Amazing selection of books! There were so many hidden gems in this bookstore, you have to really look. The man who attended us was very nice. If you have a big bag or drinks, you give them to him and put them in a box and you collect it at the end of your shopping! Got 2 books for $16! read more

Hidden Gem for Book Lovers - A True San Diego Treasure Footnote Books in University Heights might not catch your eye from the street, but step inside and you're entering a book lover's paradise. It's a small, tightly packed shop, stacked floor to ceiling with everything from quirky romance to vintage collectibles--and that's exactly the charm. AND what increiible value here! Nothing was overpriced even when you know you found a real gem. Don't let the curb appeal fool you--this place is the real deal. My wife scored a stack of fantasy romance novels (SJM, Ana Reyes, etc), and I stumbled upon a first issue of Sports Illustrated and a beautiful 1950s first-edition history of some of baseball's most iconic early legends. Talk about treasure hunting. The owner? An absolute gem. Super knowledgeable, approachable, and clearly someone who lives and breathes books. You can feel the passion in every corner of this store--Footnote is truly a labor of love. If you're in San Diego and love books with character (and characters), do yourself a favor and visit Footnote Books. 10/10 I highly recommend. read more

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Cool little book store located in Hillcrest. Tons and tons of books. Not very well organized, but you'll find something for you. read more

Footnote Books - Entrance - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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They have an amazing selection of books and the person who runs it basically has the entire inventory memorized. He is amazing in helping you find the book that you need and recommending books based off of that and based off of what you like. The books here are reasonably priced as well. I highly recommend coming here. read more

great big selection of second hand books. a lot of reviews talk about how the owner is rude, but i personally did not have that experience and found him to be very helpful and knowledgeable of where the books i was interested were at. obviously since it's a thrift bookstore, it's not going to be the best organized which makes finding certain books a gem that i did not mind at all! there were lots of new and old books, children books, posters, postcards, etc. i would definitely come by again to get more, and the prices were great :) read more

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Convenient little book nook of a place. The guy who owns the place came off as rude, but I ignored his ugly self.

Was excited to check this out but it was closed by 6:15 instead of 6:30. Disappointed that the hours of operations were wrong.

This book store is a particular type of experience that some people will love and some people will hate, and I'm in the former camp. This is a proper old-style used bookstore adventure. There's a constantly changing supply of books of all types and ages. They are often several layers deep, and stacked up to the ceiling, so there is a reward to really *looking.* (Though be respectful to the space!) The owner has a particular interest in San Diego history, so that can be a fun topic to discuss and ask for recommendations on. Tons of vintage paperbacks, which isn't something I see very often nowadays. The biggest drawback is that, in the tradition of this type of store, every inch of space is being used, and as such, it's not very physically accessible. Being able to get down to the floor is helpful to see everything, and the isles are pretty narrow. There are other used bookstores in San Diego that are definitely better on that front, but that's a different style of store. Elbowroom is a sacrifice made to maxxing out books-per-square-foot. There is a strict "no bags & no drinks" policy, and I wouldn't try to bring a dog in. I've never found the owner to be rude, but I'm respectful if he's talking to other customers and try to be polite in general. And if he were a bit grumpy and protective of his books, that would also fit to tradition for this type of place. read more

I went with my boyfriend and the owner was very nice and offered to help us find anything we needed. Not sure what all these reviews are talking about regarding him being rude. I went in with a small purse and he said nothing about it. We loved the selection too. My boyfriend found two books he was hunting for! We definitely plan on returning. read more

Such a magical bookstore to walk into! Truly a hidden gem in Hillcrest; an insane amount of great selections to look through from floor to ceiling, no joke. You could spend hours in here hiding between the shelves and looking through the stacks. For some that may be overwhelming, but for me it's a dream. Prices are marked inside the book or half the seller fee on the back. The smell of old books is all around and it's gorgeous. The owner is super friendly and helpful if you're looking for something specific. Have fun getting lost here read more

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Yep, as some of the reviews point out the owner is not the most pleasant. Maybe he needs to get out more. He's not only a bit rude but seems to be on a power trip with his customers. He should be grateful people come to look for books in a crammed store that's not the best organized. Life is simple. Be thankful and grateful. Maybe he needs one of his customers to find him a good book in his shop about gratitude. :) read more

The books? great! The owner? Pretty rude! I loved the layout of the bookstore. It is exactly what a used bookstore should be: cramped shelves, chaotic piles of books everywhere, floor to ceiling bookcases in no particular order, and hidden gems on every shelf. Lots of options and really good prices. I thought I just had a one-off bad experience with the owner, but looking at other reviews that doesn't seem to be the case. I get the no handbag rule in order to keep the already tight store from getting tighter, but he says it in such an aggressive way and doesn't really explain why. He also doesn't allow food or drinks inside, which I also totally understand, but this can be said nicely, or at least in a neutral way (which is not how he phrased it). I am from the south so maybe I am unfairly expecting him to be polite, but it certainly rubs me the wrong way! read more

this place is absolutely stuffed! loved the used book collection, if you are the type who likes to thrift or look a little to pick a new book you'll enjoy this place. the owner was very nice as well, held large bags and beverages at front while you shopped.. there is also a capacity for the amount of people allowed in at once due to the tight nature of the place read more

Footnote Books - books - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

The space was really crowded, so if you suffer from claustrophobia it's a no. The variety in book selection is limited, but wide. You just have to really dive yourself in the book piles. read more

I believe the owner of Footnote Books is conflicted about whether he wants actual human beings anywhere near his precious books. It's too bad because he has an amazing collection, but I think he'd be happier if he locked his doors and spent his days puttering among his tomes. He offered only the most cryptic of replies to my queries. I asked if he had a section where he kept his rare books. He said no, they were interspersed. Then I come upon a locked case that does indeed have books he considers his most rare apparently. Okay. I asked to see one. He seems begrudging, but takes it out. He corrects me on how I turn the pages. Which I actually don't mind. I'm glad to know (fingers at the top, don't turn from the bottom of the page). I tell him I'd like to browse this case a bit. He says no I have to know what I'm looking for. How am I supposed to know what's in there if I can't look? I can see many titles but not all. So I'm looking elsewhere and pull a volume out. Its handmade descriptive sticker is partly stuck to the book beside it, and it tears, making a tiny scratching noise as I pull the volume. He is instantly beside me, saying "next time you will let me do that, not you". I guess he thinks I tore the sticker myself to see what was beneath. I told him what happened and he briefly apologized but took the book away from me. The irony here is he has many nearly chest high teetering stacks of books that sway if you brush past them. Any of those could, and must have, toppled upon occasion, possibly damaging the books in process. You cannot get to many books without removing a few books from a stack, risking demolition. I did end up buying a nice 2-volume limited edition collection of Walt Whitman for $100 (found for $60 on EBay). His was in slightly better condition. But just to counter the other reviews saying his prices are good. I found them quite competitive. But I almost wish I hadn't bought anything.I was made to feel like a juvenile delinquent being watched every second to see what damage I would do (I'm a 69 year-old academic that occasionally loves to collect beautiful rare books). I won't be back to do it here. read more

This store has gotten better. As Troy has gotten older, i would say, like a lot of men, he has also gotten friendlier. The shop also seems to have a fabulous array of written books, and is a very fun place to find old and new used books... If i had the space at home, i would definitely find a dozen big books to buy in about 10 minutes. Its standard practice at little bookstores like his to ask folk to check their bags. Shoplifting in USA is a very real issue, and the profit margine slim. If you dont like that then just take your ID/credit cards out of you knock off designer bag and carry them on you. I have been in the store when someone comes in with a purse and Troy never asks you to check that, its just a large bag. My ex used to be a bookseller (fancy name for she worked at a used bookstore), and I used to hang out with her there, and she ALWAYS asked folk to check their bags. read more

Lovely bookstore located in a great neighborhood! This store had a huge variety of books. While it's a very small store it's very organized (in its own chaotic way) . The employee was very helpful and recommended what ended up being an amazing book. I could've spent all day in here. Definitely recommend!! read more

Footnote Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm someone who prefers to go to bookstores with used books, rather than new, so the cramped and intimate environment of Footnote comes as no surprise! The employee at the front (not sure if this was the owner) did ask to take our bags but this isn't something I was unfamiliar with, either. You get used to the organization, which seems like chaos at first, after studying the shelves for a little. Right away I found a book that's been on my list, and for a pretty good price given the area ("When God was a Woman" for $9). I thought the cooking section was very diverse, and though I didn't have time to check the fiction side I do want to come back another time. If you're looking for very clear organization and specific titles, this (or any used book store) might not be the best place to search first. Our experience with whoever works here was pleasant; he was communicative about closing for lunch and didn't make us feel uncomfortable while we browsed. I'd say this place is worth visiting after you read the reviews and determine for yourself if this is somewhere you want to give your business to! Good for a low-stakes weekend activity. read more

Footnote Books - Two well-known used books for $18, not bad! - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

A BOOKSTORE WHERE THE BOOK YOU NEED WILL FIND YOU. Fantastic eclectic selection of reading materials packed floor to ceiling to stimulate the brain. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Cool proprietor, authentic human, will actually engage with you. I am a connoisseur and frequenter of used bookstores everywhere I roam and this ranks in the upper echelon. Can pull you out of a funk and send you on new neural pathways. So many unexpected cool books! Bring money or credit card with you. You may end up buying more books than you'd planned. Bookstore could use a cat, but with allergies prevalent, lack of bookstore cat is understandable. I enjoy this store. The negative reviews are indicative of some kind of societal mental unwellness. Jeez Louise people, the customer isn't always right. Often the customer is an insufferable ass. Why must we be catered to like cranky children wherever we go? Can you stop hydrating and/or stuffing your face with food for the short time period you get to be in this great establishment without whining like a baby? Be open to something different. Quirkiness is amazing and beautiful in this increasingly homogenized world. Just having the privilege to wander about in there (after checking my large expensive bicycle pannier) made my day significantly better!!! LONG LIVE FOOTNOTE BOOKS!!!!! read more

Footnote Books - challenges my modern Buddhism As Scientific and Rational viewpoint. Yale univ. Press. Never in a chain bookstore. Serendipitous. Needed - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

Friendly owner. If you can't find the book you are looking for ask the owner. If he has the book he will exactly where it is. Compared to other used bookstores, the prices seemed fair. I always go there when I can. read more

This bookstore is well worth taking a look around. There are hidden gems hidden everywhere. The lovely man at the register was super kind and helpful. read more

The store is packed with books. This is a place to go if you want to find a surprise treasure.There are a lot of books and some framed art but this is not a place to take children in. There is nudity in posters and books/magazines. read more

I can't even review the store completely because within minutes of entering the cashier was requesting I give him my handbag. Trust goes both ways. I'm definitely not going to shoplift a secondhand book, but I don't know this person and won't just hand over a designer bag with my ID and credit cards. I'll just order from Amazon and not worry about my character being questioned or my personal belongings being stolen. read more

Amazing used book store. The best prices i've seen for new books, popular books, and classics. The owner was very kind. read more

Footnote Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

SAN DIEGO BOOKSHOP ROAD TRIP. Stop #07. SHOP NAME/LOCATION: Footnotes Books / 1627 University Ave REVIEW: I love small book shops that have a ton of books and are well organized. This would be one of them. The saddest part of this review is my having to realize that I really didn't get a chance to scan the shelves beyond the Shakespeare section . The inventory of books here is better than a big box store style of bookstore. Even though there are many areas where the double-deep bookshelves house books that are double-deeply stacked, they are still very organized. I noted that the Shakespeare plays were sorted alphabetically by title. NICE! ROADTRIP JOURNAL: Wow! I like this shop! I was fortunate to find parking on the Block that would be to the left of the shop. The shop isn't very big but, book shops are usually deceiving. Don't pass it up if you think the shop is small. That would be a big mistake. RULES: The gentleman that runs this shop has some rules and if you read other Yelp reviews, you'll definitely see that some people didn't want to play by the rules. I didn't have a problem with this shop or the owner. On the contrary, I would revisit this shop on my next trip and if time permits I will. The cellphone - For years I had a folder on my phone where I had photographs of my books. I did this to avoid the accidentally repurchasing of a book. Of late, I have begun to organize my books online, using Library Thing dot com. This means I need to be able to use my phone and this was a shop that had a negative review posted that dealt with the prohibiting of cell phone cameras. With that being known upon entering I introduce myself and I let the owner know what type of books I was looking for. After receiving instructions on how to find the Shakespeare section, I decided that the best steps for me to take would have to be considerate courteous ones. I then relayed my tale of our road trip, how serious I am about organizing my books, and that I need to use my cell phone to access my inventory. Now I know that this review differs from that of the person who wanted to take pictures of different books. Yet, I still felt that being polite would gather the desired results and it did. SIDE NOTE: This was my second shop of the day and I'd spent a considerable amount of time on my phone at breakfast, so it was not surprising that my battery was running low. Within a few minutes of being in the store I heard my phone power down. When I asked the owner if there was any chance that he could plug my phone in for me, I would be much obliged. He did so without batting an eye. In the meantime I went back and continued to peruse. After about 10 or 15 minutes my phone picked up a considerable charge and I continued the system that ensured I would not purchase books I had already purchased elsewhere. PRICING: I'd say it was fair, with an advantage slighted toward the proprietor on certain items. If you do your homework you will still depart with a bounty. PURCHASES: Shakespeare on the Stage by Marchette Chute, University of London Press Ltd., third edition, 1964. The OPB companion to Shakespeare, multiple authorship, Quality Paperback Book Club, 2002. Shakespeare's Self-Portrait by A. L. Rowse, University press of America, 2nd edition, 1985. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Old Spelling Shakespeare), New York: Duffield & Company; London: Chatto & Windus, 1909. The Shoemaker's Holiday by Thomas Dekker Golden Guide to Sharks. FINAL GRADE: A- ROADTRIP NOTES: Previous Shop: Postmodern Books Next Shop: Adams Avenue Bookstore San Diego Bookstore Roadtrip, stop #07... "IN THE BOOKS" read more

Footnote Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

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The owner Troy is deeply disturbing and suffers from irrational paranoia that every potential customer will shoplift from him. If your bag policy is that hardcore, you need to find a way to let people know of this ahead of time. Furthermore, there is no organization to the store and if you want to look at any of the rare books in the glass cabinet, it's like pulling teeth. Because they're so disorganized, you can't look at them without asking the owner to pull them out, but when you do this, it's literal vibes of disgust radiating from this man. read more

I did find a couple books worth buying here, but it's far too crowded and cramped to be much use. There might be more good stock hiding on the shelves behind the piles on the floor, but you'd never find them because the floor piles are three feet high and there's nowhere to move them to get them out of the way anyway. If you come in the morning when they're opening up (and possibly at other times), no matter where you move to you'll be in the owner's way. Move somewhere else and you'll be in his way again. Dominated by fiction. Relatively little non-fiction, most of it in a far back corner, and much of it woo-woo. read more

I had a great time in here & left with some fun finds. An interesting mix of general paperbacks & some cooler collectible books, especially older comics history stuff. It looks packed but if you pay attention it's actually extremely organized. Personally, I love a good floor pile of used books- if you're looking for sterility & corporate marketing or whatever there are plenty of places to find that. Before you skip this place because a couple of bad reviews, do some critical thinking to figure out what kind of people are out here giving 1star reviews to local businesses because they had to leave their bag or respect the place, pretty reasonable expectations. I've worked in a lot of bookstores & people coming in to treat it like their living room or free entertainment, especially in such a small space, can be extremely stressful. This is a rad place if you're quiet, respectful, & there to enjoy books. read more

This place is amazing! Whether you love to browse until something pops out to you or you have a specific genre in mind, this place is fun to browse. The aisles are tight and there's books to the ceiling, but that's the fun! Great customer service and an impressive collection. read more

This was such an awful experience. My roommates and I were in the area and love books and thought we should take a look at this store on the way back to our car. We went in and immediately were asked to give our bags to him. We understood we are college students and we are asked this all the time. We willingly gave him our bags and I started looking around. I heard my roommate ask him if the flyer on the bulletin board was free and if she could have one. Instead of just telling her they are for sell for such and such price he rudely goes "obviously this is a store where you buy things". We all immediately start laughing and he basically watched us and followed us around the store after that and we were so uncomfortable we just left. There are way better book stores! Don't go to this one!!! read more

The owner takes covid very seriously! :) Cheap prices on books in like-new condition. Loved this bookstore & definitely made my trip to san diego worthwhile. read more

Footnote is a great, smallish used bookstore that reminds me a lot of Ravenswood Used Books in Chicago: compact, slightly cluttered, rewarding for browsers; they even have very similar layouts. I found a near-new paperback of Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage for $6. It's a book that I read a few years ago but would love to have on my shelf, so I snapped that up in two shakes of a lamb's tail. To my nostalgic delight, I found a handful of old Golden Guides! I grew up on those little books; Footnote had Geology, Stars, Rocks and Minerals, and a few others. The copyright on Rocks and Minerals was 1957, and I bet that some of the science is laughably outdated, but as the store owner said to me, "The basics are probably still true." I bought two just for old times' sake. I also got a $2.50 paperback of Nabokov's Pale Fire. I could have walked out with a lot more books if I had more room in my luggage for them. It may be a small shop, but in most ways it is superior to the two stores nearby in Hillcrest. With only two reviews, it seems that this place might be overlooked; please go give this guy some business! read more

The owner treats you like he doesn't need your business, maybe he doesn't I don't know. The first, only and last time I went here I inquired about trading books and he responded "I don't trade only buy because people try to trade me their crap for my collection". After browsing, which is near impossible because things are only roughly by category with no other system, I tried to ask about some books in the glass case in the back. Once again treated like an idiot for not knowing why they were "valuable". There are so many other book stores in town with better selections, cheaper prices, and owners who don't talk down to you and watch you the whole time like they think you're gonna steal anything you look at. read more

Super cozy, instantly greeted by owner who was super welcoming. Great prices, will definitely be back!

Excellent collection. As dense and loaded with books as a real bookshop should be. Knowledgeable owner/operator.

Shopkeep was patient even with the many questions I had. It may not be as rigorously organized as other bookstores in the area, but he was able to point me in the direction of any book that came to mind. I like Footnote particularly for its authentic old bookstore atmosphere (it's been there over 30 years) and staff who can hold a conversation. Also, free books outside. read more

Tightly packed treasure trove! Every topic, and not just the standards, but some rare and hard to find titles. Obviously collected by someone who knows at least a little about a lot of things. Owner has his own ways and beliefs and hours, but it's his place, and he is respectful and fair. I even witnessed him having a lively but friendly debate with someone who had completely opposite views to his. read more

No joke, this place has piles of books and shelves from floor to ceiling. My dad loves used book stores, so I found this place on Yelp and brought him here. He found several appealing books, with the aid of the helpful guy working there. I also bought a book called "The Matisse Stories" by A.S. Byatt. The Matisse on the cover drew my dad's attention to it. I decided to buy it for a dear friend who recently made a comment about having a picnic while admiring Matisse's work. Turns out she loves A.S. Byatt so it couldn't have been more perfect. Cool place. read more

Just visited this shop for the first time. It has a wide variety of books, friendly staff and reasonable prices. You do have to check large bags behind the counter, so I just carried my wallet and phone around with me. I actually maneuvered through the store a lot better without my bulky bag! I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more

Footnote Books - My finds for the day. - Bookstores Near Me - San Diego, California

Man there's some rough reviews in here. Jeez. Give the guy a break. Given the size and layout of the place, if he allowed anyone with a bag to mill around, he would be dealing with a lot of theft. And if he asks 1 person to leave their bag, he has to ask everyone. And given the margins he's likely working in, I'd be concerned about theft too. Anyone keeping a little bookstore open these days is doing those of us who enjoy used bookstores an invaluable service. I, for one, appreciate it. Not only that, he recommended to me my all-time favorite book, so he knows what he's talking about. read more