I've always passed this place for years and what caught my eye today was the one of the books I've been eyeballing for years was included in the sidewalk sale. I went inside and was surprised on how much of a variety they have for good books besides the big box stores. Literally walls of books. I also thought it was unique how they priced their inventory (paper slip in the book). The fact that I got two books under $10 was a steal. The cashier was welcoming and was working throughout the store. I didn't get any actual pics inside but I'll definitely be back. read more

It is a wonderful place called Book Gallery West. Excellent choice of books, unusual gift and comfortable environment. I really liked browsing and got some splendid reads read more

First time in this book shoo nd I'm giving 5 stars because I actually found Dolores cannon. I was so shocked because I have to special order her books so to see someone else up on knowledge is pretty cool read more

Book Gallery West has been a mainstay in my family for nearly 40 years. From the time my son could read, this has been his go to spot. He is an avid reader and roams the aisles soaking in all the great variety of books that are available. My parents and I also value this quaint and cozy book shop. We have purchased many books not only for ourselves, but friends and family as well. Interesting and unique jewelry is sold as well as beautiful handmade cards for any occasion. The customer support is outstanding as they continue to maintain their high standards over these many years. Thank you, Book Gallery West for being such an important cornerstone of my family and always with smiles! Here is to many more years of success! read more

I was in line when someone came in and asked if this store wanted to support the community and donate children's books for some gift baskets for a good cause. Their response was "if we have to donate to one community cause then we would have to donate to all community causes so we do not ever donate." As a consumer, I am appalled by such a horrible attitude. The community doesn't say if "I have support your store, I will then have to support every store." Some words of advice, even though you are a small business, learn to be giving or at least respond appropriately. We all know donating for one cause does not mean you need to donate to all in the community. I am deciding to never be a customer at this store because they would rather do nothing than do a little something to help the community. read more

This bookstore was LOVELY!!! I had a fantastic experience. The customer service was superb, Jess was both knowledgeable and kind. I loved the diversity in the books offered there. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a local bookstore to support! read more

THEY WILL STEAL YOUR BOOKS. This place has changed. Been coming here for 30 years. Just went three days ago to sell some books. Had a very rude lady, sounds like the same one others below have complained about. Never seen her before until a few days ago. Some new policy they claim has been in effect for 40 years. - that is a lie - They want you to just leave your books there. In the past they would buy them immediately if they wanted them, or donate them for you. Now they want you to leave them and promise to call later with an offer. It's been three days, no call. They are stealing people's books. Avoid this place. read more

New to Gainesville and was trying out the Publix next door when I spotted Book Gallery West. I'm an avid reader and run a few book clubs so always on the alert for book stores. They had a great selection of hardback books just outside all on sale - I was so surprised at how good the titles were. Inside is small and I'm a bit claustrophobic so without much maneuvering between aisles - I couldn't stay long. Staff is super nice and it's a great little bookstore to visit! read more

Great location, close to everything. Half of the store is like a retail gift shop with dust catchers and cards. There is a cafe in the back corner near the cookbook section that serves coffee, tea, and sweets. I was very interested in their locally produced and packaged jars of jams, but they were pricey around $7 each. The other half is used and new books mixed together and not clearly priced. A very small selection. It is difficult to see what books are used and which ones are new. Sometimes new books look used and vice versa. In the used books, they often do not remove the previous price tags of books that were sold to them. For example, I looked at a book that had a previous sticker price of $0.99, but the sign above said $2.98. They were not that busy, but the staff seemed really flustered, so I did not bother them with my pricing question and left empty handed. read more

Two types of book stores you might find yourself in: 1) The kind that smells of hot ink, cheap coffee, and warehouse 2) Places like Book Gallery West I would normally phrase visits to book stores as "getting dragged to them", but the homey feel and free-form energy of the little, local shop enticed me to linger a bit and even plop down for a quick read. Anyone who considers themselves a lover of books will find their happy place here, and for only a pinch of their pocket books. The Space Sunk into a corner section of a strip mall, Book Gallery West would be an easy spot to overlook if it were not for the local love this place obviously receives from its patrons. Parking is easy-peasy, and stepping through the door you are greeted by a gentle water fountain supplying a wonderful ambiance for the abundance of gently-loved books, local knick-knacks, and other miscellaneous trinkets that may catch one's eye. Given they have so many stories on their shelves, it makes sense that seating is minimal, but there are a few tables for someone looking to squeeze a quick read in. The Service My first time in here had me reeling a bit, in terms of needing to ask about anything specific. You will get lost in the diversity and general spectacle of wall-to-wall options, but from what I could overhear at the counter, the kind soul working the register had all the makings of a friendly face with a lot of insight into the overload of literature available. The Goods Definitely come having a heart for used, but oh-so-valuable volumes: a major of these reads, while gracefully, have indeed aged. You may find a bit of extra time is spent looking for something specific, though they put a fair amount of effort into generally organizing the types of books into different regions of the store. As for the other, unprinted purchases, I found anything from someone's local fudge for sale at the register to cheap phone accessories, some local art offerings, and even a bit of jewelry. These items are quirky enough to be endearing and perhaps diverse enough to entice a shopper with some pocket change. Final Thoughts Come for a spell and be reminded of those titles you meant to read, did read, or just find a cheap thrill that suits your fancy. Book Gallery West will find some way to make you smile even if you do manage to walk out empty-handed. read more

Book Gallery West - Tranquil indoor fountain for some awesome ambiance - Bookstores Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've been going to Book Gallery West to buy and sell my books for years. Best used bookstore around.

It's been a year since my initial review of Book Gallery West. During that time I've visited about ten times. I have noticed a drastic improvement in their staffing decisions. I've also noticed that some of the folks that have been working there since my original review have been much more helpful and approachable. I don't think Book Gallery West is quite as inviting as it should be, but it looks like they're working on making their business more friendly. My comments from my first review regarding their selection and ability to find what you're looking for still apply, as does my criticism of the lack of support for local authors. I'm moving my rating up from two stars to three due to their improved customer service. read more

This place has so many books and they are cheap as well. I'm not from Gainesville but I'm 3 hours from this place if it were closer I would definitely come more often. read more

Overall the store itself was good but I was shocked by the behavior of one of their employees. Specifically an older woman with long brown hair and glasses was swearing at a younger woman in an abusive manor. While the store was fine, I wouldn't recommend a friend go to an establishment where they let their employees be treated like this. It's unacceptable. read more

This shopped is geared towards popular fiction. It's a nice shop but it is not the kind of place you would go for rare books.

A classic independent bookstore of the finest type, Book Gallery West is an oasis and a treasure mine for book lovers of all ages! Offering a mix of new and secondhand books priced attractively, the shop might not be large but the well-stocked shelves offer lots of variety. You can find books to please both casual and consummate readers, with everything from popular fiction and children's books to New Age astrology, food-nerd-level histories of salt and cod, biographies of physicists and more, all tempting you to bring them home to play with the rest of your collection. In additions to books, gift-type items such as charming coffee mugs, jewelry, incense and more are also available, making the shop an attractive stop for those times when you need a gift in a hurry. The staff are friendly yet avoid hovering, allowing one to take their time and truly relish the bookshop experience. There are far fewer bookstores like this than there ought to be, so stop in and enjoy as often as you can! read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this shop! It was small, but has an a very good selection. The prices are very reasonable and the owner is super nice, friendly, and helpful. They also have some cute nicknacks for sale around the shop. Will definitely eat going back. read more

Super cute with a lot of options. Don't go in here expecting your book to be here, but definitely try this first before bigger companies with less heart. They have a solid selection of school-required reading, as well as a coherent and thorough organization to the store as a whole, so drop in and see if they have what ya need! read more

Over the last few months I have enjoyed going to this bookstore but only when certain people are working. One person is not very friendly, helpful and more concerned about everything else than helping customers. She is also very rude and doesn't like kids in the store. My kid was so excited by everything and was looking and touching things under supervision and she was making comments under her breath about my kid and his behavior. I have seen her do this before with other kids. The store is fine as long as you don't bring any kids while certain people are working. Very disappointing and frustrating for an avid book reader and supporter of independent bookstores. read more

Support local business. This little shop is neat. It's much better than your chain bookstores. There's a little cafe with small table seating. They also have unique gift items. There is a used book section where you can trade in a used book for $1 off a used book purchase. I LOVE THAT! Last time I went there, I looked and looked and looked and couldn't find my book. Then I asked the cashier and she said it was in stock, but couldn't find it either. A guy that was working there said it's on the left bottom shelf of the so & so section ... photographic memory!!! That was cool. I'll definitely continue to patronize this bookstore when I need a gift or want a book. read more

Book Gallery West has been here for years--as long as I can recall. I think at one time there was an original Book Gallery on Main Street in a shopping center there, but I am unsure the two stores are actually related. In any case, this store is a great little spot (not that little even, truth be told!) full of old and new books, some CDs and tapes (leaning mostly towards New Age type stuff . . . I first discovered the wonderful Loreena McKennitt here) plus cards, gifts, and other things you'd expect from an indie bookstore. I remember coming here to buy books on the martial arts before the Internet (mainly amazon.com) made sourcing such less difficult: Book Gallery West often would have a good selection though and would sometimes have some that interested me used, too. This also has been, long before the invasion of Books-a-Million and its ilk, where gamer kids got their D&D books and stuff. In short, this store has long embodied a certain, distinct, somewhat liberal and certainly cozy feel that I grew up with in their fair town. They still, despite the corporate giants across town and on the Internet, do a good business it seems in a time when indie bookstores are rather suffering. I strongly recommend supporting them, and the only bad thing I can say is this: they did away with what was once a great selection of magazine and also, they are not huge, so they may not have every single book in stock you might desire. but if they don't, I imagine they would be more than glad to order it. read more

Visiting Gainesville today for an appointment so thought I would take a few minutes to check out your store. No one ever acknowledged I was in the store so I hovered around the jewelry and still nothing. All I could hear was the employed talking in very unkind words to another employee about our president. Very, very unprofessional. I have had a retail business and have been in retail for years. She would no longer represent my business or name. I continued on around the store and left with not 1 word from anyone. Shame, shame. I shared this with the business appointment that I had and I they were not surprised. For some reason I had to give 1 star but this is not something I would give a star. Pamela read more

I had a great experience at Book Gallery West! They have a wonderful selection, everything is very well organized and they even have sections near the front displaying popular reads. I went in July and found that everyone was wearing masks and properly social distancing. I wished I lived closer so I could visit all the time! Recommend to all. read more

I feel better about shopping here than giving in to Books-A-Million or Barnes & Noble. It's in my 'hood, and I always find what I'm looking for - usually USED - which is a plus. They even have a huge section of quality greeting cards (from Papyrus, etc.), stationery, Burt's Bees products, and other frilly things that us girls love to spend money on. read more

Omg they have an awesome coffee shop now! EVEN better! It's like that coffee place by the HIPP with more books and less smoke.

This is a beautiful store with a nice selection of nonfiction (what I am attracted to lately), from used to new, and a wonderfully arranged assortment of beautiful gifts and cards. These are far and few between, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover this gem that has many things to keep one engaged with beautiful books and curiosities. The music is very calming too, nice choice. read more

It's not very inviting. No one greets you or acknowledges you the four times I've been here (even when you're the only customer there). It has only a small collection of books. They're charging insane prices for raggedy books that should be donated. I really don't like this place! read more

I can't say enough good things about Book Gallery West. They have a great selection of books and gifts. The reason I keep coming back, however, is because of the spirit of this store that the people who work here cultivate. They are always helpful and kind. I wish I could remember all of their names. MaryAnne has been wonderful to work with and Stephano always has a smile and cheerful countenance. Customer service is obviously of the utmost importance to this establishment. I leave with reluctance and look forward to my return because I know I will be treated like family upon my arrival. read more

Every town has a place that feels like a second home. Book Gallery West is my second home. Whenever I take a lunch break, I head to Book Gallery West to read my own book, browse through their books, and to visit with a staff who treats me like family and who loves what I have to say. It's hard to find businesses that treat their customers like they are valuable. But Book Gallery West goes above and beyond, including their manager. While I enjoy the things they have for sale such as the fun puzzles, calendars, little works of art, and, most importantly, the books, it's the friendly staff that makes me return again and again. read more

Book Gallery West is one of my favorite shops in Gainesville. The people who work there are terrific, there are bargains galore, there are a lot of regional books which interest me greatly and overall the atmosphere is anything like the big chain book stores. It's relaxed, comfortable, filled with nice people and of course cheap books. read more

It is a great store and the staffing has improved however, the prices are a bit steep. The café is no longer there which is a shame.

GREAT BOOK STORE! they carry both new and used books so be careful! But they have great selection. the used books are very reasonably priced, and they also carry new books just in case used copies are not in stock! The staff is very friendly and helpful as well. Don't go in a hurry though, you'll spend hours in there, they have so many books to choose from. They are also very organized and arrange the books by subject and everything is labelled. They also carry cute coffee mugs, bags, and soaps. read more

Book Gallery West has done the right thing and corrected the issue I had with my shopping bags. It is nice to see they really do care about their customers and don't simply ignore problems like so many other small businesses. Based on their response, I have changed my review and will certainly return. Which is a relief, because this is my favorite used book store in town. read more

Very easy place to get lost in for hours simply browsing the massive selection that they have if you're not seeking out anything in particular. Fortunately, most things you mindlessly grab will be a damn decent price. There is a massive selection of hardcover books out front that go for 3.50 apiece and if you take the time to look through them all, there's definitely some gems for a price that can't be beaten. Lots of paperbacks inside that can range from sticker price (especially YA titles) if they're new to around $3 depending on the quality and the title. Peruse the selection of yummy homemade goodies and coffee while you're looking too. If you're looking for a gift, there's a great selection of super cute greeting cards and all kinds of knick-knacks for the choosing, and I think I saw some giftwrap that they use for gift purchases. Altogether, a great place to browse, but some of the book prices are a bit too much for the condition when Amazon can beat them. However, it feels good to support a local business and have the friendly faces help you find what you need. read more

Amazing store! New, used and hard to find Books, Unique gifts, and the most relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere you will experience in a store. read more