Park Avenue Books

I loved this place the first time I visited! I felt welcomed. The owner I met was helpful. I asked about a specific author and she pulled one book from the back and led me to the shelf where others were located. They know what is in their store. I also enjoyed sitting down and going through the stacks of books that had not been shelved yet. It was like a treasure trove! I found some new authors to enjoy! I’m only in the area for a few months, but I will definitely stop by every time I’m in the area!

Employees are nice. Felt pressure to purchase books, though. HUGE mess! What they have on the shelves is in ABC order by author for the most part… certain parts of the store I could not go into because of the mountains of books on the ground. If it’s your first time coming here, you will be overwhelmed. Bring a list of books you want. They say they like browsing but I didn’t get that feeling.

Imagine a thrift store that sells only books… it’s been there for years and they never get rid of anything: Welcome to Park Avenue Books.
I’ve been coming in here for years. and I’m going to let you in on it. I rarely talk about Park Avenue because it’s *funky*. Which kind of funky? Both.
This place is like, cat lady crazy, and could be on an episode of Hoarders. For someone like me… it’s dreamy and kooky and scary. The books are in stacks all over the place — some areas have so many books on the floor, there are trails. To the point: it’s a mess in here.
The counter is somewhat indistinguishable because it is so covered in debris.
Prices are cheap cheap cheap. Not a lot of art books. I wouldn’t go here to find the latest best sellers either. However, if you’re looking for something bizarre or to cut up for collaging, you’re sure to find it.
You are either grossing out right now… or fascinated… or both. If you’re an old school treasure seeker, this may be your thing!

Temporarily closed on Mondays.
If your looking for a specific book, that might prove difficult, but if you’re coming to browse, and you have enough time, you’ll certainly find something.
The store is cute and completely non-​corporate. It’s as local as you get, and the older ladies running the store are there all the time. It really does seem to be their passion and it’s nice to think this is what they want to do and they get to do it.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that for most folks, this store will either be a 1-​star or a 5-​star.
This is an old-​school used book store. There is at least some attempt at organization, but there are yards of shelves packed with books, and boxes and bags of books in the aisles. If rummaging through a packed, darkish old bookstore is your thing, you’re going to love Park Avenue Books. If you prefer organized shelves and bright lights a la Half Price, you will probably hate this place.
While I love Half Price, you can also count me a fan of the old ways as well… This place takes me back to an old book exchange in the town I grew up in!

My first impression was, «Never seen a bookstore like this in my life.»
On a trip to Tacoma, we came across Park Ave. Books, and we were stunned when we walked in. When you label it a «used book store» you can get a sense of the amount of books, and cool things you’ll find if you’re an antique shopper.
But at PARK AVENUE it’s really the experience. Literally, from the floor to the ceiling and from the front of the store to the back, there is not one inch of space that is not filled by a book. There’s just this little pathway for you to walk around, and It’s not even an exaggeration but an understatement when I say there are a LOT of books.
The owners are super friendly, and they are a group of friends that run the place, I know there were three women, and one of them past away, but you know that this is their hobby and their passion.
Everything from the wooden door when you walk in to the little tab that the lady writes your receipt on is so cute. It really takes you back to the old bookstore feeling. It’s a bit hidden, and easy to bypass if you drove by, but once it’s discovered, you’ll fall in love with it too.
Ps. I think they buy and sell books, so it’s like a huge exchange thing for the locals!
The lasting impression? «I hope this place is still here when I come visit again!»

this is a great used book store run by 3 women who are just as friendly and helpful that you would want. the shelves are organized but being that this is a used book store there are a lot of boxes full of books around. if you know what you want you will usually be able to find it/​or not quickly, but i crave for the day when i can spend a day there, going through those boxes and piles, who knows what i will find! the prices are very reasonable, available parking on the street. located in the fern hill neighborhood, very quiet and somewhat quaint…