We just stumbled over this cute bookstore while walking around in downtown Riverside. It has a cool sign and a charming look from outside. It's a decent sized store, very well organized with a great book selection. Prices are a bit high, but everything is in good condition. They close either at 6 pm or 9 pm, check their schedule. Nice, cozy vibe. Customer service is good, we enjoyed chatting with the clerk working here. Oh, and we unlocked the mystery behind the hundreds owl figurines, decor, drawings (they even have a cute X-mas tree decorated only with owls ornaments!). Customers brought a few and they never stopped, the collection kept growing. Got owls decor? Check! Got decent books? Check! read more

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i've been going here for years, but haven't in about a year! they remodeled it and it's so welcoming to all age groups! you can also trade in books you no longer need!! i love it! read more

Downtowne Bookstore - they have a cute little poet tree where anyone can write a poem, thought it was so cute!!! - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

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The place is located in downtown riverside, plenty of books inside with old, creaky floorboards. The lady was pretty nice and was willing to help me find an author I was looking for. Plenty of genres in here since it's near UC Riverside and students were looking for textbooks. Lots of childrens, young adult, horror, romance, history, arts, contemporary, and politics. The day I went someone donated a large collection of Donald Trump biographies and the lady who manned the store didn't know how to react since all of us thought that someone either became disillusioned or really wanted to spread some Donald Trump love around. Metered street parking/garage lot nearby and they take card. read more

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Newly renovated and woman author owned-- love the vibe of the place mixing old and new books. The huge book chair in the corner, hosting sign language courses, and book signings... just a great small business in Riverside. It's nostalgic walking through the aisles - truly a gem! There are also so many delightful thoughtfully curated gift ideas in there. Will definitely be a place I visit when I return to Riverside. The outdoor reading nook is also a cozy place to drink a latte and get lost in a book. read more

Workers are nice. The shop use to be cozy and now seems kitschy and a book boutique. Not so much about books but other related stuff with prices to match. Trying to find authors is hard as they separate them in genres but most are misplaced. I found sci-fi in romance and romance in mystery so it depends on who's shelving to find the right books. Old owners said all trade in receipt would be honored by new owner which is false so anyone who has old credit is out of luck. Won't be going back as there are other used book stores that have better selections and can find the authors I want. read more

I visited this beautiful store during the first part of November 2023. We visit bookstores across the country. This bookstore is beautiful. I was able to have a conversation with the owner and she explained how the last owners were retiring and the beautiful story behind the owl theme. Wonderful store! read more

Love this bookstore. Such a cute and cozy atmosphere. I love the renovations and novel aesthetics. Customer service is always so great and helpful. As a lover of books, this is my go-to spot in Riverside. Just went in the other day for a children's book and ended up getting a couple more. Always happens. Love the community outreach and can't wait to attend the hosted events. read more

This bookstore has a lot of character to it. From artworks on the wall and at the end of shelves, there are so many owls watching you so you don't misbehave. The lady who runs it and the other staff are kind and quite helpful. It is a used bookstore, so you can't find everything, but you can find many titles that may be out of print elsewhere. I always see books on automobiles, machines, and cooking. There are also science fiction titles there that you might not be able to find anywhere else in the world. Just ask the lady and she will point you in the right direction. Don't be scared to go in through the walkway and the door. It's really cute but well organized. read more

Very charming and full to the brim with character. Good selection of old books too. Will happily visit again!

this place is a gem. sooo many used books. I love the children's book section and all of the owl decor around the rest of the shop. man at the register was personable and knowledgeable. read more

This bookstore is a little hidden in this area but it's super worth it! They have a lot of cheap titles and everything is organized super well. The woman who owns it is really sweet too read more

Love Nadia and her book store! Everyone is super helpful and sweet that works here and she has a large selection of fairly priced books. If she doesn't have it she will order it for you. If you love books I highly recommend this hidden gem! read more

This bookstore is so quaint and fun. There is lots to look at there and many deals to be had. In addition to a great book selection, I have gotten deals on vintage postcards and vintage fruit labels that I bought to frame and put on my wall. Unfortunately all the cute owl knick knacks are not for sale, but they are fun to look at. read more

This is a cool, old fashioned little bookstore right behind Mission Inn. Although they are used books, they are in good condition. The prices are very reasonable as well. I love the creaky green wooden floors. I'm certain the owner loves owls, because you can spot them throughout the bookstore read more

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I spent a pleasant hour or so browsing through the stacks of this charming bookstore, and left with some unexpected finds. Wonderful staff, too. This is exactly what a used bookstore should be like. I only wish I'd had a bit more time to spend here. read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Helpful notice on reshelving - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

Time to give the Downtowne Bookstore a 4th star! Having paid several more visits to here and having chatted with the owners on more than one occasion - I think they whole heartedly deserve the bump up. Some say that books are an outdated medium, and bookstores themselves are harder and harder to find these days; and thats why a place like the Downetown Bookstore in Riverside is so important. Those of you who have read my review and those of others on here get the gist of the place so I don't need to repeat the majority of what everyone else has already said. The important thing is that its a wonderful little treasure where you can find gently used books on a variety of subjects both fiction and non-fiction. The owners are wonderful to spend time with and talk to. If they dont have what you are looking for they are always happy to point you in the right direction. The prices are very reasonable. No.. you are not going to find rock bottom prices on used books like you would find on amazon.com. But think about it - those prices are offset by the shipping costs.. and then you have to wait sometimes as long as two weeks to get your books. This place represents a wonderful compromise between selection, price and convenience; and you get the personal touch you won't find online or at those big chain bookstores (if you can even find them these days!) If your in the area and still enjoy the look, feel and smell of books as well as the experience of reading them, I highly recommend you stroll down the little breezeway just off Main St across rom The Upper Crust and pay them a visit! read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

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Cozy little book shop! Affordable used books. I got a bunch of children's books for less than a $1 each. It's located in downtown Riverside, beautiful area! Very homely feel to the place. A must visit spot for any book lover. read more

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I love this little bookstore, and I have always looked forward to visiting any time I'm in the area. From the neat sign on Main Street to the walkway for the shop entrance to the smell of used books -- you can't beat the atmosphere of this book lover's paradise. I love used book shopping, but typically in most stores, you find yourself digging through tons of horrible books to find one or two gems. That's certainly not the case with this shop! I can honestly say this is one of the best collections of used books I've ever seen. There's a broad assortment of horror, sci-fi, school textbooks, biographies, and religious books. Whatever your interests, Downtowne Books has you covered. The lady working there (I'm assuming the owner) was extremely friendly and knew exactly where everything was located in the store. Her memory and knowledge when it came to the latest books that had been brought in and the ones that had just sold was pretty incredible. She was a huge help. If you're a book lover, you will be a lover of this store. read more

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Fun and quirky, has options of every genre of book, and the owners are very nice, I fell in love immediately read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

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I absolutely love this bookstore!!! Staff is super kind. This is the most used bookstore feeling bookstore I've ever been in. Almost like It's from a movie. It's perfect, the atmosphere is perfect. Also as a huge bonus they sell handmade face masks. I buy one every single time I go. read more

If you love an old fashion book store with a classic Harry Potter/Narnia aesthetic, this is the place for you. It's rare to find a bookstore like this these days. I found some great stuff here. read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

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Love this place! Always find a great used book or 2. They have a little bit of everything. Sometimes you really have to look but you can find real bargains here. read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Cheap books this way! - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

Love this book store. A great select of used books for personal. I highly recommend coming to look at the books. There are books from mystery, to kids books to diet to Nora Roberts and many other authors to choose from. All books are at a reasonable prices. Location is behind the famous Mission Inn Hotel and Spa on Main Street. If you want a good deal on books, this is the store for you to buy from. As mentioned before, there is a nice select of children's books. They also have a lot of different sized owl stuff on display (unfortunately not for sale the owls). read more

Fun bookstore to browse around in, but I didn't find a huge selection of books to purchase. The shelves were well organized, but quite dusty. This place feels very homey with little trinkets scattered around the store. It's worth a gander, but not my favorite used bookstore in the area. read more

Love, love, love this bookstore! I love books and used bookstores, so this store is no exception! Their customer service is exemplary! The lady behind the counter is very knowledable about what books they have in stock, especially those pertaining to school/English class reading lists. They may carry more than one of each book, but because they carry so many titles, they only keep one copy of each book on the shelves. I frequently forget this, failing to ask for more, as I often buy more than one of the same title. They also have a list of popular books they buy back, so if you have any books to sell, be sure to ask for that list. They will also provide you with a parking token, granted you come to shop in their store. I either ask for an extra token (when checking out), to be used for the following visit, or sometimes park right in front, taking my chances & running inside to get a token, returning to feed the meter. I've even shopped for more than an hour, and was given another token to replenish the meter. I also love the way the store decor is as well! For kids (or kids at heart) who like fantasy, I bet they could picture themselves being in a downtown quaint shoppe, right in the middle of a Harry Potter novel! This store is clearly an asset to the community! read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

I've been here a few when I was a little girl and started coming back about three years later. It has an amazing cozy vibe. When you walk in, you suddenly safe safe. Very neat selection and wide variety of children and teen books. There's also some chairs to sit and read in (which i always wanted to do!) the lady i believe is the owner is a very kind and helpful woman. Very hospitable! read more

Was just there today! What a cute place with an old feel! I'll be back in as soon as I can!

What are you looking for? Not quite sure.. but you've got a feeling a good book will come with a little seeking & you are correct. Ask once inside if you need direction but trust your instincts because a little wandering here will lead you to the answers you've long been wondering. read more

I GOT LOCKED INSIDE OF THIS STORE AND COULDNT GET OUT. When the owner showed up she was pissed....AT ME. Her employee locked me inside of the store! Imagine going into a bookstore on a Sunday, rooting through the books, nose deep, world around you muted. You walk up the register to be checked out only to find that no one is there. Not only is no one there, you've been locked inside of the store. Forgotten. Trapped. That's exactly what happened to me yesterday. I'd been dying to visit this cute little bookstore hidden off in the corner but My life is so busy with work and school that I hadn't found the time. Yesterday I finally made it. To start, I walked in and greeted the cashier, a younger man seated at the front of the store behind the counter. He was nice. Not extremely friendly, but nice. The store was cute. Shabby chic is how I'd describe it. Well lit, pretty clean, nothing fancy. Anywho, I was there maybe about 45 minutes, (the store isn't really all that big) & walked up to the front to check out. I rang the little bell up at the counter waited, No answer. Again, rang the little bell. No answer. I yelled.....HELLO. No answer. At this point I sat the books down and tried to leave. Door locked! I ran around the store searching for an exit. NOTHING. There was a basement at the back of the store that was pitch dark & super scary. I decided against stepping foot down to find out what was down there. After about two minutes of freaking out I finally decided to call the police department. About 10 minutes later, the police department calls me back to say that they had located the owner, she was about 5 minutes away walking distance, and she was on her way to let me out. I sat there for 30 minutes listening to the door handle jiggle as customers walked up and tried enter the store. Coincidentally right before the owner walked up, the male employee strolled in back from lunch. He was completely shocked when he walked in and I was there sitting. Right behind him was the store owner. She walked in severely irritated huffing & puffing, rushed right past me with no greeting or apology and went straight for her surveillance system. I stood there waiting to be acknowledged, not necessarily wanting my butt to be kissed, but just acknowledged. A simple "hello" to the person that was locked inside of your store at no fault of her own for nearly an hour would have sufficed BUT. Nothing. She didn't even look in my direction. She huffed and puffed as she sat behind her desk watching footage (maybe to make sure I hadn't taken anything) and never said one word to me. Needless to say I will not be back. The prices weren't really "used book" prices anyway. The owner is rude. Well at least she was to me. To answer the, "How could you not know he had left" question, Bookstores are usually quiet so I wasn't alarmed when I didn't hear anyone as I looked through the books. I thought maybe he'd gone in the back or was in another part of the store straightening up, plus I was to occupied with looking for a book to notice. I guess my advice would be.....Be careful when you're here on slow days. You might get locked inside lol. Happy hunting fellow bookworms read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California

Love this little gem!! I always find something classic and special when I come in here. Great little nick-nacks to browse thru and just overall homey vibe. Wish they had a little more room to sit and lounge a bit, so it's usually a quick in and out visit! read more

Lived locally my whole life and just found this shop. When I walked in, I fell in love. I believe the woman I met was the owner. She was living my dream..sitting listening relaxing music surrounded by books. She was friendly and we exchanged thoughts about true crime books. I'll be back to support this local business for sure. read more

Located a block from the Mission Inn & down an alley, this was probably the best find our recent excursion to downtown Riverside. Really nice & friendly staff and a good collection of books and a lot of ambience made browsing and buying a real treat. I was also particularly impressed by their theatre section and biographies. I will never come to this area of town again without stopping in. There's even a bookstore cat! read more

The place was great. Friendly staff. Lots of selections of books. I would go back.When I went inside I was greeted with a friendly smile and a hello. Great location and easy to find. read more

Cool used bookstore with interesting selections and helpful customer service. They have some Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese language books in addition to works in many other categories. You'll be greeted not only by one of the employees, but by the smell of books. They had a nice bookmark selection and my friend purchased one for me for .50. Great place to check out. read more

This is hands down the best, friendliest bookstore in town. Nadia, the owner, is so knowledgeable and kind. If they don't have something in stock, they can order it or you can buy it from them on Amazon. Check them out, you'll be glad you did. read more

This bookstore is a hidden gem! The prices here are super reasonable and the staff is always very nice! I really enjoy how this bookstore looks, the feeling you get going in there, and also the smell of all the books (if you are a book lover like me then you know what I am talking about). I have been going to this bookstore for years and will continue to do so (: read more

As an avid literary fanatic, and thoroughly obsessive reader, I blow through books very very quickly. But I'm also a collector. So I love hunting for books. I love stepping into Downtowne Bookstore and breathing in the old musty pages, bringing that warm comforting feeling up from my feet and wrapping around my heart. The tingles of anticipation... What will I find today?... What will I read tomorrow?.... What will I learn at the end of those precious pages?... There is an abundance of written-word-wonders waiting patiently on the shelves. The staff is so friendly and helpful, they have no problem searching through their records to try to find that one out of print book you've been searching for. They don't always find it but they sure do try. The ONLY reason this shop doesn't get five stars from me is because of the lack of a comprehensive first edition/rare section. Since I collect that's what I want, ya know? Ew. I sound really pretentious. I swear I'm not! Really!!! This place is amazing. Go. Read. Get some hot tea in the middle of winter. Curl up with a good find. read more

Wow! What a wide variety of books! This is my go-to place for selling my books and finding some treasures along the way. Their policy for selling books is store credit, as good as cash for anything in the store. They trade at the rate of $1 per paperback and $2 per hardback. I love how Downtowne Bookstore is tucked neatly in the rear of its building off the Main Street pedestrian walkway. It is located between Mission Inn and the Convention Center, and it's not difficult to find. And, when you do find it, you'll be happy to spend a good amount of time searching their wares. Don't forget to check the front case by the cashier. I've discovered they carry some very fascinating books on esoteric subjects there. Recommended to all bibliophiles. read more

When you finally get here, you're in for a treat. The entrance is easy to miss (a signboard on Main St, which you can see here: http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_R_used06.43019ec.html). Also, a friend of mine insists that there's two floors, but I never saw the other floor - only the main one. Loads of used books, very well categorized. A huge cookbook section too, which took me by surprise - I thought cookbooks were for keeps! Bookshelves that go up to the ceiling - but don't worry about things being out of reach, they have stepladders and stools at every aisle. Prices are penciled in on the flyleaf of the book. I nabbed an edition of "A Wizard of Earthsea" that I've been hunting for FOREVER, and all for the low low price of $6. (Because of this, I will always remember Downtowne Bookstore for giving me the used bookstore bug.) I've managed to get good deals on books for my college classes - call to check first. Sure, you could buy online, but sometimes the shipping just isn't worth it. This bookstore probably won't have your calculus textbook, but they'll probably have Charlotte Brontë. read more

I was in the area & decided to check this store out. It was a fully stocked store & I found some books. However the price is a little high in my opinion for used paperbacks so I only bought 1 book. Kinda disappointed. read more

Downtowne Bookstore - Front of the entrance to the bookstore. - Bookstores Near Me - Riverside, California