Appletree Books has been part of Cleveland Heights Community and local independent bookstore scene since 1975! This bookstore is charming (inside and out). Lovely customer service. Amazing all around. It is well-stocked and well-curated with items such as books, vintage accessories, bookmarks, journals, and more. You'll find every genre at this bookstore. Unfortunately after 50 year, the owner is retiring. Appletree Books will close its doors on May 31, 2025. It's a very sad moment for the community and readers. Things to know before they close: -Sales: There are currently big sales ongoing on furniture, vintage items, and fixtures for the next two weeks. The items on sale are on the second floor and in the basement. The prices are very good! I purchased 3 amazing refurbished furniture pieces for $70 (table, shelf, and side table). You can pick up some items that are not in use when you purchase. The items in use will be scheduled for pickup after store closure. I highly recommend checking out everything they have! Most pieces are sold but very good items remain! -Books: There is still a lot of inventory, many good reads. There is a sale on books right now (20% off). Check out ARC's in the back (first floor) for free books (2 per person). -Gift Cards: Be sure to use your gift cards before closure or send them in for redemption. Contact the store or get on their email list for more details. -Points: If you have points with this store, use them! -Events: The store has three remaining events: Books in the Bar (at Parnell's), Shakespeare Reading, and Fairwell Party. The Fairwell Party is scheduled on June 13. Follow their social media or join their email list to check these events out! -Community Impact: The store is currently accepting book donations (or books purchased in the store) for kids' little libraries. I will be so very sad to see this store go! The displays were always so lovely! They always made my day! I look forward to the remaining events and hope to shop here more before they close! read more

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CLOSED NOW, as of June 2025. But, a new bookstore has taken Appletree Books place. The new bookstore is called The Checkered Shelf Bookshop and they kept a similar layout inside the bookstore as Appletree Books. I visited Appletree Books on Friday evening, 13 June 2025 for their closing party. They had a live 3-person band perform and they gave out free food and drinks. The evening was an overall great atmosphere. I previously visited this bookstore for the first time on Saturday, 24 May 2025 where I bought books and 3 small tea cups which came with saucers. The cute teacups and saucers sets were on sale for $2 a piece which was a great deal. BOOKS -- Plenty to choose from. During my first visit in May 2025, I bought 2 books: A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Catcher in the Rye. I still have to read them but I can't wait until I do as these are classic books. OTHER ITEMS -- They sold other home decor items. In my May 2025 visit, I bought 3 little decorative teacups that cost $2 each. They were a great find. While it may be sad that this longtime bookstore has now closed, a new owner has now been found and she is a lovely woman. Be sure to check out the new bookstore called The Checkered Bookshelf. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 51/250 total reviews in 2026 - 892 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 26 April 2026 read more

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Appletree Books is amazing! Located in Cleveland Heights, you haven't truly lived as a bibliophile in the city unless you've visited this stunning bookstore. One of my favorite things about Appletree Books is there thoughtful curation of titles. The staff does a fabulous job centralizing titles into cute little areas around kitschy topics. The minute you walk in, it feels like the bookstore of your dreams. It's laid out very aesthetically pleasing and the bold colors catch your eyes immediately. I love that Appletree Books has a solid selection of historical fiction and poetry, two sections that are often missing amongst other local bookstores. The staff are extremely friendly and always happy to help you or recommend titles. I can always depend on a really awesome discourse with staff about my selections. The traditional bookstore is alive and well here at Appletree Books! read more

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The store had a lot of variety. It had beautiful displays and friendly staff. I would return again!

I take it for granted how convenient it is to have a local bookstore so close to me! With quarantine boredom setting in, I decided to update my book collection and turned to Appletree Books to find a Wine book to read. Don't forget that they also have small activities, like puzzles! Since they are limiting in-person browsing, they have been promoting their online partner to order your books - Bookshop.org. Every purchase you make with their specific Bookshop link helps support the store. I did not find the book that I wanted on the website, so I submitted a Book Form Order on their website. I received a response to my email within the day and they were able to order the book for me to pick up at the store. Everything was contact-less (walked to the store to grab my book at the door, but they also do curbside pick-up). They have free local deliveries to a certain range too! They also have a wide selection of greeting cards that I've bought to send and other activity things - like puzzles. Because of their large windows, they are able to display a lot of the books and activities for you to browse through when you're just walking by. I would stop by to check out which puzzles they had. I had one picked out that I was going to call-in to buy, but it was already gone the next day! Was very happy with how smooth the process was and thrilled to be able to support a local bookstore. read more

They had the book I wanted for Mother's Day and gift wrapped it and delivered it just as I asked. All done via phone from Oregon

This bookstore is CUTE! I dropped by aiming to find a gift for a classmate of mine. I was unsure going in there what I would be leaving with, and I had an amazing time perusing the store. They have a large selection of books (duh) but also something I really appreciate is their ability to craft exciting book displays. It really made it easy to shop. They also have an extensive selection of knick knacks and other gifts. I went in there looking for a book, but ended up leaving with an adorable tea towel instead. It also appears that this place hosts lots of events. I saw an advertisement while checking out. I think that's a great service to the community. Staff were super friendly and checked in on me a few times while shopping. read more

What a cute shop! This place is right off of Cedar, so extremely convenient to get to, and has quite the wide array of books. From the moment I stepped in the shop, one of the staff greeted me and immediately started helping me find the sort of books I was looking for. I was browsing for a gift so I certainly didn't make it easy on the staff, but they were so incredibly knowledgeable and helped me find many great options. The books are priced about how you would expect, and they have a rewards program where you get a gift certificate for $20 after spending a certain amount (I can't remember how much). They also have a good selection of little notebooks and things as well as books. They're having a celebration for Independent Bookstore Day tomorrow (4/24/2021) - so if you want to check this place out, tomorrow would be a great time to do so! read more

Just the best! This local bookstore is full of wonderful gifts, knowledgeable staff and have pivoted during the pandemic to make sure everyone is safe! You put your books on a rack if you touch them so the staff can properly clean them. Don't forget- you can order any book too...the selection is endless. I love Appletree and have no doubt you will too!! Support local, this store is a true gem! read more

Appletree books is a great community book store. Long ago & far away, when I was engaged to be married, they helped me pick out Christmas gifts for my in-laws to be. Just a tip: Christmas + in-laws-to-be = really, more stress than a sane person will put herself under. Appletree Books To The Rescue! They helped me find something that the sweet people who would soon have to have me as a daughter-in-law just loved. It was amazing. And they're still doing it - the folks at Appletree are still helping people find books that are right for them. Go, Appletree Books! They may be small, but they are mighty. read more

Appletree Books - Bookstores Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I called to check availability and pricing on a few titles. The woman couldn't have been nicer and she offered options for the book they didn't have in stock currently. I'm going there in a few days for the book signing of an author I enjoy. They seem like a vibrant store in a tough market. Kudos! read more

This is a wonderful book store. They have a great selection of books. If they do not have the book you want, they order it, and you have it within a few days. Their children's book section is particularly wonderful. If you need a book for a gift, they will make suggestions. I have found that they are always right on. I feel very fortunate to have this store so close to where I live. read more

Decent selection, nice space, but the staff is tough--not particularly kind, and attitude-wise, they act like they're doing me a favor selling me books. Wouldn't say it's kid-friendly either. Shopping here makes me question whether it deserves my dollars by virtue of being independent, since I strive to support small bookstores always, but lacking in any sort of warmth and welcome. read more

I needed to order two books and I decided to patronize Appletree books for two reasons. They were conveniently located (on my way to work) and I like to shop at small independent stores whenever I can. I purchased two books with a credit card. A week later I needed to return one of the books. As soon as I entered the store, I was told very directly I needed to wear a mask. That's fine. I'm all for masks. But what got me is that most of the staff were not wearing masks. I hate hypocrisy, so I called them out on it. They gave me some lame excuse that in some areas of the store, the staff doesn't need to wear them. Three minutes later, the owner is standing two feet from me without a mask. I decided to let it go. But the matter that really bothered me was that they would not credit my credit card. I would have to buy another book. If a company can debit your credit card, they can credit it. Again I got some lame excuse. In addition, their hours during the week is 11:00-4:00. Not very convenient. Parking in the back parking lot is metered, so that will add to the price of your book. I learned my lesson. Next time, I'll go to Barnes and Noble. read more

Staff is nnfathomably uppity in refusing to answer the phone during business hours, then compounding their unwelcoming attitude by refusing to respond to e'mails sent to the address on their website and a Facebook Message (Why bother displaying a "Send Message" button?). This is yet another of many examples of Cleveland-based businesses who demonstrate an off-putting smugness that signals potential new customers that they would be better off spending their dollars elsewhere. I'll be only too happy to continue buying from Amazon. read more

This was the first bookstore I visited when I moved to Cleveland for grad school. In fact, it was the first thing I did after unpacking and making dinner! And I loved it immediately. It's the epitome of a friendly local bookstore. The staff knows your name, knows about community events, and loves to chat not just about books, but about Cleveland in general. The staff makes this store stand out! Appletree also has a great selection of books, especially considering they're such a small shop. They always have quality fiction, and have an impressive poetry section. They do a great job of keeping up with both new books and the classics, and all sections are well-stocked. And if they don't have what you're looking for, they can order it for you. Keep in mind that Appletree accepts credit cards, but there is a $10 minimum. read more

There are so few local bookstores left in the world, what with Amazon and other Internet retailers pushing out even the big-box in-person stores. Appletree books is a tiny bookstore with a good local flavor. They're right near La Gelateria and Liquid Planet so if you're out on Cedar-Fairmount for a night out you can go browse in here and find something unique. They have books and cards, a nice childrens' section, and most importantly, that small-bookstore feel. Pictures are on my blog at http://whatsincleveland.blogspot.com/2011/07/appletree-books-cedar-fairmount.html read more

Appletree Books is my favorite independent bookstore. I love how they consistently offer high-quality variety in their programming, gifts, cards, and of course their vast selection of books. Its always my first stop for birthday and holiday shopping. The staff is knowledgeable, approachable, and always willing to preorder customer favorites before their release, or order anything not in stock. Definitely worth a visit! read more

What a great bookstore and they have some of the nicest people working there. Believe it of not most of the employees have actually read a BOOK ! read more

I bought a terrible book club book from a top flight book store. Appletree and the owners made the noxious read all worthwhile. I'm going back to Appletree this week to purchase another book club wincer. Again, I believe that the people there will make it bearable. Its a great store. Keep it local. Keep it independent. read more

I stopped at Appletree Books today b/c I had heard that there was a new owner & was curious to see if there were any changes. What a lovely surprise! It holds the charm that only an independent bookstore can convey. Interesting displays....no big box plan-o-grams here. And nothing wrong with NYT bestsellers, but oh my, there's so much more out there & Appletree finds it. I bought a novel for myself & a gift for a friends birthday that's several months down the road, but why not get it when it's right in front on you? I also had great customer service & was so appreciative of their enthusiastic background conversation on what they were reading instead of "like, what I did last night". I left with a package, feeling very contented. read more