Shelf Life is always my top recommendation when visiting Carytown. The staff are incredibly helpful…read moreand knowledgeable. Never be afraid to ask for recommendations or help finding a specific book! If you are lucky, you will get to see the store cats lounging in the window by the banned book section. Downstairs is reserved for new books, with well curated and intentional sections. Upstairs features huge selection of used books from all genres. I snagged a copy of "Still Life" in almost new condition for $7.95.

Wow!! Favorite Bookshop of my travels! Loved that there is a well organized level of Used books or…read moreas I love to say pre-loved-- is there a dollar shelf- not that I could find but that said - I did buy 2 brand new books from the wonderful LOCAL Authors and local interest section. I felt welcome and I am sure if I had wanted a book recommendation staff would have given me some. Other bookstores I visited in Virginia were not welcoming - . The shop is colorful- I didn't see the Shop cats but lots of Cat love items, fun stickers, a little bit of book bags- and I was tempted by the books- loved the corners upstairs to sit and hang out with a book or 2. Hard to choose just a couple! A must if you love books and are visiting RICHMOND-- and it sits on a street with coffee shops and more- so definitely worth an UBER if you are not staying in the neighborhood. . I dropped off a few "recommendations" since I also work in a bookshop and hope they will stock those in the future- I think they would do well.

I have never personally been to a bigger book selection in my life. Almost worth making the trip…read morejust to come to this place only for the books if you love books. Almost. They even have a decent number of CDs although they are priced higher than many Goodwills. Staff seems to be all volunteer. The staffer I encountered really knew his books like nothing else and he really understood vintage vs newer and how many different categories were integrated with each other. He also understood how some other volunteers might improperly categorize things and where to optimally try to look. He could tell that I had a sense of the different array of things in the store too. I was a bit surprised when he told me that he was here only part time. He was trying to see if he could give me a discount as he could tell I a bit surprised about the CD price. Even told me if I got one more CD or DVD that it would be $1 more. However, it was near closing and I just kept the purchase I had decided on. Two of the three CDs I got turned out not to be a win for me. Lol that is how it goes. He told me he worked here part time. He may've assumed I would come back here regularly. That person can feel free to reach out via private message if he was looking to build something more outside of the store. He was staying professional- and I was starting to get tired from a long trip and didn't want to hold him up from near closing time. He noticed my unique choose your own adventure shirt (with quality choices on the back) stuck out to him as did several other people in public.

Highly recommend this shop. My boyfriend and I went NUTS and both found a pile each of awesome…read morebooks for a steal. I'm halfway through the first already. All the books are great prices. I found some treasures. Not just books but DVDs, video games, crystals, and other stuff! Almost every book is under $6. The younger girl who was working was really nice and helpful. They have comics, kids books, old and new, something from almost every genre and type. It's a pretty massive place and it was fun combing through their genres!

I love this bookshop…read more I have been shopping there for at least 15 years. Always an excellent and unexpected selection of books. Support local and independent booksellers!

Absolutely lovely selection. I was a turd and didn't…read morethink to check the hours before driving a 30 - 40 minute drive to stop by. When at the door I noticed "by appointment" and decided to call, luckily they were in, and kindly allowed me in to see the books. The owner is very gracious and will help you find what you're out for, even if its on 10 different subjects.

This is the cutest little bookstore. It is a few steps underground and you can find parking in…read morefront of it. It is a very small place, but it is well-organized by genres. They also sell records and have a bargain section for $1 by the register, but those have to be paid in cash. I saw a lot of great books there and was able to find a Wally Lamb book. There were tons of books for such a small space and the books are fairly priced.You can bring books to sell, but only until 4pm. It is worth a visit.

I popped into Small Friend on a Thursday afternoon. They are tucked downstairs of a cute old…read morebuilding, and are located to the left in a small, neat room. I really appreciated the many genres of books they housed, and how many of the novels centered around magic, anarchy, protest, diverse cultures, etc. they had a great selection of stickers and little trinkets as well, which is fun to look at. I was a little confused because they are a new and used bookstore, but I didn't see used prices on any of the books I picked up, just the sticker prices. They even had signs about them buying books, but I didn't understand really where I could shop used if I so desired. The man at the register was quiet and didn't interrupt my browsing, but was kind when I greeted him and offered to help another guest while I was there. Since I generally don't find myself on Main Street and mostly shop used books, this isn't my fav store in the area, but it's definitely convenient for this part of town and has great stock!

This was my third visit to 2nd & Charles, and it continues to deliver. Stopped in for their…read morePenny-A-Page event and somehow walked out with 7 books for under $35. Yes, we did it in two transactions; no judgement Their selection is seriously impressive; everything from kids' books to adult reads, so it's easy to get lost browsing. I've also picked up CDs here as gifts, and the condition has always been pristine. If you're into collectibles, they have a huge selection of Funko Pops, and their video game section is a solid find for collectors too. If you love a good bargain, this place is a must. Buying used is not only budget-friendly, but it's also a win for the environment. Highly recommend!

Many of the staff here were attentive and provided impeccable service during the holiday shopping…read morebonanza that bestowed the 2025 season. The store was well organized amidst the chaos. There was a huge selection of books, music, Funko Pops, and tons of other items. The prices were reasonable, though, some of the plushies were ridiculously priced. (e.g., the little stuffed insect plague doctor has been $35 for a few years now ). Anyway, I wanted to shout out a special thank you to the employee who found my phone, immediately put it in the safe, and called the number I left on the lock screen to get it back to me. I was very touched by the thoughtfulness of those involved. I wanted to say thank you again

I don't even know where to begin. I came in because I'd received a gift card and had yet to come…read morecheck out the shop, but had always heard good things about it. I knew I'd spend money when I came in today but I had no idea it would be like this! The staff were so extremely kind and helpful as soon as I walked in. They could see I already had some stuff picked and offered to hold it for me at the front while I continued to shop if I wanted. They have things everywhere! If you think you've seen it all there, you haven't. There's more somewhere that you missed because this place is packed and has so many hidden treasures inside. After shopping around and heading up to checkout, I inquired about their membership. They let me add the membership before checking out so I could use the discount that comes with it and they applied it to my husband's purchase too since he was buying stuff for me. I am so obsessed with this shop! I will be a frequent visitor now. I hadn't found a local bookstore I really felt a connection with but this place is special.

A cute little bookstore in the middle of Shockho Slip. They also sell nice giftware. I picked up a…read morebook and some unique chocolates. Staff was friendly.

Kind, informative, courteous! Called from California…read more Friendly! Answered all questions.

A bookstore in Richmond to visit on Broad Street. I found parking around the corner since you can't…read morepark in front of the store. When I got there, they had a table of books for $1, mostly kid's books. Once inside, there are books along the wall. I also saw comic books, records and some vintage ads by decades. They have a very tiny kid's section nothing to rave about. My impression is that they had a lot of books, but not a lot of popular books. It was still worth a look. I did see some books about Art and Architecture. I am sure I am missing mentioning more, but that is what I remembered. The books were fairly priced and was glad to find 2 books. You can see my pics to see them. The bookstore seems to have been there a long time. It doesn't look like it's been updated ever. There is an old vibe here, but these are the kinds of bookstore you will find something cool and rare. The old register at the counter is also a classic.

One of the best bookstore / pop culture spots to visit solo or in a group…read more I went with my spouse and three friends as an after lunch outing, and we were big kids in thus place! Though I didn't find anything this time to purchase, my friends did and they were smiling from ear to ear!

I absolutely adore 2nd & Charles. It's honestly the closest thing to a treasure trove for books,…read moretoys, and music. They have a great selection of both new and used books at really affordable prices. Plus, they usually have multiple copies of the same book with varying price tags. I visited recently and managed to snag 9 books for about $100. Given that new books typically cost between $15-25, it was definitely a steal. Note: I only buy books from here & nothing else. I bought some new books and some used books. The used ones were in great condition, they looked almost brand new. There were no marks, smudges, tears, or anything that made the book seem used. However, I noticed the orange sticker on the book, which indicated that it was at a discounted price.

Lots of parking, friendly staff, tons of variety, and fair book buyback program! Today was my first…read moretime going. They buy books back for 1/4 of the list price, and you buy books for 1/2 the list price - simple! I went on my lunch break but will go back on a weekend when I have more time! Huge Western and history sections and tons of hidden gems! They have little trinkets and stickers for sale, and they have membership programs + reading programs as well.

Books are 50% off the cover price, in the back there are 1$, 2$, & 3$ books marked with…read morecorresponding stars *. I picked up a couple of books from those shelves. There's a section for vintage and classic books and an adorable couch to sit on if you want to get cozy and read a bit. The window displays are always cute, there's a "beach" read theme for the summer! Inside there's a mystery display. Current popular authors are found as well as some obscure ones. Very small poetry section, which is sad as I'm a fan and writer of poetry! Nice and helpful staff!