The Best Bookstores. Used and New

In a fading republic with actual books fast becoming a quaint item, a few intrepid hold-outs are attempting to keep a literate culture alive. These stores are not for the Barnes and Noble set but for the true book connoisseur or fetishist. A good used bookstore has a few criteria. A big selection of books you cannot find anywhere (first editions, esoteric titles), knowledgeable owner, and basic dust free cleanliness. Hopefully, many of your finds will have well-preserved dust jackets. Here are a few proprietors still in the book business.


San Diego

Adams Ave Bookstore
3502 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA

The best used book store in San Diego. It is located in the Normal Heights neighborhood of central San Diego. Clean, well lit, and even bathrooms provided. They specialize in theological books but not the proselytizing type. Serious, academic studies of religion take up a large section of the upstairs. Also, a very large philosophy section highlights the second floor. Many editions of Marx, Hegel, Russell and books explaining what Marx, Hegel and Russell were up to. Every philosophical genre is well represented here. Political, radical, economic and classical philosophy fill the shelves. A whole room devoted to science rounds out the top level at this store.
Downstairs contains the fiction, reference and history sections. The history books are never ending, encompassing, American, Americana, WWI and II, Ancient, histories of various countries, etc. . . The staff is friendly but never obsequious. The prices are not cheap as they seem to know the exact value of their tomes. The books are well taken care of. Never dusty, dirty or in ill repair. Two, mostly friendly book cats round out the experience.


WM Burgett Books
3287 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA

Large selection of history books in a dusty environment. Cabinet of interesting political memorabilia as you walk in. The first time I was here it appeared to be quite disorganized with books strewn about. I visited recently and it seemed to have been better organized.

Maxwell's House of Books
8285 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa CA

Located in the heart of old downtown La Mesa, this quaint used bookstore was a very pleasant surprise. Huge history and philosophy sections contained in a very well organized and clean store. Many first editions of political and sociology books from the 1950's and 60's nicely preserved with excellent quality dust jackets and plastic covers.


D.G. Wills Bookstore
7461 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA

Fine bookstore located in downtown La Jolla across from Pannikin Coffee and Tea. Owner is usually seated in a big chair in the center of the store as you walk in. Shelves are loaded with books, mostly used but some new books are mixed in. Make sure you look behind the first books that you see on the shelves. Others are directly behind them. Once again, not a deal to be had as the owner knows what he has and what these books are worth. But you will find what you are looking forward in any subject matter. Most impressive is his philosophy section. However, he seems to be a little light in the American history department. Wills has the largest selection of the Loeb Classical Library in San Diego or perhaps most anywhere. Store is clean, and well lit also. If you need help, just ask. The owner will go out of his way to look for a item for you.



Wahrenbrocks
726 Broadway
San Diego, CA

The biggest used bookstore in San Diego, it occupies three floors on the East side of Broadway. Parking is more difficult here as you must feed the meter. The neighborhood is a little sketchy as homeless folks and the under utilized roam just outside the store. The store itself has a large selection of most everything, but to me they seemed to be lacking in philosophy and American history books. They have a huge section upstairs of non-fiction and art books. Books line the stairwells and floors in this relatively clean, but dusty store. Staff is very helpful and the books seem to be quite a bit cheaper than Adams Ave and DG Wills. However, the books are not as sought after and not in as good of shape as the other two stores. The only thing I really had a problem with was when I wanted to purchase a complete NY Review of Books compendium from 1967. However, it was part of a set and they would not allow me to purchase just the one book. Fair enough, but approximately six months later the whole set is still there on the floor unpurchased. Nice section of vintage Modern Library books on the second floor complete with metal, promotional ML bookcase. A little organization would go a long way in improving the experience.




Los Angeles


Brand Bookshop
231 N. Brand Blvd
Glendale CA

Berkelouw Books
830 N Highland Ave
Hollywood, CA

Apparently he is going out of business or looking to sell his entire collection. But, he is still in business and has a large selection of interesting, vintage books. I found some great old Lewis Mumford hard covers along with some pre-War American history books. The only caveat is that you will not find a deal here. The books are considerably overpriced compared to what you can find on abebooks.com if you have the time and the inclination. Last time I was there the owner gave me a long, verbal dissertation on why used book stores like his are going out of business. It's my fault. Or book lovers like myself. We tend to search out the best deal on amazon.com or abebooks.com and can find virtually anything online for much cheaper than he can sell it. The internet is both the best and the worst invention for book lovers.


The Iliad Bookshop
5400 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood CA

Good collection of used books in the NOHO section the Valley. Owner usually has a large table of great, low priced deals. Very good selection of film and Hollywood history books which perhaps is no surprise considering the location.


Hennessey and Ingalls
314 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA

This bookstore specializes in new art books. It is nirvana for the art book lover. They usually have a browsing copy with the other books still in their protective, plastic wrap. These books range from architecture, photography, classical and modern art and just about any art related book you could imagine. It is located just on the outside of Third Street Promenade about one block from the beach.



San Francisco/Oakland


City Lights Books
261 Columbus Ave at Broadway
San Francisco, CA

Yes, the one and only. City Lights sells only new books and has its own publishing wing. The City Lights published books are on the the right side of the stairs leading down to the basement. City Lights has three floors of books in its clean, well lit store. Just walking in here and feeling the wood floor creak beneath your feet is enough to make a book lover giddy. The radical leaning store has its sections marked, "Stolen Continents", "Imperialism" and other provocative labels. Some may have a problem with the overtly political nature of the operation, however it never seems overbearing or preachy. It just seems right for the store and the location.


Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA

A Berkeley institution. Three floors of clean, well lit, book browsing delight.

Chicago

Printer's Row Fine Books
715 S Dearborn
Chicago, IL

As the name indicates it is located in the old printers row section of downtown Chicago. Not cheap, but they have old leatherbound editions and other interesting items. What really piqued my interested was the vintage rack of classic Modern Library editions. These books were in great condition, complete with pristine dust jackets. Once you purchase the books the owner first wraps them in plastic wrap, and for the coup de grace wraps them tight in a brown paper complete with a Printer's Row gold emblem sticker. Sometimes it is the little things that will bring customers back.



Abraham Lincoln Bookshop
357 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

Fascinating, clean store replete with Lincoln and Civil War era books. However, as my friend said, "don't even buy a pencil there." Books are exorbitant and most anything they have you may be able to find on the internet cheaper. However, this is a treasure trove of Americana and Lincoln books and memorabilia that you can't find in any other one place.




New York


The Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway
New York, NY

Ah, used book nirvana. The mother lode. Whatever you call it, this store does not disappoint. Three floors of mostly used but many new, well maintained books. The have stacks and stacks of "reviewed" new books for half price. Plan your day accordingly before you enter here. You may be awhile.