what a great shop. a classic record store. the selection is deep, the prices are fair, and if…read moreyou're into digging, there's chaos to dig through too. the clerks are ... usually helpful. i mean, like i said, old school record store. if you're looking for values on old rock records, this place RULES. but they've got plenty of other things too. i go to a ton of record stores, and this one is too shelf for me.

The staff members are the worst. They made an offer of .50 cents TRADE per item on my cds. Most of…read morethe staff probably makes $13 an hr, and are not even worth that. Not sure how this place stays in business. I will sell my stuff online and buy online. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME HERE.

i love this place. i love charles. i love the selection. i've gotten odd, super rare stuff here…read morethat i would never find anywhere else. things from africa from the 70s, private press weirdness from all over... the selection of more mainstream records is solid, especially in new inventory. but for me, it's about the consistently interesting, well-priced used stuff (though it's chaotic and catch-as-catch-can). highest recommendation. go go go.

Such an amazing experience here! I was searching for a pretty hard-to-find record for my…read moreboyfriend's birthday, and when I called, they not only confirmed they had it -- they actually held the record for me until I could come pick it up. That meant so much and seriously took the stress out of trying to track it down. When I came in, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. You can tell they genuinely care about music and about making sure customers leave happy. They made the whole experience feel personal instead of just another transaction. If you're looking for something specific (especially a harder-to-find record), this is the place to go. I'm so grateful they held it for me and helped make his birthday special. I'll definitely be back!

Great used book store!…read more My son is just starting to read, he loves books. Even though we have tons at home I like to keep his motivation going by buying new books for him to read. He loved looking through the books to find something he would enjoy. The lady at the front desk was also very helpful helping us navigate the store and sections. Kids books were about $2 and other books varied in price but all seemed reasonable for good condition books.

Although the selection is small, there is always something to find. I love used bookstores where…read morethe prices are crazy low! I left with 11 kids books for only $16 and my husband got 9 books for about $20. Many of the kids books were outdated but if you dig you can find some goodies. Plus, nonfiction is often a safe bet. Definitely worth stopping in.

Hands down the greatest record store I've ever been to. The owners are so nice and helpful and you…read morecan tell they put a lot of time and effort into making the store the best possible, Their selection is heavily curated with every selection you think of. They have all types of media music and for a great price too. They also do something I've never seen a record store do before that really makes them stand out compared to other stores. THEY CLEAN AND CHECK ALL THEIR USED RECORDS. You can tell the owners truly care about not only their records but their customers and music as a whole. I will definitely be returning in the near future.

RECOMMENDED I just…read morewent in the other day for the first time and I was blown away! Their selection is amazing and it is soooo specifically divided up into genre it's fantastic. The owner is extremely knowledgeable and can make recommendations that are spot. On. They are both very nice and extremely helpful, they are by no means music snobs who make you feel like an idiot lol! Make sure to check out the jazz room!!

SPRING INTO A GOOD BOOK!…read more The Checkered Shelf Bookshop is a new bookstore that officially opened on the first weekend in April 2026. There were some soft openings in March 2026 that I heard about after the fact. They replaced Appletree bookstore which closed last year (2025). I visited for the first time on the 10th of April 2026. There are a few chairs to sit on as you browse books and the store is bright due to the light coming through from the windows. BOOKS -- I bought 2 books - The Second Chance Convenience Store and 84, Charing Cross Road. They offer a selection of mystery, sci-fi, historical fiction, horror, translated works, children's books, fantasy, etc. They have fiction and non-fiction books. The selections appeared smaller but since they are a new bookstore, I won't be surprised if they start getting more books in store. OTHER ITEMS -- Besides books, they also sell, stationery (pens, notebooks, etc), journals, bookmarks, candles, mugs, and numerous other items that are great for gifts. SERVICE -- I visited on opening day, on Friday, April 10th in the evening and I met the owner immediately upon walking inside. She was friendly and explained the layout of the bookstore. PARKING -- There is a free parking lot behind the bookstore. I can't wait to visit the Checkered Shelf Bookshop again when I'm in the Cleveland Heights neighbourhood. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 21/250 total reviews in 2026 - 862 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 13 April 2026

Not a fan of their hours but so happy to have finally made it here! This place definitely qualifies…read moreas a hidden gem or a less-traveled CLE shop. I could easily spend hours here, and did, last Sunday! What gorgeous decor, layout, vibes and selection they have! Workers were really friendly as well. The prices of books were high though--no discount at all for new books. Fine to support local but this is why the library will still always be my favorite. What I was confused about is how the books are organized because it is not by author nor by used/new. I'm pretty sure new books were placed right next to pre-owned ones on the same shelf... I did enjoy all the gift and merchandise displays. They were all set up in a way that looked irresistible to buy! My BF bought this photography coffee table book he was really excited about and I got a children's novel illustrated by Jon Klassen (big fans!).

Whether you are a book lover or not, there's something for everyone in this wonderful place. Today…read morewas my first time stopping in, and I enjoyed myself so much looking around at all of the books, trinkets and little doodads. The people working there were very knowledgeable and friendly. The book collection alone is incredible. There is multiple room rooms and the sanctuary holds very old and important books and is definitely interesting to look around in. They also have a cute gift shop that has very cool gifts and handmade items as well. Totally a great find if you are looking for something fun to do, or just looking for a few books.

this place is strange, but is extremely welcoming. not only does it allow you to purchase books at…read more5 dollars from a very vast and wonderful collection. everyone here is also beyond kind and very willing to help out. this place is a gem to the cleveland neighborhoods surrounding it, and it deserves more and more business.

They are very customer-oriented and I have never had a problem transaction during the years I've…read morebeen purchasing books from them. I've found books on their site that are interesting and reasonably priced. Considering all the books I buy, they are are at the top of my list of booksellers.

Trip Review : Comics and Friends - Great Lakes Mall - Mentor Ohio…read more Extremely efficient. A great description of this shop. John has everything organized so they use all the space. The new comics are displayed display well at the back of the store surrounded by the more recent books and then the nice selection of back issues. The area around the counter has the cool collectibles, some statues and other goodies. I like the old collectible comic related drinking glasses. Then you resurface into the shelving of Manga, graphic novels, toys and Funkos. Up front there are some display cases full of older collectible comics and a rack of t-shirts. Check out the pics. I was talking to one of the employees and they said that they have six local writers/artists/creators coming in for free comic book day this Saturday and John will have his convention stock broken out and set up. His convention stock is amazing for silver age and golden age and key comics ! Be sure to stop out to the mall and say hi to John and his crew and thank ls to Comics and Friends again for all the support for Neo ComicCon

located in the corner inside of great lakes mall, a great place for anyone. they have a good…read moreselection of back-issues and the staff are always so friendly.