This bookstore is a gem. It has a robust calendar of speakers, signings, and special events. The venue is beautiful and well-organized. You can get lost in the stacks across multiple levels of the buildings. There is ample seating around a performance stage and overhead in the gallery. I appreciate the layout where people can gather in the main area around the stage, but then slip away into the stacks to browse or have a quiet chat. I can buy a book and a pastry and people-watch from a table overlooking the stage or just write in peace to the sound of jazz or the gentle rhubarb of polite conversation. In Harrisburg, it is a great place to meet people who share your interests, especially during these events. I've found it easy to talk with people about various subjects, which, as this is a "scholarly" bookstore, makes a lot of sense. I've actually managed to locate a few rare tomes and art pieces here over the years. Communication, however, is spotty. I've sent several inquiry emails that went unanswered. I've made phone calls where the callback with information never came. When dealing with the staff, they are cordial and professional with the immediate sale, but never seem interested in me or my money if they have to do additional work or communicate with me. I now only approach them looking for material if other locations fall through. But overall, if you want to spend some time with the kind of books you won't find at your local B&N, dive into a complex topic with the latest academic text, or just find something new and interesting, this is worth a trip to the city. read more

This bookstore is so wonderful and has an extensive selection for so many genres. A literary junkie can certainly spend hours upon hours perusing the aisles. There's a café and mezzanine seating for those looking to relax in a cozy environment. Definitely looking forward to a return visit the next time I'm in Harrisburg! read more

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This was a really great bookstore (and they sold some tasty brownies the size of my face for only $4 too!). Enjoyed meandering around the bookstore. Friendly, helpful staff (even though they were all quite busy). Their used books were fairly priced in my opinion. Downstairs I happened upon some really amazing art unexpectedly too. Would absolutely hope to visit again. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Some of the amazing art found in the store (Artist: Ladislav Hanka) - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Gorgeous multi-level bookstore! Right across from the Broad Street Market. The interior is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside! The front main entrance area has new/popular books with shelves with famous authors while the upper floor is a used books section broken down by genre. Towards the back they have an old archive that winds down to basement level with everything from economics to sociology to Chinese culture. They have a small cafe up front and a soup/bakery built in next to the children's section on the left. They also have outlets and places to sit. Friendly staff! read more

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Should be called the Midtown Souk! Mazes and mazes of books. Nicely organized into.nichey categories. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Lovely bookstore that feels like an old library. Also has good coffee if you want. They also have lots of autographed copies of books so it feels like they have a fair number of author events. read more

Ugh. I love this place. We came back a year later and had to stop on in again. The selection of sign books is unrivaled. The yuzu mocktail I had was killer. This bookstore is just MASSIVE. New and used, every genre. Rare books, reference, horror, anything you could want. All incredibly reasonably priced. I wish this was closer to home. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Really enjoyed this local bookstore in downtown Harrisburg earlier this month. Very inviting atmosphere, seating upstairs to enjoy coffee or tea and pastries. Great selection of new and used books! Special archives open on Fridays only. All the staff are friendly and helpful. Very walkable neighborhood. Everywhere in downtown Harrisburg has metered parking. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

This is one of the most amazing locally owned bookstore I have ever been it. So many well arranged books both new and used, a coffee shop, seating upstairs, a wonderful children's area, plus a little bakery with amazing sweet potatoes pie as well as other delicious looking treats. We were fortunate enough to stop there on national independent bookstore day and they had special free events all day plus a great Blackout poetry event in the rare book department next door. The staff was lovely. I think Harrisburg is very lucky to have this gem. Unfortunately I live in California but I will definitely be back next time I visit Harrisburg. read more

Refuses to respond to their ebay listings. If you're going to sell damaged books at least post pictures of them. Messaged them multiple times since early January. 0/10. Don't waste your time or money read more

Over the weekend we visited their annual book fair. It was amazing how many books they had for sale! Some books were selling for a dollar or less. And there were authors they're ready to sign books and so much more! It was the perfect day and the book fair was packed. read more

Midtown Scholar is an amazing spot. It is a unique independent bookstore that combines a large selection of used books with a nicely curated collection of new titles. The used books are grouped by topic and generally well-organized by author's last name. Midtown also has a rare book area and other unusual documents such as antique maps. Midtown's charming space also houses a small cafe with coffee and a small selection of baked goods. If you're a bibliophile, plan to spend several hours here. Other very nearby attractions include the Broad Street Market (across the street) and Susquehanna Art Museum (a short two-block walk). read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Midtown's cavernous main floor. - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Great selection. Had a problem with shipping - a result of a glitch in the referring company's platform. Midtown jumped on it and resolved the issue literally within minutes. Stuff happens. Service like this is commendable. Will be back. read more

REVIEW APPLICABLE FOR CAFE, SPECIFICALLY: I had the sweet potato cheesecake here, one of many options offered. Value; quantity; texture; taste; flavor; creaminess; and distinctiveness are above grade relative to comparable local offerings, and in excess of what I was expecting from a bookstore cafe. Highly recommended. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Great local bookstore - finally got to check it out over the weekend. easy parking across the street - not sure how it would be on a weekday, but for a rainy Saturday - no worries. multiple levels with nooks & crannies for perusing the selection of tomes. Was also drawn to their selection of antique maps. Can also get food & drinks and sit a bit if you can find a seat. Really nice atmosphere for a booklover! Recommended! read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Amazing shop for used books great selection of books and in an amazing shop. 100% will return again

I've been to Harrisburg a lot, but until a recent review by my Yelp friend David H. I had no idea Midtown existed. I think I drove by it once or twice but never knew how extensive their offerings are. A few random notes: If you're looking to spread out and hang for a while it's not that easy here. They have some limited seating upstairs on the 2nd floor, but again, it's limited. Just like I would imagine that if you're a gadget whore they probably don't have enough outlets which should be a given considering the age of the building and that it wasn't built to be a bookstore. I don't care about any of the F&B offerings but others do and they sell what seems like a fair amount. Good/Bad prices? Don't know/Don't care. In terms of book pricing, I don't know. I put more value in books then most do and I think what they charge is fair and in line. I see a few other "reviews" where people are in a twist about some of the pricing but honestly, nothing here is out of line. Don't forget to visit all three floors. It would be very easy to miss the basement which is easily the biggest space. Everything is down there. 18th century books for $20, 1st editions that go into the thousands, weird European litho-prints, sci-fi and economics as an example. Parking in Harrisburg is a two sided experience. On weekdays when government is around things can be horrible but I've been here now three times on weekends and you simply park across the street in the Millworks lot for how ever long you want without issue. Can you do that on weekdays? Beats me, but you sure as hell can on weekends. Some other joker Yelpers compared this place to Powell's in PDX and honestly that's stupid. That place is on a whole different level compared to Midtown and you also can't compare it to B&N or the defunct Borders back in days of yore. What makes this place so unique and neat is that it has it's own character, charm and is an experience that is hard to quantify. Midtown is a great place to turn off, tune out and just browse for things you never knew existed and in the words of Depeche Mode - "Enjoy the Silence". read more

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I passed by this place during my long walk in search of street murals in Harrisburg. I entered the store with the intention only to warm myself up on this cold winter day; however, I was immediately intrigued once inside.  The main space has a 2-story tall ceiling featuring an old oxidized copper/brass bell. The entire upper walls on the right side was a huge mural of people engaging in all kinds of leisure activities.  There were staircases in the back leading to the loft, and on the sides leading to the second floor.  The structure, the ambiance, and the smell of books were so inviting, begging me to stay longer and explore more.  Yeah, the setting is so very "scholarly" that it really reminded me of a library I used to spend time studying while in college. There's a café right at the entrance which doubled up as book checkout registers.  There are used books in the second floor gallery.  And there's a separate room through a door on the left for children's books. It's very rare these days to find an independent bookstore, let alone a cool one like this one. I strongly recommend a visit if you're in the area.  Together with the Broad Street Markets just across the street, it'll definitely be worth your trip. read more

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Vibes, selection, in-house coffee and breakfast is a major yes! It's cozy, hip and inviting! Coffee is good!

Attending a book signing. Horrible set up with a huge line to buy. The cashiers move at a snails pace. You'd think they would have pop up or self check out. Came with a group of friends. Won't be back read more

Go explore the basement! So many twists and turns and books! Books! Books! Had a matcha latte at the cafe, it was good. Server was so pleasant and engaging. Stickers were a little expensive --$5 each. But I bought one anyway ‍ read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - View from balcony - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

This place is awesome. Beautiful place to stop for a coffee and to paruse the selections. Limited seating if you want to get a little reading done read more

If you love books, Midtown Scholar Bookstore is a must visit bookseller in the greater Harrisburg area. They have a gigantic selection of books - new books, used books, collectible books, niche books, reference books - it's unreal just how many books you can find here. From the cheap $1 books outside to the pricier antiques inside, there's something here for everyone. There's also a nice selection of drinks and food if you're in the mood. The staff are super helpful if you need anything at all. The atmosphere is so cool - it feels both modern and restored rustic. Visiting Midtown Scholar is an experience you have to have if you live in south central Pennsylvania! read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Carts of $1 and $3 books line the outside of Midtown Scholar! - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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This bookstore was one of the best I've been too. They had a lot of books and a lot of original masterpieces as well. I love that their employees took the time out and helped us finding a particular series. After he and my family member were talking in depth about that series which I absolutely loved. read more

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Really cool bookstore, cool atmosphere, good coffee, and so much to look through. No books really interest me, but that was mot the case here! Lots of genres, I loved the cookbooks and all of the art books, a lot of great stuff! read more

This is an awesome bookstore in Midtown! Such a great selection of books, and the coffee is on point too! I could literally spend all day here. Don't forget to check out the basement! read more

One of the best bookstores I have been to has n the US. Just a sample of what I saw. Books on almost every religion. Books on almost every racial identity and their history. Books on most regions of the world Books on most professions rare books comic books including manga and it goes on and on. Outstanding place read more

Filled a bag with books for 15 bucks during my visit :) There's a cafe inside. Street parking only I think. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - LOL - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I love this bookstore. 2nd time I've visited this year (I'm from Pgh). Super friendly staff, good coffee, and such a great organization of the books! read more

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Loads of books with cheap coffee that still tasted good! Not a lot of seating area or outlets to do work, though.

Huge bookstore that is nicely categorized. They have a little drink counter, I got a raspberry Italian soda which was good but didn't have the cream which, to me, is an integral part of the drink. I did end up getting a book too. read more

Beautiful building. Great selection of new and used books, reasonably priced. Also very well equipped coffee bar. Straight across the street from the Broadstreet Market. Would love to come again and poke around. read more

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This place is every booklovers/coffee lover's dream. As soon as you step in, the smell of old and new books hit you. I got myself a latte at the cafe (drinks are about $5), headed up the stairs to one of the nooks that had a table, and spent sometime catching up on some personal reading. I also took sometime to look around to see their collection, which is really extensive. They've got used books upstairs, new books on the main floor, and rare/old books downstairs (2 floors down). They also have some artists' print down there too! There is a kid section as well, also on the main floor. My only regret is that I couldn't spend more time here. Definitely a great place to spend a few hours or get some studying done! read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Lovely book shop with a great selection of books! The staff was helpful and did some research for me about a series I wanted to start so I would know which book to begin with. The charm of the shop itself is worth a stop in, even if you aren't much of a reader. read more

I've been too a bookstore or two in my time and Midtown Scholar Bookstore is the best I've ever been too (including Powell's in Portland and Strand in NYC). At first, I thought I was impressed because I didn't expect it in a smaller city like Harrisburg, but no. Midtown is objectively the best bookstore in the USA. Here's why: 1) The building: It's in an old theater and the front still maintains the theater vibe. Once inside, you're inside a world of thousands of old, new, and rare books. The ceilings are high and you quickly notice it's two levels. However, as you explore, you'll stumble upon more floors and rooms off to the side of the main hall. In total, there are five levels to the bookstore. On the upper level, there's even a balcony with tables and a great view of Broad Street Market and the Pennsylvania State Capital building. 2) The books: The main section sells new books, but the rest of the store showcases old and even rare, historic books for sale. They have every section you can imagine. Note: It's a bit hard to navigate the sections, but the staff are friendly and more than willing to help. Also note: the business section is a little lacking. They sell academic books, but not your more accessible business books. 3) The staff: They are friendly and more than willing to help in a non-intrusive way. They are inviting and you leave with a pleasant experience. 4) The amenities: There's a coffee bar inside, but it doesn't stop there. There's another cafe/bakery in the kids section. Amazing! If you love books and independent bookstores, make a trip to Midtown Scholars Bookstore. It's America's Mecca of bookstores. read more

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A must visit store for book and coffee lovers!! I was traveling through the area and came across this place through a Yelp search. New books, old books, used books. Books everywhere! What I loved about this place--and there are many reasons--is their competitive prices. A new book is less than regular price, more than the cost on Amazon, but cheaper than Amazon plus shipping. I also loved their used Religion section--it's plentiful with a great selection. For example, I found an excellent copy of volume 7 of The Works of Jonathan Edwards selling for $45! I've been to Powell's bookstore in Portland and what i think separates Midtown Scholar from Powell's is their used and old books selection, competitive prices, cozy atmosphere, and selection of prints. If you love coffee then you're in luck. Midtown Scholar serves Counter Culture. The coffee bar is beautiful and espresso machine is excellent. Tables are scattered throughout Midtown scholar; students seemed to enjoy studying at the tables. I probably spent about 2 hours looking at the wide selection of books. In the new book section I found a wide selection of newly published book. It seemed like they had a large selection of poetry books. I love this bookstore and anticipate visiting the next time I travel through Harrisburg. read more

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Was really excited to visit this bookstore with my wife. It has a broad selection of books and reminded me of books I wanted to read and reminisced about books I have read. The prices seemed gouged. Some of the new books seem higher than the new book prices, with new labels over them. The used books are way too pricey. I appreciate independent bookstores and it's fun to look around, but we didn't buy anything. I'd rather buy at my local library sales or places that donate to charity. Kinda sad, because I don't want to see the indies go, but the prices need to be competitive. Also there are three levels and no elevators or ramps. Would be hard to differently-abled folks. read more

There's something about a large room crowded with books that makes me feel as if I've stepped into Beauty & The Beast. The smell, the look, the feel... It's all so warm, cozy and inspiring! Midtown Scholar Bookstore was just the place I was looking for when in search for a spot to hunker down and work for a couple of hours. At the front of the store, you'll find a coffee counter with drinks and bites. There are three levels to the store and tables of all sorts scattered around. I ordered a simple macchiato (made with Counter Culture beans) and wandered a bit to find a seat. It was busy, but I was eventually able to find a table and outlet to plug into! Now, if you're here to actually shop and not work, you can bet they have books of every genre. I could easily get lost for hours just browsing around. I will definitely come back here the next time I'm town and would encourage anyone to check it out! read more

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I like many things about Midtown, but especially Midtown's Colour. This place is named after that. The Midtown's Colour Bookstore. It's a wonderful book store. Prices aren't dirt cheap, but then how could they stay in business if they were? Not a lot of people are buying books these days, so stop by and grab something and check out the awesome selection they have here. I hope stores like this will always be around, but you worry - especially in modern times. read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - As opposed to an uptown girl looking for a downtown man. That's what I am. - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Amazing independent bookstore with a great cafe! The selection of new and used books is excellent! read more

Midtown Scholar Bookstore - the interior of the bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania