Rainy Day Books is kind of the best of both worlds - a book lover's paradise staffed by book…read moreworms. It's a cozy space, but it's jampacked with books from all subjects. If you can't find what you're looking for - which for some reason happens me a lot - the staff is happy to order a copy for you. They're book club friendly. They also host a ton of fun book-related and author events. If you're interested, please follow their social media accounts. They'll keep you up to date.

If you haven't been to Rainy Day Books, and you've passed by at any point, you're really missing…read moreout! Every time I go into the shop, even if I think I know exactly what I want, every staff member is so knowledgeable and helpful that I always leave with more ideas on my TBR! The little shop is located in the tiny shopping center off Brush Creek Parkway, which means it can be hard to find parking if the center is petty busy--but it's worth it! They have great sections for adult reads, but they also have great sections for kids and teens--you'll find what you're looking for even if you're not sure what that is. Over the holidays, I even asked for kids and teens recommendations from the staff which they were happy to give! As noted earlier, their shop isn't huge, but full of possibilities. And if at the end of your visit, you really still want that book they don't have in stock, they'll order it for you for pick up or shipping--it's a simple process and they're more than happy to help people find their perfect next read. They may not be a book superstore, but they create value in their suggestions, recommendations, and their tiny book reviews and recs on the shelves (even in the teens and kids sections, written by kids and teens!). So glad to have found this place early on in my time in KC, and so happy that they're still doing their thing in their amazing bookshop!

There are so many amazing coffee shops in the kansas city area, and every time I try a new one it…read morebecomes my favorite. This one was no exception, but I do believe it might remain the reigning champion. First of all it is a coffee shop in the basement of a church, and its name implies that it is religious. So the reviews that act surprised or give lower ratings for that reason are silly gooses. The ambiance is outstanding! It is a whole vibe. You are surrounded by books, some of the tables have pew seating, there is a kids area, they sell T shirts cheap ($7) and used books at an amazing deal. New books are priced as marked with regular retail pricing. I was shocked at the number if new hooks they had. The crowning jewel for me was they have natural house made (or local bought) syrups so you are not getting a run of the mill commercially based anything. I expected that to limit their menu but it didn't! I had the caramel crunch chai, hands down best chai I have ever tasted. I wanted to chug it. My friend loved her drink that had winter mint! I also splurged on a winter pomegranate spritz and cake pops to go. This is a coffee shop where you come in, slow down and enjoy the experience. I do not recommend this place if you want a quick coffee to go. The Barista was exceptional and she put time and effort into each drink. She did get backed up because she was all alone when a coworker called in and got slammed! She was clearly overwhelmed but never once rushed a conversation or made any of the customers feel like she didn't have time for them. Rare beauty in this rushed world we live in. She encouraged checking out the gorgeous sanctuary and stained glass windows upstairs in the sanctuary and shared stories about them. I never once felt like I was in a church basement- if that makes sense. It was warm, cozy and inviting. This is my new weekly spot! PS the kids area has a full tote of scrapbooking stuff, and the tables all have cards where you can write up a handwritten note and they send them of somewhere to spread joy and kindness. It does not get better than this.

I had assumed that Holy Grounds Coffee had taken the former St. James Catholic Church and created a…read morecool coffee shop in the building. The last I knew that the space had been an events / wedding hall, a B and B and vacant. Little did I know was that it had been reformed as an Anglican church and the coffee shop was being ran by the church in the basement. The vibe was just kinda weird...it's basically a cluttered Christian book store and gift shop serving coffee and sandwiches. The staff were polite but not very welcoming; I felt like I was intruding on a private function that didn't want me there. I took my Mocha Cream Breve' and went out on the patio for some views of the beautiful historic structure. When asked about their source for coffee beans, I was told "we get em from someplace in Arkansas". OK!?? I'm sure that some demographic here in the bible belt will find this basement quaint and charming, but it just gave me a desire to go spend my money at a more secular venue.

Fantastic ambiance. Cozy atmosphere with alcoholic and non alcoholic choices. Lounge type areas…read morewith niches and comfortable seating. Loved it. Music was quiet enough for conversation without shouting. Perfect for a relaxing drink and visiting.

When my friend and I were in the Saint Joseph area this past weekend, we wanted a really good…read morecocktail and this place was on a few lists so we had to try it. We both walked in and grabbed the comfy couch. We went up to the bar and ordered a couple cocktails, both were really good. The bartender was super nice, chatty in a good way, and knew his stuff. I think I would come back here again.

I'm no book snob, but I enjoy reading. I typically gravitate toward sci-fi, fantasy, and comics,…read morebut this Barnes & Noble is typically well stocked and easy to navigate. There is also a coffee bar here that I haven't used. I'll usually hang out upstairs with a book and read for a while as my wife browses all around. We have visited once when they had live music from a local high school jazz band. It was pretty neat. Usually, it is a nice quiet place to relax and hang out. One of my favorite places in Zona Rosa!

We stopped into this location since we were in the area. The store is large and the customer…read moreservice was fine. The prices were typical for new books and magazines. My husband purchased some magazines and I looked around in all the areas. The toddler books were reasonable for new books. They have a good selection of a variety of genres. I did look in their children's toy and game area, but I think their prices are exceptionally high even with clearance items.

Original review no longer accurate…read more So, when I first went to this place it was filled with books and heavily disorganized. It got a little better over time. They buy books but only twice I guess? I reached out a couple times to sell books or trade and been told they're not buying. Which is perfectly fine if you don't want to buy customers books. You get final say. It just ruined my view on the business.

We were in the area and we stopped by this bookstore. We have been to this bookstore at a previous…read morelocation years ago. The store itself is completely unorganized and you wonder if the shelves are going to topple in. But he has an exceptional collection of used non-fiction books. He has all types of genres and classic books. His Christian section is better than most Christian bookstores. He has very high-quality authors. He has manuals, a selection for black voices, various countries, cookbook, health, psychology, you name it on the non-fiction and he probably has it. He is friendly and helpful and it would probably be best to ask him where some items might be since the store is overcrowded and not organized very well. Some books have the prices on the inside cover and some you have to ask him and you can bargain with him as well as long as your bargaining is reasonable. Even though the photos that I have submitted show disorganization, he really does have an exceptional amount of good books.

I had some time to kill today before brunch and went into The Dusty Bookshelf. What a great place!…read moreIt has a very solid selection and the staff was helpful. I love the table with the Grab Bags! I only ended up purchasing one book, but I would love to go back next time I'm in Lawrence.

I love this book store. I have gone here for years. Plenty of great books. The customer service is…read morenonexistent. Every time I go in, the staff ignores me. When I get to the register to BUY books, most of the staff are quite rude. Staff will talk to staff as opposed to engaging with customers. My last visit was one of the worst. I believe "it" didn't want me in the store at all. I was buying a lot of books. There are some staff that are human and are very pleasant.

Anyone who looks at my reviews know that a 5 is rare! This exceeded any expectation I had and I was…read moresmiling so Much my cheeks hurt. What an Immersive experience! Books were SO much a part of our parenting I was transported to such deep memories. The attention to detail! The places to sit and read incorporated throughout! We went to an Adults only event just to check It out and we have already bought tickets to take our adult kids next month!!!

This museum is exceptional! I felt like a kid again seeing my favorite storybooks come to life!…read moreEvery single nook and cranny of this space was well thought out and artistically crafted. It was nice to have places for the kids to climb and explore. And there were also spaces to rest and be quiet. I like that each book was unique on display so it wasn't the same old thing over and over again. What I really loved was that they have multiple copies of each book represented in said section. So the ones we hadn't read and were interested in, we were able to discover like The Funny Thing and The Fire Cat. And ones we were aware if were fun to read while exploring like Goodnight Moon (my absolute favorite part), Babar, Frog and Toad, and No, David! The bus ride is a must; so creative and heart warming. We didn't purchase tickets for The Three Robbers experience, but peeking inside I wish we had, it looks great. The docents and volunteers were all knowledgeable of the books. And they were very kind when needing to remind kids of the museum rules. If I lived here I would by an annual membership for sure. And would have gladly paid more than the current $16 admission as I think this experience is worth much more.

It's pretty sad that a critical review from 18 years ago said exactly what I'll say after having…read morechecked this place out today. It smells. The prices are expensive. The selection is far, far from exhaustive. And it's hard to navigate. I finally had to leave without even checking out all the floors because it was so smelly of ... dust? mold? - and I NEVER leave a bookstore without looking at everything. It looks good from the outside!

Such a delight! Enjoyed an hour Saturday browsing their selection-- could spend days here. Looking…read moreforward to returning soon. Purchased a book printed 50 years ago comparing where I lived for two decades in California and Kansas City, MO and an out of print philosophy of fairytales companion. Such a find!

Just wanted to update the community on the current state of The Book Barn…read more Yes, there are books in this store. Yes, you'll probably find what you're looking for. Yes, you'll be greeted by the sweetest lady with a ton of book knowledge. You will need to squeeze through books piled on the floor. You might see a broken shelf or two held up by books. The store is only open on Saturdays, I'm thinking from 11am-5pm or so.

I would love to open a bookstore like this one. Piles upon piles of books all over the place…read more Somewhat organized, but the real gem is in the people. The older lady will tell you everything and can find anything. I talked to her just about my history with the Book Barn. In 1998, Lansing Middle School had an accelerated reader program. You read books and take tests on the computer (big deal at the time) and you are awarded points. I earned enough points that I was awarded a gift card to The Book Barn. It was written on a card with the amount, and each time you spent some of it the cashier would write the new amount on it. I walked in and asked for any recommendations. The younger lady working there gave me Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. She gave Atlas Shrugged to a 13 year old. I tackled that beast. It took me 9 months, but I plowed through it and can now proudly say that I have read Atlas Shrugged. Overall, great service, great place to get lost it for an afternoon. Support your local book store!

I go to romance bookstores in cities I visit and Under the Cover is probably the best I've seen!…read moreIt's large and organizes books by tropes. There's just a lot of small details that the owners have taken note of and implemented in the store. It's 2 large stores now (it's gotten bigger) and the decorations and gifts are wonderful. Very Instagrammable. Lots of books and gifts like candles, shirts, bags, knickknacks. Cute signs and decor. Books by local authors are highlighted. Staff is very helpful. Bathroom is clean and cute. There's lots of ladders that remind you that you're not Belle, do not stand on them! A must-visit if you're in KC!

I used to be in the bookstore business. Remember bookstores? Those cavernous spaces with endless…read moreshelves of books of which maybe only 5% actually got purchased? Yeah. Good memories. That's not the case at Under The Cover. This is a legit, almost boutique-ish, book and gift store. It's not a warehouse of books and just 'stuff'. No, their specialty lies with LGBTQ+ literature, awareness, and advocacy and that theme is everywhere in this cozy space. Under The Cover is moving books aplenty and their merch and sundries game is amazing. Throw up a hand if you're an LGBTQ+ supporter. Heck, throw up a hand if you're on the other side of those lifestyles, because Under The Cover will WELCOME you, too. There are plenty of Christian bookstores, so balancing that ledger with inclusivity and love by patronizing an alternative choice & lifestyle business should be on anyone's radar. The service is uber-friendly and they will give suggestions for just about anything. Sign their guest book (so fun!) or just drop your email to receive future discounts, notice of specials, or even in-store author events. Support local is not just a rallying cry for farmers markets or service industries. It's critical to buttress our friends and neighbors who pour their hearts and souls into offering the great city a neverending array of shops & locations by supporting their businesses. The value in a place like Under The Cover is not just in the price tag of the items. No, it's more in the merit of small businesses and their place in the fabric that is Kansas City. Parking is city-style, which can mean you're on your own. Prices are fair and consistent, and you will appreciate what this space has become and how it can add to the Union Hill area. Take the time, and the opportunity, to stop in and feel the love.