Lamplight Books

Can’t believe I forgot about this place!!! I like this little indy book store inside of Pike Place Market, a lot of used books and a pretty good selection, I was sure I would find a little gem in here.
I was looking for a book to read on the bus (because its nice to put away your cell phone for a while), so I asked the friendly gentleman if he could recommend something. I wasnt sure what my mood would be, do I want something historical, self-​help, humorous, adventure, fiction, non-​fiction, I just dont know… he gave me some recommendations to check out and we chatted briefly on some items that I may be interested in. No pressure to buy something and gave me plenty of time to check out the store. Im sure you’ll be able to find something to your liking in here.
I got me a book, pricing was fine, condition was fine too. I really like this little shop and plan on coming back.

Cool independent bookseller located at Pike Place Market. They have a lot of used books here. There are even stacks of books hidden behind the rows of books so be sure to look around.
I don’t think this is the cheapest bookstore in town. The books tend to be half off the cover price (on par with half price books) and sometimes the books aren’t in the best of shape so I’d just watch for that.

The new owner, who took over about 6 months ago, has filled the shoes of the previous owner admirably.
He had never owned a bookstore before (he says) but had worked in other bookstores, and has learned a lot from them.
His store is well stocked in currentish fiction, mysteries, science fiction, history, etc. Considering that it is only about 1000 square feet, it feels like a much larger store due to the good layout of the floor.
He had a children’s book, a Raggedy Ann adventure with a Dragon! which I had been looking for, in good shape at a very reasonable price.
I own about 7 thousand books so it is hard to find one I want, so this was a nice surprise for me. I usually just walk through bookstores and not buy anything, as I feel ‘booked out’. I love to be surprised like this, and find a treasure.
I always check on his books now, and say hello to him when I am in the neighborhood buying Chinese deserts and such. .
It i about 30 feet behind a really good bakery, or 30 feet behind Left Bank Books, take your pick, on the ”other” side of the Pike Place Market. Even though this bookstore is tucked away a bit, don’t miss it!

Within the pocket of Pike’s Market, Lamplight bookstore covers a wide range of books and topics, compacted within its walls. Great prices for used books with the host being acceptionably friendly and accommodating. Whenever I am in town, I never miss an opportunity to browse through the variety of books from this store.

Adorable little bookstore. It’s much easier to find books here than at the other used book store in Pike Place. Great books at great prices!

This little store reminds me why I need another bookshelf. My own personal collection is not going to be too far off from the cramped displays of this little bookstore if I’m not careful. Though the overflowing piles of books can seem a little intimidating, there is an order to them for the most part. I enjoyed having to poke and prod to see the whole selection on a shelf. It made me pick up, look at, and consider more books than I otherwise do when just glancing through the titles of neatly lined up spines. The shop owner was very friendly and while content to let folks just browse, she was also able to answer questions and make recommendations to the other customers. You’re definitely going to have a little bit of a scavenger hunt in here, but that’s half of the store’s charm.

Lamplight is filled to the brim, well actually it’s spilling over with books.
I think this is why I just give them an A-​OK. While I do loving digging and finding quirky and rare copies of books. Sometimes I just want to know where Bukowski lives, and the fact that he could «possibly be in three different locations» shows me a lack of organizational skills, and is a little distracting, from that fact that Lamplight is a true gem in the market.

Owner is a knowledgeable Italian woman who amusingly had her little kids there that day helping out. It is a little difficult to find things as the shelves in some spots are double stacked, so it’s best to just ask for help finding what you want.
Not as comprehensive a collection as a mass market bookstore (as they stock many more obscure titles), but I think you’ll appreciate the helpfulness of the staff in finding you most everything you want.
Come out and support your local used book seller, and even if you don’t find exactly what you came in for, I am sure you will be surprised by all of the treasures a little patience can help uncover.

Lamplight Books has everything but «niche, lovable, corner bookstore» written on its front window. If you have a few books, throw them this way. You will not be disappointed.
The only criticism I have is that some of the best titles were at the bottom of some sizable stacks. Not only am I a bit taller than your average bear, but I don’t have eyes at my ankles. Put those good titles at the top!

Hidden within the market, Lamplight books offers and amazing collection of some new and mostly used books. I can seriously spend hours here perusing all the shelves –but I tend to find myself more often than not in their surprisingly well stocked philosophy section (seriously, I’ve found some gems hidden in there).
The stock is well organized, prices are fair (especially considering you are in Pike Place), and the staff introverted but for the most part friendly. Definitely worth a stop over if you like old books and want to find something worth keeping in your bookshelf.

Lamplight books is what my house would look like if I traded ¾ of the square footage for a metric shitton of awesome books and a few shelves. But mostly books.
If you ever visit Lamplight books, make sure to carve out at least an hour’s worth of time for browsing. I visited for 45 minutes, was chased to the cash register by many interesting tomes, and felt like I had barely scratched the surface (quite literally, some books were double-​stacked on the shelves).
I detected a very distinct organizational scheme of some sort, though I would need more time to fully explore the nuances. There were definite history, food, and «everything else» sections, though.
5/​5, Would come again.

This is one of those gems you wish you discovered years ago. For a small bookstore they have an incredible selection of all kinds of books. I like that you can always find the classics and also some recent stuff when they can find it. The owner is very friendly and knows her material. More than once I bought books that she recommended and I’ve never been disappointed. They also have an interesting selection of rare and collectibles and some photography books that I have not been able to find elsewhere. This is the kind of small business that has everything you’re looking for under one roof and at prices that fair and reasonable.

This little shop down at Pike Place is a real jewel. This is the used book store I have been looking for my entire life! This is an impressive collection in such a tiny area, and I could not tear myself from the shelves. As I began to go through everything, I was noticing that she had all my favorite authors, and not just some of their books, but all of them!
Don Delillo, Thomas Pynchon, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip Roth, David Foster Wallace, Michael Chabon, Bret Easton Ellis, and the list goes on and on. Never before had I come across a used bookstore that actually took the time to build a collection of seriously good writing.
My past experience with used bookstores, and the reason for my general disdain for them is that they usually specialize in fluff. Things such as what is being churned out of the assembly line at James Patterson Inc. or yet another book about a cat who can solve a murder. Those types of books were hard to find in this tiny shop, and the owner herself professed a dislike of them as well, claiming ‘I keep them secluded in the back’.
Great, cozy little shop with an excellent selection of books and a very friendly and knowledgeable owner. If you are a reader, you must check this out.

This is such a lovely used bookstore, and if you work downtown, a great lunch break detour.
I’m not sure if she is the owner, but it’s always the same cashier at the counter, and over the years, it’s as if I’ve seen her kid grown up in the store (and been more than a little jealous of a childhood spent among old books). She is gracious and helpful, and today told me she always has a copy of every A.S. Byatt book published on her shelves. Perfect, since this afternoon I came specifically to look for «The Virgin in the Garden». I also love the back wall of pocket paperbacks, my favorite book format.
My lunch hours have been a little lackluster since Elliot Bay moved up the Hill. It’s nice to know there’s still a good used book store with in walking distance of my office, and I’d much rather shop at Lamplight than Borders. If you’re looking to browse, go in! If you have something specific in mind, you might be pleasantly surprised with what this tiny store has in stock.

This is one of my favorite bookstores. Each time we go down to the Market, I make way to the hidden gem. The feeling I get when I step in, smell and friendly staff are all apart of what makes this bookstore so special. Not to mention all the words just waiting to be read. I always come out of there with something great. I hope this store is around for many years to come. What a great place for beginner readers to discover a favorite book and just as great for seasoned readers to find something new or that book that they remember from times past.

Ran into this gem while browsing the neighborhood. Wish it were bigger. They had rare collectibles under lock and key including children’s books from the 50s and back. I thought my collection from the 60s was valuable…
Scored The French Chef for $ 20 but it wasn’t a first printing.

I love used bookstores. There’s just something about the smell of old books and the sight of so many great titles, both known and yet to be discovered, crowded together on shelves. We visited Lamplight Books on our trip to Seattle and it was wonderful!
They had several of their older books on display in the window, a sale cart outside the door, and shelves from floor to ceiling filled with books; there was everything from classics to cookbooks to popular titles. I found a 1906 Engineer’s Handbook — a pretty exciting find for me.