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    Changing Hands Bookstore

    4.6 (232 reviews)
    ModerateBookstores
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Changing Hands Bookstore

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    First Draft bar
    Hannah Z.

    Changing Hands combines everything I love in one place: a workspace + bookstore + bar + community event center! For the past year, I've been telling my friends and family to go to Changing Hands, insisting that my coworkers and I meet here rather than at a coffee shop to get work done. Parking is easy too (sometimes they have valet though, which confuses me lol) This is a great inclusive space that works to bring people together based on interest -- one time, I was getting work done in their working area, but I had to move and sit at the First Draft bar because they were prepping the work area to host a poetry night. I got to do work while people read their poetry aloud (as an arts lover, it was beautiful seeing people feel comfortable and vulnerable with their community, so touching)! They have a bulletin board near the back too where they staple up community events and have printed local newspapers (awesome for people who like to venture). I also love books, and their selection is awesome, everything is easy to find. I bought my friend a journal from here and she loves it (I might just have to get myself one now). If you like to buy books, make sure to get that bonus card and fill out the 10 squares so you can get a discount! You can trade in books too for some store credit.

    Heidi M.

    I absolutely love Changing Hands Bookstore, especially the Phoenix location because they also have the First Draft Book Bar, so when I'm attending a book event, my husband can tag along and have a drink while I'm living my best life! I love that they carry a big selection of indie author books, and the service is always top-notch! They also offer a ton of other gift-like items. Definitely stop in if you are a book lover. You won't be disappointed!

    Inside
    Amy R.

    While in Phoenix AZ we stopped into this fabulous bookstore! What a BRILLIANT idea to have a bar/cafe attached to the bookstore. First draft where you can get some light bites named after books ....Horton hears a hummus, Moby Dick sandwich (tuna melt) you get the idea! Sit & sip on wine, beers, cider or NA drinks. The book store has a great selection of new and used books, as well as novelty gifts. It's not just a bookstore it's a fun experience! Such a unique spot that I wish we had in my city!

    Kathleen K.

    Oh my where do I start, shame on me for all those years that I spent @ that we won't say the name of the chain bookstore SHHHHH! So no longer because thanks to my fellow Yelpers I found Changing Hands & all I can say is OMG! We came here after breakfast, different location...but FYI next time we will be doing The Toasted Owl before hand ;-) As soon as you walk in the first time you're just in awe, what an amazing bookstore yet so much more! You don't even know where to start... so being that tomorrow is my Aunts birthday & there's a huge selection of cards, bam...my hubby finds one with bumble bees, well my Aunt has a thing with bees therefore I must get it!!! This is a very good start, then a couple aisles over there's a children's section with so many good quality toys, wooden Melissa & Doug, etc. our son chose a kaleidoscope ... very good quality made out of metal not card board! After about an hour or so we were only able to go through the one half of the store being that our son was getting restless with his autism & the store was starting to get crowded on a Sunday late morning @ 11:30 am so we decided to head towards the check out area. Well once you get the check out area you might as well give yourself another 30 minutes ... lol! They had a glass case with some handmade beaded bracelets & such, just so many more little goodies to browse through to buy! We had so much fun discovering this store & all they have to offer....trust me, you will also plus you'll be supporting your local businesses!

    Jennifer Lynne Barnes Book Event
    Laura M.

    What a great bookstore! I took my daughter for the Jennifer Lynne Barnes event and book signing. We had never been to this bookstore and can't believe how cool it was! They sell new and used books, have fun merchandise for sale, has a large event space in the back, and has a bar called the "First Draft" where you can order beer, wine, coffee, tea, and small bites. Everyone was very friendly. Such a great place, looking forward to going back.

    Elicia N.

    Great community stop, their tuna fish sandwich is great. I appreciate their keeping the tuna cold for me. Great community area for groups to meet and lots of goodies to keep yourself entertained.

    Inside
    Vince P.

    Changing Hands is one of the premier independent bookstores in the AZ area. This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. To get here, they are located in between two eateries: The Toasted Owl and Tesota. Inside, they have a very spacious store with a superb selection of different books and even a draft bar! You can definitely spend a couple hours here just perusing everything they have. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Prices are very reasonable and they have a book that can suit anyone's reading palette. Come stop by to support and grab a book!

    More cookbooks. Grace Lin had a book signing at Changing Hands too.
    Joyce W.

    "It's always better to have too much to read than not enough." ― Ann Patchett Changing Hands is Arizona's leading independent bookstore, offering new and used books, unique gifts, toys, and more than 300 author events every year since 1974. I love books. I've even written two books (link in my bio)! As for Changing Hands, they're an amazing bookstore that often hosts book signings and other fun events. On top of books, they also sell some really cool items. With the holidays coming up, you can find some fun and unique items here from oracle cards to incense holders, knit cardigans to crystal sun catchers. Want some cool earrings? Need some holiday ornaments? Come here! You'll truly find some interesting finds for everyone on your shopping list. Support independent; support local!

    Madelynn F.

    Books? Coffee? Alcohol? Yes!!!! This place is absolutely perfect perfection. I Popped in here after seeing a few posts and I cannot wait to go back. They have a great book selection (loved the book summaries), Sticker selection, and other knickknacks/odds and ends that are book related. Parking was a little hectic/limited.

    Nicole R.

    This is a really cool, independent bookstore that also has a bar inside and tons of seating! They host a bunch of different events too, but I haven't gone to any yet. There's a great selection of reasonably priced new and used books, as well as some other random items. I've gotten a few small games from here that I really liked.

    Persian Cookbook
    John S.

    First Visit First Impressions This bookstore has the best selection of artsy books and cookbooks. I love it. They even carry Seattle Chocolates about 6-8 varieties. Friendly staff. They got a bar next door. This was a recommendation from the a staff member from Nomad's in Uptown Plaza which is clothing store and gifts. This is the kind of bookstore that you can get lost in different kinds of cool books. Hard to find cookbooks are here. This is a must visit for the bookworm snob!

    Janet L.

    I finally made it! I've been wanting to go to this location for a while, but I live closer to the Tempe location, so I go there a lot more. However, after this visit, I am considering meeting my friends here! This would be the half way point between me and them! It's more compacted than Tempe, but it's super organized! The lighting was good. They also have a book bar in there perfect for book clubs, chess, homework, and card games. I will absolutely go back again.

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    22 days ago

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    23 days ago

    The staff are so kind, and they are amazing supporters of our community. Great selection of books and a great bar too!

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    23 days ago

    Wonderful place with a cozy interior. The coffee shop is great but the food options truly suck. I love this bookstore and their selection

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Changing Hands Bookstore

    Do you buy used books?

    We don’t buy but we do trade. https://www.changinghands.com/page/usedbooks

    Do they offer book binding services (i.e. Coil Bind)?

    Hi Matthew, Changing Hands does not offer bookbinding services. In a Google search I found several… Read more

    Do they have WiFi?

    Yes. Ask anyone at the First Draft Book Bar for the password.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Changing Hands Bookstore

    It's called The First Draft Book Bar, and though we didn't partake, the selection looked amazing.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Truly a cute little bookstore-cozy, charming, and the kind of place you want to wander through for…read morea while. Patrick, who helped us, was amazing and super engaging. Being from the Midwest, we ended up in a lighthearted, fun conversation about Fargo, which made the visit feel even more welcoming at first. Unfortunately, that experience shifted pretty quickly. During our conversation, the owner came up and told us she could hear us from the back of the store and that we needed to keep it down because a workshop was going on. Fair enough, but it was the delivery that was surprising. She explicitly said, "Because I own the bookstore, I can be rude." That comment really changed the tone. It felt like casual conversation (even a little laughter) wasn't welcome (unless participating in the workshop, by all means join workshop after Happy Hour and be rambunctious while customers are shopping.) The atmosphere suddenly shifted to less inviting and I wished I didn't spend my money. It's disappointing, because the space itself and interactions with staff like Patrick are genuinely great. I just wish the overall experience matched the charm of the bookstore.

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    I am usually not in this area a lot, but my daughter & I wanted to go check out this bookstore for…read moresome used books so we took the drive down. When we arrived, I realized I remembered this spot from when I was a kid, I just hadn't been back since I was younger. This spot is absolutely STUFFED with books, comic books, VHS tapes and more. You could spend quite a long time wandering around looking at all of the books they have to offer. It can be slightly overwhelming especially if you are looking for something specific as there wasn't really any clear guidance on where to find certain sections. We still had a lot of fun though wandering around and seeing what we could find. If you are looking for the prices, they are written in pencil on the inside of the books. You can find a mixture of mostly used books along with some new books. They have a cute shop cat that you can sometimes spot wandering around, or asleep at the front. The woman who was working the register the day we visited was friendly! They also had a cart out-front with a number of books that were free to grab. There is plenty of parking out-front.

    Found this little gem in Phoenix last week when I was on the hunt for a used copy of Song of…read moreSolomon. I called and they said they have the 1984 edition for $6, which was a great price. Once I was got to the store, I had to explore. I think that if one were to regularly visit Books, he/she would find some rare editions and other gems. Also, they had what looked like reproductions of banned book announcements posted around the store: all were of classic novels that we can't imagine not having access to as students. (See photos: Charlotte's Web, Huck Finn, Fahrenheit 451...) They were quite entertaining, in a disturbing way. They had the effect of making me feel so grateful that past efforts of censorship in the US had failed. In 2024, this is still a real threat. Tiny stores like this one are real treasures. Let's keep them in business.

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    How haven't a written a review of this place!…read more I love an establishment that presents itself as a home for the community. I walk in to Bookman's and often find displays that are Arizona focused in a way that makes you feel and know this place is home town friendly. No big box impersonal feels here! I frequent this store and stop in just because I'm passing by. As an avid reader, I read about 50 books a year, Bookman's is a great place to buy paper books at a cheaper price. My favorite part about local shops like Bookman's is how they don't shy away from displaying banned books all year long! I have to read at least one banned books a month! There's gotta be something in the banned books they don't want us to know and I'm determined to read as many as possible. Interestingly enough, this store is full of "entertainment treasures" too. Music, musical instruments and even gaming equipment can be purchased here. The only thing missing is a social lounge with a coffee bar. We'd probably go even more often if there were a coffee bar inside. Return Factor: 100%

    Changing Hands Bookstore - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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