My experience in person with Evening Star Books as a seller was less than ideal. I mostly had old…read morebooks dating back to the mid-19th century bought at junk stores, garage sales, and similar environments more than 30 years ago in the Pacific Northwest. They were merely things I found interesting -- I'm not a trader or true collector. I arrived with about 20 books at the Evening Star location at the appointed time. Three people were present, the male owner and two women. No one introduced themselves -- I was asked my name for verification -- though I did learn one was his daughter. I sat on a chair in the corner while they selected books from the box and took them to the opposite corner of the office room to research privately on their computers. The man put all but four of the books back in the box, telling me that they weren't in a condition he could or would sell. Other than that, I was not included in any discussion of how their valuations were reached. I was offered $40 for the four, well below a common online sale price listed for the oldest of them. I said no and was promptly handed the four back to put in the box myself. That was it -- no counteroffer, no suggestions, just trash-talking about the well-known book resellers in the area. All told, as a seller, it was a bewildering, distasteful experience.

Wonderful selection of collectible books! Very knowledgable owners. Very fair buyers of collectible…read morebooks too.

Frugal Muse Books, Music, Video, Inc. was established in 1994 and has been locally owned and…read moreoperated since. DVDs, CDs, LPs, graphic novels, audio books, and real books means they have something for everyone. They donate books to systems that support people in need and at least one other local business! I learned through The Barrymore Theatre that Frugal Muse is a ticket outlet for it. It is super convenient having a neighborhood ticket outlet! I enjoy paying cash that goes directly to the theatre (the bookstore being supportive enough not to add a fee) and that I get a physical ticket! No scan a phone here. I got paper tickets and I love it! My friend that has been with me on each of my ticket procurement outings finds quality low cost dvds for her family at Frugal Muse. Yesterdays selection: "Toy Story 3" still in the shrink wrap. The store is clean, organized, quaint, quiet. It's what I imagine book stores "used to be like", I say having grown up only in national chains environments. There are always a half dozen or more other shoppers when I've been here. Join them! There are always a couple gentlemen working behind the counter and I suspect they would talk books and authors if you engage them. Key tip: Frugal Muse can order new books! Drop in here to order what you want - avoid the national chain! Support local.

We love coming here to see what else we can read or research! I love the selection of cookbooks and…read moremy husband likes they have an assortment of cds/records. They have a good teen section that's grown over the last few years and a new manga section. Prices are always reasonable and they have a good selection of $2 books. People behind the counter are always friendly and helpful.

I experienced inexplicable and outright disrespectful conduct from the owner, Bruce, during my last…read morevisit to Capital City Comics. Despite the multiple 1 star reviews citing Bruce's erratic and rude behavior, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and support a local comics business. I came here a few times over the past year or two and bought a few things with no issue. Recently I went in and grabbed a giant pile of graphic novels to buy, ~$200 worth. The last few times I came in, he charged books at cover price and is generally amicable and friendly. This visit, he said he could not sell the pile of books I wanted because he had to "do some research" to "save me a few bucks" so that he wasn't "over-charging me". I told him that I don't need to save a few bucks and would just like to buy the books as-is and would pay whatever price he wanted, I didn't care about price, I just wanted the books! He grabbed the pile of books and hid them behind the counter and refused to sell them to me. His mood quickly changed to rude and abrasive. He made multiple abrasive comments, effectively ending the conversation. I left the store feeling quite perplexed as I had been nothing but courteous and kind during the visit, and I couldn't fathom what brought about this spate of complete irrational behavior. Is he developing dementia? I can't explain why the owner of a store would NOT want to sell books to someone. These were all books with multiple printings, all of which I've since found on eBay for 1/2 cover price, so I don't think he was trying to rip me off. I can't put it together. I had ~$1000 set aside to spend on graphic novels over the next month, and needless to say it will NOT be spent at Capital City Comics. Life is too short to put up with being treated disrespectfully. I strongly recommend avoiding this place. People like Bruce give comics a bad name, which is a shame because there are so many good and kind people who read comic books. I would rather pay 10x the price for books than be treated like that again.

Local comic and book store that's been around since the 70's. Packed with inventory but we'll…read moreorganized. Super friendly and knowledgeable owner who is also honest about the value of comics. Support this local Madison gem!

Wow I had no idea how big it was inside, and so cool. This building use to be Threshold a…read morecommunity gathering place. Very well organized, wonderful nooks for reading, pleasant staff and nautral light with the abundant windows. Great selection of calendars and day planners at reasonable prices. They even have a selection of free books for neighborhood library stands that you can take and share. Easy to park too!

Huge independent bookstore with an emphasis on inclusivity and diversity! We stopped in for some…read morebrowsing and were impressed at how expansive the store is. Note they do encourage mask wearing at the front and provide masks - when we visited, every person was masked. Tons to look at here, with good organization into categories and staff recommendations. I liked that they had a tarot/witchy section, huge kids section, RPG section, and variety in themes. Great spot to browse for a gift or new book for yourself.

Longtime Customer, Rewarded with Zero Communication…read more I've been a Westfield Comics customer for over 35 years. Until 2025, I would have considered Westfield a five-star company based on my long history with them. Unfortunately, throughout 2025 I experienced a complete breakdown in customer service communication, which ultimately led me to pull my business. Despite multiple emails and voicemails over several months, I received no responses to documented issues, even while new orders continued to be fulfilled. Unresolved issues included: -Being charged for and shipped trade paperbacks when my subscriptions were for single issues, with no response regarding returns or credits. -Being charged shipping three separate times for a single monthly shipment, with no explanation. -Missing subscription issues that were reported and never acknowledged. Receiving some incorrect items in place of missing books, with no replacements ever provided. -Multiple damaged comics due to a change in packing methods. Recent shipments were packed tightly in boxes with no protective dunnage, resulting in visibly damaged corners on numerous books. I reported the damage by listing each affected titles, but received no response. Mistakes can happen in any business. What ultimately drove my decision to leave was the complete lack of communication. After decades as a loyal customer, being consistently ignored made it clear that customer service is no longer a priority. I'm sharing this review strictly to document my experience so other customers can make informed decisions.

I went to Westfield Comics as a first time customer today, and the staff was impatient and…read moregenerally not very welcoming. I had called in a hold earlier in the day, and as I was explaining this, one of the men there talked over me rather than letting me finish speaking. I had been considering looking around as well, but after that, I decided I'd rather just make my purchase and leave.

Huge selection of cars and trucks. The shelf's are always full. Every time I go there I find…read moresomething I like!

Friendly and helpful staff. Enjoy the book talks by Kate Laack. Great location with a wonderful…read morevariety of books to choose from.

I love this small town local bookstore!! So cute and cozy the perfect ambiance for a cool winters…read moreday! On many of the books they have little post it notes with owner and librarian recommendations! I love to read these and and get a glimpse of the book... so cute!! Last time we went, my partner and I picked up a puzzle to complete during some cold rainy days!

I was walking toward the lake and noticed books displayed in a window by my knees. I had to…read moreinvestigate. Lucky me, I stumbled upon Lake City Books. Looking at the sign on the door, I realized I was making this discovery 13 minutes before closing. I was greeted when I walked in and assured them I just wanted to poke my head in, as I saw they were getting ready to leave, and was told I was welcome. I made a quick lap around just to check them out, and stopped by their merch counter to grab a quick souvenir. I love a local bookstore, and grabbed a coffee mug to remind myself to come back. They had a cute setup and a table dedicated to my current favorite obsession, Dungeon Crawler Carl. They had signs everywhere informing everyone of their planned move, apparently out of the basement. I am not sure where they will be next, but I will make a point to search them out the next time I am in Madison. And come in plenty of time to peruse.

Love, love & more love for this indie bookstore. The owner & staff are so much fun & really know…read moretheir stuff. The selection is huge for a smallish store & they also buy used books for fair prices. Journals, candles, socks & other cool swag like t-shirts for sale, too. And they are moving to a new location on Carroll St in July! Get thee downtown asap!