What a charming new and used bookstore in fed hill. I've seen this store for years and years and never stopped in. But I was in the area checking out a new vintage store and thought I'd pop in. Retail is kind of dying in this area, but book escape was thriving. There were lots of people in there browsing and reading. There's a really cute back area with a mermaid mural and a reading nook. There's a lot of brand new books sold at 15% off, which are among the best sellers list. I thought in this economy - what a steal of a deal that is! The front desk is right around the front corner and the owner seemed nice. There's a huge selection of music in the corner and I thought that for a used bookstore, it was really well organized. It is a little clustered, but overall really bright and airy and lots of books! read more

The Book Escape - Outside - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Used book stores are dinosaurs. Or unicorns. Or Four leaf clovers. Anyway, a real one is rare and wonderful to see. This one feels old, smells old, and seems full of possibilities. The Book Escape is moderate in size. It has a well organized assortment of books and LP's. We enjoyed our time there and ended up with two books and a record album. But had we had more time (we spent maybe 45 minutes) we could easily have arrived upon another 5 or 6 title we just HAD to read. Loved the setting, loved the street parking, and loved the store. read more

Popped into the Book Escape because my wife wanted to check it out. What I loved: *Incredible selection of used books *Great value, left with two used books, one in really good shape, for ten dollars. *Everything from kids books to adult books, really old to new *Local interest books *Owner could point you in the direction of what you need *The mermaid room *Russian gifts?! *Records So why not five stars: *To the layman, seemed very unorganized *Books on top of books on top of books, piles everywhere *As far as I could tell, prices aren't marked on some books, I didn't know what I was going to pay until I was rung up There is a lot to like at The Book Escape. Can't wait to return. read more

The Book Escape can be found in Federal Hill with (free) street/ curb side parking available on Sundays. I love books, especially used books at a discount and so The Book Escape was the place I wanted to go while visiting Baltimore. My husband brought me here this past Sunday, so that I could browse. This bookstore also sells new books as well and believe they are 15% discounted off the listed price. After browsing through the fiction, thriller and mystery sections, I ended up with one book (although I know I could have easily purchased a few more, but not sure how much space I can give up in my luggage to bring them all back). For the most part, the used books I browsed through were discounted a little bit more than 50% off the listed price. There are also mystery grab bags up in the front by the register. They are placed in black bags and marked by type of genre. The fiction bag definitely tempted me but again, because I am not sure if I will have enough space for additional books, I refrained from buying it (honestly you may find the best read this way when choosing a book blindly sometimes). The owner of the store rang me up. I was able to pay with credit card via square. The transaction experience was pleasant and the owner seemed nice. If I lived in this area, I would be back here again. read more

I got a new book for 15% off standard pricing! It's quite a deal to shop here. The owner seemed very nice and obliging as well. The selection is decent as well! Found a book I was curious about here. read more

I barely even read, however the look of this bookstore is and overall vibe is great, the workers help constantly, ask about your day, and help you find the true types of books you would like. The pricing of the books, however reasonable, I feel they were a tiny bit out of budget. Still, they have an amazing selection and they're always in stock. read more

Wide selection! Could have spent *hours* in here digging--literally digging--through stacks and stacks of books. Found a brand new academic book for $8.00. read more

The Book Escape - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I highly recommend The Book Escape in Fed Hill. They always have a great selection, deals on books, accept books, and have fair prices. I found myself stuck between their selection of records on display in front of the store for only a dollar. On Thursdays, they even have a number of free books of varying topics to meet everyone quick knowledge or summer book fix. If you have any questions, do be shy and ask the owner for any assistance. He is always of great help. read more

The Book Escape - The front of the store with the free books and records for sale. - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This bookstore is a secret, magical portal of bliss-- it is a perfect, hidden gem of the neighborhood with a wise and wide selection of books, fair prices, lovely owners, and many one of a kind treasures (handmade Russian enamel painted miniatures, vintage children's books,, first editions, handmade crafts, secret reading nooks, etc) and if you live nearby it would be deeply unfortunate if you missed it. read more

This place is a green for the neighborhood. There aren't really spots like this around anymore and I love that this shop is still strong. It not only offers a vast book and record selection but is setup for someone to explain and get lost. There are also cozy corners where you can sit and read a few chapters. read more

Been going to this book store for over twenty years. Great selection, super accommodating owner, and more than fair prices on both new and used books. One of my favorite spots in the city! read more

What a stinkin cool place! If you're around the inner harbor you've got to check this place out. I swear if more people knew it would be on those 'most instagrammed places in Baltimore'. I don't have that app but you need to come check this out. Owners are a super nice couple. There's a cat. Murals. IT SMELLS SO GOOD. I love the smell of books. I would buy all my books here if I lived there. This is a gem. read more

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Great hole-in-the-wall second hand bookstore. I never go there looking for something specific, but always find SOMETHING.

I walked 3 miles to check out this gem of a book store. And was not the slightest bit disappointed. Random stacks of books line the walls, door frame, floor and tables. Each section is labeled. My favorite part is the outdoor patio which makes a great spot to skim through the books you are going to buy. Also the reader's choice section with sticky notes of why they are great books is so valuable and gives the store a personal touch. They have a large travel section with guide books and a small shelf dedicated to CDs! Also they had an overwhelming number of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on their shelf. read more

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Such a charming bookstore, with free cookies, trinkets, and a cute and mellow kitten. Prices are extremely reasonable, and love the support for local artists and authors. Will definitely come back soon to visit! read more

Awesome used book store. Definitely on my list of favorites from all my travels. Amazing selection, great prices and the owner was super helpful and kind. They have records as well!!! His wife's incredible art is in the shop and it is absolutely stunning. A treat to witness. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves books, records, art, history and chill ambiance. They have something for everyone. read more

On my first post-COVID trip to Baltimore, I went to the Light St address to find the building empty. Horrors! But The Book Escape is not gone, just moved to 925 S Charles St. Same interesting and diverse inventory with good prices in a bit smaller space. read more

The Book Escape - Outside - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great neighborhood used bookstore. Overflowing with books. Good selection. Also offers some limited New condition books. It's pretty tight inside, but I look forward to going back. read more

Great selection, inexpensive and personal service. It is always a pleasant experience to look around and be reminded of the authors of times past....recently Louis L'Amour, Zane Gray and Owen Wister. read more

Just a great bookstore with everything you could want and nothing you don't. - Broad and deep selection of books. - Very reasonable prices. - Purchases used books for fair prices and more than fair store credit rates. - Welcoming environment, with friendly ownership. - If all of that was not enough, here is you really need to know; THEY HAVE A CAT. It wonders the store freely, is of course adorable :) read more

The Book Escape - Proprietor - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We're were visiting from out of town and passed this store and figured we'd pop in and let me say I have zero regrets! This shop was so fun and cozy with so many choices we were in heaven! And the mystery bags was a must, if I ever come back to Baltimore I'm going straight back! Highly recommend read more

The Book Escape - Free tote with purchase of a mystery bag!! - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I checked out this place after seeing it in this week's Local Yelp about books! It was so cool to go in and find the coziest bookstores I've ever been in. Totally beats going to chain book stores. The staff is friendly but let's you explore, willing to help you find any title. Each section and shelf is clearly labeled by genre. Towards the back of the store is a seating area and you guessed it, more books! This place is small but mighty. I don't doubt that you could find any title you're looking for here. A lot of cool books and even cool trinkets/gifts like vintage Baltimore postcards. I ended up buying a post card and 'The Celestine Prophecy' because I've always heard that it's a classic book that will change you. I can't wait to read it. It was on the used table so I got it for a bit cheaper. I loved the quaint atmosphere and recommend anyone who's curious to pop in and explore! read more

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This is my favorite used bookstore in Baltimore, and actually, they also have a few choice new books, too, so it is actually my overall favorite book store. There is a good selection on a wide variety of topics, from summer reads, to great classics, to music and art, science, etc., etc. The prices are reasonable, and you can trade books in for credit to use for future purchases. The Book Escape also has some extras worth checking out, like record albums and crafts made in Russia, and interesting or curious objects and artworks (some for sale). Also, books on shelves outside are drastically reduced to something like 2 dollars or sometimes even free. (It depends on the day of the week.) The location is great--it's right around the corner from the Cross Street Market. The owner is knowledgeable and courteous. Five stars, for sure! read more

This was a cool spot, but unfortunately the space is way too small. As you'd expect with a used book store, there is stuff stacked everywhere and there is not much organization within each section. The overall layout of the store is awkward, but I guess what can you expect with it being in the bottom of a rowhouse. My biggest complaints are that the sections aren't labelled that well so it's not entirely clear what some of the sections are, and that there are tons of books which are stacked 2 deep, so you have to constantly move books to get to other books. That said, it's still really cool to have a store like this in the neighborhood. I didn't find anything there on my first visit, but I'm sure I'll check it out again. Wish this could somehow merge with Protean books down the street as that has a much worse selection of books, but a much bigger and better space. read more

Super cool bookstore in Federal Hill! The selection here is good, consisting mostly of used books. There was a small outdoor patio in between two sections of the store, as well as a lot of wooden bear statues scattered around. The bookshop is also connected to a Russian boutique with some interesting art and other knickknacks. Worth checking out! read more

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For a books store, this place is amazing. No big expensive coffee drinks being sold with food. It is JUST a place for true BOOK PURISTS. LOTS of old books, lots of books that will have you saying "I remember reading that as a kid!!". The difference here is when you pick up the book, it IS the original print, or perhaps a year or two later. Charming sitting area to read. The reading area is small and intimate. You must check this place out if you are in town. I THOUGHT I was done, and then the very nice owner said there is another building @____@. REALLY? lol SO I walked across a cute little courtyard, and poof, a whole other building. THIS building is filled with paintings, wood carvings, handmade unique jewelry......and more books. There is the cute wooden carved bear near a fireplace, resting on and around classic National Geographic's. Very informed staff. I asked about several hard to find books, and he knew just where to look It is obvious this bottom floor is some ones passion, and it would not shock me if the owner lived upstairs. So very quirky and unique.....I tried to capture the ambience in pictures. read more

The Book Escape - Hardy Boys Nancy Drew - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'm a huge fan of used bookstores, but they tend to be disorganized and poorly stocked. The Book Escape is actually quite nice. Firstly, they have each book catalogued into a computerized database so you don't have to rely on an employee's memory as to whether or not a certain book or author is in stock. Second, the shelves are labeled with genres and subgenres, and then further organized into categories and alphabetized. If you don't want to search through the shelves, there's a section for popular books and classics right at the entrance. The prices are pretty decent as well. Not as low as some bookstores I've been to, especially the hardcovers, but not bad. I picked up a copy of Room by Emma Donoghue for $4 and Dreamcatcher by Stephen King for $3 (both paperback). Above all else, I love the quirky atmosphere. It's filled with antique prints and pins and has cute handmade signs on the shelves. You know it's a quality bookstore because the owner (?) keeps his dog behind the counter. read more

What a wonderful book store! I found three priceless books I didn't know I needed in my first 5 minutes of browsing. The books are arranged into easy groupings, to make it easier to browse and find the treasures you need. I didn't know the authors I purchased, but I will be following them in the future, as I love their writing style. Thanks so much to The Book Escape for helping me to find them. I will be back soon! One note: They have moved to South Charles Street recently, so make sure you have the right address. read more

This place is HUGE!! Tons and tons of books, both old and new. It was super cool traveling through the maze like store, it really felt like an experience on its own. If you can't find that particular book, this is the place you should look. read more

The Book Escape - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The Book Escape is such a gem in Federal Hill. They recently helped me find a very in-demand book and held it for me! Their used book selection is so vast, and organized very well. If you are looking for a great half day activity on a nice day, go to The Book Escape, grab a book that looks good, and walk down to the harbor and enjoy your new read with a great view. Federal Hill is so lucky to have this gem of a store!! read more

Great little used bookstore with great deals! I bored my husband to death while I slowly browsed all of the great options (that were well-organized and labeled, I might add), especially in the art book section. Left with 4 great books to take back to Florida and I don't think I spent more than $15. Worth stopping in if you're a fan of books! read more

great little used bookstore. They have a great sci fi corner as well as a pretty large pop fiction section. Also, if you are looking for a specific title used, check out their website which has a search browser. Forget Barnes and Noble. Come here instead. read more

I love the book escape! Can't believe I've never reviewed it before, as I've been known to lose hours in this place.... It's the perfect blend of used bookstore-ish traits (cramped, random, creaky, piles of books everywhere) and goal-oriented book shopping (pretty well organized, good staff pics, best sellers in the front.) The staff is helpful when you address them (otherwise they just leave you alone forever, which is nice). They do have a computer (another reviewer said they don't- you can look up a book and it will tell you if its in the store or in their basement storage. I've not been able to find a used book twice, only to have a staff person retrieve it from the basement in less than 5 minutes. They simply can't fit everything upstairs in this lil place. They also give fair prices for books you sell back to them. Even better, they'll save your credit in the computer for you so you don't have to hold on to it. You can check the status of your credit online at home, or just trust them (they do a good job.) The cute little signs that play off the old row house the shop is in amuse me: "Beware of the Closet!" (Horror books in there) "Tunnel of Love" (Romance books kept in the fireplace.) Cute little touches. Support the Book Escape rather than nearby Barnes and Noble-- if they don't have it- they will order whatever you want. read more

A hidden gem in Baltimore and well worth dropping in. You never know what you're going to find, it's like an adventure every time!! So happy we found this place and have already stopped back in twice. Can't wait to go back read more

Love this place! If you are familiar with DC's Capitol Hill Books, the Book Escape is similar (with some added organization). There is a great selection of books here and they are all reasonably priced. I wish I could have spent more time in the stacks here. A really cool vibe and a wonderful place to look around! read more

Amazing gem in Federal Hill! The selection here was incredible, one could spend all day looking through the used books of all different genres and even a few new books at the front of the store. Helpful staff. Overall great trip, I'll definitely be going back! read more

The Book Escape - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The bookshop had a lot of tempting books, but I was selling today. I sold 20 books and got $25. I guess that's an ok price. If you want store credit, you get around three times as much money. For me, store credit would be akin to giving an alcoholic a few cans of beer and hoping for the best - and I don't need another hundred books. Thank God they had a cat there. read more

Simply a wonderful little used bookstore in an era when too much has fallen to the Kindle. They have a solid inventory management system to help you find things, and staff are pretty helpful if you need something found or temporarily held. I mostly shop kids'books as gifts for the little ones, and they had some rare gems at pretty fair prices. Happy to give them dollars and keep the dream above a bit longer. read more

Excellent used book store. Needed 9 Shakespeare's books, found them all! 2 houses worth of books with an adorable courtyard and helpful staff! read more

I came in here after 3 tries to sell some (less than desirable) books. The first place took all the "good" ones, the next two didn't want anything that was left. The book escape was my last ditch effort...I was in the neighborhood on an unrelated errand, and figured it was worth a shot. These were weird books. A Czech-English dictionary. A "drawing for architects" text in Spanish. Plus a few that are just "out of date" (3rd store's words)...books from Oprah's book list 10 years ago. I didn't get any cash. But! I did get some store credit, and found some neat stuff. And considering that no one else would even take them, at least I got them out of my house and my car! My jaw nearly hit the floor when I realized I was speaking with the owner, and that there was no question that he'd take them, just for how much. Next time (if there is a next time), I bring them all here, first. Then they get the "good" stuff along with the "funky." One trip. Easy peasy. read more