Know Knew Books -- Staunton, Virginia I visit Staunton (home to the only Blackfriar's replica theater in the world) a couple times a year. But these guys opened in the middle of the pandemic and this was my first visit since the pandemic, so MrsVal1 and I blew an afternoon here we were going to spend elsewhere. Nicely labeled and sorted, very open and bright, huge selection, plus DVDs and CDs. One of the most underserved classes in used bookstores -- that age between children's books and modern Young Adult -- was well represented here. Friendly staff. I took one book back after one day and I didn't have a receipt, but the owner credited me without complaining. Guy is old school. No web site. But great word of mouth. When he recently had to move, much of the labor was patrons. So you know he's got community roots.
There are a couple of used books stores that have popped up in Lubbock recently. This one is about a half mile from my house and has been open since spring 2021. They're just now setting up their rudimentary website and have everything listed (but aren't yet taking web orders). https://www.2ndchancebooks.com/
My wife has been to Powells in Portland and City Lights in San Francisco. My all time great was The Strand in NYC, but I always do well on vacation It's much bigger than it looks. It's near Gloucester, Mass, in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. It did not appear in the movie by that name.
My county has a couple good bookshops. Closest to me is the Wellington Square Bookshop in Eagleview/Lionville. They have a great selection of Penguin Classics! In Phoenixville, there is Reads & Company. Robb Caddigan, the author of the novel Phoenixville Rising, is a co-owner. Sadly, we lost the great bookstore Chester County Book Company. At least, the CD shop survived and moved.
My favorite, the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, it's in a dingy ass section of town. I really only see the streets leading into the shop, but ye gods, it's a depressing area. But great place, really great for scholarship. Just picked up 8 books for my burgeoning Pittsburgh project.
My wife and I need to road-trip to that one (it’s a three hour drive straight down 81). And if they buy good quality used books, they can do us a huge favor because we’ll have to cull once we no longer have our work offices.
I went to a book barn earlier this week. I wanted to find a particular book. Unfortunately, the book barn didn't have a catalog. I didn't find the book.