Well, I've been shopping here for books since forever it seems and I still get lost. It's incredibly easy to lose track of time as there are countless titles catching your eye. It's great that there are little chairs about the store where you can sit and read titles before purchasing. I absolutely love Chamblin's and it's great to see their political support is aligned with mine (as indicated by the multiple signs on the door). Will forever shop here as opposed to any other bookstore! read more

Gosh, where to even start! Chamblin's looks really unintimidating from the outside and it's kind of off to the side and junky looking, but as soon as you get inside, it's like a sensory overload. I heard that this Chamblin's has over 1 million books in stock. It certainly has more than its younger sibling, the Chamblin's that is downtown. The shelves go on forever, and it's really easy to get lost in the labrynthine interior of this place. Not only that, but the aisle themes are endless. It's honestly really hard figuring out where you wanna go. You should plan ahead before you come here, because if you aren't sure of what you're looking for you are going to have a hard time making decisions. Chamblin's buys books, cd's, movies, etc. You can redeem stuff for store credit or cash. The difference is that cash is 40% less of the value in store credit, but you can revert store credit to cash at any time. Their prices are reasonable. Half off most used books. they also sell new books, though it's hard to tell in this store which ones are new and which ones aren't. read more

I've been visiting Chamblin's since I was a little kid (WAY before the back building was open). These days they take less books as trade ins but it hasn't stopped my love for visiting. The selection is insane and there is no better place to spend an afternoon browsing. The only thing that could make me love it more is more parking (which seems difficult/unlikely) or a cafe like the downtown location (also unlikely). It might be my favorite place in all of Jacksonville. read more

Wowza. This place is just... Wowza. When visiting a friend, he knew I liked two things: breakfast food and books. So we went to the Metro Diner, then walking to Chamberlain Books afterwards. I was completely unprepared for what befell my eyes. It was a book-browsers paradise! Rows and rows and rooms and rooms. My heart sped up--boom, boom, boom. SO now that that's over, I doubt I can say anything that hasn't been said before by anyone else. I wasn't expecting such a sprawling mass of books, relatively well-organized, albeit confusingly so. And the reason that is, is because the books are shelved, categorized, and placed in bookshelves (well-organized), but sprawled throughout thousands of square footage and somewhat random (confusing). You'll find Horror right next to YA, and separate sections for YA graphic novels/mangas (YA section) and Adult graphic novels/manga (right next to the register). And I've been to dozens of used bookstores, in various states, that had nowhere near the organization this place had. So yes, comparatively speaking, it is fairly organized, albeit a bit sprawling. (Some) Prominent authors have their own linelisting and are sometimes on their own bookends (Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, Murakami, etc.). There are new books mixed up with older books, and you'll know they're half-priced if they have a stamp inside. I found some pristine (cue: actually mint condition, brand new books) with said stamp, so that made me happy. I don't mind paying a few bucks for a slightly beaten up version of a book, but I also don't mind buying something half-priced if it's brand new, by an author I enjoy. That being said, I think if you were looking for a particular author, you'd have much more of a chance of finding something like that than a particular book. And every author I went looking for, I found at least one of their books. For all their organization, my favorite part about it was that there was a Beat section. Every time I go into a used bookstore, I am on a mission for Kerouac books. I can say I've looked specifically for him at about a dozen different bookstores, but this was the first place I've ever been to that had Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burgess, and so many others right where I could peruse them all. It was awesome! The cookbook section was also very fleshed-out, with a lot of new books (at 10% off) mixed in with older books. I found a few (Julia Child, Nigella Lawson), and I even comparison shopped on Amazon and found that the prices were comparative for those particular books. PROS: An absolutely ridiculous assortment of every kind of book and author you could ever hope for. Two hours in this store, and you won't even have explored 1/5 of it. Some new books at 50% off original price, but in brand new condition. Charming, with a decidedly old-book smell. They have enough sales associates that you don't have to stand in line for forever. Fast and efficient. There was a Beat specific section, with a ton of Beat writers! Yay! CONS: Small, cramped isles. Two people can't stand side-by-side. More expensive than other places: lots of books are only 50% off their cover price, even if they were made in 1998. (For comparison, MOST used bookstores offer cheaper pricing for older books, or books that have been in the store the longest.) Organization is a bit wonky--YA is near Horror, for example. Sales associated are sort of brusque, but I no doubt imagine that's because this place gets busy. THE VERDICT This place is great for the browser. It's got every kind of genre, but the genres aren't really in any logical order. Things are spread across several thousand square feet, so you have to do a lot of digging, looping back, or just straight up questioning the sales people. I would really encourage doing that, instead of saying a genre or author wasn't there, but never having actually asking a sales associate. And it is "kind of" expensive. I say that not to discourage, but to let you know. If you frequent used bookstores, you get a feel for the prices and books that are old (cue earlier15 years) are generally a couple bucks. Here they would be about twice that. That being said, I walked out 2 hours later, with 6-7 books at about 70$. The bookstore I went to previous to this one, I left the bookstore after 2 hours with 18-20 books and $60 out of my pocket. But I had entirely scoured that bookstore, and I hadn't even touched the tip at this place. It really is a little bit of an overwhelming experience: you don't know where to go next, you don't know what to look at. It's sensory overload of the best kind. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars is because of the more expensive pricing, and because it's a bit of a mess to navigate, so it's not exactly "as good as it gets". It's probably closer to a 4.5 star review, in my book. RECOMMENDED FOR: Browsing, people who like new books for 1/2 off, and for wiling away a couple of hours. read more

One of my favorite places in Jax! The books are greatly priced. The last time I went I spent $100 and walked out with 12 things! Wish I could go more often! read more

I think every book ever written can be found in Chamblin's. The inventory can be overwhelming, so I suggest you go with a list. If you decide to just "Look Around" you'll end up with way more than you can read in a lifetime. Although I didn't ask for help, the staff was busy helping others and were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. My only gripe would be the prices. I really didn't think some of their books that are marked half-off should've been half-off; I thought it should've been lower. I don't know, I guess I'm spoiled by the Friends of the Library book sales, although, Chamblin's does have the.most.amazing. inventory. If you live here and haven't gone yet - what's keeping you?? read more

I live in Chicago now but taught in Jacksonville Florida. I miss this store so much I still order stuff from them. You can literally spend hours and hours in this store and it's a great place to just sit on the floor and read a book. I miss this place. I wish there was a place like this in Chicago. read more

Love love love this place. Booklovers in Jax, this is the place to go! I've been buying my books from here for years and their system of trade ins for credit is wonderful. I have nothing bad to say, I tell all my friends about Chamblins! read more

Chamblin's is a book labyrinth of epic proportions. Yes, it is crowded and cluttered and so easy to get lost in - but those are positive things to bibliophiles. Don't worry if you cannot find something, the people who work there know where everything is. The prices are very reasonable as well. read more

Best Book Seller in the southeast. Fair Prices and very well organized. Knowledgable staff will help you find the rare books your seeking. The store has an eclectic feel and is part of the charm in this cavernous book mine. read more

One of my disappointments in Jacksonville has been the lack of book stores. Not the lack of independent book stores, not an overabundance of corporate book stores. Just a lack of book stores period. Chamblin Book Mine almost makes up for that issue alone! It's huge and an incredible assortment on any topic (at least that I've been able to think of). The only downside is the hours. I wish they were open later than 6:00 PM. Hard to just drop by in the evenings without planning a special trip. read more

This place is huge and amazing. Great for used books. I love to check here if I start reading a new author or series. Everyone is always super friendly. read more

I wanted so badly to write a review but I don't have words for the adoration I have for this place. You walk in and suddenly surrounded by walls and walls of books. Some new some used. It's so beautiful to me to find books with little messages left in them, especially old books who have been through many hands. I do have a warning, which I believe adds to the charm of it, but you can so easily get lost in here. But, really, is that an actual problem? read more

Chamblin Bookmine - Two gems I found! - Bookstores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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I have made use of used book stores all over the United States, but nothing has ever topped chamblin book mine!! The variety, the sheer quantity of books is unmatched!! No matter your interest, they have something for you!! Go.. you can thank me later read more

I've been a customer for over 20yrs. I loved that store and spent hours there. Having been away for a couple years I had to go back to my favorite store. But alas they to have changed. Used books usually sell for half price especially paperbacks. We found a sci fi novel we'd been looking for. The spine said the book was 2.95 however at checkout the young lady charged 3.50. When the cost of the book was pointed out we got" due to inflation the price has gone up". Well you've lost mine and 3 other ppls business. PS:I ordered my book plus 5 others from amazon cost 15 bux for 6 books. read more

I love Chamblin bookmine! I could get lost in the aisle for weeks (literally, it's a maze). But I wouldn't care. Prices are reasonable. Be sure to look for a chamblin stamp on the inside of the front cover-- otherwise it's a new book and full price. If the stamp is there and nothing is written in the top right corner of the book, it's 1/2 cover price. It IS possible to find something specific your looking for in there. But I usually enjoy just browsing. The staff is friendly and helpful. They do take books for credit or cash. I have only done this once but they took more than the average trade place would take. read more

Awesome place! Super nice service. Amazing coffee! Try the latte with almond milk and the simple syrup. You could spend hours digging through the books. Cookies, bars, and cupcakes didn't look too appetizing though :/ read more

Chamblin Bookmine - Bookstores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Definitely one of the most wonderful gems in our city, a must visit destination for anyone who loves books, reading, music, or movies. I have been a regular customer since I was 9 or 10 years old, and have brought numerous friends and acquaintances in over the years, who all loved treasure hunting in a real, independently-owned bookstore. They have an absolutely incredible selection, you can sell or trade in books and dvd's for store credit, the employees are very helpful and knowledgeable if you need help finding something new to read or are looking for a particular title or subject. They also have a location Downtown on Laura Street between West Adams Street and Monroe that also has a cafe. read more

A treasure trove of used books. Trade in your old for store credit. This is a good resource for required school books too

It was a true adventure. I was able to find many titles by and about Hunter Thompson. I think everyone can find a treasure if you love books or movies. read more

Coolest bookstore ever! It is huge and has the largest selection of books I've ever seen.They also have kept really nice staff over the years! read more

Been coming here since a kid. One of my favorite places in this city. They've got everything!

First time here today. I found this place by accident and it's a gem! The staff was super helpful and friendly and the selection of books is unmatched! read more

Staff is top notch. Owner rides an iron horse and will deliver himself at times. What else do you want in a book store in Florida?

Very large book store that doesnt seem to end. They have regular books that you could find at barnes and noble for a cheaper price and very old and rare books. I went here just to look and was blown away of how nice and big it was. The bookstore is also attached to a coffee shop where you can relax at. Highly reccomend. Go there if you need to purchase some new books or even if you want to take some really cool pictures surrounded by books. read more

I Love this Awesome Treasure of a Bookmine! The people that work here are very cool & nice & helpful & interesting and can probably help you find whatever you're looking for Fair prices, trade-ins & good vibes...I always want to stay much longer, there are so many aisles of books and books and more... Good Stuff!! read more

There are not many bookstores in the country that are better than this one. The store is huge and carries not only books but other media related items like cd's, dvd's and vinyl records. It's the kind of place you can get lost in for several hours and still not have seen it all. It's cool. read more

I'm so glad that I don't have dust allergies because what would I do without Chamblin's? It saved my broke English Major ass in college when I had to buy 30 novels in one semester. It also serves as a good way to waste away a Saturday afternoon. I have a confession to make - I'm a book hoarder. No, not a collector... a hoarder. I don't care if it's a mint-condition signed first edition or a dog-eared $.50 paperback - I will buy it, I will read it (most of the time), and I will find a shelf in my house to put it on. It's gotten so bad that I actually stock up on books like they're being discontinued. For example, you know those tables of "Buy 2 get 1 free" books at Borders? Well, over the course of a few weeks, I ravished those tables. I bought books faster than I could read them so I started stacking them into tall piles around my bed. At some point, I finally gathered enough willpower to stop buying and start reading. Well, about halfway down my 2nd book stack, I encountered a book that I had already read before. In fact, it was the first book I had read from the 1st stack. I bought 2 of the same damn book in my Borders frenzy (it was "Haunted" by Chuck Palahniuk, in case you were wondering and, for those who have read it, you know how... um... unforgettable it was). Anyway, this is where Chamblin's comes in handy because they accept trade-ins! You can get either store credit or cash back. Store credit is a better deal, by the way. The really cool thing about Chamblin's is its maze-like configuration. It's outgrowing its present location rapidly, so it's like wandering around in a labyrinth of books complete with dead ends and narrow escapes. If you've got allergies, bring some meds and, if you're claustrophobic, keep your happy place in mind because it's not for the weak. But, if you want 50 different editions of Moby Dick, you'll find them there. Chamblin's also has used dvds and music cds, if that's more your style. They're supposed to be opening a new location downtown about 2 blocks away from my office and, when they do, I may never leave. Chamblin's, that is. Not my office. I'll leave THAT place faster than you can yell, "Fire!" read more

Too much of a good thing. Literally. I can't see giving it four stars just because the size of the store is so overwhelming. Prices aren't awesome but nothing to complain about. Decent trade program as well. read more

I would go to Chamblin Bookmine to stock my bunker. This place is book heaven. It's organized in a zany, chaotic kind of sense, where you can find the same book in different sections by author, genre, or purpose. The aisles go on forever--there are strange and beautiful section markers you'll never find in Booksamillion like "Beat" and "Gender Studies". Plan for a few hours. You may go in with friends, but you won't see them again soon. You don't get no stinkin' basket, you get a narrow little dolly. (Personally, I wing it. When my arms are too full to shop, I know it's time to go home.) You can trade in books, but beware--overstocked titles are sent back home. Your store credit is worth more than your cash in hand, but I've never minded. Books are usually, unless otherwise marked, half off the cover price or less. You can find anything in here--not quickly, but you can. I found three Chuck Rosenthal books in one shot: Elena of the Stars, Loop's Progress, and Experiments in Life and Deaf. It was AmA-zing. This is not where crappy books go to die. This is where all the people you'd like to meet set their literature free to roam. read more

Chamblin BookMine has a lot of books and you can probably find anything you're looking for. But, the place is a little higher priced that I thought it'd be, and they only bought a couple of my books out of a whole box. Most were fairly new hardbacks. I now use Paperbackswap.com for all my book trading. It's only the cost of postage. read more

At first glance (as we accidentally drove past it because my GPS was confused lol), I was a little underwhelmed. It doesn't look like a big, fancy store from the outside. When we first walked in I thought "Oh hey, this really is pretty big!" and then I walked. And walked. And oh my God it never ended. We'd get to one section, thinking we were done, and ta-da! Another hallway or room area with hundreds more books. Imagine that but pretty much every where you turn. I'm fairly certain the building just never ends, it's an infinite loop of reading materials. I'm not complaining either, it was amazing. There were so many books- old, new, and in between. I was so excited to find my daughters an Amelia Bedelia book from 1978. Time to start their lifelong love of reading! I've seen in previous reviews where people mentioned being unhappy that the new and old books are together in the shelves. But honestly there isn't a better way for them to do it, it would be so much extra work for them to have to continually rotate out the new books into the stacks and add new stock. It's very very VERY obvious which books are new and which are not. Honestly if I love a book and want to read it, I'd pay full price regardless but I'd much rather give the money to a local business rather than a big name company. Overall, absolutely loved this place and I will be back (again and again and again...) read more

This is my favorite bookstore and I've visited most of the others on the best of the US lists (you know, those in Austin, SF, and Portland, among others). I don't live in Jacksonville, but Chamblin is the first place I head when we come to town to see family and the place I regularly disappear to during our stay. In fact, this bookstore has been a mainstay for my Florida trips since it was a tiny shop on Herschel. There are real finds here, including signed photography books and delicious, out of print art books, as well as your everyday novels and nonfiction. Coming here is like a treasure hunt--if you know what you want, you may or may not find it, but if you're open to the journey, it's always an interesting ride. I agree that a cafe would make this place heaven on earth. read more

This place has saved my life. I love it....and I mean I love it. I want to work there, I want to sleep there, I want to become one with it. I have found several books there that I have not been able to find anywhere else. I found a perfect copy of David Boring by Daniel Clowes. I found a few rare Francesca Lia Block. The store is large, with the downtown one being smaller (except downtown has an upstairs). There are DVD's & CD's as well. read more

My husband took me to this bookstore as a treat because I'm a serious bookworm. It took me a while to wade through piles of books, but I found several treasures. The reviews of this place are all true...Chamblin is possibly one of the coolest bookstores in America. I agree that it could be organized better, but once you find what you want, you will be in heaven. I bought about 11 books for a VERY decent cost that didn't leave my wallet unhappy. They literally have rows and rows of books on anything in the world you can imagine. I only wish that the ventilation were better because it is a bit stuffy in there. But despite my claustrophobia, I was thrilled to be there. It was freakin wonderful! My husband had to stalk me through the aisles because I wandered off in pursuit of literary joy. I was like a zombie...mmmm, books.... Be prepared to spend a whole afternoon and possibly some money because you will love it. read more

Sell, buy, trade or spend hours minding for treasure at this gem of Jax! If you love books, here should be your Mecca.

Could this place get any better? Each time I turned a corner I was amazed at how many more books I could see stretching before me. From the outside, you don't realize the massive size of this place. And it's filled floor to rafters with books of every kind for people of every kind. Would be a great place to spend an afternoon. read more

Sometimes it's not so much about the books, the DVDs or other media available there. It's not about the prices. Chamblin Bookmine is an EXPERIENCE. It's deceptively gigantic and overwhelming on the inside, where hours can pass by before you realize it. (Once, I even found a 1920 pocket size edition of "A Midsummer Nights Dream" with lithograph illustrations. Love it!) read more

This can be very overwhelming to navigate, however, I am often overwhelmed by what great books I happen upon here. Jacksonville is indeed fortunate to have such a great resource. read more

I went here for the first time last week and I'm in heaven! I could spend a few hours browsing and looking for books. Beats Barnes and Noble any day!! read more