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    Excelsior Bay Books

    4.8 (8 reviews)
    InexpensiveBookstores

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

    I love this place. Great selection, good prices, and amazing location. Grab a book and a cup of coffee and then walk to the lake to read it.

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    13 years ago

    This book store is such a gem! Awesome books and gifts as well as a very helpful and knowledgable staff. I have spent hours here!

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    Comma, a bookshop

    Comma, a bookshop

    4.6(12 reviews)
    12.4 miLinden Hills

    The staff here are super friendly and helpful. It was my second stop on the Indie Bookstore…read morePassport Tour. I loved the location of the store; there were tons of cute shops to poke in and check out in the area. I found the book club offerings here interesting as well. The book selection included a good mix of nonfiction, fiction, and new releases. There was one lone chair if you wanted to sit and look at a book before purchasing.

    Comma is a retail bookstore in Minneapolis occupying a footprint of, I don't know, maybe 800 square…read morefeet. While the local narrative often emphasizes the importance of supporting independent shops, my recent visit suggests that this ideal may come at a significant cost to the consumer in terms of utility, comfort, and value. Logistics and Facilities The physical experience of visiting Comma is just abrasive. Parking in the immediate vicinity is difficult, which sets a frustrating tone before one even enters the building. Once inside, the limitations of the tiny floorspace become apparent. The selection is, by necessity, terribly limited. If you are searching for a specific title or a deep dive into a particular genre, this is statistically the last place you should look. Furthermore, the store offers no public restroom, a lack of basic facility that limits the duration and comfort of any visit. Atmosphere and Price The retail environment lacks any auditory masking. There is no background music, resulting in a deafening silence that feels more awkward than contemplative. Every book in the inventory is sold at full retail price. This raises a fundamental question regarding the "buy local" movement: what is the point of a business that offers less selection and higher prices than its competitors? We often speak of a duty to support small bookstores, but we must ask if that duty outweighs the consumer's right to find what they need at a competitive price. Service and Philosophy During my visit, I purchased several books at full price, yet the employee on duty was rude. This interaction highlights the core issue: a business is a business, regardless of its size. If a shop cannot provide a pleasant environment, a robust inventory, or even basic courtesy, its status as "local" should not exempt it from criticism. Conclusion The romanticized ideal of the small neighborhood bookstore needs to be re-examined when the reality is a lack of selection and poor service. I am officially putting a "comma" on my support of this specific model of local commerce. I spent my money here this time, but I will not be returning to this particular business. Ever. Consider that a "period." For those who prioritize finding the books they actually want without unnecessary hurdles, there are better options available.

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    Comma, a bookshop
    Comma, a bookshop
    Comma, a bookshop

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    Wild Rumpus

    Wild Rumpus

    4.7(128 reviews)
    12.4 miLinden Hills
    $$

    One of my favorite spots!! I love taking anyone who is visiting here, especially kiddos. This…read morebookstore is pure magic, for kids - and adults too. Most known for their animals in-store, this is a visit to a bookstore that includes meeting the cat, birds, chinchillas, and other animals that call Wild Rumpus home. It's so much fun to see and read about them. There's even fish in the mirror of the bathroom! If that didn't sell you, the ambiance beyond animals here is amazing. There's murals all over - including on the ceiling. There's a house-type structure in the back. There's chairs to cozy up and read in. It's like walking into a children's book. And what about the books?! So many books! Mostly children and YA books, but they have a substantial wall section for adults too. Everything from manga to local authors here. Prices are reasonable and service is always so welcoming and friendly. Can't recommend this place enough - whether you're shopping for a kid, bringing one along, or want to feel like a kid again yourself.

    Oh such fun we'll have . . You'll see! For a fun romp through an exceptional book store, be sure to…read moretravel to Linden Hills! Books for every level, promotions and donation options for kids needing books, live animals who reside in the store and great art, even on the ceiling! Happy employees keep everyone satisfied and the value is immeasurable!

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    Wild Rumpus - Front window

    Front window

    Wild Rumpus
    Wild Rumpus - Sitting spots everywhere to hold a child and read

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    Sitting spots everywhere to hold a child and read

    Magers & Quinn Booksellers

    Magers & Quinn Booksellers

    4.7(138 reviews)
    13.4 miUptown
    $$

    Love independent book stores, so no surprise I found this spot quaint and refreshing. The building…read moreit's located in is over hundred years old and you can feel it in the low ceilings and incredible library ladders and stairs. The store is deep and keeps going too the further you explore inward. An impressive selection of topics are available. It's an old bookstore but it's got contemporary finds. I was especially pleased with their LGBTQ+ and gender studies sections-- I could read forever and never get through all the books they had! Prices seem to be reliably a hair off MSRP, which is nice considering today's economy. It can be expensive to stay educated! The employees were all quite friendly and eager to assist in helping me find what I was looking for. They also have things like puzzles, journals, planners, calendars, greeting cards, stickers, postcards, and more, along with their own merch of T-shirts, sweatshirts, book bags, mugs, etc.

    I'm a professional author so I'm passionate about local bookstores. I've been coming here a few…read moreyears. I don't know why it has taken me so long to review, but this is my favorite place in the Twin Cities to buy books. I used to live uptown and now live pretty far away, but I still make the journey here. As other reviewers have noted, it's bigger than it looks. A grower not a show-er. A clown car of books. I have sold books here and also bought used books here, which I love, because that's the only way I can afford to read as much as I want. A library card only gets you so far when you're on a crazy long waitlist for a new release. So far, I've never not been able to find what I want here. Staff is very helpful. They have a nice little children's section too. I always try to give books as a gift to kids. And I love that they give free bookmarks at checkout, because I like to read multiple books at a time.

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    Magers & Quinn Booksellers
    Magers & Quinn Booksellers
    Magers & Quinn Booksellers - Bargain Section

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    Bargain Section

    Excelsior Bay Books - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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