I just appreciate that there are still a few Barnes and Nobles around. This isn't your father's…read moreBarnes though. The old Barnes and Nobles you could spend a couple hours walking around looking at books. This is the light version. Unfortunately online stuff has put us in the situation where you can go into this bookstore and cover the whole place in around 15 minutes. I was looking at the "horror" section and it's okay but again, the light version. Also the fact everything is so expensive now also doesn't help. A paperback was 20 bucks. I'm not paying 20 bucks for a book I'll read once that I can get a the library for free. Magazine prices are absurd. I did find a couple that were 8 bucks but most are over ten and usually more. For a magazine. I hope this type of place keeps going but I can see why they don't. Support your local book store.

It's been a few years since my first review ... time for an update. Earlier this week I placed an…read moreonline order for "Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout, one of my favorite authors. Delighted to find it was lower than Amazon and even some other online used bookstores. I arrived at Barnes & Noble and decided to browse a bit before picking up the book. I find the layout of the store quite easy to navigate. For the most part items are easy to find. As I was browsing, a clerk named Kara asked if I needed any help. That's always nice. As it turned out she also helped me when I went to the checkout area for my book. For some unknown reason the online price did not pop-up and I was reluctant to pay the full price (less the 10% member discount). Kara was very diligent about finding the originally quoted price. Very refreshing to find good customer service. That's what keeps customers coming back!

I was referred to this place by a friend. I came it's a small parking lot but we did find parking…read more It's a small bookstore but it has a lot. There were some hard to find books. The owner is super knowledgeable he answers a lot of hard questions. Some books are a little pricey but others are low so it averages out. We left with 5 books. One was signed by an author. Another was a book that goes for $100 online and we paid $25 so we will be adding to our collection. Definitely worth coming!

This is the genuine article, old-school used book store. Visit on a rainy day and block out an hour…read moreor more on your schedule for maximum effect. I saw one review describing their place as "overwhelming." Agreed! It's delightfully overwhelming in the way that the abundance of information was discoverable prior to the linear arrangement of search engines. The collection of vintage vinyl is impressive as well, with easily the best old jazz and vocalist collection in the hinterlands of the East Bay. There are treasures to be found. Every hour spent browsing the stacks adds an hour to the end of your life.

First time visiting Bookshop Benicia and I will definitely be back! The location is perfect for…read morewhenever you're on a stroll down Benicia First Street and in the mood to window shop. Though, I did come into the store with the intention of finding a new book(s) to read and I happily did! The store is organized nicely in an easy to access manner. Everything is reachable (coming from someone who is on the shorter spectrum). I will say it was a little difficult for me to find the genre signs, but after looking harder I'm able to see it. Additionally, I appreciate the signage from fellow readers (assuming they're employees) recommending books and giving a short review on them. Overall, this was a really fun experience! I signed up for their rewards program using my phone number so I'm looking forward to coming back!

I visited the store on 4/26/26 around 11 a.m. because it looked interesting, but unfortunately, my…read moreexperience was very disappointing. The person at the counter never greeted me, and her demeanor felt very negative the entire time. I left shortly after arriving, as I didn't feel welcomed at all. If she is an employee, some customer service training could make a big difference. If she is the owner, a warmer and more inviting approach would be important to create a positive impression. First impressions matter a lot, and unfortunately, this visit left me feeling unwelcome. I won't be returning.

This place is an oasis for someone who likes to slip into a quiet bookstore in the middle of an…read moreimpromptu shopping trip. Between the extremely knowledgeable staff/owners and the range of antique to modern book selections, you'll find yourself falling in love again and again. Yes, the books are a bit expensive, but that's only because you'll be walking away with priceless signed originals. I can't give this place enough praise. My only advice is to not enter with expectation, just let your soul guide you. :-)

this place does not exist anymore. do not try and go there. you will get lost because 1. the…read moreaddress listed here is not even the correct one and 2. the place where it used to be is now a nail salon. it truly is a shame, i remember going here with my brother 10 or so years ago. none of these indie places exist anymore and its extremely depressing to me.

They have a wide selection of books and puzzles all in excellent condition; prices are fair and…read moreproceeds go to the library. Friendly and helpful staff (not sure if they are volunteers) made for an overall fun shopping experience.

​This is one of my favorite used book stores in Contra Costa County. When I'm in the area, I try…read moreto stop by to check out their inventory. Other patrons often leave bags of donations, so the shelves are stocked frequently. The store is well organized, with all the categories clearly labeled. The store is always clean and each item is clearly priced on the bag. There is a little of everything in this store, between fiction, non-fiction and children's books, as well as a decent selection of games. Along the front wall are a selection of coffee table and new(ish) books, and in the middle are tables with seasonal or topical books (including a table with President Jimmy Carter's biographies soon after he passed away). Most books are priced around $5 or less, and very few items are more than $10. On our last visit, my wife and I purchased 6 books and paid less than $30 total. There is a parking lot on site, and the volunteer staff are always very friendly and helpful.

The tiniest, cutest bookstore around!…read more This place may be small, but wow does it have character. It's a book lover's dream -- compact, cozy, and absolutely packed with great reads. The shelves are well‑stocked, and the owner, Karen, will surprise you with what she manages to fit into such a tiny space. And honestly, the best part is Karen herself. She cares deeply about her customers and her community, and it shows every time you walk in. This is the beauty of indie bookstores: people who genuinely care. I love stopping by and having conversations with her. I flip‑flop a lot in what I read and never stick to one genre, but I can tell Karen what I'm in the mood for, and she has never once failed to recommend a great book. It's a gem of a shop, and I always leave feeling happy I stopped in.

If you are a book lover and love to actuality touch physical pages of a book... this is the place…read moreto be. The bookstore is small but feels giant once you walk inside. Alibi was my first stop to celebrate my birthday. What better to start with books. The store has so many books I was overwhelmed in a good way. The woman in the store made me feel so welcomed. I wish I could have spent more time but will come back soon.

This is one of my favorite Barnes & Noble locations to visit when I'm in Walnut Creek. The store is…read morevery spacious with a great selection of books. I really like that the lower level is mostly dedicated to kids and teens, but also includes a large selection of vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and movies. There's even a cute little choo-choo train where kids can sit and read, which is such a nice touch. The store has two entrances and two separate checkout areas, which helps a lot on busier days. Service is always good, and the staff is consistently helpful when it comes to searching for specific books. A well-organized, welcoming location that I always enjoy stopping into.

December 2025 For…read moreold school people like me who still read books this place is like one of those 1990's thungs I grew up with. My friends and I would drive to Barnes and Nobles and just chill looking through the magazines and books or Anime. It's neat to see one still standing and we'll stocked ans clean. Brings back old memories.

Classic Berkeley bookstore! They have a range of fiction, nonfiction, and rare books to choose…read morefrom. Whether it's for class or for your own personal pleasure, they have something for everyone. Sometimes they have some amazing sales (like 6 Poirot books in a set for $22 as of 02 May 2026). The workers are very polite too, and they're willing to hold books for about a week if you need to sleep on it. Definitely check it out! It's very close to campus and you'll find what you need.

Great selection of books! Seems like some books are centuries old and still in great condition. The…read morebooks they have to offer too are affordable and reasonable! The staff is great. Super friendly and welcoming, extremely willing to help upon your visit. You can also sell books here. They are picky with what you bring in, must be in pristine condition, no writing in books, and all hard covered books must have sleeves. They sell for a great trade-in but their cash isn't great. Definitely check them out!

This place doesn't feel like one of those corporate coffee shops where everyone grabs a drink and…read moreleaves immediately. People actually stay here. They talk, read, study, meet up, and exist together for a while. There's a different energy here that makes you want to slow down and be part of it. I love this place!!!!! There's more than just coffee and books here; there's a little community. There's a bulletin board filled with flyers for local happenings, book clubs, celebrations, etc. I came here one weekend to study and it, thankfully, wasn't too busy. The cashier was friendly and welcoming, there's WiFi, and a fair amount of seating. I can see this place getting packed during peak hours. One thing I noticed right away was a small book club meeting happening near where I was working. It helped me relax while I was focusing on my work! I think that's why so many of us like working in coffee shops... you can be alone while still feeling connected to other people around you. I'll definitely be back, not just for the coffee, but for the genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Thanks !

I had gotten a gift card for this coffee shop / bookstore and decided that I really wanted to go…read morecheck it out. I went on March 10th around 1:30 p.m. and I was so happy that I went. I originally went into find a book called before the coffee gets cold and ended up finding another selection that was recommended by one of the staff members called hot chocolate on Thursday. Once I had made my purchase I decided I wanted to really be immersed in the space and in one of my pictures you can see that I got a iced coffee with a blueberry scone. Both of the food items were perfect. The coffee had an amazing taste to it and the scone was unbelievably like perfectly buttery and not overly run by sugar even though it had sugar on it it just was perfectly balanced. The thing that I really enjoyed about this bookstore though was that it made me feel safe. I am part of the lgbtq+ community and being there made my soul and heart happy. I was surrounded by my community and I could tell just how happy they were. There was a group of folks in the middle tables starting to get ready for a small event it look like an art drawing event. The way they talked with each other and just the smiles they had on their faces made me smile so big. This place is a true gem within the area and if you ever have a chance to come in here to just be in a space of warm and belonging please do. And like I said the food they provide is super tasty and they have an array of selections regarding books and they can even order stuff online for you if they don't have it for pick up later. Hands down really really love this place.

The people working there are so friendly and helpful. I was looking for Lee Child books and they…read moretold me to go online to order the ones they didn't have. I did and picked them up in a day. The prices are reasonable per book $4-$5. Some of them were hardbacks. All were in very good condition

Very well organized bookstore and cheap! Obviously price varies depending on how popular the book…read moreyou're interested in is. I saw books as low as $2 but some of the more popular closer to $8. In total I got 3 books for $13 and they were popular titles. There's 2 hour free street parking right outside and a courtyard you can stop and read your book in. I will be coming back.