Best Second Hand Bookshops In Washington Near Me

James Bacon: Excellent used bookstore. They know their books and have sections for modern 1st editions as well as ample SF, Lit and of course history and politics. Really enjoyed the browse. Some lovely finds.

Angelica Oung: This bookstore had a superb collection of both books you been meaning to read, waiting for you to discover, and are just curious to flip through. The perfect selection of old and newer, with a few antique titles to give it that authentic ambiance. It has the perfect use bookstore smell. Prices are reasonable. Please treasure this place and keep it alive for many years to come.

HorrorJunky 4 Life: I love the selection of new & used books that are sold here. The isles are a little narrow which makes for a tight squeeze when trying to pass other customers. They also have a nice selection of DVDs. The books being sold on the the sidewalk are a great deal at 4 for $20. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Brian Hagan: Such a cool used bookstore in DC! Staff was super friendly. Space is cozy so be prepared to squeeze between rows of books. They have 3 floors of books which includes the upstairs and basement. Loved checking this place out!

Hans-Martin Ishida: Best bookstore in the city. Amazingly wild and eclectic collection of used books plus a good variety of new releases. Many of the new releases are also relevant and topical to the social justice issues in the US and DC today.

Monique Johnson: I really enjoyed browsing here some warm days after work on my way home. It’s that kind of place. You go when you’re looking and when you’re not. They will always have some thing you might like. I’d recommend

John O'Connor: Capitol Hill Books has to be one of the best DC gems. Their social media is wicked smart, and their store is a staple of the neighborhood. For anyone who calls DC home, this place is a must.

Joseph S.: Great selection of books and the man who runs/owns it is pretty cool. Store is setup in a really unique way as well.

Sarah McBurney: Enjoyed looking at the great variety of used and new books. Was a small and intimate location. The upstairs fiction section was great and well organized. Wish I could have spent more time there.

Joseph Kerski: I love this store. I wish I could live there ! Thank you all. Even geography books in the basement !

Bruce Lowther: interesting hole in the wall book store. great book summaries in inserted in some of the books. lots of interesting titles. prices are a bit high but that’s very likely due to the location.

Elizabeth Groover: Great bookstore that is non-profit and supports local education and literacy initiatives. Has wonderful selection of used (donated) books, art, CDs, DVDs, etc. Closing for good after December 20, but will have pop-up locations around DC thereafter! Keep an ear out for a new permanent location in the future...

Kayleigh Walters: Excellent used bookshop squirreled away downtown. The books are extremely cheap, and the staff is very friendly. Good, up-to-date variety of books, although you should always go in with a list of titles you may want in your head, as the selection is constantly changing.

David R. Bernier: Good place to get DVDs and Music CDs a good bargain price while helping a nonprofit organization. Also you could donate your not wanted books, DVDs or CDs instead of throwing it away.

Greg McKinley: Great bookstore very well organized like a library. Excellent staff service with fair pricing for good condition used books! 👍💯

Stephen Knapp: Well-stocked is not the word for this bookstore. There are boxes of books & gay mags everywhere and an owner ready, willing, and able to help you find what you need. Great out-of-print art books (I ought to know many of them used to be mine - (had to downsize when I moved) Their hours are limited so plan ahead. G Books buys used gay books too.

Max B. A. Maynard: Wonderful place to poke around in. The owner is extremely friendly and helpful. He is generous with his time and prices. I have had him throw in extras of whatever I was buying almost every time I have been there.

Robert Pelzer: Great place for all your essentials. The owner is a busy man, he makes sure he is available from about 5pm till 10pm most days maybe 11pm on the weekend. His prices are pretty competitive. He also has a wide variety of books, magazines when it comes to gay male literature.

Juan José: Typically opened from 4:30-10pm Everyday of the week. Though if you call the owner and you are honest about being on the way to store he will wait for you past 10pm if you have to get a dire needed item. Good customer service/attentive and competitive prices.

Felix Kasperl: For the collector, chronicler, scholar, and any reader hoping to learn about the gay past, present, and future, this store is essential. I find myself leaving with massive armfuls of books, which takes a while as the stacks usually reveal texts of increasing intrigue, variety, and quality. You can flip through one pile that already has something you’re set to buy only to discover exciting new routes. This bookshop is a massive resource for gay history in all of its forms: nonfictional theory spanning to tales and compilations of eroticism. All of it is our history. A vintage beefy bro magazine brims with insight regarding sexual trends and various cultures of desire within the gay community. Prolific authors who can, and very often are, ignored by both larger chains and independent shops are present and in abundance! I will say the shop mostly tailors to gay cis men, though not exclusively by any means. As a gay cis man interested in so many types of queer publications, it’s difficult to see what is not front and center. Collectibles abound, carrying the shop’s distinct range. You can find older chippendales calendars, in great condition, and turn your head only slightly to discover a rare printing of Gide. The atmosphere is marvelously accepting. The owner is quite literally one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The shop also covers items such as sex accoutrements, and the owner is always glad to help (and brimming with knowledge) should you have any questions. If I haven’t articulated what a remarkably sex-positive environment G Books has achieved, I’ll happily make that explicit. The space is free of judgment. Customers are often there for different reasons, and the owner is able to maintain personal privacy while ensuring every person who walks through his doors that there isn’t a question, purchase, or general shopper’s penchant that’s somehow shameful or weird. I collect volumes of Gay male erotic fiction, and whatever adjacent materials I might discover—wherever the odyssey takes me is always treated with the chill and respectful gratitude. Here is a rare store that seeks to help the gay community through sincerely respecting how any individual expresses their identity. If I don’t make a stop here during a trip to DC, my hands must be tied by completely inflexible reasons that are beyond me. While I know this could sound like overkill, I find myself so profoundly happy when I’m able to peruse through such a densely gay collection (which also includes contemporary items if I’ve made it sound like an antique shop). Your tastes will be indulged and shown delightful new flavors. The books and films I’ve purchased at this wonderful store now form the beautiful structure of my personal library, each work becoming an essential piece that I can’t imagine my library existing without. Exceedingly reasonable prices, a vibe that makes you remember the liberties many of us still find hard to accept, and a treasure of a guide who is in his line of work for a reason well-beyond just making a buck are three crucial reasons I can’t recommend the shop highly enough!

Constantine Browser: Great Variety ,best prices in the whole DC area and very discrete owner !! Opens starting the night and good closing time !! It follows the respective guidelines for COVID-19 . Totally recomended!

Xavier Khan: I looove this shop! It’s Amazing! So many interesting and informational books and inventory. The Owner of the shop is such a wonderful man. From the moment I stepped in he treated me like a family like customer! I’ll definitely be back often!!

Arpan Shah: Very exciting to see this nice used book shop with great collection of books and very reasonable pricing. My kids were very excited and pick up a lot of good books to read. Definitely visit it if you are in the neighborhood.

Toni Airaksinen: Eclectic mixture of used books, some classics, some very old & torn. The store offers children’s books, biography’s, memoirs, cookbooks, history books and much more. In my opinion the selection was small and I didn’t see anything I liked, nevertheless it was quite an adventure to walk through. The staff are super friendly, and they’re eager to help with any questions you may have.

Tatiana Cneazev: A small, but cute book shop. We enjoy going there and never left empty handed.

Kristen Bert: Great store! Many of the books are in super condition and the prices are good. Store clerk (from Feb 2nd evening) was very knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely return.

Taylor Wreath: The used book store scene is sadly lacking in Reston but this book shop really makes up for it! With kind staff, amazing finds, and the cozy environment any book store should have, I love coming here. I know there will always be a wonderful book to find.

Sara Boyer: I am an avid book collector but I am not a fan or places that are too high priced that no one can afford their books. This is not one of those places! I found a large assortment of lovely new and used books as really good prices. I talked to the owner and most books are either donated or ones that they find and she uses the money for scholarships for woman college students at Bryn Mawr College! What a great place!

Rashid Darden: The Lantern is a decent bookstore, but the section with African American interest has dramatically decreased in size over the years. All in all, an okay store with friendly staff.

Melinda Madden: The classic charm of a stuffy, quiet book store. A quiet spot to get away from the buzzing streets of Georgetown.

Bryce Jahner: What an awesome find! Great selection of carefully curated books. Fantastic spot to browse while on a walk.

Mark Rhoades: The best book store my wife and I have ever been to. There is a huge variety of books, and the the staff picks always lead to me great books I would have looked over otherwise. We always leave with a stack of books; they also have a surprisingly large selection of Japanese authors that I haven’t found elsewhere.

Angus Bennion: It’s a well-organized local bookstore with very friendly staff.

Rachel McCaffrey: Such an amazing bookstore! I love the mixture of new and used and the great prices!

Hwa Shi-Hsia: Great selection of new books mixed with used books in good condition, many vintage editions. Dedicated science fiction room. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

Patrick Carey: Is there anything better than a local , independent bookstore? Incredibly friendly staff and a great selection of books (organized in very helpful categories). Highly recommend!

Maria Elena Martinez: Great, little shop in Del Ray. Tons of used books for great prices.

Melinda Leonardo: Perfect book store experience! My boys wanted to stay all day, buried in books!! These are the kinds of places I hope will never disappear! They are so important!! We will be back often!

Steve Erwin: Alexandria, especially Rosemont & Del Ray, has always lacked a good used bookstore. The Company of Books looks very promising based on my first visit today. Plenty of books, well-organized, and well-lit. I plan many more return trips. Good luck to the owners!

Kailyn Miller: This was such a great bookstore!! An impressive selection of old and new books and a very sweet staff!! It was a joy just to be in the store (the books I bought were just an extra bonus)!!

Tracy Henderson: I loved this bookstore! Friendly, clean, well organized, with a large selection of different genres at terricfic prices. This store will put a smile on your face and make your heart happy!

Sam Whately: A (newly opened) used bookstore. Very clean. Wide selection. Helpful and friendly staff. Parking can be a little challenging but plenty of side street options.

Jennifer Jay: Management and staff have gone above and beyond for me multiple times! I’m a professional organizer but often get tasked with staging; my most recent shopping trips there were to replace about 2,000 books a client’s ex took with her. Not only were they helpful but they genuinely seemed to enjoy the gargantuan task! Usually with staging only size, color, and shape matter, but this client actually enjoys their books so content was equally important. It’s been a few months and that client couldn’t be happier. Every book in the photo is from second story! In the end they made three deliveries since it took me 3 trips (this photo is after the second delivery). Delivery is incredibly well priced- only $50 to my client’s location.

Anthony Marovelli: This store is like stumbling into the mind of an unstable magician. There’s so much to offer but the organization is haphazard at best. This however is part of the charm. If you’re into books, especially if you’re a student or author, I highly recommend; a regional fixture to be sure. Cheers!

Xena Wilder: This used warehouse bookstore is amazing! I mean it is a warehouse. It isn’t pretty to look at but if you love books this is the place to look! Everything is usually 40% off except for rare books. They often have 50% off on weekends. They have every topic you can think of. You can spend hours there.

D M: Book store with a great selection of books covering all subjects and literature. The employees are courteous and knowledgeable. And prices are very reasonable.

Annie Jernigan Goldberg: I love the used bookshop. The woman is very nice. The bookshop has a wide selection of books. They have $1 book sections.

Jim Laurenson: Amazing little place, with lots of good and old books. They provided a rapid response to my email search for a specific book, which BTW was successful!

John Daly: This is a very friendly place with a great selection of previously owned books. It is a comfortable place in which to browse, and hosts several book clubs, a chess club as well as being a source for information on Catalan culture. It sits in the Kensington Row surrounded by antique shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Frank Hopper: A fantastic bookshop. The proprietor is very knowledgeable and there is an area of the shop dedicated to Catalan culture. They hold poetry readings and other events regularly.

Jasmina Makota: Great bookstore with an excellent collection! Very nice staff. Support small businesses & get your books here instead of Amazon. They also do passport photos!

Mike Parris: I found the staff very knowledgeable and pleasant. The store is a little small compared to the big name brand places but this gave it a more "homey" kind of feeling. It felt very comfortable to just wander and browse and not feel rushed. The cafe is superb! Their coffee drinks were very well made. It felt like everyone knew each other. Very cool place! I will definitely be coming back.

Thomas Fricton: Fantastic small locally owned shop. They have a good selection of professional (medical, legal, international studies) books. Also a lot of political science and nonfiction. They also sell some warhammer (40k and age of sigmar) products. The owner is often there on weekends and he is very friendly and community oriented. It is definitely worth a stop in just to say hi and chat.

keondra f: my favorite local indie bookstore! well-curated collection featuring diverse voices for both children and adults alike. great atmosphere with friendly and knowledgeable booksellers!

Breanna Wright: I was walking my dog one day and ran into the owner who was setting up shop. A lovely person with a fantastic selection of books. I came back with my wallet and the employee was able to recommend 2 amazing books based on what information I gave. They have done an excellent job managing covid and I absolutely will continue shopping at this black owned, inclusive shop.

Carla P: Amazing bookstore that allows customers to order through their website, browse their store, or specialty order through their email. I have ordered so many books through them and will keep doing so as I love supporting this business

Carlos McKnight: Love it! This was my first time in the Petworth location. Love how small it is and all the selections they have!

Kayla Hyland: This is a very cozy little book store with a surprising amount on offer. My only issue was the organizational method used. There were many shelves just labeled "literature" carrying everything from classic literature to modern ya. It made it a bit difficult to find the book I was looking for. But over all it was a great experience.

Latasha Perry: Great little bookstore for the reader at heart. Nice selection. Clean shopping experience. Friendly staff.

Maya Patel: This is a great bookstore, however, not all of their staff is super knowledgable/enthusiastic. They have a wonderful selection and it’s a must visit if in Georgetown for their unique genres of books and bi-level sunlit space.

Mohammed Al-Marri: One of my favorite bookstores! The staff is extremely friendly, always suggesting me books that highlight the same topic I’m searching for deeper insight. They have a great selection of political books which is something thats not too hard to find in the DC area but really appreciated when you do.

Troy Gavazzi: Got a beautifully illustrated hard cover edition if Dune here for only $10.99, so 5 stars!

Rishi Kumar: I love Bridge Street Books. The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful, and they manage to fit a ton of awesome books in such a small footprint. They keep a great stock of contemporary fiction from small presses, as well as a nice poetry and philosophy. This makes it a great place to browse and find something new--one of the great advantages of a brick and mortar bookstore over Amazon, whose algorithms keep recommending you more of the same.

Jamie L: This bookstore was a nice break from all the hustle and bustle of DC. It has a relatively large collection of different subject matters.

Laura Delgado: Cute & calming bookshop with a good selection, and lots of recommendations which is helpful, as well as reasonable prices. I found English/Spanish children books, and plenty of fiction & cookbooks that were very interesting.

Ren Jax: A fantastic find filled with a diverse collection of local writers and national favorites. The staff is very attentive to customers needs willing to suggest finds if needed, or seek out authors. The downstairs space has more choices including graphic novels and other comic books. There is also room for small gatherings to hear readings of works.

Andreana Morris: Have been following one of the book sellers on their tik-tok for a while. Went in and enjoyed ever moment. Got to meet the book seller and they helped my girlfriend and get a bunch of books to read for our after OFMD pirate brain rot. Met other queer folk. Had the best time. Will be back soon.

Belle Ellrich: The staff here are super nice and extremely helpful. I live out of state and pre-ordered a book. Due to having ADHD, I forgot to change my address on my pre-order after I moved. They were able to catch my order before it shipped and helped me change the address without extra cost to me, even though I offered to pay for the mistake. They even called to confirm that they had the correct address before it was sent out. Because of this, I highly suggest supporting them and shopping from their bookshop. I will be shopping here again in the future and look forward to my next purchases from their store.

Binyamin Biber: Good selection of books and CDs, + a few LPs. Great prices. Well organized too. Supports the public library, and takes donations. Friendly staff. Free public parking under the building. See website for info on that.

Loretta Howell: I love going here. I get any older books here. I have gotten a variety of books that would be expensive elsewhere. Staff super nice.

Rhitajit Sarkar: Love a place like this. Absolutely amazing place with superb keepers. Lots of options for a used book place at a dirt cheap price. Will be back soon.

Nicolle Singer: Great used book store where proceeds support the public library! They have an awesome selection of kids books -- even in various foreign languages due to the international population around Silver Spring. A lot of adult books too, well organized with an interesting selection of books recommended by staff near the entrance. The friendly staff and volunteers accept your donations of books and DVDs at the front desk and give tax receipts.

Khoi Nguyen: Clean book store been coming here for years. Open parking space

Zega Genesis: This is what a bookstore should be. A huge rotating selection, a friendly enthusiastic and helpful staff, and located in a clean accessible building. Definitely worth the stop.

Denise Hightower: Used bookstore in the new Wheaton Library / Community Center complex. Absolutely amazing prices - they’ll put a smile on your face because they seem exactly what a used book price should be all about! Paperbacks seemed to mostly be $1 / $1.50 and hardcovers $3. If you are looking for something specific, definitely ask first. The fiction organization is tidy and alphabetical by author but odd. Unfortunately, despite the lack of much of a price difference, they separate hardcovers from paperbacks and then further separate the sizable “general fiction” from the sizable”mystery/thriller” and that differentiation seems fairly random with titles I’d classify in one section easily in the other so you’ll end up looking in 4 places. The staff were extremely friendly and were furiously working pricing and organizing books while I was there. So, overall you can’t beat it!

John Weingardt: This is, hands down, one of the very best bookstores in the Greater Washington, D.C. Area. The volunteer staff are very helpful and friendly, and there are always hidden gems - such as brand new/near perfect exhibition catalogues - to be found on a consistent basis. The only drawback is the preponderance of re-sellers. They can be quite aggressive, which is disappointing for true book lovers. For example, they systematically scan all books using an IPhone app to identify rare books that are subsequently re-sold via Amazon, etc. This can lead to a lot of disappointment because the re-sellers grab excellent books regardless of the subject matter, which depletes the store’s inventory of publications (that might otherwise find perfect homes with the general public). Highly recommended!

Katelyn Bodwell: Adorable book store with so many options! They also serve beer and coffee and have a couple seats at the window. The kids section was really cute! They also have some little trinkets and gifts like items to buy.

Bobbi DeAnda: SUCH A COOL PLACE! The kid section is another level! Our little one didn’t want to leave! We will definitely be back. Also bought one of the coolest books I’ve ever seen - a “photicular” book. Such a great spot!

Ashleigh N. DeLuca: This bookstore is small but cozy. I love that you can order beer and wine and they let you walk around and browse the books while you finish your drinks. A lot of charm and a decent selection of drinks.

Anna Brazel: Amazing bookstore but also wonderful community space. We visited while traveling and we were thoroughly impressed by the warmth of the staff and the space overall.

Erik Deckers: A friendly and hip bookstore with a lot of great titles for everyone’s interest. Not one of the mega stores, but just enough to pique anyone’s interest. The coffee is good, the food is good, and it’s a nice place to hang out and relax and read your new purchase over an iced latte.

Arun Vishwanathan: Cute little bookstore in DC and you should stop by if in the area. Eclectic collection of titles and journals/calendars They do have a restaurant/diner inside, so you can grab a bite as well if you’re hungry. Wish I had more time to spend there..

Juhi Pac: Great bookstore-bar-restaurant combo right at DuPont circle. Very easily accessible by DuPont circle metro and good selection of books and atmosphere

Karen cohen: Helpful staff and a ton of books from every genre! Browsing is part of the fun or going there and see all the books you want to read. Have lunch in the dining area and spend the whole afternoon there. Huge children section,too.

C Luna: Food was fantastic! Especially the cherry blossom cheesecake :) Service was amazing- our waitress was sweet and funny. Definitely a great date spot ❤

John Weber: What a lovely place to look for books and grab a bite to eat! I only walked around the bookstore but from what I could tell, the food both looked and smelled amazing!! On the restaurant side, there are a couple lounge chairs/couches to relax in as well. Definitely stop by and drop in if you are nearby. I was able to park just a block away on a Friday night.

bruce hutson: Kramers. Since 1976, so it’s not new to many, unless you visit from outa town, like we did. Our friends, Bob and Lynn, came here on dates years ago, as many did and still do. Lots of stories within these walls, ups and downs, and today we sat in fleeting sunshine to taste the excellent Kramers Breakfast(tasty potatoes), and the full mouth, comforting Ham Benedict(such creamy Hollandaise). Oh, and the books fairly pulsed into our hands within the well laid out spaces. Feed your body, nourish your soul

Quarib Chowdhury: This is a Washington DC institution. Everyone should visit, buy a book, and eat at the cafe. I’ve browsed through this place many many times and even bought books and ate at the cafe. I ate at the cafe years ago but remember everything being delicious. As someone with a big sweet tooth, the apple pie crust desert was amazing. The expansion to bring the cafe into the bookstore actually works really well. I’ll have to revisit the cafe next time.

Lorrie Brinson-Arevalo: As a new Author I had an opportunity to fly to DC to visit this awesome Black Owned Bookstore. My 1st but it will not be the last #BlackBooksMatter

Tina R: I checked out this store in person at the National Harbor. The store was beautiful, clean, and well-stocked. I will definitely shop there in-person again. As I like to support black-owned businesses, I am sad to see from the other reviews that their online ordering may not be the greatest system right now. But if you are local and enjoy paper books like me, I recommend them.

Hypnotik Vanity: Awesome BLACK OWNED BOOKSTORE. Excellent customer service. I asked for recommendations and was given two. I took that and purchased both. Ready for my next visit.

Jalan W B: Hubby and I have been meaning to stop by and so glad we did tonight. What a wonderful, intimate community book shop. We left with a bag full of books that Christy, a really nice employee, helped us find for ourselves and a new speculative fiction book by Nnedi Orakorafor book for our school aged son. Highly recommend this community gem. Can’t wait to go back soon! We also got to check out great art installations within and next to the the Anacostia arts center and did some clothes shopping next door.

Danielle Watson-Murray: I ordered several books for myself and my family before it was “trending “ to patronize a black owned bookstore earlier this year. Most of the order arrived very quickly. The other portions arrived later and they they kept me updated during the process. I love their virtual book meet and greets with the authors! Overall I will continue to purchase from them and I have already told several of my friends and family members about their great customer service!

Cindy B: Ordered four books online. Communication between me and the store was great! They are doing an awesome job at fulfilling their orders under current circumstances. I did have to wait an additional week or so to receive my full order (and I did!) but I honestly don’t mind waiting as long as it takes. At this point in time, it’s about supporting local businesses and keeping them afloat.