We popped into Blue Bicycle Books while exploring Charleston last Sunday, and it was charming! The store isn't large and a bulk of the store is contained within a hallway (so you'll be saying excuse me to a few people as you browse - it's impossible not to get in someone's way), but it has a very good selection of used books, good service, and a little seating where you can sit and read a bit of your maybe purchases. (They also have some rare books - like a signed Vonnegut for $2k!) It's a charming used bookstore, work checking out if you're exploring Charleston! read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I went to this bookstore on a recommendation from a friend and my experience could've been much better. Like other reviewers have mentioned, I was not greeted upon entering. While that wouldn't necessarily affect my overall experience, the fact that the staff never stopped to ask me (or any of the other browsing patrons) if we needed help with anything was disappointing. The selection of items was okay, though books marked as "new" that had clear damage to them (most likely done in shipping, such as bent corners, red marks on the tops of paperbacks, etc) were still marked at resale value. I understand local bookstores need all the support they can get, and while I didn't end up purchasing a book, I did buy one of their heavy duty canvas totes. I didn't look at the price of the used titles except for a copy of Gone with the Wind, so I can't attest to how those prices are in conjunction with other used book stores. Would I go back? Yes, and hopefully the visit will be better. I would also like to see more diverse fiction titles as well. read more

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5 Stars for an independent bookstore that will make you want to explore! I was walking to lunch on King Street and happened upon Blue Bicycle. Your girl loves a good indie bookstore, so I wandered in and kept wandering throughout. It is PERFECT in the sense that it is IMPERFECT. Forget your big box bookstores or *shudder* Amazon *aka he who shall not be named*, this bookstore has charm, staff recommendations, and it's likely you'll walk out with a book you never would've bought if it weren't for this special space. The have a section by the register for local Charleston authors and books, as well as sections for every topic you can imagine. I also loved browsing their rare/signed books. My favorite part was walking from one room to another, by way of hallways lined with bookshelves. I honestly could've spent hours here browsing! But, alas, I had places to be. I grabbed a copy of a book I'd been wanting for a while and was happy to see a reasonable price on the inside cover (in pencil). I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town! What a TREASURE. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Cute bookstore! Prices very high for used books. Moderate selection- I didn't end up buying anything. Nice place to browse for a few minutes. read more

This is by far my favorite bookstore! Located right in the hustle and bustle of king st. You walk in and you still get that cozy neighborhood bookstore vibe. There prices are exactly where they should be, they don't do the big city inflation you might find at other bookstore in downtown Charleston! They have a great selection of local books/authors when you walk in that's always worth a look. If you are into old books or just wanna ball out on some lit, they have a few rare books up for grabs! I know the big stores of Barnes and BAM are convenient but the good ol' BBB is definitely a local treasure! read more

Blue Bicycle Books is a fun independent bookstore in the heart of downtown Charleston. After walking by many times, I visited for the Beto O'Rourke "We've Got to Try" talk and book signing in March 2024. The store is quite small, with a long hallway and a couple of rooms to the side, including a children's room. Thankfully the talk was held outside in a courtyard beside the bookstore, and I was glad it didn't rain. Local bookstores host authors and have experiences that you can't get online or from big box stores. Blue Bicycle frequently has authors sign and speak about their books. I'm not sure how the prices run for used and rare books, but the ticket for a book plus the talk was very reasonably priced. Parking is much easier in the local garages- I recommend the Charleston Visitor's Center garage or the Francis Marion hotel's garage. read more

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Friendly spot, great selection of new, used, and unique books, you feel welcomed to browse. The staff are ready to talk about the books if that's what you want, and for me, they dug around to get a specific old book I was looking for. read more

One of my favorite bookstores that I've been to and that's saying a lot! They seem to be very involved with the community and book festivals. You can see pictures of the owner and employees with various authors throughout the store. The bookstore itself has a very unique layout with little rooms, including a kids room with toys. A lot of local authors and books as well. Highly recommend checking them out! read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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When you and your wife are prepared to drop $300 total on books, it is so off-putting to be ignored multiple times by workers. The woman working the counter didn't greet us, but walked by us to greet someone else. Then we did not get a, "Thank you," when we left. Shame because there was a Joan Didion I wanted. read more

Well curated selection of new & local texts with a healthy selection of used & a few signed & rare titles. Chill vibe and lots of rooms. Ample children's selection with a reading tent. A Charleston literary "must see." read more

I was very excited to finally get to come to this bookstore I've followed. However, this might be the unfriendliest place in all of Charleston. Would be nice if the book seller could at least acknowledge people that enter and quite possibly ask if they are looking for anything. read more

Excellent bookstore on upper King. The layout is super long and narrow, with several "rooms" on the right side where you can sit and browse (one room is even designed for kids). It ends up being a cozy and comfortable space, with a huge selection of books of all types. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Main hallway. - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I highly recommend visiting this independent bookstore just north of Marion Square - a great mix of new, used, and rare books. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Delightful little ( not so) bookstore. Used options, rare options, autographed options.

This bookstore is such a charming and unexpected jewel in Charleston. It's small and cozy, and the staff is very helpful. I am an ongoing, endless student of Dutch and a dictionary lover to boot, so when I saw a Dutch-English dictionary from the 1890s here I almost collapsed. Totally unexpected in South Carolina! This store is one of the special things that makes Charleston such an attractive and unique city. Any bibliophile must definitely make it part of their itinerary here! read more

Blue Bicycle Books - My gorgeous Dutch-English dictionary from the 1890s I bought at BBB! - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Blue Bicycle Books is by far the best local bookstore. As they state in their tagline, they have new, used, and rare books available for purchase. Their local section and YA section are my favorites. All the stacks are organized well and clearly marked. I wish they'd be a bit more competitive on list price of new books with other sellers, but I understand you can't be that competitive if you'd a locally-owned business. (Generally, online sellers seem to price new books I buy at about 50% off list, while BBB is at list.) In addition to the day-to-day operations, Blue Bicycle operates YALLFest, Charleston's stupendous YA lit festival on Upper King Street the second November annually. Their writing camp for kids has an excellent reputation. It can be a hassle to find parking in this area, but it's worth a trip to BBB. read more

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BBB is a great bookstore in downtown Charleston on King Street. When I stopped in here, the store was pretty busy as it's the heart of Y'all Fest in Charleston. The bookstore is decent sized with a long hallway to different rooms in the back. The booksellers were nice and the selection was good with a lot of great YA books, local authors, and some swag. While we were here, my friend and I waited for the bathroom in the back with some teens who were volunteering at the festival. While the girls were using the bathroom one of them stood outside the door and counted how long they were in there. At first I thought it was a joke, but then the girl kept counting and counting and counting. Finally, the counting teen used the restroom and she was in there the longest. When the next person went in, they said she left a floater. This doesn't really reflect on the bookstore at all, but it was so weird I will always remember this incident in my mind. read more

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Total rip-off. The beauty of Ebay is that you can find out the real market value of any used item just by searching and filtering "items sold". Any idiot can ask for a lot of money for anything, but filtering sold items tells you what people are actually paying for something. This store sells used books. These books can be found on Ebay. This store has RIDICULOUSLY high prices. A Book Of The Month copy of To Kill A Mockingbird? Sold for $20 in March 2020 on Ebay. Asking price today at Blue Bicycle? North of $100. A 1st/1st copy of 2010? $5 on Ebay all day. Here? $20! On and on and on. Do your due diligence before you shop here. They are marking their books up WAY over real market value. Just search on Ebay and filter for "sold". Or better yet just buy off Ebay. Even with shipping you'll save a ton of money versus shopping here. Shame on you you greedy bookmongers. Shame, shame, shame. read more

This local bookshop located on King Street is a little gem! It always has lots of local authors, staff suggestions, and nooks & crannies for browsing. Great place to pick up a gift to yourself or a fellow book lover! read more

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Most overrated bookstore I've ever been to. Poor selection, cold staff member didn't make us feel invited AND pretentious vibe for a bookstore. Place is small too. No idea why this place is so hyped up. read more

This IS the book store I've been looking for. I walked by, driven by, ridden by, but never stopped in until I arrived to another event early and had some time to kill. I wish I had more time to kill. The bookstore keeps going further and further back, with more rooms and walls of books lining every nook and cranny. What I like about this store, aside from the atmosphere and smell, is that they have both new and old books, which many bookstores around here don't do. Lots of local authors are featured, and although I couldn't make it, there was a book signing by the author of Glimpses of Charleston, so I'm going to pay more attention to future events and hope to be a part of them. BBB also plays a big part in Y'all Fest, so it's fun to see their pictures on the walls with all of the authors and guest speakers who come to town. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - There are security cameras in his eyes... watching you... judging you... - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is an awesome new and used bookstore in downtown Charleston! I've been twice now and both times left with a great mix of books. They have some signed books, employee recommendations, a great local/regional section, a kids room and lots of author events if you live close by the area. I recommend street parking which occasionally is hard to find depending on the time of day. The street is a great area to walk and shop along so don't be afraid to park a few (or several) blocks away. If you like bookstores, I highly recommend visiting this one! There's really something for everyone, especially if you take the time to look around. read more

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Very kind staff and an interesting collection of books. The staff was very kind and helpful.

Wonderful selection of local authors and delightful staff! Am so glad we stopped here.

Blue Bicycle Books on King Street in Charleston is a great book store that seems like more than just a book store with the book buying experience that they are able to offer and the different events that they host. Whether you know the book that you are searching for or just browsing to find something good to read you will find it here. The staff here is wonderful and accommodating and will make sure that you are helped and find what you need. I have had a really good experience every time I have been here and it is well worth the visit and time to come here. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This is a book store with something for everyone. New books, inexpensive used books, collectible books, 1st editions, and more. Whether you are into fiction, travel, cook books, children's books, historical books, or anything in between I believe you can find it here in this easygoing well thought out shop. Helpful staff are on hand to suggest and support your search or your wandering. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon away from the hustle of the streets. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - "lit room" classics - hardback fiction - nonfiction - poetry - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What a lovely little place this is, not the biggest selection but an excellent selection pertaining to the area. The layout begs you to browse, sit, read and view - I really, really liked this bookshop. Those who say books are dying, come here, renew your soul. read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Esoteric and delightful selection - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What a find! I always visit local bookstores when I'm on vacation and this one is so good! Don't be deceived by the small storefront as this place is deep and has multiple rooms to discover. I felt like I was on a treasure hunt as the used and new books are mingled together. You could spend quite some time combing the shelves. I ended up with 3 great books to add to my collection! read more

A cute bookshop with an interesting selection and layout. This place seems to have a little bit of everything including decorative books, rare books, and used books. If you look closely you can find some good deals on used books. read more

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Quaint bookstore in the middle of it all. Selection is somewhat limited in regards to titles, but there is plenty to choose from. I loved that there was a room set aside for kiddos. Staff were friendly and I liked to see local writers/topics highlighted in the front of the store. read more

Awesome book store filled with all types of books both old and new. Walking around the store was like going to a school reunion where I once again came face to face with old friends. Books that I had read and thoroughly enjoyed years ago were recognized sitting on the shelves. Even the old Smith Corona typewriter took me way back. Come on by and enjoy yourself. read more

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Support independent book sellers! This is a lovely book store and they deserve your business. New books, old books, kids books... very cool location. Stop by and buy something. Do it. read more

Found this spot while I was visiting Charleston. This bookstore is small and super charming. Great selection! Definitely recommend popping in here and shopping local! read more

Blue Bicycle Books - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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During my day trip to Charleston, this is where I spent most of my day... I was searching for a good beach read. This is not your typical book store with all of the NY Best Sellers and a rack of teenage dramatic fiction in your face. It is a place where you go without a book in mind. Which is exactly how I began my book shopping journey. The sections are marked clearly and things are organized nicely. The placement of the sections are quirky as the layout of the bookstore is interesting. I was looking for something along the lines of a cheesy Nicholas Sparks novel or even something like Twilight. Just an easy (guilty) read for a mindless day on the beach. I read the backs of books I have never seen for hours and was fully sucked in to the calm of the store. I ended up with 2 books that I had never heard of. Both of which were completely different but I couldn't choose just one. I love supporting local business and they were both resale books so, this was a guilt free purchase. I have never spent so much time in a bookstore because generally, I know what I am getting or the merchandizing tricks me into buying something I wouldn't have normally picked up. Any time you are in Charleston I highly suggest checking this place out! read more

This is a nice place and just about the only book store in downtown Charleston. I think they could utilize their space at the back a little better and have more general mysteries and paperbacks and would draw in a few more people. Prices for used non collectible books are very reasonable. I got several books that I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere and their selection of local authors is great. read more

Loved this bookstore! Super great selection of books and a cool, meandering shop. I do wish it had a little seating area somewhere though. The kids book section was the best!! read more

Talking atmosphere, this is my favorite independent used bookstore in the world. There is a pretty cool selection layed out in the frontmost room, and I especially like that there is a whole "Charleston" section with books about the area and vintage photos, postcards, and tourism pamphlets. I think that whenever Pat Conroy is in town, he comes to sign books here. The owner is a writer himself and has been running the place since '98. He has a very cute kitty living in the shop who is worth searching the stacks for. I like to walk through the labyrinthine halls and just smell the old binding..... Also I think they have the #1 logo in town! read more

Walk in to hip music softly playing, 25 cent books and a tray of little cookies. Ask for help, owner is super friendly and knows alot about his trade, as he should as a book writer himself! Walk back and find the place packed with amazing little books, and a store cat. Every perfect bookstore needs a cat. Stay long enough and catch a glimpse of his beautiful daughter. If you are cool you will love it. read more

Don't miss this indie gem! Great selection of local stuff, and they are really good about events for young adult readers and writers. Good gear, too, if you want souvenirs other than books...but you are guaranteed to find a pile you'll want to bring home! read more

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Ehh, this place wasn't what I wanted it to be. I thought it'd be bigger. I walked around for a few minutes today, and I found a coffee book I was interested in. List price? $35. Their price? $35. I thought it was all used books, but I guess not. Cute place, I guess, but they didn't win me over. read more