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.

CLOSED NOW, as of June 2025. But, a new bookstore has taken Appletree Books place. The new…read morebookstore is called The Checkered Shelf Bookshop and they kept a similar layout inside the bookstore as Appletree Books. I visited Appletree Books on Friday evening, 13 June 2025 for their closing party. They had a live 3-person band perform and they gave out free food and drinks. The evening was an overall great atmosphere. I previously visited this bookstore for the first time on Saturday, 24 May 2025 where I bought books and 3 small tea cups which came with saucers. The cute teacups and saucers sets were on sale for $2 a piece which was a great deal. BOOKS -- Plenty to choose from. During my first visit in May 2025, I bought 2 books: A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Catcher in the Rye. I still have to read them but I can't wait until I do as these are classic books. OTHER ITEMS -- They sold other home decor items. In my May 2025 visit, I bought 3 little decorative teacups that cost $2 each. They were a great find. While it may be sad that this longtime bookstore has now closed, a new owner has now been found and she is a lovely woman. Be sure to check out the new bookstore called The Checkered Bookshelf. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 51/250 total reviews in 2026 - 892 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 26 April 2026

Appletree Books has been part of Cleveland Heights Community and local independent bookstore scene…read moresince 1975! This bookstore is charming (inside and out). Lovely customer service. Amazing all around. It is well-stocked and well-curated with items such as books, vintage accessories, bookmarks, journals, and more. You'll find every genre at this bookstore. Unfortunately after 50 year, the owner is retiring. Appletree Books will close its doors on May 31, 2025. It's a very sad moment for the community and readers. Things to know before they close: -Sales: There are currently big sales ongoing on furniture, vintage items, and fixtures for the next two weeks. The items on sale are on the second floor and in the basement. The prices are very good! I purchased 3 amazing refurbished furniture pieces for $70 (table, shelf, and side table). You can pick up some items that are not in use when you purchase. The items in use will be scheduled for pickup after store closure. I highly recommend checking out everything they have! Most pieces are sold but very good items remain! -Books: There is still a lot of inventory, many good reads. There is a sale on books right now (20% off). Check out ARC's in the back (first floor) for free books (2 per person). -Gift Cards: Be sure to use your gift cards before closure or send them in for redemption. Contact the store or get on their email list for more details. -Points: If you have points with this store, use them! -Events: The store has three remaining events: Books in the Bar (at Parnell's), Shakespeare Reading, and Fairwell Party. The Fairwell Party is scheduled on June 13. Follow their social media or join their email list to check these events out! -Community Impact: The store is currently accepting book donations (or books purchased in the store) for kids' little libraries. I will be so very sad to see this store go! The displays were always so lovely! They always made my day! I look forward to the remaining events and hope to shop here more before they close!

Mac's Books is a well-loved indie book store in Cleveland Heights Coventry neighborhood. It's been…read moreimpressively part of the community since 1982! It's everything that you'd expect from a bookstore - wood accents, endless shelves of books, zines, magazines, bookish souvenirs, and cute bookmarks. This bookstore often makes it to "must visit" CLE bookstores. Selection: Mac's has a wide range of literature from the timeless classics (think Jane Austen) to modern lit (think Emily Henry). There are three levels of books with genres ranging from romance to history. Each category is well organized and labeled. It's definitely the store to find eclectic reads on specialized topics. You'll also find new and used books, greeting cards, pretty journals, bookmarks, bookish totes, and other accessories at this store. You can order everything that you can't find at checkout. I historically purchased nature-inspired reads, and today Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" for my book club. It was a gorgeous and compact version for $15. Who doesn't love a compact book that you can take everywhere? Service: Service is consistently very friendly. They always ask you if you found all your reads in a genuine manner. I really enjoy my interactions with everyone at Mac's - employees and readers. Events: This book store hosts very interesting book events for the community. Open air poetry readings, silent readings at nearby Phoenix Coffee, haikus and meditations, book clubs, and other gatherings are hosted here. Check out flyers at their store or their Facebook page. I previously visited their event with typewriter printed poems for Valentine's Day and had a ton of fun! Parking: City parking garage is available across the street (free parking). There is limited street parking. Availability of the latter really depends on the time of the day. I highly recommend visiting Mac's if you're in the mood to browse. Make sure to check every corner, there are so many great finds for your TBR! Explore the area's dining spots in the Coventry neighborhood while you're visiting. There are some dining gems here!

GREAT book shop on Coventry! Love the wide selection of books, gifts, totes, and more. People who…read morework there are kind and always helpful! Their loft space is also whimsical and cute. Little drawbacks are that the prices of books can be a little high, but better than most bookstores-- and it's pretty narrow. Do not recommend trying to go in with a stroller!

Here's the place to get your cool but overpriced Case Western gear.read more

(6/5/19) I happened across Barnes and Noble as I was exploring the University Circle area. It…read morelooked interesting and I hadn't been in a bookstore in quite some time. Upon entering I was amazed at how few books were displayed! Most of the store was taken up by college swag on the first floor as well as on the second. About half of the second floor was devoted to textbooks, but was currently empty as the fall semester hadn't yet begun. I actually found a book that interested me, but the price was not what I wanted to pay. Will I return? Sadly I tend to doubt it. Its easier to browse books on Amazon.

My wife and I volunteer at the hospital and we were walking by the store this afternoon. Someone…read morewas standing by the front of the store holding a beautiful bouquet of roses. My wife told them how pretty they were and THEY GAVE THEM TO HER. What a wonderful gesture. The store has phone chargers for people that have unexpectedly had to arrive as patients. I know, we have gone and gotten them for people who couldn't go themselves. A real asset to the hospital.

Everything you should expect from a hospital book/gift store. Nice selection of cards and books…read more Around the corner from the main part of the store there are snacks and drinks.

After a lunch at Pacific East I was wandering down Coventry and found that Attenson's Antiques was…read moreopen and since I have walked by any number of times I figured I would check it out. Inside is incredible, two storefronts and a full basement full of an eclectic assortment all scattered about with only a vague kind of organization. Among the broad categories of items were artwork, books, clothing, cowboy boots, decor and just about anything else you could imagine. I was looking for wooden masks since I have a large collection; of course I really didn't want to find anything to buy, I was just shopping. Scattered about the store were quite a few different masks and other carvings. I finally noticed two masks hanging on the wall behind the main counter, a very detailed Balinese mask and a smaller Japanese Tengu Mask. The owner seemed knowledgeable about the masks, which was welcome and a bit surprising. The Tengu Mask just talked to me and the price was affordable, plus it was small enough that I didn't have to do a major redistribution of my collection. After a short negotiation we came to a reasonable price and the Tengu mask is now hanging in my home. A great cool spot to just browse around and see what hits your interest. There are surprises scattered all over, prices seemed reasonable. The owners were friendly and helpful. Stop in and see what happens.

This antique shop is a hidden gem in Cleveland Heights. The…read morestaff are pleasant. There is always something different & unique to be found. Reasonable prices.

Dropped into Visible Books to co-work with a friend and was pleasantly surprised to see the former…read moreowner of Coffee Coffee Coffee was there. Even better, they still have some of the menu favorites, including the avocado toast, which was just as good as I remembered. The space is perfect for getting work done. Plenty of seating, reliable Wi-Fi, enough outlets to keep everything charged, and I had more than enough room for both my laptop and portable monitor. They also have a great selection of books if you need a break from the screen. The staff was welcoming, the coffee was excellent, and the avocado toast definitely lived up to the hype. My only note is that it runs a little chilly inside, so I'd bring a sweater. Other than that, it's an easy 10/10 and a spot I'll definitely be back to.

Visible Voice Books new location is absolutely beautiful! As a bookworm that has visited many…read morebookstores in Cleveland and around the world this is one of the most beautiful. Currently super busy as it just opened but definitely worth the hype. They offer food and coffee and have a full list of events!

This isn't your average used bookstore…read more I stopped by Paper Peddler's Out of Print Books to look around. It is a little hard to find, and the sign was a little faded which made it look like it might have closed - but don't let that deter you. They were stocked with all sorts of old books, magazines, papers, sheet music, and posters. Much of it seemed over 100 years old. I almost bought a book on craniofacial surgery from 1904. I looked at a Harper's magazine from the 1870's and Good Housekeepings from the 1930's. Prices were reasonable and the woman at the front of the store was very friendly.

Well all good things must come to end on Euclid Avenue! I have loved walking past the store front…read morewindows, all the glossy covers beckoning you to add to your ever growing book collection. The staff was always so friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately Clevo Books will close its doors at the end of the month with 60% off all inventory when paying in cash.

STORE CLOSING (at the end of June 2026) - 60% off liquidation sale when you pay with cash…read more HISTORY -- Clevo Books is a specialized bookstore that deals with translated works. Books written in other languages and translated to English are found here. They also have foreign books in the original language. This is a very unique bookstore with the only one of its kind in Cleveland. To find foreign language books translated to English can be difficult so we are lucky to have this bookstore in Cleveland for 4 years now. You can find books from the following languages - French, Spanish, German, Italian, Fulani (from the country Guinea-Bissau in West Africa), Russian, etc. OWNER -- The owner, Cathryn, has translated writings from German to English so she has a passion for translated books. In mid-June 2026, I found out that Clevo Books bookstore will CLOSE on Sunday, 28 June 2026, so I had to stop in to visit. I had been meaning to visit but with the downtown location, it wasn't convenient due to parking. I'm glad that I finally visited. PARKING - Free street parking is hard to find so I suggest parking at the PNC Center Garage which is only $4 all day (on weekends and $4 after 4pm or so during the week). SERVICE/AMBIANCE -- Wonderful and welcoming service. I visited on Saturday evening, 20 June 2026. There is a seating area at the back of the bookstore which is lovely. Upon arriving, I was greeted by an employee, Marc. He spoke to me about the books available. We had a lovely conversation about how he met the owner, his German/French background, and his passion for books/book curator. His French friend who happened to be in the store helped me pick out some French books to buy that wouldn't be too hard to read as I am not a fluent French speaker. BOOKS I GOT -- I left with buying 7 books, including 3 French books plus 4 translated books. I even got lucky to buy a book that the owner herself translated from German. The book is called "Giving Back" by Andrea Von Treuenfeld. I came looking for the famous Russian Crime and Punishment book but they had sold out. I did leave being happy with my purchase especially getting 60% off each book. The 3 French books that I bought were from the Foreign books shelf - the deal is buy 3 books for $10 or $5 each which is a great deal. So, the 3 French books that I got were already on a sale (no 60% off for those). WHY THEY ARE CLOSING -- Message from the owners on their website: "After four wonderful years downtown, we are closing our physical storefront at the end of June to transition into an online-only bookstore. We are incredibly proud of the beautiful space we built together, but high retail overhead means we must turn the page to a more sustainable digital future. Come visit us, grab your favorite titles before they are gone, and help us close this chapter with a bang. Thank you for your support!" -- Cathryn and Marc Overall, I had a lovely experience at Clevo Books and I'm glad that I got to visit before they close. It's unfortunate that they were not getting enough foot traffic to stay open. I think if they were at a different location besides downtown, they would have thrived. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 140/250 total reviews in 2026 - 981 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 24 June 2026

The Browsing Room Bookstore in downtown Cleveland is located inside the Galleria at Erieview mall…read morewhich is the same building the YMCA is located. The shopping mall is quiet because there are hardly or no stores in there as I only noticed one cafe or restaurant. I visited in 2025 because my friend's band was performing and I came to support him and his band mates. The owner, Jean, is nice and friendly. CAFE - Simple cafe with the basics of snacks, tea, and coffee. I think they offer sandwiches too. I've ordered tea during one instance and a muffin at another visit. The muffin was okay but edible. BOOKS -- Lots to choose from ranging from fiction, non-fiction, politics, religion, and much more. While the bookstore may not be that big, there is still plenty of variety. I even noticed the classic, Anne of Green Gables book, when I visited the bookstore in July 2025. I remember the TV series as a child. CLOSED NOW FOR A FEW WEEKS (June and July 2026) -- I ran into the owner recently at the Lakewood Library, in mid June 2026 and she was leaving the next day to Norway for vacation. She said the bookstore will be temporarily closed while she is on vacation. She returns the 2nd week of July 2026 from vacation, on July 13th, so the bookstore will re-open probably a few days after her return or maybe it will reopen on July 13th itself. Time will tell so keep an eye out for the re-opening. I've been here about 3 times and in those times, traffic to the bookstore was quite low. I hope they don't close down as some downtown businesses across the country are suffering from low sales and reduced customer traffic. I think if the owner of the Browsing Room Bookstore invites my friend's band or any other band to play more then this will increase the visibility of the bookstore which will cause more customers to come in to browse books and to hopefully spend money buying a book or two. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 138/250 total reviews in 2026 - 979 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 24 June 2026

Great bookstore and cafe! Nice selection of books and tasty coffee. The service is great and so…read morefriendly, definitely stop in when in Cleveland!