Magers & Quinn Booksellers

Best bookstore in the city. Great atmosphere and very helpful staff. I’d give it five stars, but they need a coffee shop.

Wow, what a bookstore, it is not only really big but it has something for everybody. Not just books, but holiday cards, maps & other really funky stuff. I was really only browsing killing some time when $ 60+ later I left thinking what a great store. They are quite an impressive bunch here, so even when you’re just browsing it will be hard not to leave w/​something.

Love at first sight for me here. Gave you the old-​timey bookstore atmosphere. Happy to see the mix of used books in the selection. Only had a chance to browse quickly in my first stop, hope to visit again soon with more time to peruse the shelves. Supporting independent bookstores is easy when a place is like this.

There’s nothing sadder in this world than a bookstore filled exclusively with brand new books. Used books are not second class reads for the underbelly of society. M&Q realizes this much, and fills their endless shelves with both new and beautiful classic used books. They also get bonus points for bringing in public figures who would otherwise overlook our fine city.

A special neighbor bookstore. Nooks and books! You feel like you have stepped in to a magic world of book finding. I always find a find. Can’t wait to get home and explore my new adventure

You like books, but you don’t like Magers & Quinn?
You do not actually like books. Stop lying.
This bookstore probably has that weird book you’re looking for that you can’t find anywhere. In fact, it does have it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve just stopped in here with the best of intentions («I will not buy a bunch of books today, I will not buy a bunch of books today…») only to discover that somehow, some way this joint has not one but two or even three books by my favorite author that I don’t own yet just sitting on the shelf, waiting for me at that exact moment. And it’s not just the random short story anthologies, oh no. It’s the hard-​to-​find novels, the random plays, all of it! In fact, all I need in the novels now is two that are out of print, but I bet someday I’ll walk into this store and BOOM! there they’ll be. I just know it.
The place is huge, fairly well-​organized, and the staff is helpful if you ask. The collection upstairs is worth a look, though (thankfully) I’ve never found anything up there that I wanted to spend a whole bunch of money on.
There are lots of events happening for the more literary minded. It’s conveniently located by multiple coffee shops and around the corner from Lucia’s Wine Bar for easy relief of the «I need to read this book THIS SECOND» moments.
However, if you hate a crowded bookstore, don’t come here on a weekend. Come during the weird hours when everyone is at work or at dinner or something. This place is usually poppin’, which can make perusing a little stressful with everyone trying to walk around you while you read a dust jacket.
What this place does need, though, is a cat. Get on that, guys. A cat. Or five. I mean, it’s a big place. Five friendly, well-​trained cats roaming around would be a delight.

Oh my nerd status is expert. In case you thought I was just a pretty face, I was/​am also a straight-​A student and a heavy reader of all types of books from a very young age. In fact, my parents used to use me as a party trick as I could recite whole children’s books from memory from about 5 years old.
My never ending book appetite has resulted in knowing everything about wizards, vampires, a bit about time and space travel, some knowledge about asteroid mining (didn’t get too far on that one though admittedly), I’ve read all the classics, I read Pride and Prejudice once a year at least, my ipad has all of Edgar Allan Poe, plus Tina Fey and trashy beach literature. I don’t discriminate too broadly, nor am I overly selective. I own a few first editions and early 1900’s volumes, I buy hardback to collect and I read based on mood… and I am quite moody at that. So you’ll understand when I say a book store like this is a feast for my soul.
Dig in folks. You’ll find a whole cabinet of first editions and rare books at first, and the realize the upstairs is full of them. Every best seller is sprinkled throughout and the topic sections are dense and have every offering you could want. It’s right up there with Powell’s in Portland or Elliott Bay in Seattle. Very helpful staff sprinkle themselves about in a convenient fashion with subtle help when you were just about to ask anyways. It’s both charming and orderly.
For those of you who cannot take the solemn time to wander and worship the written word, you can order online to inquire about a certain title before you head in with their website. Shop small, buy independent.

This independent bookstore occupies a niche that Half-​Price Books (a solid and good bookstore chain in its own right for general interest) and Barnes and Noble (getting worse) does not, which is the sale of literary books in both fiction and nonfiction flavors and the independent presses. There is an extremely strong collection of New York Review of Books titles, poetry, and MFA/​writing craft books that is actually even better than Amazon for some of the collection. Nonfiction shelves are scholarly but not as academically technical as the UMN bookstore. Pair this up with the other genre-​specific independents (Uncle Hugo/​Edgar, Wild Rumpus, Once Upon A Crime, and UMN) for a complete literary diet.
One particular feature of the bookstore that is often overlooked is their helpfulness when trying to special order books from the independent small presses that don’t go through the normal wholesaler route (so, books that have to be ordered outside of Baker and Taylor or Ingram distribution channels). They are comparable to Powell’s Portland in their ability to source the chapbooks and other small presses.

Fair prices and a friendly and knowledgeable staff that are ready to help you when you need it. And their selection is incredible!

I absolutely love this place. I haven’t bought anything from it, but I always come to it to walk through the bookcases and see what books they have. (I also got asked to prom by a friend there in the little check in book — which was super cute!)

This is a landmark independent bookstore, est 1994, that is completely reminds me of the old bookstores that I would explore when I was a child. At this bookstore you will find a blend of the new, such as Harper Lee’s «Go Set a Watchman» and the old. I found a first US edition of Henry Miller’s «Tropic of Cancer». Other assorted treasures you can ask to view at special hours (kept under lock and key), for their rare collectables. The displays are well organized and if there is a book you are specifically looking for, the staff will look it up for you without feeling like they are being bothered. The sections are well organized and you can find just about anything there, from handcrafted journals, to current authors and at a price that is very competitive with the big chain stores all while supporting a local business. They are conveniently located across from Calhoun square, and often hold book signings. I saw signed copies of Tom Brokaw’s new book available for purchase. I also love their hours, Sunday –Thursday, open from 10 am — 10 pm and on Friday and Saturday, open from 10 am — 11 pm. I have to be honest, whenever I am looking for a book, instead of looking on line or going to a big box store, I will come here. If I want to browse, I browse, but most of the time I am going to walk out of that store with at least a book or two in hand. Parking is available in the nearby Calhoun Square or metered public parking and accessible by city bus.

3.5 stars, though I’m torn. The first few minutes I was in the store, I would’ve given it 4+ stars. But then I started looking for books I had in mind… The organization could use some work — some books categorized into certain sections (sociology, science, psychology, etc) almost subjectively, making things hard to find.
Pricing is great though, on used/​older books. New books are priced retail, but most other books are more inexpensive. There are some signed copies in there too!
The staff could be a bit more friendly.

This bookstore is definitely one of the Twin Cities’ hidden gems. The organization of the books is above-​and-​beyond any chain bookstore I have been to. I usually spend my time looking in the fashion section, but one can’t help but wander around the store for hours. The atmosphere is also very inviting, and the employees make great recommendations based upon YOUR interests, not their (unless, of course, you ask them!). I always recommend this store to my friends when they are spending the day shopping in Uptown.

Thank God for this place. Previously, I was shelling out a lot of dough at Barnes & Noble to buy books for my monthly book club. My friend told me about this place & I’m so thankful. Great prices and tons of variety. I haven’t had trouble finding a book yet. If they don’t have it, they can order it in within a 3 day window. A fabulous independent book seller — definitely worth checking out.

Really nice independent bookstore in Minneapolis that’s probably the best of its kind in the Twin Cities.
This shop has a large selection of new and used books, and you can tell that the titles are carefully chosen. Usually the books that interest me the most are on music, TV, sports and U.S. history. I’ve found several good books in those categories, especially music, at this store. I’ve heard fans of other genres (poetry, fiction, travel, etc.) rave about Magers & Quinn’s selection as well.
There aren’t many great indie bookstores like this around anymore, so keep supporting Magers & Quinn!

We went to Peter Yarrow’s (Peter, Paul & Mary) booking signing Sunday afternoon. I believe he chose this bookstore because it’s independent & local. Employees were all very warm and friendly, they carry new and used books. I really liked the vibe here and planning on returning to do some Christmas shopping.

I love bookstores. I love local non-​chain bookstores that sell used books along side new books.
I could spend days in this store.

Great independent bookseller — new and used books.
Our 9 year old LOVED it here and bought a new journal which she promptly began to write in. (YAY!)
Excellent all around!

Whoa! I’ve been to bookstores in about 35 states and am usually very critical. Bookstores are dying, hell books are dying, and that makes me very said, so I try to buy as many books as I can from indie stores like this one. Magers and Quinn was one of about four bookstores that I had planned to visit while in Minneapolis, but I wet myself as soon as I walked in the door and decided to cross all others off my list.
I’ve been known to spend hours in bookstores before, but Magers had me seriously considering grabbing my tent, and taking up residence in one of the aisles. I wanted to touch every page of every book in the whole store. I was tempted to hump the legs of everyone I almost bumped into as I made my way hypnotically around the greatest place ever. Someone else said that this place rivals City Lights in San Francisco, but I would say that the only advantage City Lights has is its history.
After spending about nineteen days covering every square inch of this gem (including the strangely placed bathroom) I retired to a coffee shop down the street to do some reading (buying new books always lights a fire under my ass to finish whatever book I’m presently reading). After a couple cups and a hundred or so pages, I returned that evening for a free — yes FREE — poetry reading and left feeling more inspired than I have in months.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be back to Minneapolis, but I can guarantee that if I’m ever within 100 miles, I will do everything in my power to make a detour. Please visit this store!

One of my TOP 5 places in Minneapolis! This place is such a gem, it rivals City Lights Book store in San Francisco, REALLY!!!
I have spent hours in this place perusing the aisles and spending more than I should. A solid philosophy section and a SUPERB art section. They sell both new and used books here, so most of my great finds have been used and have been really cheap.
The staff is great and always helpful when I have been looking for something in particular, and have made great suggestions on books I may like.
Whenever I am in Minneapolis I stop by, you never know what you are going to find!