This is a very cool place. Immediately upon entering, a nice lady greeted us and asked if this was our first time here. She explained that nine different people own and run sections out of this store, and to come to her or anyone else if we have questions. Books, books, books galore! Not to mention, a fantastic use of so much space. You might not know where some things are, but it makes for a heck of an adventure. They do have some areas marked, such as children's and dvds, but everything else is like looking for treasure within the Cave of Wonders. It smells like old-timey books, and you are immediately transported to another time where life was so much simpler and more beautiful. This was the highlight of my day, and I'd recommend this shop to any book lover stopping by Grass Valley. read more

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Stopped her impromptu. Has an overwhelming collection of books I know I could lose myself in. The individual working (forgot his name i'm terrible), was so nice and welcoming. He gave us a tour. I bought two books. Very reasonably priced. Will definitely come back read more

Booktown Books - Vinyl Records Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Let me start off by saying that I grew up in Grass Valley and spent my entire childhood and young adulthood here. My parents as well were both born and raised here too. We have seen many great local bookstores come and go over the years and miss the truly great ones including Ames Books. Booktown is the last great giant of a dying breed and contains many different sellers grouped under one storefront, similar to antique malls in principle. There are a huge, massive variety of books here from dealers specializing in everything from cookbooks, true crime, literature, California and gold rush history, comics, esoteric literature, music and much more! Parking is very easily accessible next to the building and their hours are very flexible and accomodating. For those with interests in more scarce or rare books, there is a small rare book room located on premises that is normally locked, but the staff are very helpful and open in letting you explore the rare book area if that is your interest. I love Booktown and highly recommend a visit here if you have the slightest interest in books, literature, and spending the afternoon getting happily lost in a maze of bookshelves. Great, great store! read more

Super fun place to explore, it's a coop of different sellers, mostly used but some new. Fun place to treasure hunt. Also has some anime posters and assorted goodies like records and cassette tapes. Set aside at least an hour to dig in! Good kids books and comic selection as well. read more

My partner and I had seen Booktown Books table at a convention and thought we should check out the store front. Unfortunately we left pretty soon after entering because the workers at the register were very vocal about being pro ICE. We didn't feel comfortable supporting them, especially because they were so vocal about it. Very disappointing. read more

Ken Higgins!! What a great guy and a dear person to discuss many things with! They have so many great books but his CS Lewis knowledge is exceptional! Samuel Johnson anyone? Ken is your go to!! read more

Booktown Books - Ken and I - Vinyl Records Near Me - Grass Valley, California

Great find for used and some new books! Broken up into many shelves and littles rooms. The main floor has the stacks one sees walking in but there are many nooks and crannies to explore. There are books, DVDs, comic books, posters, and did I mention all the books in every genre? Had a stroll and picked up two books totally all of ten dollars. Parking is easy with the lot in the back. Walking up the short stairs brings one to the back patio with a lot of specials on sale. Found my two finds, Mark Twain on California and The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. I had a great time here. Love the feel, the books, and the nice man that charged my sale by hand. This is what is great about exploring new places. read more

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Rudest service I've ever had. Elderly lady was downright hostile. I was inquiring about a book a friend ordered (I think I was at the wrong bookstore). She was actually snarling at me. Some people should not work with the public. read more

Lovely owners who were so welcoming! This is a beautiful bookstore with tons of great finds. They also have posters, movies, and music!

This bookstore is truly a gem. It's entrance is sort of in an alley and the outside is unassuming but it is full of so many treasures. I stumbled upon it before writing a review so I had no idea it was a book co-op. But it makes sense because different sections of the store are numbered. They have records, VHS, DVDs, movie posters, tapes, and of course books. There are SO MANY books and it's sort of an organized mess, which I loved. I would definitely give yourself some time to really take a good look through the stuff, but I'm sure they can find what you want if you're looking for something specific. There is a huge parking lot behind the bookstore, I don't know if you have to pay for parking. I had parked a few blocks away for free. But know that there is ample parking right by the bookstore if/when you choose to visit. Reading other reviews it seems like some people had issues with customer service. When I went in there were two men tending to the bookstore, one was super friendly and asked if he could help. The other was at the cash register and was nice enough. Everyone has an off day, and it's no reason to write off this gem of a bookstore. COVID Update: They ask that everyone wear a mask, there is a sign on the door as you go in. There is hand sanitizer at the front for customers. The man who rang me up had his mask on his chin, but he was eating. I wish he would have put the mask on while he was checking me out, but again, he was eating so I get it. read more

Booktown Books - Under the stairs book nook - Vinyl Records Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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If no stars was an option I would give no stars and just a scathing review. Terrible customer service. The people there are so rude. Being talked down to as another human being is so frustrating. I understand it's a co-op. But their selection of books are not even organized. We went in as a family. And my mom started looking through the books in one of the cases as the doors were open. One of the many impolite employees ran over who we shall call Karen. Karen began questioning my mother as to how she got into the book case. My mom explained it was opened. Karen proceeded to ask why she opened it and who unlocked it. My mom once again stated it was opened. Karen then proceeded to stand inches behind my mom till she was so uncomfortable she had to find the rest of us. Karen then proceeded to follow our whole family around the store for the next several minutes till we decided to leave. As if someone wants to steal your overpriced nasty stain covered books. If you're a single woman I also would not recommend going in there alone. As I caught the older men that worked there staring at my wife and I had to stare at them myself. WONT BE RETURNING. WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE GO THERE. The rest of downtown grass valley is beautiful and the people are very nice in the shops. With the exception of this place. The employees are unchecked, rude, and gross. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT GO HERE. read more

I love this store - a co-op book store with many somethings for everyone and their best friends. Grass Valley has almost no inexpensive restaurants, but that's ok because their best kept secret isn't the overpriced burgers and fries chicken , it's this book shop. Because it's run by a group with diverse tastes and interests, you'll spend hours here and never see every title. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to browse before they close because these people get very antsy just before closing. They love books probably more than you do ( don't take that the wrong way) which means every visit is a treat. My favorite section is curated and run by The Leano's, who specialize in graphic novels, artwork horror and more . Are you excited to visit yet ? You should be! Booktown is a destination type shop! read more

An absolutely delightful used book store. One of the staffers explained to me that it is a co-op of several dealers. It is organized a bit oddly because of this (you will find art books in several spots, history in several spots, etc) and the selection here is fantastic. They have a "Looking for" logbook where you can put in a title and the dealers will hunt for it and get in touch when they find it. There is also a Rare Books room! I didn't have the time to check it out but it certainly looked intriguing. I only had a a bit of time to peruse the stacks when I went in yesterday and I assure you that the next time I come, I'll arrive with an empty trunk and several hours to scope! read more

Wowza- what a treasure!! Grass Valley is so blessed with this find!! What is it? 1 million books maybe???? Clean and organized!

Other people have written extensive reviews about what a *wonderful* bookstore this is, and I, as someone who has sold over 5000 books online, can vouch for those glowing reviews. In this age of "screens", we will have a book-comeback time, and this store will be a prize. read more

Great books but the worst return policy I've ever experienced. I purchased a book and attempted to return it the next day. Even though I had the receipt, they refused a cash refund and refused an exchange for a different book across dealer book shelves!!!! Terrible customer experience. read more

Expect to spend a good hour or so when you go to Booktown Books & Tomes. The way this bookstore works is that it's a co-op with about 12 different sections with different sellers. If it's your first time, be sure to pick up a directory list at the front desk. With that said, enjoy yourself while you browse through several thousand different books. Each co-op section organizes their books differently so you'll find everything from your typical NY Times best-sellers to books on philosophy and religion as well as a whole section upstairs on horses (equine literature!). I was slightly disappointed to see that their sci-fi sections didn't have any Philip K. Dick and only one Octavia Butler. Oh well. This is definitely not Borders but it's almost more fun to see what great titles you'll stumble upon. And the prices are quite affordable. $2-8 books depending on what you want. I'm sure there are more expensive books there but that's a part of the antiques and collectors items and that's not my taste. The staff is quite friendly and willing to help and they don't mind if you decide to sit on one of the stools they have around the store to read a bit. The bookstore is connected to a nice little artsy cafe which is a great set-up for after you've purchased your books and you can't wait to read them. I'm so glad I stumbled across this bookstore during my stay in Grass Valley. It definitely made my weekend! read more

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Two stars for great selection, neat and organized shelves. But the lady/owner was so rude when I asked about the 50% off from room 19. The sale signs are misleading and has fine print. I asked to use the restroom but she directed me across the street. I guess I'm not considered a customer where it clearly states there's a restroom for customers only. Too bad, I wanted to support local business owners but her rudeness wouldn't let me. Please be friendly to tourists. I could have spent $$& here, read more

Massive store, massive selection! A combination of dealers have teamed up to form this spot and it's a blast to dig around. Despite warnings in other reviews the guys at the counter were very helpful and walked around the store helping me find things. I was also perfectly content to be left alone to dig around the record room for an hour! While I'm not a local I'll certainly be back to check this place out the next time I'm coming or going from Reno! Thanks Booktown! read more

I absolutely love this old bookstore. HUGE selection/ variety of offerings both new and used, and CHARACTER the likes of which you will not find anywhere else. Plan on spending some time when you visit. read more

I USUALLY absolutely love this bookstore and have been shopping here for 15 years. Any other review I would've given it five stars. I know people that are book dealers here. I haven't been here since before Covid began, so it's been a while. BUT- Yesterday I went in to buy a big ol' pile o books. The cashier, an older man "Tom" took my pile of books from me and said he would hold them for me behind the counter so I wouldn't have to carry them. I kept happily shopping and came up with some more items at the end. Tom then asked me "do you want these books?" The ones he had already taken to the counter. I said "yes I think so I just need to look through them" and he gave me such a huffy attitude that made me ask - "is that OK?" He said "I guess so" and after I rejected a few that were grossly overpriced I got the craziest rudest attitude from Tom I have ever had from any retail worker. He took his sweet time totaling up my books and then when I asked for the receipt in my hand he stuffed it in a book and shoved my bag at me. Passive aggressive slamming of books etc. I asked for his name and wrote it down. He wouldn't give me his last name. You think he would be happy to have any sales at all during the pandemic. I'm super bummed and will never go back there on a Monday! I'm so sad that your small town customer service sucks, Tom! read more

Seriously one of the best bookstores Ive ever been to. This place is made up of 9 or more different sections each of which is run by a different seller and has its own vibe. One is used records, fantasy books, and counterculture literature. Another is all military history. One is metaphysics mixed with local and regional hiking and naturalist guides. Another is cult comic books, 80s sci fi and steampunk adventures. Needless to say there is something for everyone here. Prices vary from stall to stall but most books range 5 to 10 dollars and ive found many rare or unique printings. The staff is knowledgeable and kind, though be advised not to stop in here if you are in a hurry. read more

Not a bookstore, it's more like an antique mall for books only (plus a few CDs and records). There are about 20 booths and every dealer has a separate booth (or two). There's a somewhat helpful index that tells you which dealers advertise which subject areas, although that doesn't necessarily help you find books in a certain booth. Almost all subjects are represented somewhere, although overall there's a lot of Western/California books and New Agey books. Prices are generally OK but vary by dealer. Parking is in the adjacent public lot. read more

This town hates chain stores so this place is one of the solutions for that book fix. This is a co-op with thirteen owners of book stalls, art studios and the new cafe. The building is located in the center of a parking place across from a new motel so the location is good. The inside is a large barn-like structure where you'll want to spend hours investigating the nooks and crannies (and the working studies upstairs). Then enjoy a coffee, lunch etc. at the cafe. My only complaint is that the books are not that cheap ($7 and up) and EACH owner owns different stalls and shelves so it can be hard to find what you are looking for... if you like books to be in sections... the good news is that the owners are usually sitting around so you can ask for help (but they will invariably show you to the books in their "store" i.e. their shelf area). So be warned. It looks like one big store but it's actually thirteen stores where some of the stores are several rooms and some are only two bookshelves. So good hunting! It's a quaint town and a quaint store. Enjoy paying with credit card and watch the guy fill out an old fashioned receipt. read more

Great co-op used bookstore with an amazing selection of books and lots of space. If you are looking for something in particular they are very helpful. If you like rare books you will love it here! read more

Maybe my favorite used book store ever. There's so many categories and such a wide selection. It's a total treasure hunt, and I love it. I found a bunch of gems for my daughter recently here. read more

This has to be one of my favorite bookshops ever! I can spend hours browsing the individual nooks that contain books of incredible variety and depth. I get lost in space and time in this place. Enter at your own risk, time is not the same once you step through the doors of possibility. read more

An amazingly large used bookstore (or sellers collective) for such a small city. This shop is comparable in size to all the used bookstores I've visited in Chicago. The topical range is wide. Well worth a visit by book lovers. Definitely a retail high point in our visit to Grass Valley. read more

All that can be said is if you love books you'll love this place it's a candy store for the book lover & the staff very helpful...Some prices aren't too shabby whereas some are a bit extreme...But to expected as this a small town co-op (I think 12 or 13 different booths/vendors) read more

This is by far the best bookstore in town. Not only is it such a characteristic place, with tons of bookshelves and books just pouring out from everywhere, there are also barely used books for half the price, and you can very often find what you are looking for, and more often something that you never would even expect to exist. I love going here on cold rainy days and just spending hours picking out cheap books to bring home. Shopping here is also a GREAT way to support local small business instead of buying expensive stuff from chain stores in Roseville and the like, and it's more fun to pop in and get something than buying used on Amazon. I highly recommend. read more

Not a place to quickly pop into if you're looking for a specific book, but has a large and varied selection, so it's more of a treasure trove of (sometimes eccentric) choices. It's not your average used book store. Well worth a visit! read more

Great place. Affordable prices. Something for everyone. I love the variety of booths. The employees are very helpful and knowledgeable. This place is the size of many libraries in major cities. This store is a must stop for any one who reads. We come to grass valley each summer and we make it a point to stop here. This year we went on our first day... I couldn't wait! read more

I am all about shopping local, and though everyone told me to get my parenting books on Amazon, I thought I'd support a small business instead. That being said, I expected more knowledge and less condemnation on my choice of books (which the lady who "helped" me had no knowledge of whatsoever). She was extremely rude. No one greeted me when I came in and I stood at the counter for what seemed like an eternity after saying "excuse me" while she rifled through her purse. If you want attitude, unorganized chaos, and snobby employees, this is surely the place for you. Otherwise go elsewhere!! read more

This place is about supporting local businesses, first and foremost. Second, it is about a mind-boggling experience to find any and everything on any topic. The people who run the store are funky intellectuals who don't care if you sit on the old wood floors, or hunker down into the couches with a book (they hope you buy eventually), and they are often engaged in some interesting conversation. It is a haven for you to roam, browse, kvetch, laugh, learn, and maybe even make a few friends. It is one of the most important assets of Grass Valley and for intelligence everywhere. read more

see space 24 - the BEST books sold in the store. they have everything!! so cool and unique. way better than a borders or corporate bookstore chain. read more

Best bookstore in town. So many books of all kinds, new and old, fiction and nonfiction. Don't shop here if you need a particular title, but if you want to browse to find something interesting to read then this is the place! Two floors of fun filled pages to search through. The selection changes constantly so come back frequently! read more

Books are not always in the best alphabetical order, so you need time to find what you are looking for. But don't ask the mean old man working behind the counter!!!! He gives you weird looks, argues with the other employees, is bothered by you and makes you feel uncomfortable. There are two older men that work there. The one with the thick head of beautiful white hair and blue eyes is so kind and has always been helpful in the years I've been going. The one I'm talking about is small and has a polished dome. If he is working when I go back. I will rock right out!!! One bad apple........... read more

They have So. Many. Books! This shop has a rare book room, tons of records, and just about any book you can think of.

Same so-called "experts" here as at Tomes. It's game playing and coffee at best.

Recently I visited Booktown Books, a used and rare book store in Grass Valley, California. It was phenomal. There are several booths of books with every genre and rare books for collectors. The the co-op owners operate the store and are very helpful in finding books that I was interested in. They also have vintage art, records, cds, dvds and more. The prices are great. Often some of the owners have great sales for even greater prices. read more