Holy crud! This place is amazing! The only drawback is that it's a little hard to navigate to specific sections, but the staff is very helpful. I was able to find every book I was looking for! read more

I love Henderson Books! A classic Bellingham favorite. They have a good system of organization here. While they have thousands of books here, I like that they are specific with their classification of their books. They are always a pleasure to frequent, and I think their prices are fair. They also sell antiques! read more

Henderson Books - Today's visit was to the section on Chinese medicine! - Bookstores Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Enjoying books, I'm impressed with Henderson Books. It's a massive bookstore with used books in every section. The kids corner kept my six-year-old daughter's attention for a long time and I was impressed with their travel section, often underrepresented. read more

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Awesome bookstore. Every social science section I went into was fantastically well-stocked; the philosophy section is among the best I've seen at any used bookstore ever. Prices are super fair, you can walk in with $10 and come out with two great books. Couldn't recommend enough. read more

Oh my gosh what an incredible bookstore. Weaving through the shelves through a maze of genres felt like magic. They have a ton of sections and a lot of variety. We didn't have a ton of time but I will be coming back and spending several hours looking through more shelves. read more

The real local readers know that this used bookstore is the best bookstore in town - shout-out to Eclipse as well. While B&N and VB may have the bigger properties, Henderson has the biggest selection of books. Half the staff is really kind, while some others are a little reserved and well... bookwormy. Any of them will assist you when you ask though and they seem to know their literature. Which is ultimately all I ask of a bookshop - have lots of books, know lots of books, don't triple the sale price, and be able to help me if I need it. read more

Massive selection, well organized, and fair prices. I was very happy to find a book I wanted at a price close enough to an online price that I paid for it here to support the business and to have it quicker than ordering online. -- edit: holy shit to those other reviews: This is SOMEONE'S business. They set the rules and if you do not like them then do not shop there. Simple as that. read more

Rude older woman at the cashier was very condescending when I was asking for where to look for books, rather would just ask for what book I was looking for than just calmly answer my question. read more

I just ordered a copy of The Gordon Garland I was told it would get here on Nov 9th or 10th. It showed up today, the 5th, in pristine shape, wrapped as well as any book I've ever ordered. I hope I can find books that I need in your bookstore in the future (This may be a semi-empty promise as I have over 1100 flyfishing and tying titles already in my collection) What it DOES say though, is that I DO have some experience with book mailings and packaging Thank you for your careful stewardship of the book and rapid delivery Art Port read more

I could spend an entire day in this cute (but crowded) book shop! It's pretty well organized considering the sheer quantity of books they have. I found their selection pretty eclectic and loved it. Note: They don't have a restroom, the closest one is the library down the street. read more

Wow. Just, wow. When you got a bookstore that has an entire shelf of books about "Seashells", you know you're working with something special. The layout of this place is so labyrinthine, I'm pretty sure I could've made love with my wife in the "Metallurgy" section without anyone noticing, and if she got pregnant and felt some kind of abdominal pain around month 4, there would've been a shelf dedicated to books about "Abdominal pains." Just a great store. I don't even know why I'm giving it a star off. Maybe there's a book Henderson has on random decisions.... four star moods.... miscarriages. read more

My sister raved about this place. She stopped in to pick up an ordered book.. nice people and she wants to return.

Go tPowell's in Portland, unless you enjoy being abused by the actively hostile owner and staff. They should not be working with the public. The prices are not that much less than new. There's also a used bookstore in Fairhaven with a huge selection and friendly staff. Go there. This place does not deserve your business. read more

Incredible bookstore, full of... books! Some items were hard to find with so many aisles of books piled floor to ceiling. But it was an adventure and we had fun walking around. Just watch out for the ladders, they are a trip hazard when you have a baby strapped to your front. Ha! read more

Henderson Books - Bookstores Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

On my first (and last visit) observed the rude manager/maybe owner yell at multiple customers for various reasons - not wearing masks, asking to bring their dog in with them. Uncalled for behavior. read more

Henderson Books holds an extremely important place in my heart. Growing up across the border in B.C., I had a love of literature -- poetry in particular. By the time I was in grade 12, back in 1996, someone told me about Henderson as being a great bookstore...and thus began my regular pilgrimages. Their poetry section (then, as now) was huge and diverse, and on every trip I would buy eight or ten volumes of verse. My own library began to grow, as did my knowledge and understanding of poetry and literature. I worked at a chain bookstore for a few years, but still visited Henderson regularly. By the time I moved away from the area in 2010, I must have purchased 100 books from Henderson. Fast forward to late 2019, and I'm currently in the middle of a Ph.D. in English -- Renaissance poetry, to be exact. People ask me what sparked my interest in my field, and it's impossible not to think of the indelible impact of Henderson on my literary life. Whenever I visit my family in B.C., I try to make a special trip down to Bellingham just to experience Henderson anew. I really can't think of another business that has been so instrumental to shaping who I am as a person...and that's no exaggeration. Perhaps this review is a little twee, and more than a little nostalgic, but it just goes to show that some places have a kind of magic that simply can't be replicated, and for me, Henderson Books is that place. read more

I wake from a dream and find myself in Henderson Books. The smell of books on every shelf envelopes you, as walk through this place that seems like it's out of the pages of an undiscovered novel on the very top shelf of a hidden corner in the store. At first you walk in and think how will I find what I'm looking for? Then you quickly realize you find what you never knew you were looking for. The romance of this store over takes you. Enjoy every minute there! The owner and staff know the store well, don't be afraid to ask. Recently was looking for a book on Robots of all things, I was taken to the hidden top shelf where I found the perfect robot book! Come to find out it was the holy grail of robot books a real score! read more

I love this store - dusty and infinite and full of books I've longed to see in the wild and haven't found elsewhere, at good prices. Went to Bellingham to visit and was sad the hours changed - sharing current hours as of March 1, 2022! read more

One can easily get lost here, spending hours in bliss surrounded by books of their chosen genre. Wonderful selection.

This book emporium is amazing, especially if you are not looking for anything particular, which is my favorite way to visit a book store. What looks like shelves of chaos is actually a meticulously organized wonderland you will see as soon as you learn the system. The time it takes you to figure out what is going on, you will wander and fall in love with the smell of books and the little corners just big enough to hide in with you stack of new possible reads. They have everything you could want as long as you don't want anything published in the past few years. It is re-sale books, so they do have a small few of the recent best sellers at a much better price, but don't get your hopes up for anything specific. I would highly recommend putting aside sometime to spend here when you go as you will likely find books you forgot you ever wanted to read and will be dragging a larger stack than you expected up to the register. read more

A great store with a huge selection of used items. Books, postcards, buttons, random knickknacks, etc. Books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling and everywhere between. Sections are pretty well marked, but with the amount of material, it may be easier to ask for assistance when seeking something particular. Prices can be found on shelves or check the first page of the book in question. Henderson's does buy books, but only on certain days. Call ahead to check if you intend to sell. I wouldn't say this is an appropriate place to bring children who are very active when they're in a store. It's very easy to knock things over. read more

Best USED bookstore for miles. I've been buying/selling books here for 20 years, and I'm beyond grateful for their incredibly vast selection, and for their picky buying because that means they don't have a bunch of garbage books to slog through. Each time I go in, they often have what I'm looking for - some obscure title, usually. If not, I leave with something fantastic that still sits on after many years, like the great Thai cookbook I bought a couple of years ago. I find that if you are very selective with the books you are selling, and they are books that are desirable and in excellent shape, you'll leave the shop with a smile on your face and some money in your pocket. I've never experienced the negative remarks or attitude other folks report. Do yourself a favor and visit this wonderful shop! read more

Did you ever wander into a book store with a particular book in mind? I did, a number of years ago, to Henderson's used books. What an afternoon I spent: I bought all sorts of books--history books, novels, cookbooks. I've been doing that sort of shopping for a long time, now, and Henderson's never disappoints. Aisle after aisle, books all over the place--in shelves, on top of shelves, on the floor. Beats most other used bookstores as everything is pretty well organized and digitalized. The front counter folks can walk you through the place quickly to show exactly where to look, even the book itself. Probably comes close to Barnes and Noble, but who cares? Reasonable prices and selections of many books long out of publication make it the perfect place to spend time. Great art books, too, sheet music, old timey kiddie books, used CD's and DVD's. Some great film biographies, mysteries, collections. I even found a cute tea set to give as a gift last Christmas. You'll lose time here, but what wonderful place to spend it. Beware, though, it does get crowded. I'm not the only person who knows about this hidden gem. read more

Great prices, and an absolute HEAVEN for a book lover. There are so many books of all genres organized pretty well for the GIGANTIC selection they offer. I stumbled upon this bookstore while walking downtown and I am SO happy I did. A must-see for any bookworm!! read more

This place just keeps going and going. So many books, floor to ceiling, stacks of books everywhere. I can be a bit overwhelming at times. There is a book for every age, and every subject. read more

Henderson Books - Bookstores Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Amazing selection of philosophy books. This section alone was about eight bookshelves across with probably a thousand books. Prices hover around about 30% market value, so pretty affordable as well. read more

The selection is good. They have more books of the type I look for than anywhere else in Bellingham. However, the owner is quite unfriendly. The last time we went in she didn't greet me back when I said hello and the majority of the times we've been in there we've heard her gossiping, one time about a customer. In my opinion, this is a person who shouldn't be dealing with the public because it's obvious that she doesn't enjoy it. I want to support them more as a local business, but it's difficult because I feel bad every time I leave. I keep thinking I don't want to come back again. The prices don't usually justify the visit either. Much of the time, I can find the same books I'm looking for new on Amazon for a few dollars more. read more

Quiet and lovely atmosphere. Staff is super helpful and I always feel welcome at Henderson's.

Let me explain, I LOVE this place-- it's great labyrinth of floor to ceiling book shelves. It's a wonderful place to get lost in and meander around but we fore warned: DO NOT BRING IN FOOD, COFFEE or expect a smile from anyone working here. I've gotten used to their cold demeanor and just ignore it now when I ask questions and press them to help me find a particular book. TL;DR: awesome book selection, grouchy shop keeper. read more

Since we are moving out of the country, I have literally over a TON of books for sale or gifting. I first took a couple of boxes in and sold three statistical reference books for $15. Next I brought in 5 boxes of mixed books and got $50 for the equivalent of one box. The next time I brought books in, Barbara made a snide remark because I happened to be wearing a Powell's sweatshirt. She didn't take ANY books this time. (I sincerely doubt that anyone at Powell's would be so ill-mannered to make a crack if I walked into Powell's with a "Henderson Books" sweatshirt.) Now my books are not all textbooks. They run the gamut from biology to geography to literary criticism to Old Norse sagas to agriculture. Since I was treated shabbily, I am giving my books away to Goodwill. So if you are looking for a book on the history of the Samurai or American agriculture, for example, go on down to Goodwill. They have lots of eclectic stuff thanks to me. read more

Best bookstore in town, HANDS DOWN! Love this place, its like a "mini Powells" or as close as you are going to get around here, but dont let the word mini throw you off, its the biggest bookstore in town. Example: most book stores have a cook book "section" these guys have an entire room just for books on food! read more

I think this is the best bookstore in Bellingham. Henderson's has a huge selection of well-organized, high-quality used books. The store is clean and well-lit and my arms grew tired from clutching all the books I found. I spent most of my time in the (excellent) fiction and (extensive) cookbook section and went cross-eyed from scanning the shelves; I didn't have time (or funding) to do more than walk through the other sections. Some of the books seemed higher in price than I would have expected, but the condition was so good, I didn't mind. I did snatch up books that I'd seen at higher prices elsewhere, so it evens out. read more

This is my favorite bookstore and maybe just one of my favorite places in all of Bellingham. The books are great quality, the prices are decent, and you get quite a bit of credit when you sell books. I could spend a week in there and never leave! read more

Henderson Books - Bookstores Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This store has a very large selection of used books that are in awesome shape. Sometimes it is hard to find what I am looking for because there are so many books & I have to be in one of those scrounging moods ( like going second hand shopping) to get into it. They also have some antique non-book items for sale too! Sometimes the prices are higher than they should be though for a used book. I have also brought my used books here but they did not pay as much as I thought they would so I no longer bring used books there. However, I have found some out of print books in this store which is very cool. Also many cookbooks and crafting books here too. Staff is very quiet which I like! They were helpful last time we went and this is one of our once a month haunts after breakfast in Bellingham. I am glad this store is here and oh yeah I think I still have a credit there! read more

Henderson's is a fantastic used bookstore that you can easily get lost browsing in for an hour or so. Filled with zig-zagging carved out aisles and surplus piles from floor to ceiling, it's the kind of bookstore where you can sit on the floor and read a short paperback. Another plus about this establishment is that it is located across the street from another similar bookstore, Michael's Books, which is not as high in quality, but a great option to have if you want to keep looking for a certain title. Henderson's has a large variety of sections, ranging from fiction (rather excellent) to foreign language (great, especially for reference, old text books, and foreign children's books), and even DVD's (never know what you will find). As with many smaller used bookstores, the social science and ethnic/gender studies texts tend to be a bit dated. The staff is very friendly and helpful with locating titles. Henderson's also has a small section of rare books. Henderson's is a treasure right in downtown Bellingham that makes for a perfect stop when you are strolling by. The books range in cost, but are very high quality for the most part. read more

Henderson's is a bookstore that we drive to from Seattle because it's so great. Excellent selection of a wide variety of used books, including historic, literature, science, geography and art. Far better than any of the used books stores in the Northwest, with the possible exception of Powell's in Portland. And they're very fair when buying/trading books. read more

This is probably the best-stocked used bookstore I've ever seen. As other reviewers have said, the store is perfectly organized and the staff can find anything. The books I looked at were all in great condition and cost about half the cover price, which seems pretty standard. I could spend a day here. read more

Henderson Books - Bookstores Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I do agree with the fact that the staff isn't terribly inviting...however, their selection is pretty unmatched. The sheer quantity and quality of this place is overwhelming, However, I usually use this store as my last resort when I can't find what I'm looking for at some of the other bookstores where the service is a bit more accommodating. But...best and most comprehensive selection of any bookstore in a 50 mile radius, so give them a chance. They have earned their keep, and having places like this are what makes Bellingham a wonderful place to live. read more

I've always been fine with the man that works there whenever I've come in to browse the lower priced DVDs, and have even bought several. Had a fairly bad experience this morning when I went in to sell, that just might change the outcome of my ever shopping there again. Brought in my half-full box of nearly brand new books, and am told in so many words to go make myself scarce while they are appraised. Took the time to notice that most of the books I was genuinely interested in are priced at nearly full market brand new value. Came back to the front area and looked at the locked-in-glass DVDs, again priced for almost brand new worth. Heard the woman appraising my books say as many rude things about them as she could as she proceeded to minorly damage a few by throwing, yes throwing, them back into the box. Was then curtly informed that none of my books were worth their time as they were overstocked on them, and they weren't interested in any. Can't say I'll go back, definitely not to buy books that sell for just a dollar more brand new. It's a shame since they really do have every book ever printed on their heavily laden shelves and on the floor obstructing the walking pathways. Just not well stocked on customer appreciation unfortunately. read more

My girlfriend, Elizabeth, had to use the bathroom and woman who works there refused to let her use it. She was mean and does not care about anyone else. Elizabeth was almost thrown out in the street to find another place. Nobody was open, and Elizabeth had a bad accident in her good pants. She was very upset about this. The woman at the store is heartless and mean and does not belong dealing with the public. She knows us, because we went in there alot of the time and spent alot of money. We are never going back into this store and hope they lose buisness because they are nasty to their customers. read more