I noticed Letters Bookshop from the Pie Pushers window and just watched customers keep going inside…read moreand then leaving with bags. So I had to see for myself what was drawing all these people in. William welcomed me when I walked in, asked what I normally read, and let me know there was an upstairs as well, with more books. I did just stay on the first floor this visit, but I was so impressed by their beautifully curated inventory. They carry a wonderful selection of new fiction, poetry, children's books, and used books, along with fascinating sections on art, music, and nonfiction. They even had a discount section with books priced at $3.98 or less, which is incredible! They also have dedicated topic tables that highlight local North Carolina authors and underrepresented voices, which is wonderful to see. I found some board books to donate to the Little Free Library I was at the other day. If you've been reading my reviews for a while now, you know I love history and the architecture of older buildings being reused. It is an inclusive store, so everyone is welcome. It is a community-owned cooperative bookstore. The 1915 building, originally home to Merchants Bank, was built after the 1914 fire in Durham. It is a Neoclassical Revival-style building with massive, majestic Ionic columns that define its street-facing storefront. It later became Hood Industrial Bank and was then used for businesses like Letters. Letters opened back in 2013 at a nearby location and moved into its current space in 2021. I wish I had gone to the second floor to see the stained glass ceiling. So that just means I will need to make another shopping visit. I need to give myself more time so I can find something for me to read next time.

Lovely local bookstore - excellent children's selection, range of titles, many used and new, great…read moresuggestions/staff reviews, and friendly staff. First spot for gift shopping. Also, easy-to-use online search, and when I don't find something, it's easy to request an order and receive a quick response. Have also taken many books to see if they would accept for store credit. Honestly, just happy to support them!

Once again everybody on my list got a fun book for christmas. I might as well have just browsed…read morearound, but I knew of particular things ahead of time. None were in stock, but the kind staff ordered them for me (3x of one ... they were like are you sure? yeah!) and everything arrived in less than a week! While I'm picking them up, there is interesting shopping to be done here. The staff is kind and attends to their duties. I got a phone call about all the books right on time. They tossed some Regulator Bookshop bookmarks in there, which some of my recipients will enjoy and some will wonder about.

The employees were extremely helpful. They had a wide variety of options. The prices were very…read morereasonable.

It was a quiet, clean, cute bookstore! I had never been before but have always gone to guglhuf next…read moredoor. I was surprised how quiet it was, like a different universe. Very relaxing atmosphere and they have preloved booked, which is a bonus!

A good bookstore for book readers. Theres a variety of used books. The pricing is a bit high…read moreconsidering its for used books. Staff is helpful and informative. The store is small and not busy. Came on Friday afternoon.

A hidden gem! Lots and lots of postcards all filed accordingly to different categories. You can…read moretell that there's a lot of love and care put into the books as well

Overall a big disappointment. Basically a used book shop with limited selections. Some items,…read morepostcards can't be touched and are covered with blankets. Unconventional rules. Discounts are only offered on books over 5 dollars. Strange proprietor, balks if you try to pay with cash.

If you've ever went into a used bookstore in hopes that you'd find an ancient spell that changes…read moreyour destiny, or maybe a magical cat, or maybe become the main character of your own story - this is where you should start. This place smells like books, the floors creak, and the bookshelves sprawl into nooks and crannies to get lost in. There's a frankly impressive diversity of options, from medicine, history, philosophy, religious studies, regional studies, comedies, dramas, fiction , DVD's, and whatever else you could ever want. The best part was discovering that they also carry comics. I'm not just talking used, I'm talking the weekly new comics. I was able to pick up a copy of Detective Comics that I couldn't find at another comic store. Highly recommend stopping here if you want to kill an hour or impress a friend :)

It is not much to look at from the outside, but neither is a book judged by its cover! We are…read moretaught that! There is a lot of interesting stuff inside, from creaky floors to old comic books, well-organized but unusual books ... well you, name it. I recommend coming in to wander around a little bit

Great and unique gift shop! I went searching for post cards and found some delightful ones as well…read moreas other items I found quite wonderful. Would highly recommend!

What a beautiful boutique tucked away into Brightleaf square. Friendly, welcoming, and so many…read moretreasures. Can't wait to come back.

Service as only as good as the student you get which is just ok. I get it so no stars off...Who…read morewants to work in a high volume bookstore like Duke's bookstore? Selection is way better than my Alma mater's bookstore... I went to University of San Francisco...My brother went to Duke...So yeah I get to wear their gear with shame :) and shop in a huge bookstore. I bought 3 hats solely for golf and a long sleeve shirt...I have a ton of other Duke gear. My only grip is. Ike being a provider which sucks since Nike fits like crap on me...what man is slim fit!!! LOL! I get being fit but almost all brands I buy such as Adidas, KUIU, Champion, Ralph Lauren, etc...XL fits but Nike you need to size up if not1.5x...NO to Nike. Value wise, you will find some Deals but I am all about instant gratification. The prices are high but they offer Lululemon, Champion, Cutter and buck so you will find something that fits your budget and needs. I love blue so Duke has it over my schools colors which is Green and Gold (ugh). Worth visiting the bookstore even if you are not a student or Alumni...You can always walk around the campus which is also beautiful.

Excellent selection of all things Duke Univ. From individual schools...business, law, etc. you can…read morefind just the swag you need. Snacks, merch, textbooks, etc. This store on the grounds near the chapel has it all. Excellent customer service, two floors for perusing and merch is priced affordably.

Service was solid and the drink I ordered was spot on. Barnes & Noble does Starbucks drinks better…read morethan Starbucks! Book selection is vast and surprising this Barnes & Nonle follows the old format of Barnes & Noble from at least 10 years ago which I liked. The new store formats are easier to find books but this was sorta nostalgic. I did find the Sci-fi writer I was looking for - David Webber. I like this "old fashioned" Barnes & Noble. Value?!? If I want a book I will buy it no matter what. I only bought drinks and desert this time as I am working on a few books right now. Still, you can find what you want at this Barnes & Noble! Just a great selection of full priced books or discount ones as well. Worth going to if you are in the area.

I used to go to this Barnes & Noble a lot to chill and devour books while enjoying coffee from…read moreStarbucks, but my most recent visit was one of the most disappointing bookstore-venturing experiences I've had. First of all, the cafe was too packed; they seemed to have change the seating arrangements, and there's not enough seats to accommodate more customers. Compared to the Barnes & Noble in Cary, this location lacked seats outside of the cafe area, so most of the people who want to just sit and read a book are left with no option but to find an open seat in the cafe area or in one of the uncomfortable "benches" in front of the magazine stand. Another annoying change: the restrooms now require a code to enter (probably to avoid unpleasant guests from trashing the toilets, which is understandable). When I asked an old guy at the customer service for the code, he wrote it down for me but the lack of friendliness and helpfulness of the employees make this shop devoid of the kind of warmth you find in other bookstores. None of them asked for what I was looking for or greeted me when I passed. As for the overall value books, it's the same story for every Barnes & Noble: I just don't see a smart reason to purchase books here over purchasing books on Amazon because of prices here are significantly higher compared to buying online. I ended up leaving right away. This location should learn from the Barnes & Noble in Cary when it comes to overall ambiance and customer service.

Decided to stop and look around while in Durham - very cool store…read more Definitely a lot of music selection, free posters, free punk magazines and fanzines. Store has the musty, crunchy vibe you'd expect and it really suits the store. Employee that rang us up was very friendly and thanked us for stopping in. If you're looking for obscure albums, they might have it! Almost an overwhelming selection, very unusual bands, too. Worth stopping in. I believe they buy your used music items as well and offer cash/value towards purchases. Bummer we missed the store dog, though!

Awesome selection of vinyls with a friendly and efficient customer service!…read more There is a comfortable sofa if you would like to rest. The staff greeted customers kindly and make them feel their business was appreciated. We bought two records. The 2019 Spring sampler of Merge records was offered graciously. It was easy to park on the shopping center parking lot. This famous store is located near the Quickly Tea House and the Rumors hair studio.

A large and clean game store for all your play needs…read more Atomic Empire is a game store for all physical gamers, be it trading cards, board games, wargames, or pen and paper games. They have a selection of games to try out and plenty of sitting space for you and your friends to test out and have a good time. They offer a wide variety of singles on their website. By buying them and picking it up in store, you save on shipping, giving them the selection of an online retailer with lower costs. Their prices are most comparable to TCGPlayer, minus delivery fees. Atomic Empire also carries a limited selection of comics and graphic novels, a nice to have for sure. They also sell plenty of gaming accessories from dice to paint to playmates to deck boxes. Unlike many game stores I've been to, Atomic Empire is pristine. High ceilings and proper ventilation provides constant fresh air. Bright lights and clean floors provides a welcoming atmosphere. It's a pleasure to take your time and browse a store that's so well maintained. Atomic Empire is excellent to game in or simply hang out at.

Enjoyed walking around the store with my partner, who plays a role playing game there on a regular…read morebasis. Lots of games and related supplies for sale, and a large game playing area. Nice staff, too.