West Side Books

Stalwart, intriguing, and cavernous used bookstore with new books, art and fun stationary items interspersed. It’s where I come to get my wander/​wonder on… the mind’s getaway

The man on the phone gave very short answers and didn’t act nice to me until I have him an attitude back. Not very nice.

One of my favorite bookstores of all time! There are shelves of books, stacks of books, books piled on every available surface, towering to the ceiling with mind-​boggling balance. There are mostly used books, some new books, rare books, books on every imaginable subject, spanning every genre. The staff is friendly and helpful, but for the most part leave you alone unless you ask for help because they know that’s what their customers want. How they know exactly where every book in this place is located is a mystery to me. The prices are fair, and considering the sheer amount of inventory crammed into the place, it’s remarkably clean. This is a bibliophile’s sweetest dream.

Awesome books and so many unique reads! The best place to buy for those who are hard to buy for at this time of year! Lots of events to attend and great staff to help find that long lost read!

Ever pick up a book at the store and forget where it went? Don’t even worry you can hand it to an employee or in the correct area of genre. I love the neighborhood feel and friendly smiles. Although I never go in looking for a specific book I can always find a nice read!

This shop is NOT wheelchair accessible. The «wheelchair accessible» entrance on the side of the shop was blocked with books and other things when the man working at the shop came to open it. The worker was very friendly and apologetic, and quickly started moving boxes of books to the side. Even then, we were barely able to squeeze in. While slowly inching through the shop, we had to continue to move books to move forward, and were nervous we might knock over towering stacks of books. Once we were in the main section of the shop, it was clear that we weren’t going to be able to go much further than that. Most of the sections and aisles are incredibly narrow, cluttered with boxes, stacks of books, and chairs.
We were using a smaller size manual wheelchair, so of you are in a larger chair/​power chair, forget about it! Walkers would also have a very hard time in this shop.
Please do not list your shop as accessible, and consider your patrons in wheelchairs/​mobility devices when setting up your shop if you want to list yourself as assessible.

This place is as cool as the other side of the pillow. Carry both used and new books which are really fairly price. Every time I go in, I spend at least an hour wandering around the used section… partially due to the organization. Obviously they won’t have the best variety, being a neighborhood used both store, which is completely understandable. Personality makes up for variety. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.

Really fun place to wander in. Staff helpful, knowledgable, and friendly.

West Side Books distinguishes itself from other Denver used book stores in that it feels more interestingly laid out. Don’t get me wrong, others’ musty spartan vibe is fine with me, but their large back room makes you feel like you’re on a treasure hunt. I like that there is a small but well-​chosen new books section and a very large used selection. I’m not exactly sure why or how certain authors get their own little part of the store, but I really couldn’t care less; it’s well marked and idiosyncrasies are integral to a bookstore’s charm. Prices aren’t spectacular, but sometimes they have a good sale (like 50% off sets.) The staff is lovely and there are some really interesting finds to be had.

This is by Far my Favorite bookstore in the world! It is exactly what you want in a used bookstore… books abound! I feel like they are beckoning me in every time i pass by! It is like a treasure chest, you never know what you will find until you dig in :-) For those collectors, wow! So many amazing out of print, hard to find, first edition, local author and signed books! Great! I have found the most unique birthday and special occasion gifts here, always impressed! My only complaint, the bookstore is Not in my neighborhood :-(i wish i could stop by everyday! Thanks West Side Books for still being around in this kindle or non reading society we have become! Some of us are very thankful for you!

Dangerous place for a bibliophile to wander into. I found a few great books, bought them, and got the hell out of there before I found myself homeless and hungry. This is a great place for old school book lovers; you probably won’t find the hottest new hit here, but who wants to read that crap anyways?
happy reading.
Viva Montaigne!

I wanted to be a fan, but ultimately I just found West Side Books to be pretty much just an average used bookstore and a bit pricey for used books. Being that it is located in the Highlands along Hipster Row, it has that very «Hipster» vibe. We even observed a couple of said «Hipsters» browsing a book about… and I kid you not… «Sheep.» Perfect example of irony right there. There are lots of old vintage and used books, but the way the shelves are tightly angled it can be somewhat difficult and claustrophobic to navigate. They keep hardbacks along the back wall, and have a selection of rare, first edition and signed books up front.
I was particularly dismayed with the way they kept their selection of Science Fiction novels unorganized and just stacked haphazardly and split up across both sides of the store, unsure where to put them all. We were searching for some Time Life books and when we asked were told they didn’t have them anymore, and yet, low and behold, we found them all up high on the very top shelf just moments later. Sage advice: If you don’t know your own inventory, or you’re unsure, the least you could do is put forth the effort to try and locate the item for the customer rather than being dismissive and losing a potential sale.
Even though I didn’t find anything I particularly wanted, I did enjoy browsing and found it to be an overall «cute» bookstore. I’ll be sure to drop in the next time I happen to be in the neighborhood which isn’t likely to be very often.

My all time favorite book store. If you’re looking for a corporate place that has helpers in aprons then go to Barns and Noble. This store is what stories are made of. Plan on spending some time there, don’t go there in a rush to find something. The person who helped me today I’m pretty sure is the owner. I could tell she likes people who are interested an enjoy the experience she is creating in a bookstore. I could see somebody writing a fantasy novel that includes this store, and the woman who owns it.

Great selection of books! I like how the store is presented! It is a bit confusing because the check out counter is located at the back of the store rather than where you come in. The reason for the confusion is that someone was standing behind what looked like a register podium but was not. I don’t know the purpose of this particular thing but maybe it is to make sure no one steals or maybe they buy back books there… I don’t know! I bought a book by Christopher Moore here… haven’t read it yet but I am looking forward too! Great book store!

This is more antique store than a book store. They have an incredible selection of vintage reading materials. You can find anything from a classic collectible to a climbing journal from the 70s to a first edition Nancy Drew. Don’t worry, you’ll find recently published books too.
The staff is pretty knowledgeable and really really nice.
This is hands down the best used book store I’ve ever been to.

The staff at this store will help you find what you want, as well as what you didn’t know you wanted, but find that you have to have it. A big store in the terms of a used book store, they have a large assortment of books to choose from. They have had some changes, and have started to stock more new books as well. They also have a varied and interesting selection of knick knacks to amaze you, everything from breath mints to finger puppets.
The owner really knows her stuff, and can lay her hands on anything she has in the store. Most of the staff have a strong grasp of where things are, but the owner seems to be almost psychic in knowing where everything is. It amazed me when she could tell me she didn’t have an obscure book without even checking, and she was right. Pretty amazing when you figure she has probably more than 250,000 books in there. Nice store, nice people.

I’ve been coming here for about 4 years now. I haven’t stopped by lately so when I did this weekend, I was pleasantly surprised by the addition to the building! Where there used to be a big outdoor space with mobile bargain book racks there is now an enclosed area that has been filled with whimsical gifts like Anna Sui and moleskin journals, dashboard bobbleheads, magnets, posters, and «Fred & Friends» type of toys such as a journal with napkin pages for creative writing, Robot Monkey tissues and Fairy smashing flyswatters.
The used books are moderately priced. I walked away with Kierkegaard’s early writings for $ 5 and Chelsea Handler’s «My Horizontal Life» for $ 7.50. Which I find endearing literature to couple together. One thinks about existentialism and the latter lives it! I also bought a tiny card priced at $ 1.25 to go with a birthday present I picked up at Starlet a couple of stores down. It had a glossy photo of a cat sitting on a bicycle on it and came with a tiny envelope.
The books are bursting off the shelves here, stacked in large and small piles on the floor, above the shelves, behind each other, horizontally, vertically, sideways. In all genres. They also have crates of pulp comics lining the floors. It’s equal parts claustrophobic and romantic.

My hubby and I wandered in to West Side Books after eating brunch in the Highlands awhile back.
West Side is exactly the kind of used bookstore that draws you in and keeps you searching for those hidden treasures. They hubby found a few books from a collection he has been building since childhood.
It is one of those places that pops in your head when you want to go search out used book stores. Only complaint is it was almost overfilled with inventory and it made it a bit of a treasure hunt, but a fun one!

This place was a great find! The wife and I were just wandering thru the area and found this store by accident. I’m constantly reading books and have some old collections I’m trying to complete so I can’t pass a used bookstore up no matter where it is.
The place is huge and stacked to overflowing with books, literally stacks and stacks lining the floors. I immediately wandered over to the childrens’s section and after some hunting found some of the books I was searching for at super cheap prices.
This store made for a great find! I keep meaning to go back!

It’s pretty hard for me not to be a fan of a used bookstore. The ambiance, the aromas, the hushed gravitas of all that knowledge in one place — it gives me goosebumps. West Side is a good-​sized bookstore crammed full of books with many more stacked on the floor awaiting integration. There are many many nooks and crannies to explore while perusing paperbacks, kids books, and antique tomes. It’s more on the disorganized end of the spectrum, but bring your pith helmet and a snack and you’ll be fine.
The prices do seem to be a bit steeper than other bookstores I’ve been in, but I reckon their rent is a bit steeper than those on Broadway as well. The sale area that seems to almost be a permanent fixture outside the bookstore proper offers the best deals, but you do have to work for it by combing through all those piles. (Not that I’m complaining). It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes, I come out empty-​handed, an uncommon and cheerless event.