Best Local Bookstores In Seattle
4553 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 937-5410
www.pegasusbookexchange.com
Since 1983, the family-owned Pegasus Book Exchange has been serving its neighbors in West Seattle with mystery, science fiction, fantasy and horror with its large selection of paperback fiction. However, there is a lot more to the store including hardback books of literature, children's stories, cookbooks, non-fiction, etc. Pegasus' online store specializes in hard-to-find items such as first editions and signed copies of books. The used bookstore is a great place to trade in your books that you're not reading for something new. For each book that you bring in (and Pegasus accepts), it is Pegasus' policy to give you half of what it's expected to sell for.
7220 Woodlawn Ave. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 518-5886
www.mockingbirdbooksgl.com
Situated in the former congregational church in the Green Lake neighborhood, children enjoy this bookstore catered just for them. Mockingbird Books loves to introduce children to the joys of reading and serves as a resource to parents and teachers alike for ideas on how to motivate kids to read. While the store's main mission is focused on children, it also features a selection of favorite "grown up" books and a variety of current indie titles as well.
92 Pike St.
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 622-0195
www.leftbankbooks.com
Since 1973, Left Bank Books has sat at the same location right across from the historic Pike Place Market. Many are surprised when they enter the unassuming and cozy bookstore as it carries "over 10,000 new and used books" divided up to about 70 different sections and specialize in what is described as "anti-authoritarian, anarchist, independent, radical and small-press titles." Left Bank is unique in that it is owned and operated by its workers and has no managers. Left Bank is passionate about its business and what it sells.
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2414 N. 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 633-0811
www.openpoetrybooks.com
Though Open Books focuses on poetry and nothing but poetry, the selection is huge, boasting of over 10,000 titles and new and used books. In addition, Open Books' social calendar is full with regular events planned from September to June, including readings by local and visiting poets and the store's own discussion group, Poetry in Conversation.
1408 N.E. 42nd St.
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 633-1800
www.abebooks.com/magnus
Magus Books is the big daddy of Seattle bookstores. Magus is the city's oldest independent used bookstore housing 80,000 titles in the brick and motor store and 12,000 more on its online site. Though it caters to all readers, Magus has an unusually large selection of academic books because of the store's closeness to the University of Washington.
Related: Best Local Poets In Seattle
