I happened across Century Books right when they opened, and have been back half a dozen times since. Fadi S. summarizes the layout pretty well, but the atmosphere is really exceptional. Humble, unpretentious, but charming in its own way. It's a small, quiet bookstore, with charming owners, a wonderful feeling, and a great selection. Actually, the selection is the best part: the owners have cultivated a fantastic selection of books for browsing (the only real reason to go into a used bookstore). I've found myself incapable of leaving without at least a couple titles each time I've visited. The overall volume is low, but in comparison to a lot of other local bookstores, the number of books that make me pause and read a page is ridiculously high. Excellent prices: anything that isn't labeled, they just look up the price on Amazon and give it to you for that (plus whatever the shipping would cost), so you lose nothing by shopping there as opposed to the internet. My only criticism is that the fiction section is top-heavy on the kind of big, hardback popular thrillers that make me think of the 90s. Looking forward to coming back time and again. read more

I went to a great art show with friends at Century Books. I enjoyed browsing the books afterward and found three great books. The service was also great. read more

Century Books - I found three good children's books in great shape, including one by Eric Carle. - Bookstores Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great gem of a used book store. Owners are very friendly, prices are extremely fair (2-4 used books for the price of 1 new one, SCORE!), their used books are in very good condition, and there's even a room upstairs showcasing art! Despite the enormous quantity of books, how few people read! And if one reads profitably, one would realize how much stupid stuff the vulgar herd is content to swallow every day. -- Voltaire People will read again! ¿(O.o)? read more

This place is amazing. The owner was so sweet and offered my and friend water when we arrived and then when we were thumbing through so books we she even brought us some pillows to sit on. Even beyond the service was the collection of books. While with used bookstores you often don't get a great selection this place has most of the basis covered. Great titles and they're all inexpensive. Total Gem. read more

I went here for the first time with two of my girlfriends yesterday. We were immediately told to make ourselves comfortable and were offered water, chocolates, and seat cushions. The collection of books they had were great and this place took me back to pre-Kindle/pre-iPad times and the experience was quite lovely. The owners were wonderful and genuinely nice. I don't think I've ever been to a bookstore with such a high level of customer service. I'm reluctant about hitting the "post" button because I don't think I could do this place any justice. If you have a chance to check this place out, I would highly recommend it. read more

Such a lovely place! I had not read the reviews before coming to Century Books, and only knew that it was a well-rated used bookstore. Upon entering, the owner immediately apologized for the stacks of books out on floor and offered us cookies and some water. She was super nice and welcoming, and while I didn't take any of the refreshments, I didn't even regard any of the stacks as messy -- it seemed like a normal thing to come across in a genuine bookstore that I hadn't even realized they were there! I had stopped in with a friend to look at their history and food books. I love both, and I was interested to see if they had any cookbooks and also other books that would catch my eye as I'm trying to get back into reading. Quite sadly, as the owner informed us, they had moved from a much larger space, so their displays now were limited and they could not show us the array they had in storage. I had been a little dismayed to hear that, in truth, as I was now inwardly cursing that I had not gone to see them in their prior location -- it sounded like such a haven. I am glad still to have found this, and the owner let us know that they were trying to find a way to accommodate the same as they had in their previous location, including all the book events they had. I am so happy to have visited, and even happier still that my friend and I were able to walk away with books at such reasonable prices. I was also so astounded at the warmth and friendliness that the owner welcomed several people in, greeting them by name! I hope that this bookstore is able to stick around, as I am tired of looking at books online and browsing cold shelves. I am already looking forward to my next visit, which I'm sure will be very soon. read more

Judith and Steve are two lovely people who run an equally charming bookstore. Tucked away in a row of boutiques and salons, Century Books is a magical surprise with a genuine sincerity that I find a lot of other stores lack. You won't be disappointed by what they have--everything ranging from rare philosophy dissertations to vintage children's books to novels that date back to the 1800s. It blows my mind! Judith is just the sweetest person you'll ever meet with unfathomable knowledge on their wide array of books. She'll take the time to help find whatever it is you're looking for (before or after so generously offering you water and a pillow to sit on). Chatting with her is always so pleasant! In short: stop reading the reviews, close your laptop, and get your hiney on over here! read more

Every time I go to see Judith and Steve they are always helpful and ask how I am. And I love reading all the books! I wish I could just stay there all day! Just a little heads up they did move, but is only a couple of stores down. Help this little shop to stay in business. We need more book stores like this! They are helpful, and they are also willing to check if they have a book you want. If they dont have the book, they will try and get it for you. They will even offer you a chair, water and a snack just for being there! Please don't pass up on this little shop! read more

This bookstore is such a joy! They're small, but they don't have any filler books here, so there's tons of good stuff to browse. The atmosphere is great, the owners are super-friendly, the books are nicely priced, the store is clean and comfortable -- going here just makes me happy every time. They have a nice selection of books in many categories, but in particular they have an amazing section on Britain. If you have any interest in Shakespeare, Jane Austen, British history, baking scones -- you name it, they've got ten or twenty books on it. read more

So happy to see this bookstore. The little book store is something that we need to cherish and preserve. I love perusing old books. I love the smell in these old book stores. read more

Judith and Steve are hospitable, personable and just absolutely accommodating. I walked into this book store to kill time and found myself just captivated by how passionate the couple is about helping fellow booker lovers. The experience I had was an pleasant one and I will most definitely frequent this place. read more

A truly special place run by delightful, hard-working neighbors who not only stock a wide array of books, ranging from the fascinatingly unusual to the main stream classics, they also host a myriad of cultural, educational, and arts related events showcasing the knowledge, skills, and talents of local scholars, musicians, and artists. Support the neighborhood! Support small business owners! But mostly, experience a world of literature, creativity, and community in this warm, wonderful book shop. read more

I've tried 3 times to check this store out... Each and every time they have not been open at the posted hours. The first time, it was after 1pm, and a handwritten note in the window said they be open @ 3pm. Yesterday and today we're similar, I arrived after their post hours say they should be open, only to find a handwritten note that they would be open 1-2 hours later. I'd imagine the books inside to be great and the staff a pleasure, but this one point seems to be utter mismanagement to me. Other bookstores in the area: Book Alley (on Colorado) and The Battery (on Mission in South Pas) have great staffs, selection and consistent hours, you would be better off trying either of them first. read more

Came in the day before my birthday , immediately on walking in the door Judith greeted me happy birthday and knew my name too. Mind you, she had only met me once before, and it must have been two or three months since then. It really shows the extra care and customer service this business has. Also, for my birthday, I received a book I had been wanting a very long time. It is a very nice one and it was compliments of Judith & Steve. I have never been treated this good in a bookstore. Don't get me wrong, I love my other book shops and the people there are wonderful friends as well, but you must have a look at Century Books if you haven't already. All of the great classics can be spotted, Homer, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Goethe. You also have a great science and engineering section with Ray Kurzweil, Stephen Hawkins, Feynman, etc. Intellectuals, this is your spot. Right now they are having a huge sale. Great titles for as low as $2 to $4 that will enhance your mind and library collection. read more

I love this place! Judy and Steve are so amazing. I met them a few times and they have a large selection of books. It's just such a calming store to read or grab a book bring it home. Love love love them! read more

This is my new favorite bookstore. I've visited three times in one week and walked away with an armful of books each time. The owners are very good at providing recommendations and they will go to lengths to help find the book you want. I love their selection of British Literature and History. read more

I started coming to this bookstore near the end of last year and would come by to visit any chance I got. It's a very cozy and quaint bookstore. They have numerous books on the shelf and stacked on top of each other. The books are very affordable and in really great conditions. Judith was so so accommodating and always asked how I was doing and offered water and snacks. I absolutely recommend checking this bookstore out if you are around or looking for a new bookstore to check out! read more

I just had the best bookstore experience of my life. This place sparkled with the glitter of Judith's personality

This is such a cute little book shop! I went in yesterday for the first time and Judith was just the sweetest! She greeted me when i walked in and even offered me chocolate. I noticed she approached every single person as they walked in to see if they needed help or even a chair to sit on. She was very approachable and helped answer my questions and updated me about the books i was looking for. She took her time when I (and other customers) were discussing books with her. Loved my experience there! read more

Wow these people are just the nicest store owners ever! I stopped by just to browse, on my walk. Immediately I was greeted, offered water, shown around the store, everything. Normally I shy away from overly eager retail clerks, but this woman was so genuine I felt very welcome! It made me want to buy something, to keep these good people in business (I know it can be hard with bookstores nowadays!). However I have to finish my current book before buying another. When I do, I promise I will be shopping here! read more

Plainly and simply, the best book shop in Pasadena. The owners Steve and Judith are the nicest and most wonderful people. There are no words to describe the welcoming environment of this book shop. From the most incredible selection of books, to live music, to an art gallery, and to much more... I am a book Hunter, I know every book shop in Pasadena and this is by far the best. I love this place!!! Art and music every Saturday night. read more

GREAT find--very thankful to Yelp for turning me onto this gem of a used bookstore. As previous reviewers said, it is indeed well curated. It is smallish but full to the brim of great books on every topic. The owner was incredibly nice, helpful, and friendly. Good prices. I will definitely go back, hopefully regularly. read more

Just had a wonderful experience here. Ive always passed by, but this time my kids and I decided to venture in. Such a beautiful and charming place. The owners are so lovely and welcoming. Will be coming back soon! Such a wide array of books. read more

Absolutely the kindest people I have ever met. I happened to be walking by -and have never met a bookstore I could successfully pass by- so I popped in. One of the owners, Judith, immediately offered me a glass of water. Where in the world does any store do that? Above and beyond friendliness from the start. When I explained I was looking for Harry Potter books for my niece because her school library copy is ripped and torn, she not only helped me find them, gave me a discount and then threw in an extra free copy to donate to the school. Truly wonderful, generous human beings who deserve your support. If you're buying books, please go visit these kind souls. read more

In a rare moment of perfect synchronicity I happened to stumble across this little bookstore one evening while headed to dinner on Green St. This is a truly wonderful store packed with an eclectic stock of used books and artwork. The owner Judith is such a sweetheart, full of old world class and grace, and along with her husband Steve they have put together what has since become my favorite used bookstore in the city. Every time I have been there since I have been consistently impressed by their collection. So many people stop by, and I often see the same regulars who come to hang out with Judith and Steve and check out selections from the collection. Saturday evenings they have live jazz in the loft space and often host readings and lectures. Bear in mind that this is a family run used bookstore and though their collection is rather extensive they may not have every book or novel on their shelves that those accustomed to Borders might expect. This is not Borders and thank heavens that it isn't. It's not a corporate brick and mortar staffed with indifferent part-time clerks - this is an old school used bookstore with a living soul for which I am thankful. Too bad places like this are rare these days. read more

My friends and I stumbled upon this hidden treasure and I love love love it!! We met Judith and she is such a sweet person with amazing stories! From the moment we walked in and when we left, Judith treated us like long lost friends. Century Bookshop has a beautiful selection of gently used books to collectibles. I bought three cookbooks because one can never have enough cookbooks. The best part about buying books here is that Judith offered to cover the book jacket in Mylar hitch is what libraries use to protect the books they lend. Along with the impeccable customer service, this little bookshop offers a tiny Albert Einstein nook and an art gallery in the loft upstairs. The prices are fair and the collection is excellent, the best part about this bookshop is that it's atmosphere reminds me of a dream I once had about a magical bookshop so I had a hard time leaving. Lastly, the bookshop offers free jazz concerts and lectures so I am ready to go back and spend a few hours getting lost in a book. read more

Lovely bookstore with fantastic carefully-handpicked selection of books in a variety of subjects. Judith (the owner) was super attentive and polite, offering me water and cushions in case I wanted to sit on the floor and read. They also have a mini Einstein museum in the back of the store. Lovely place that I hope to visit again soon. read more

In a time when bookstores are few in number, I'm glad to live near Century Books. Their History and Science collections are first rate. Saturday nights live jazz with wine and cheese. A great community has been fostered here and we are lucky to have them in Pasadena. Store owners Judith and Steve are also a delight. read more

I have been to all the bookstores in Pasadena and this is by far my favorite. This bookshop rocks! A very tasteful selection with remarkably low prices - one might wonder if they had fallen off the back of a lorry if they weren't all in such good condition. The owners are very helpful and have no airs about them. read more

This place just opened a few weeks ago. I saw it today while I was passing by and decided to take a look. It's owned by a very nice and friendly couple and they really seem motivated by their love of books. The husband is also a painter and you can see his paintings on the second floor (they're quite beautiful). The bookstore is pretty small but they have a very interesting and eclectic collection of books and they're quite cheap. They also mentioned that they were planning on having authors come every few weeks. I personally bought a paperback copy of The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo for $4 and a very beautiful and old (1950) hardcover copy of Albert Einstein's Out of My Later Years for $8. read more

I love books. Electronic books have nothing on the feel of a used book in your hand. With that being said I love this bookstore. It's a charming little bookstore on green street and the owners are always so nice and sweet! They help you find whatever you are looking for. They have a great selection and I have always found what I was looking for. On the weekend they often have events like book readings or live music. We were there last night and they had jazz and were serving wine. Cheese and crackers and pie. They also have a room showcasing different art upstairs and they exhibit different pieces every month. It's fun and you can purchase books for cheap! read more

Amazing bookstore, owners would go the extra mile to help you find what you need. Prices are great too! Highly recommended

I love it here since I first came to this bookstore. Judith is so sweet and I had a nice time there. She made me feel comfortable there and helped me so much on finding the book I was looking for. She welcomed every customer and helped everyone as much as she can. She did not try to ask me to leave when they were closing. She even offered me chocolates when I was reading a book there. The books are very affordable and there is a gallery upstairs. They also have an event every Saturday night. read more

We felt welcomed as soon as we stepped into the store. The owners were extremely nice- offering pillows, chairs or water to all the customers in there. It is a small store, but we found a few business-related books that we were looking for. There is a small art exhibit upstairs and live music weekly. For the books we were looking at, they averaged about $5-$6. I highly recommend stopping by to see if they have what you need and to experience impeccable customer service. read more

What makes a bookstore the "best" in a City? The selection? The atmosphere? No, it's the staff! The owners are not only beyond knowledgeable but will try their damnedest to get you any and all books even if they're not presently on their shelves... (Can't count the times I've been in Book Alley or other book sellers in Pasadena and felt completely ignored when needing help.) Plus, they're on the cutest block of Green Street east of Lake! Century is always my first visit when looking for a title -- make it yours, too! read more

My husband and I , checked this place out on the way back from the restaurant located a block away. This book store is not only magical, but it is filled with the positive vibes, great music, and the Hungarian couple working there is the nicest couple you can meet very helpful and friendly ! I wish we lived closer, that way I could go there all the time ! read more

Nestled away on a quiet tree-lined street in Pasadena, this book store epitomizes the cozy memories most of us share of bookstores past. Lucky for us, this one still stands! And I'm doubtful you could find a nicer book finding experience. We're always excited to check out what's happening at Century Books. The owners are exceptionally friendly and they host plenty of great events. Whenever we swing by, we buy a handful of books. Not only because they have a great selection of treasures, but also because we want to support this extraordinary small business. Hopefully we can all enjoy this gem for years to come. read more

I didn't know this mom and pop book store existed until I happened to walk past on my way to a restaurant one week ago, and impulsively stopped in. I'm so happy I did!! The owner Judith was so sweet and hospitable and I felt at home here immediately. I am not the most avid reader but I was so charmed I knew I wouldn't leave without buying something. When I went to pay, I realized her prices were way too reasonable and that I needed to add more books to my pile, so I went back and browsed some more. Tonight (only 8 days after my first visit), I came back for more and it was like visiting an old friend! I don't see myself going anywhere else without giving this place a chance first. read more

What a great place! I found an old 1970s Hobbit Play there for a few bucks, which landing right into my Tolkien collection. The owners are so nice, they even helped me research other used bookstores to see if they had a copy of the item I was originally looking for. Don't go to Retail bookstores, stop in here and help this new place get established. read more

As all bookshops do, this quaint little hideout along Green Street beckoned to me like a familiar friend from a distant land. I went one Saturday night and was warmly welcomed by the owners. They served cheese and wine while a saxophonist jazzed up the place with some beebop tunes. The books are semi-organized and displayed on the ground floor while there is a loft that holds up a small reading nook and an art gallery. This combination of great service, a substantial book selection, live music and art always does it for me. I highly recommend it. :-) read more