Shelf Life is always my top recommendation when visiting Carytown. The staff are incredibly helpful…read moreand knowledgeable. Never be afraid to ask for recommendations or help finding a specific book! If you are lucky, you will get to see the store cats lounging in the window by the banned book section. Downstairs is reserved for new books, with well curated and intentional sections. Upstairs features huge selection of used books from all genres. I snagged a copy of "Still Life" in almost new condition for $7.95.

Wow!! Favorite Bookshop of my travels! Loved that there is a well organized level of Used books or…read moreas I love to say pre-loved-- is there a dollar shelf- not that I could find but that said - I did buy 2 brand new books from the wonderful LOCAL Authors and local interest section. I felt welcome and I am sure if I had wanted a book recommendation staff would have given me some. Other bookstores I visited in Virginia were not welcoming - . The shop is colorful- I didn't see the Shop cats but lots of Cat love items, fun stickers, a little bit of book bags- and I was tempted by the books- loved the corners upstairs to sit and hang out with a book or 2. Hard to choose just a couple! A must if you love books and are visiting RICHMOND-- and it sits on a street with coffee shops and more- so definitely worth an UBER if you are not staying in the neighborhood. . I dropped off a few "recommendations" since I also work in a bookshop and hope they will stock those in the future- I think they would do well.

This business doesn't deserve even the one star that Yelp requires as a minimum…read more My son and I stopped in today because he wanted to check out their Pokémon inventory. While we were browsing, a young man in the store asked the employees behind the counter if they were interested in purchasing some cards from him. They declined. After hearing that, I casually mentioned that my son might be interested if the seller was looking to move them. My son even politely asked if that would be a problem. Instead of responding professionally or courteously, one of the employees immediately stated that if my son and the seller worked out a deal, they would owe the store a 15% commission. The comment came across as rude, unnecessary, and frankly absurd considering the store had already made it clear they had no interest in the transaction themselves. To avoid any issues, we left the store and sat on a nearby bench outside. A couple of minutes later, the owner/manager came outside and rudely questioned my son and the other young man about whether they were conducting business. When they answered honestly, he told us to get off "his property." The problem? We were on a bench alongside the sidewalk. What should have been a simple interaction escalated into an unnecessarily confrontational situation because of the owner's attitude and lack of basic customer service skills. Rather than treating potential customers with respect, he chose hostility, intimidation, and arrogance. Words were exchanged, and while it's doubtful he cares, he permanently lost our business. I fully understand that a business owner has the right to manage activities inside their store and maintain a professional environment. What I do not understand is the sense of entitlement and disrespect shown toward customers, especially when they were no longer on the premises. The entire encounter left the impression that the only thing that mattered was whether the owner was getting a piece of the transaction. The unfortunate reality is that behavior like this drives people away from the hobby and creates a toxic atmosphere that benefits no one. The one positive outcome from the experience was that my son and I met a genuinely nice young man and made a new friend. If you're looking for a card shop that values its customers and understands how to treat people with courtesy and respect, there are much better options in the area (BangerZ Cards, The Card Guys, etc.). We have had far better experiences elsewhere and will gladly take our business to shops that appreciate their customers.

Zero stars. Was not greeted upon walking in. Did not ask if I had any questions or if I needed…read morehelp. Did not say anything after I left. All they did was stare me down as I looked at their selection. Will NOT be giving this business my money :) Do not recommend, go literally anywhere else.

This was my third visit to 2nd & Charles, and it continues to deliver. Stopped in for their…read morePenny-A-Page event and somehow walked out with 7 books for under $35. Yes, we did it in two transactions; no judgement Their selection is seriously impressive; everything from kids' books to adult reads, so it's easy to get lost browsing. I've also picked up CDs here as gifts, and the condition has always been pristine. If you're into collectibles, they have a huge selection of Funko Pops, and their video game section is a solid find for collectors too. If you love a good bargain, this place is a must. Buying used is not only budget-friendly, but it's also a win for the environment. Highly recommend!

Many of the staff here were attentive and provided impeccable service during the holiday shopping…read morebonanza that bestowed the 2025 season. The store was well organized amidst the chaos. There was a huge selection of books, music, Funko Pops, and tons of other items. The prices were reasonable, though, some of the plushies were ridiculously priced. (e.g., the little stuffed insect plague doctor has been $35 for a few years now ). Anyway, I wanted to shout out a special thank you to the employee who found my phone, immediately put it in the safe, and called the number I left on the lock screen to get it back to me. I was very touched by the thoughtfulness of those involved. I wanted to say thank you again

Amazing shop that has comics and graphic novels! The two people working when I stopped in were…read moresuper kind and incredibly knowledgeable. The store was surprisingly big compared to the outside, with tons of variety from blank comic covers for artists to banned graphic novels. The value felt very fair for everything they also have a few mystery packs of 30 books for 14.99 which was super fun to open/check out! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a new book or searching for a graphic novel that you've been wanting!

I had some comics and pokemon cards. They were worthless. The guy said, "Nah", so I gave them to my…read moregrandson. Not so worthless afterall. I don't know anything about comic books and cards, and those kind of collectibles, but this place comes highly recommendef by those in the know.

Kind, informative, courteous! Called from California…read more Friendly! Answered all questions.

A bookstore in Richmond to visit on Broad Street. I found parking around the corner since you can't…read morepark in front of the store. When I got there, they had a table of books for $1, mostly kid's books. Once inside, there are books along the wall. I also saw comic books, records and some vintage ads by decades. They have a very tiny kid's section nothing to rave about. My impression is that they had a lot of books, but not a lot of popular books. It was still worth a look. I did see some books about Art and Architecture. I am sure I am missing mentioning more, but that is what I remembered. The books were fairly priced and was glad to find 2 books. You can see my pics to see them. The bookstore seems to have been there a long time. It doesn't look like it's been updated ever. There is an old vibe here, but these are the kinds of bookstore you will find something cool and rare. The old register at the counter is also a classic.

Honestly, this is my favorite comic book store in the Richmond area. Every selection is catered to…read morethe niche of every reader. They don't only have newer selections, but also a vast amount of older issues for those who are looking to maximize their collection. The employees are very nice and knowledgeable of a variety of stories and what they have in stock, often providing recommendations and even assisting in ordering books at your request. The pricing is always reasonable, especially when it comes to the more "vintage" selections. Definitely will continue to shop here whenever I need a good read!

Stories Comics is a solid comic shop with a great selection and a lot of inventory. Pure comics,…read moretoo, not a bunch of gamer stuff or anime bikini statues. PROS: Lots of back issue bins and lots of trade paperbacks. A nuts amount of DC Archives, Marvel Masterworks. Dark Horse pre-code horror collected editions, etc. Nice mix of old and new stuff. Also a good amount of third party and alternative comics. Some discount bins, but I didn't find anything worth even the discounted price. The store is clean, bright, and organized. This is a solid version of a traditional sort of comic shop. CONS: No real cons to speak of here, other than there isn't really anything unique that makes this store stand out. No specific flavor or personality to it. This is just a classic, straightforward comic shop. Nothing wrong with that. VERDICT: There's a lot of good comics competition in Richmond. Some for weirdos, some for normies. This shop is for the more traditional comics fan, who just wants the best version of a standard comic book store.

A T M O S P H E R E The shop itself is put together very…read morewell and the layout is easy to maneuver. As for the staff... the lack of customer service skills ruins my outlook on this well put together shop and literally has me not wanting to return.. Very. Limited. Parking. which fills up quick, so if you can... come on a week day to avoid getting blocked in. S E R V I C E The female sitting behind the counter today was incredibly rude. She never said hello or welcomed us, or any of the other customers in. And when I went to check out, she just stared at me and never asked me if I was ready, if I found everything okay, or anything... Not customer friendly at all. Might as well have been at a self checkout machine, would've received more interaction from AI. V A R I E T Y They have a decent variety! Magic the Gathering, One Piece, Pokémon, Warhammer, Anime, Comics, Yu-Gi-Oh!, a huge books selection, and more.

Love this card shop. Favorite place to go on the weekends, and the number one spot to buy packs and…read moreboxes. Super friendly atmosphere and awesome staff. Never had a bad experience at this place.

I wish I'd known this shop was so close to me. Cool guy, heckuva selection of records, comics,…read moreTPB's, you name it. Need to spend a whole lot more time looking thru everything!

Cerebral Vortex (inside Regency Mall) is a dream come true if you're looking for hip alternative…read morecomix, vintage fanzines, and rare minicomics. It's also a dream if you think run-of-the-mill superhero back issues should cost $1. PROS: Unique selection, variety, and endless dollar bins. You will find all kinds of amazing stuff you've never seen before. And all the stuff you have seen before? It's probably only a dollar. Or if you're not a cheapskate, they have plenty of those expensive "keys" and stuff, too. CONS: I don't know. Sometimes Jason plays jazz in the store? And I guess if you're the type of poser who wishes comic book stores had more funko pops and gaming tables, you don't deserve this store. This place doesn't have a new release wall and I don't think anyone cares about that. VERDICT: Congratulations, you've found the store you've been looking for. The owner, Jason Hamlin, has a reputation as a great comics dealer at conventions. He's a tastemaker who curates his store very well. So, even though it's not a huge store, and even though there aren't a ton of graphic novels and paperbacks, there also isn't a bunch of filler garbage. Recommended especially for bin divers and underground weirdos. (And I called you a poser, but Jason won't, he's a sweetheart. Very approachable and helpful.)