This place is a total rip-off! The retail prices on the back of the books are covered in black…read moresharpie so you can't see how much you're being overcharged for a USED book! Literally all these books are priced like $0.50 less than the retail price. Total bs. Don't give this place your money, totally undeserving.

Patrick was very communicative by both email and in person. I also appreciate how curated his…read morecollection of books is and that the store isn't exploding with too many options. It's more of a quality over quantity type of deal. I sold several used books and bought two new ones. I saw plenty of books I love there. I enjoyed looking around and will be back.

It's not too often that I encounter a new independent bookstore; Prospect focuses on food - vintage…read morecookbooks and a few new ones, culinary zines and photo books with food as the subject matter. They just opened and there aren't that many books in there (aka, carefully curated) but there are some very interesting titles from cuisines that I know little about (e.g., aboriginal food, recipes from the Aleutian Islands, Jewish-Iraqi recipes). The condition of the vintage cookbooks that I examined was close to mint. The owner was very friendly and welcoming. His professional background is in publishing and he hopes that Prospect becomes a community gathering space. Throw in some coffee from 2 Kids (the two businesses share a space) and I was already feeling the community vibe. The vintage cookbooks that Prospect carries must be rare - but I did some price checking and the prices are definitely fair (e.g., $38 to give you an idea of what some of the books are priced at). There were a few foreign language cookbooks as well. Interesting place. Looking forward to browsing again. If you're looking for a title that you don't see, ask about it.

For many years, I couldn't be bothered to spend much time in South Pasadena. Then I moved from…read moreSilver Lake to Echo Park, and gradually, I started to connect with SaMaA (San Marino Adjacent.) I just made that acronym up. The Thursday evening farmer's market, the diverse and upbeat crowd, the blend of old (craftsman bungalows) and new (a Metro shops, well-curated hyper-unique shops and cafés). Mark Aquino's Prospect is in that latter category, a bookshop dedicted to rare, unusual--and wonderful and inspiring--cookbooks. It is also right next to and connected with Two Kids, that minimally elegant coffee spot on Mission. I'd first spotted the Ojas speakers and classic midcentury furniture through the front window, saw the books, and was instantly intrigued as to what exactly was going on in there. When I finally wandered in, I got lost in the vast array of cookbooks for sale. What an incredible selection, a cross section that speaks to the most interesting and inspired of books on the art and habit of cooking. From almost private printings and regional paperbacks to massive multi-volume editions, Mark's selection is without equal. As is his warm and attentive manner of doing business. How personal is the service? Mark offered to open the shop for me on a day when he was technically closed, just so I could buy a gift certificate. Pretty cool. If you love to cook, or need a gift for someone who does, and want to benefit from a truly one of a kind selection, Prospect has my highest recommendation. You will be delighted.

Located directly next to the Gamble House. Free parking, free to enter this bookstore/gift shop,…read morethen you can buy really beautiful souvenirs if you want. I bought the most beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright bookmarks and postcard!

Where History Meets Retail Therapy…read more The Gamble House Bookstore isn't just a shop; it's a time machine with a cash register. Walked in for a quick browse, walked out with bookmarks so pretty, I'm now reading six books at once just to use them all. Parking's as free as the feeling you get stepping inside, where you're greeted by the kind of souvenirs that turn your friends green (and Greene) with envy. Frank Lloyd Wright would approve, and let's be honest, that man knew a thing or two about design. You want Greene and Greene merch? They've got enough craftsman-style treasures to turn your home into a historical landmark. Back to the Future fans, get ready to geek out amidst tiles and silks that scream "Great Scott!" This is the spot to swathe yourself in the essence of Greene and Greene, leaving with a piece of Pasadena's architectural legacy, plus a dash of Hollywood magic. Forget hard to find architecture publications--they find you here, whispering sweet scholarly nothings about the storied past of the Greene brothers. Remember, this isn't just where you snag a souvenir; it's where you score a ticket to the main event: the legendary Gamble House tour. Just trying to not leaf through my postcard collection is like trying to not push a door marked "pull." So if you're into history with a side of retail splendor, this bookstore is your promised land. And if you see me there staring lovingly at the jewelry, please, I beg you, drag me away before I buy enough to start my own museum.

My favorite Kinokuniya due to the amount of books packed in such a tiny store, it's always clean…read moreand never feels messy despite having so much selection to look through and choose from. They always have a ton of pens imported from Japan and they even have the little sticker tag on the pen itself in Japanese. Huge fan of the Uniball Zento Pens as I draw from time to time. I know it's great to support local stores, but I do wish they were a bit more competitive with pricing, if a book is only 10% more expensive here and I'm in the area, sure I'll buy it at Kinokuniya, but when the same exact book brand new is 40% cheaper on Amazon, I can't justify the purchase. It would be cool if membership allowed for price matching. Overall, this is probably the best Japanese book/manga shop you can find aside from the Book Off in Gardena.

Was at the Santa Anita Mall and came across this very cool Japanese Bookstore…read more If you're into Japanese books, manga, etc, this is a very good store to shop. Besides books, they also have toys, stationary, cards, etc. The store can be very crowded, but still able to navigate around. Staffs are friendly and helpful. I believe the prices are fair considering their products are mainly from Japan. Love this store. Brings back memories when I was younger. Check them out if you are coming to the Santa Anita Mall.

Fables & Fancies (SM Books) is a cute little bookstore in central Sierra Madre. They have a modest…read morecollection of books from Tolkien to Frida Khalo to PeterPan to Dracula. The bookstore's young female staff was pretty, friendly and professional. Prices seem reasonable. Bookshelves were organized. Overall, I had a nice experience in bookstore- Sierra Madre.

A Good Used Book is a neighborhood & independent bookstore that focuses on - as you can probably…read moreguess - used books. The bookstore is best known for Every Sunday Funday Markets from 12 PM to 4 PM, but check their IG page to confirm dates and get details on vendors. They also host occasional Saturday pop-ups like Saturday School (12 PM to 4 PM) - again check their Instagram page for specific dates. [Parking]: Street parking only (free), but I found few spots available on W Court Street on Saturday afternoon. [Saturday School]: Our group visited one of their Saturday School pop-ups and vendors like WEPA Pa'l Mundo (Puerto Rican food) and Ako's Tea (specialty teas with a modern twist) were set up in front of the bookstore. No outdoor tables so expect to eat or drink while standing or inside your own car. Our party came at 3 PM on Saturday and most food from WEPA Pa'l Mundo was already sold out. However, our party did end up getting a drink from Ako's Tea and Sticky Rice Pu-erh Tea was quite refreshing. [Bookstore]: I could tell firsthand that the staff here handpicked the used, vintage, rare, and new books. The bookstore has an interesting book selection. Smaller used books are wrapped in plastic so you can't browse them for previews, but larger books are unwrapped which allow visitors to flip through the pages. [Buying program]: The shop selectively buys used books in the following categories: vintage paperbacks of all kinds, modern and literary fiction, classics and cult classics, translated fiction, radical theory, cultural nonfiction, art, photography, film, design, and music. Canonized and outsider, essential and unexpected. Condition matters (clean and readable) and they offer a percentage of what the store sells for. Please do not bring books to sell on Sundays due to Every Sunday Funday Markets. [Conclusion]: A great small and curated local bookstore with a personal touch.

The owners are super kind and welcoming. They've got a great selection of books, all in excellent…read morecondition, and everything is well organized so it's easy to browse. The vibe is chill- nice music playing in the background (I definitely Shazammed a few songs while I was there). One of my favorite touches is that they ask to take a picture of you with your book purchases to post on Instagram- such a cool, personal detail. Parking was easy to find on a Friday morning. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

Welp... in case you haven't notice I am on a planner/notebook/journal kick of late…read more We had some time to kill after the game and decided to walk our way down to this shop. They are on the expensive side but it's a super special spot for gift buying. They have some unique Japanese coloring books that I might have to return for. Also those darn lighters that look like cameras OMG so different. Service was professional and non evasive too. Respectfully Reviewed.

Thalia & Hazel are my favorite associates when I go to Top Drawer in Old Town Pasadena. They both…read moreare diligent, friendly and most importantly, competent. The store itself is full of color and always brightens my mood when I step into the very cool store. The vibe here is very special and surprisingly calming. Everything seems to be exactly placed in a zen like manner. You'll see what I mean.... They got glasses, pens, flasks, lighters, totes, leather goods and all the things a sophisticated man of the new millennium like me can ask for! I try not to go and visit too much as I can't seem to help myself and always leave with something when I visit! But I never regret it. See you here!

Very cool local shop with a unique selection of books and stationery! All of the staff here are…read morefriendly and welcoming. Definitely come check them out if you are ever around the Highland Park neighborhood.

Beautiful place with nice people and nice things. Well curated collection of books, cards, and…read morestationery. I would definitely visit anytime I'm nearby