. (Gaithersburg on N Frederick Ave).  Specializes
    in Civil War books, in which they have a broad stock.  Worth
    checking on any military material for earlier wars, new (some)
    or used (mainly).  They also publish.
Olsson's Books & Records (Main store in Georgetown on Wisconsin Ave. NW.
    Other stores at Dupont Circle on 19th St NW, Metro Center on F
    St NW, Old Town Alexandria on S Union St, and Bethesda on Old
    Georgetown Rd).  Good selection, including some hard-to-find books.
    Also a music store.  Will order from Books in Print, and, at the
    Georgetown store, British Books in Print.  Also a music store;
    mainly classical.
Politics and Prose (Connecticut and Nevada).  A full service bookstore.
    Recent fiction and current affairs, politics.  Often has authors
    speaking.
Reiter's Scientific and Technical Bookstore (2021 K St NW).  They have a
    very broad stock of technical books and are also willing to do
    phone and mail order worldwide [phone] or [phone].
Wonder Books & Video (Frederick on W Patrick St (Route 40 W)).  A large
    used bookstore that I've always found well worth searching.

In Bethesda, just find one used bookstore -- each one has maps
    showing the locations of all the others.

Second Story Books (chain with stores at Dupont Circle on P St NW,
    Rockville on Parklawn Ave, Bethesda on Bethesda Ave, and in
    Baltimore).  Used books (and records). Largest selection of
    any of the used book stores I go to (I look for paperback fiction
    and history, mostly).

For literary stuff, try Chapters, at 1532 K St NW.

For SF, fantasy, and strange odds & ends, try Hole in the Wall
      (a.k.a. Hole in the Wallet) in Falls Church, Virginia.

For theater books, Backstage Inc., 21st & P Streets N.W.

============================================================================

Evelyn C. Leeper   |   [phone]   |   [e-mail]