Staff are very knowledgeable. I enjoy browsing the used books in the basement. They have a great…read morevariety of kids books. My partner was able to locate some used books here that we couldn't find at the library, or the waitlist was way too long. Most used books are in almost new condition. Some used books are as low as $8 per book which a great deal. There is no bathroom in the bookstore (my little one had to go!) staff informed us we could use the theatre bathroom (next door).

I was referred to Pages Books from another bookstore while searching for a used book, and I'm so…read moreglad I stopped in. This store is amazing--truly a book lover's delight! They have a great selection of both new and used books. When I asked about the title I was looking for, the staff member at the front quickly located it for me, which I really appreciated. They even have a bookstore kitty, which made the visit extra charming. Definitely worth a stop if you love books!

An extremely varied and knowledgeably curated selection of books thoughtfully presented. Friendly…read moreand helpful staff. Highly recommended.

I didn't have enough time…read more.. I wandered into Shelf Life Books too close to closing time. As I browsed the shelves, I quickly discovered that I was a special independent bookstore and felt a certainly literary nirvana that I had last experienced at Powell's Books in Portland. The selection was thoughtfully curated and was strong with the Canadian Author force. Around every corner was a new thought-provoking discovery and a desire to linger and explore further. Then it was time to go.... .....I'll be back.

I was recently doing some birthday shopping for a friend and I knew that the one thing he'd…read moreappreciate more than anything else would be a gift bag full of books. Really? Yes. I headed over to Coles in T.D. Square and I must say: the service was *excellent*. The girl working the store was ouber helpful and she even gave me an added discount because of the number of books that I was buying! Despite the fact that T.D. Square is under major construction right now, I highly recommend that if you're in the market for some new books, you head over to this specific location. The service really sets them apart, and good service always goes hand in hand with a good review :)

Walked in clean organized store Winifred is a love, store puppy. Staff was amazing. I had old…read morerecords to sell. Was honest and upfront but took the time to look through them. Made an offer and gave options. I highly recommend them. They have a great selection and very easy to find things.

Blackbyrd first opened in Edmonton in the dark days of 1993 and relocated to its Whyte Avenue…read morelocation in 1996. After professing a love for Tubby Dog, they are now a pan-Albertan company: they opened their Calgary location in 2015, and the Beltline scene has benefitted from having another record store to haunt. Blackbyrd has built up its collection through its network of international distributors and a healthy used section, and their special orders system is efficient. The building itself is a clean split-level south-facing space it shares with Gravity Pope, generously sunlit and welcoming - an ideal browsing experience. They have done synergistic discounts between the stores, a surefire way to boost business, and their giveaways for concert tickets and the occasional turntable is welcome. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, but mostly stay out of the way until you need them - I've had a couple of fantastic phone interactions with them. The main difference between this location and the Edmonton one is size, and therefore stock. While they do have a great array of the rarer albums, their CD section is lamentable in comparison (what can I say, I hold the flame for discs - I will be there for the CD revival coming in the 2020's). The prices are largely comparable to - and often better than - Sloth. A great addition to 17th Avenue's shopping district.

Don't waste your time if you're looking to trade anything. Was actually insulted by his trade offer…read moreand not even close to fair . Also noticed his prices for older collectible comics is definitely over priced . The owner comes across as a hoarding collector.

I've been going here since I was a kid. very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I love the hole in…read morethe wall approach. the atmosphere is wonderful. Everytime I walk into the store the smell and look is the same from when I was a kid. it really takes me back.

I've been buying from Wade since this store first opened. Great selection of vintage gear, with the…read moreknowledge to back up what they sell. Reasonable rates for repair, with a 60 day warranty. Lots of cool records too (main floor and basement). I've bought hundreds of LP's from That Old Retro Store over the last few years, and I'm quite particular regarding condition when digging for records. I always walk out with an armful of gems, priced fairly. Recently I was looking for a clean replacement copy of Allan Holdsworth's 'Metal Fatigue' (original pressing). I called around town, and the only store that had a copy was That Old Retro Store. Lindsey said she'd have to check her stock, and she got back to me right away. The LP looked like it had never been played, and was $10. That really made my day! While there, I snagged a few more records, all priced reasonably and in near mint condition. The staff at That Old Retro Store have always been very friendly, and operate with the utmost professionalism. A pleasure to deal with.

My wife is Canadian (we live in the southern US) so we were in town visiting her family/our family…read more and I found this record store right next to KnifeWear Japanese knives that I was visiting. The owner was extremely courteous and informative. I spent a couple hours there which was not enough time to go through everything he had and he has lots! I'm currently listening to an absolutely mint Duran Duran-Notorious album that I purchased for $20 Canadian. Extremely happy with my purchases, thank you sir!

Looking through the shelves of this bookstore while I waited for my takeout order a few doors down;…read moreI was immediately taken by their small but unusual selection of books, comic books, graphic novels and DVDs. I didn't find what I was looking for, but time flew by as I looked through this book and that. What I loved was that I wasn't hounded by the lady manning the counter to buy before reading a chapter or two. And, as there was no free wi-fi to be had in these parts, it was a friendly reminder that... hey! Reading is fun! For real. Would love to come back when I have more time, to see what needs to occupy my personal collection :).

This little shop has high quality gifts, clothing, DVDs, books, and more. They carry some jewelry…read morethat is quite unique and a great price range, and they have handmade Alpaca blankets and wraps, vegan leather purses and bags, and some very nice summer clothing, not at all the typical tourist stuff. I love this place for finding unique gifts.

Books Between Friends is something of an indoor yard sale, or perhaps more like a Recordland for…read morebooks. The selection is what you'd find at a huge used book sale like Calgary Reads, but on a smaller scale, housed in a warehouse labyrinth, hidden inside an industrial area. The selection ranges from a few shelves of classic literature to a room of science fiction to a hallway full of mystery novels. There's history, biography, historical fiction, Oprah's books, cookbooks, business, and if you have never been there before one of the staff will give you a tour of the place. (And all the other genres I won't list.) They accept donations most days of the week, and most of the books sell for $1 or $2, or otherwise as marked. Bring a list of stuff you want, and if they don't have it you can leave your list with them and if it shows up they'll email you and set it aside. Money raised goes to a dozen local charities, and the location is donated by a business that sells computer cables (which are also for sale at ridiculously low prices). There is a small selection of DVDs and CDs for $2, so you can donate those as well. Don't be deterred by the lack of signage out front, and don't show up at 10 to 5 hoping they'll still be open. They might close early (like today), and you need to give yourself lots of time for browsing. I considered a 4 star review, probably because they didn't have the one exact book I was looking for, but I really have to change that to 5 stars. There's no downside to visiting this place, I'd recommend it to everyone, and you're likely to find something you want. Or an armful of something you want, at garage sale prices, with the proceeds going to charity.

Dropped in to the store a few days ago, with my hand sanitiser handy and was met by a voice telling…read moreme that I needed to wash my hands. Told him that I was just going to use the sanitiser and he responded with something to the effect that it was misused by customers, caused damage to the books, and he would not allow me in unless I washed my hands. There are a number of really good used bookstores in Calgary that aren't run like some kind of military organisation so I left immediately. Cannot recommend this kind of attitude towards customers.