The service was fantastic. The two people behind the counter were super helpful with any questions…read morewe had. The selection of books varies from local artists to a broader audience. All inclusive, all love inside the shop. The books were reasonably priced, and I am always going to support a local business over the corporate overlords.

I stopped by Shelf Life to view their selection while casually browsing in Carytown, but honestly…read morespent the bulk of my time in the shop hanging with their cow cats. How could you not? They are so cute, interactive, friendly and just plain adorable. What a cool place they get to call home. They seemed to have an expansive selection of quality books as 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.

This shop has a pretty remarkable selection of art books, philosophy, history, poetry, and music -…read moreone of my favorite places to visit in Richmond

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

Great bookstore downtown! The staff were friendly and helpful. A ton of selection of both books and…read moresmall gift items. The price point on everything was reasonable.

I absolutely love this local bookstore. It's so stunning and located in Shockoe Slip. It feels very…read moreRichmond with all the brick buildings and cobblestone streets. I usually take the bus when visiting, but there is street parking out front and nearby. This tiny bookstore has everything from books to small gifts. They carry most well-known trending books as well as fun local or independent finds. I haven't done it before, but it seems if they don't have a book in stock, you can order it through them. The prices are what you'd expect for a bookstore. On a recent trip, I was looking for a cookbook to get my friend for his birthday. There were specific ones he wanted. After hunting through their wonderful collection and having no luck, I asked someone who worked there. They were extremely kind and helpful. Although they didn't carry those specific cookbooks, they did give me recs for similar ones. I had a different question later and asked someone else who was equally as kind and helpful. I highly recommend visiting this bookstore. Although it is on the smaller side, there is a lot to explore. You will definitely leave feeling inspired to read more.

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.

The coolest place I've been to EVER. The first thing I noticed was the amazing musty smell of old…read morecarpet and BOOKS! The selection was vast so it will take me quite some time to peruse but this store is an absolute gem. There's a little something for everyone and I'm sure quite a few items you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Definitely worth stopping by

Very disappointed last visit. Store seems to be going downhill and the prices going up for used…read morebooks?

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.

This is one of my favorite places in the area. Whenever my partner and I go book shopping, we come…read morehere first (and we also sell them all the books we read for store credit). The staff is so friendly, and the selection of books is LARGE. There is something for everyone here, whether you're looking for a classic, a mystery, manga, a cookbook, or even a puzzle. They also do little events throughout the year, and put a lot of love and thought into them. If you follow their social media you can see when the events are and I encourage you to attend! They always have a fun game or free gift or little treats. It is such a homey feel, and is so great if you like the classic bookstore feel. The pricing structure is also simple and straightforward; you pay half the cover price for any book you get (which means many of the older books/airport readers are a super great deal). Couldn't recommend more!

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!