Good selection of records, although some on display not in the greatest shape. Definitely worth a look though if you want to browse through a lot of different genres. read more

I just love used bookstore/musicstores! Books, Music, Games, and Movies galore! Great prices.

An old school style books, games, and music store. Stuff piled EVERYwhere, with used and new merchandise of all kinds. If you are looking for an esoteric, hard-to-find, or just plain weird books, games, or music selections, then this is your kind of store. Plenty of parking out front. read more

Great store. They have cards against humanity! If you need to get some really old manga, they may be your place to go but they have a small selection. I will definitely be back. read more

One of the last true gems left in the Denver metro area (Arvada to be exact) if you are seeking a trip back in time to a fantastic bookstore/vinyl store of the brick and mortar variety. Oh and you millenials are going to fall in love with this place because you are going to experience one of the very last vinyl stores out there and a great one at that. I first discovered this place when I was 21 way back in 1994, I am so thrilled they are still around. Oh and it's not just books and vinyl to be found here. How about a classic board game, check they have them. Enjoy the metaphysical realm? Boom, done (books, DVDs, tarot card decks and lots of other great things to build your collection). Don't own a record player? No worries, they have a huge CD selection. Are you bored of your sad little home library and music collection? Box up those old boring unwanted old books and CD and bring them down to Black and Read and you can trade them in there for some new and new to you books and CD. Need a cool gift for a hipster friend? Black and Read has a couple of great display cases full of unique items that your friend will love. Black and Read has always attracted people of all ages, so you will feel right at home shopping there regardless of age. I can spend hours in this place, there is just so much to look at and they are constantly getting new inventory in. Black and Read is just the best store ever. read more

I love this store, nearly there once or twice a week and they always have something new, not to mention it seeming like the only metal and punk scene in Colorado anymore. Great atmosphere and customer service you can talk with and never get bored, with not only music but old books and DVDs too! read more

Great Place to browse for all kinds of stuff if you don't mind the clutter

Large selection of vinyl but I found it surprisingly hard to find anything I wanted. They have a good selection of new vinyl if that's your thing. Also large selection of rock, punk, and metal. They have a ton of 'easy listening' albums prominently displayed, for whatever bizarre reason. Staff was friendly. I'd probably stick with Wax Trax tho for the Denver area. read more

The most disorganized storage unit of a retail store I've ever seen... I challenge you to find what your looking for without someone that knows the maze pointing directly at an item to find it. read more

No Starbucks..&....No Strollers! A Biblio & Audiophiles Heaven. An old school kind of place where the serious stay and search and send the cell phone yaking "I'm so busy I don't have time to look for it on my own", on down to Barnes & Nobel, to pick up the latest Do-Dad The Explorer or what ever the "it" book of the day is. Don't get me wrong, the staff will help you! But most of the shoppers are self browsers. Intelligent enough to find things on their own. When you do need help, the staff knows that a books second or third edition contain serious "omissions" or other alterations, and can suggest that the "live" version of an musician's classic contains a lot of energy but very little else from the original studio version--if that's what you're looking for. Sure, you'll find the ubiquitous stacks of Steven King drivel, but the real finds are some of the text books and other information that has long been sent away. Don't forget about the Saturday Only Store on 44th & Wadsworth, for a new opportunity to browse. I strongly suggest going there if you want to find a CD,DVD,LP or god forbid "book", if this kind of media is your gig you're right at home. . read more

I always find something new! I just wished there was an effort to organize better! I love this place!!

Absolutely one of my favorite places to buy board games and magic tcg packs always friendly to me on both sides of the store and the record side if they don't have it used 90% of the time they have it new read more

There is a large area of RPG books as well as board games. I like the atmosphere because they always have all sorts of games, movies, books and CD's. You can always find something new there. read more

If you've ever lost yourself in a library or in a friend's extensive vinyl collection, Black & Read is the place you've been dreaming about forever. This classic, in the greatest definition of the word, collection of collectibles is better than Ebay and Amazon combined. If you are looking for an old book, or series of books, this place probably has it. I would be remiss if I didn't mention their RPG section, as it is the definitive Game Shop within a used book store. Complete with dice and fuzzy Cthulhu's, Black & Read also has special items behind one of the two check out counters. The other is is in the music store. So much stuff to look at, so little time. I have gotten lost for hours in this store. A must see for bibliophiles. read more

I do like coming here but there's no denying this place is an absolute MESS. It's like a junk repository for second-hand books and media that gets dumped off here and there are boxes and boxes of it just laying everywhere around the store. So much in fact that you have to watch your step to avoid tripping as you maneuver between tight rows of shelves. It's kind of like falling into the Death Star's Trash Compactor. The store lacks good organization, it's dusty, dirty, filthy and grimey. The books are all in used well-read condition like you'd find at garage sales and flea markets but they have a HUGE selection to browse from eras long since past. They have probably the largest selection of RPG (That's Role-Playing-Games in non-geek) I've ever seen anywhere including lots of used (and I do mean USED) sourcebooks and game modules from Dungeons & Dragons, et al. It's a gamers treasure trove in and of itself. Needless to say you'll find some hidden treasure buried under all of this Hoarder's mess. Finding it on the other hand is like finding a needle in a haystack. When I asked the guy if they had a specific book, he had no clue and said he had no way to look it up because he doesn't have a computer inventory. Are you kidding me? Do you really have so much junk that you can't even keep track of what you have? Good grief. And yet, I keep coming back. Why? Because you simply won't find most of this old stuff ANYWHERE else anymore sans scavenging the antique shops and flea markets. They literally have almost EVERYTHING here. Half of the store is music be it vinyl, CD's, LP's, and yes, even 8-track and cassettes, DVD, VHS and Laserdiscs. The other half is books, games, magazines and printed media. The other half of the name, you "Read?" Black & Read certainly is unique and it's definitely a goldmine for buried treasure as long as you don't mind diving for it and getting your hands a little dirty, perhaps that's where the "Black" part of the name derives from, I'm still trying to figure that part out. You never know what you will find here. One man's garbage is another man's gold. Happy hunting. read more

This place is my favorite. I never walk out of here without something I cant live without in my arms. Come here to add to your media collections! read more

I used to be a fan of this store. They have a great selection of boardgames and rpgs. Although there prices are not great, I would take trade in some boxes of books and games to offset the cost. My main complaint is that there customer service is terrible. They treat each customer as if they are doing you a favor letting you spend your hard earned money in their store. Don't bother asking them to look up anything or dare say order you a product. Go to Timewellspentgames if you are looking for games. read more

I used to buy used music and DVDs here periodically. There are a few very nice established employees here with a few salty aloof ones thrown in for good measure to keep an angry geek atmosphere alive. I normally don't mind this, as I usually keep to myself anyway exploring the selections. However, once when I was shopping a chick working there slammed into me twice without comment, not accidentally but quite obviously in a hostile manner. My inclination was to smite the little troll with various nearby heavy objects but I thought better of it. Now I just buy used on Craigslist. read more

I made the mistake of selling records to this used store, later to find out that they ripped me off! If you want to sell records or cd's, I would recommend either Twist & Shout or Wax Trax - both reputable dealers that will pay a fair price. read more

I've been coming to Black & Read for about 13 years. All of their games are discounted up to 20% off MSRP putting them at Amazon prices without the wait for shipping. No other hobby shop comes close in price and selection. On top of that they have any book or vinyl/CD you could want. For the people complaining about the cramped space and organization there are plenty of hobby shops that are willing to hike up all the prices and offer you a clean boutique experience, try Total Escape in Broomfield. I think it adds character and a sense of magic like you might uncover a stack of books and find the never ending story at the bottom or something. read more

i love a good strip mall record store. it's like finding treasure in a turd. and this place is full of treasures, and cheap. a mono "now is the time for hearts and flowers," andy pratt, peggy scott & jo jo benson, porter wagoner, freeman and lange, and a whole lot more. i didn't even get a chance to check out their jazz section, or books, and just skimmed the rad 60s/70s movie posters. i coulda spent all day and way too much money in this spot. read more

Huge selection of vinyl with tons of rarities, had my jaw dropping like every 3 minutes or so. As someone coming from San Diego, the prices were freaking cheap in comparison. I picked up about 20 pieces of vinyl, LPs and singles, for under $100. On top of that, the store clerks are friendly as ever, very willing to chop it up, make more recommendations. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to look through their CD's fully but I already spotted a couple gems randomly lying on the counter for sorting later. I will be coming back anytime I'm in CO. read more

Looking for a role-playing book (common or hard to find), a cd, a record, a board game, or just a novel to pass away those bored moments? Hate paying cover price for...well...anything...this is the place to go! Sometimes I just want something cheap and now, and so I don't bother with internet purchases I just come here. read more

I wanted to like this place more, but it's way too ransacked and cluttered. There were piles of books littered everywhere throughout the store and it was difficult to look for titles because many of the books were not alphabetized. Furthermore, many of the prices on books were a bit high, near msrp in many cases. They do have a terrific selection of board games, but again, the prices were nowhere near competitive. I checked my other favorite game store, timewellspent and in the case of a ticket to ride expansion (3rd one Heart of Africa) the one at Black & Read was $6 higher. ($24.99 vs 18.99). The one thing this place does have going for it is the music section. The place is packed with vinyl and it's very neat and organized. It's clear they care much more about that part of the store and its upkeep. I think they probably need to hire more help, or maybe I just came at a bad time when they were inventorying? read more

Being new to gaming, I took a half day from work yesterday and went around to a handful (read: five) games stores around the Denver Metro area. I have to say that this was, far and away, the shop I enjoyed the most. While everyone I met at the other stores were super friendly and helpful, not only were they friendly here as well, but the selection and prices were fantastic. Simply put, this is a must stop for your gaming needs! Look past the clutter and enjoy one of the best, if not the best, LFGS in Denver. Thanks to the peeps over at BGG for turning my wife and I onto this place. read more

Went in today with some DVDs to trade and the guy working said he was going on a break and he didn't need any more shit. So no one would help us. We left and the guy was in the parking lot looking at some books in some guys car. Very poor service. You couldn't find anything in there if you tried. read more

Don't try to sell records. Waited a half hour, with a conversation-less "buyer/owner", re-sorting more than 200 LPs, all in plastic jackets in good condition. They bought nothing. I would've taken a penny. I carried them in, and carried them out. They were donated but not here. Go to a thrift store where your purchase will actually help someone. read more

The unfriendliest employees I have ever seen. When you purchase something they act like they are doing you a favor.

Have found some true gems at this location. Pretty unorganized and difficult to sift through their loads of used vinyl, but a small price to pay for the large selection read more

Love it! Best place I have ever shop with my family. We started a family game night and go here once a week to buy vintage games to play. My kids love it and so does my budget. read more

I've been going here for many years. I'm afraid it's best days are long gone, as are the guys who made it that way. It's really picked over now. I would say at least 60-70% of the vinyl stock is just plain worthless stuff that's been in there for as long as I can remember. They have multiple copies of every Judy Collins record for example. Awesome! And many of the artists cards are empty or have a single title that no one would ever buy. Now, the funny thing is, they have a ton of stock underneath as well. So, while they may only have one Eric Clapton album under his card, they've got 3 of many of his other albums sitting underneath. They used to be cool about people digging around under there to find what they wanted, now they have signs up to stay out. You have to find an available employee and ask them to dig around down there for you. Good luck with that. New releases? Forget it. They *might* get one or two copies of something the day it comes out....maybe. But once it's gone. It's gone. If you went in there looking to buy the top 50 albums, you'd probably walk out empty handed. Their buying practices have also changed dramatically. They used to be really fair. Now it's really kind of a rip off. They'll give you $3 for your Velvet Underground album, and then turn around and sell it behind the counter for $30. The record buying "expert" is a total joke. He thinks half the stuff that comes in there is pressed off center, and he can tell just by looking at it. Honestly, he doesn't know the difference between an off center pressing and an off center label. There is a difference and there's no way to tell by simply eyeballing it. You have to actually play the record, and see how much the tonearm sways back and forth. That's the *only* way to tell. Don't let this goofball try to rip you off. And lastly, I'll never forget walking in and seeing them "cleaning" a new batch of records they had just bought from someone...with Windex. read more

I have to start this off on a positive note: The guys at the "music counter" are great. Friendly and helpful. The cause of the low rating, and I'd give the store a negative rating if I could, is the jerk that was at the "games/books" counter. I had picked up a dvd when my kids and I passed by a little stress ball in the shape of a brain that had no price, so I wen't to the counter with all the dice and asked the man there what the price was. The man took the item, looked at it, tossed it onto the counter and said: "I don't know, have a nice day!" very rudely. I was taken aback so I asked: "Excuse me?" I couldn't believe someone whose job was to sell things would be so dissmissive and rude and figured I'd heard him wrong. He repeated loudly: "I DON'T KNOW! HAVE A NICE DAY!" I wen't to the other counter with the nice salesmen, made a complaint and paid for the dvd in my hand (now I wish I hadn't spent any of my money with this company.) Needless to say, I won't be going back to Black And Read again and the man at the games counter cost Black and Read not only a customer, but the sale of another item on the sale they made, since I just put the toy back on the counter. The truth is, people don't have to shop there and can usually find the items they are selling (books, music, games) elsewhere and usually cheaper. You go to a store like Black And Read for convenience and for helpful staff that can HELP you find what you want. Rude staff like this is exactly why brick-and-mortar stores are going under in favor of online sites. Why go pay more and have someone be rude to you when the item you want is only a click away without the rudeness? Black And Read would be wise to learn this. read more

It took me a long time to walk into this store - from the outside I wasn't sure what to expect. After reading some Yelp comments I decided to give it a whirl. Based on other reviews, I envisioned dusty books stacked on top of each other falling down in a corner ... so I was pleasantly surprised to see how LARGE this store is. Lots and lots of bookcases, and yes, some (well, quite a few) books littering the ground - but a lot of them are shelved and put somewhat in order. I LOVE books, and I ended up being overwhelmed, which I didn't think was possible. Yes, there is a lot of dungeon dragon type stuff which I am clueless about, but lots for everyone. My adolescent-aged boy was with me and didn't quite get the large selection of vinyl, even though he is a music beast. He did come to find me eyes large as saucers asking me when we were going to leave.... that is when I realized they have a back room filled with what is apparently porno mags, which is separated from the store by two short shutters, which happened to be wide open...... so be aware of that if you are bringing minors with you. I will stop in again when I have more time to sit and peruse the books. read more