What a charming new and used bookstore in fed hill. I've seen this store for years and years and…read morenever stopped in. But I was in the area checking out a new vintage store and thought I'd pop in. Retail is kind of dying in this area, but book escape was thriving. There were lots of people in there browsing and reading. There's a really cute back area with a mermaid mural and a reading nook. There's a lot of brand new books sold at 15% off, which are among the best sellers list. I thought in this economy - what a steal of a deal that is! The front desk is right around the front corner and the owner seemed nice. There's a huge selection of music in the corner and I thought that for a used bookstore, it was really well organized. It is a little clustered, but overall really bright and airy and lots of books!

I was out and about on a beautiful saturday afternoon and decided I wanted to read in the park,…read moreonly I forgot my kindle at home so I didnt have anything to read. Since I was nearby I thought id pop in and see if they had anything good to read. I ended up not only finding a book for the day but also a book ive been wanting to add to my collection! They have such a large variety of books and everything is laid out so well. Next time i go i plan on picking up a blind bag of books just to see what kind of wanders I find!

For safety, you have to ring a doorbell to be let inside. And when you ring that doorbell, odds are…read morean opinionated chihuahua will be the first at the door to greet you. Once inside, I was greeted by a second dog whose nose was auspiciously shaped like a heart who enthusiastically loved on me before moving on to my husband. I mean, I've never been greeted like this before in a bookstore and now I don't ever NOT wanted to be greeted like that! This store is small but mighty with a book that I've been lowkey searching for for months (Marsha: The Joy and Defiance) and another that I had on my audiobook list but was happy to purchase as it was signed by the author (Keeper of Lost Children). I love independent bookstores. There's just something about searching and finding just what you're looking for. I can't wait to return again soon.

Cute Black-owned bookstore. They seem to be a great local indie for the area with many author…read moreevents. Parking was a little hard to find on the street so we had to walk several blocks. Still worth the effort!

Great place for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Children and educator would greatly benefitread more

For the price, can't be beat!…read more The model is simple: donate your books (up to 7 boxes per visit). They give them away for free! According to their website, you can't take more than 150,000 books per visit, so don't be too greedy, you bookworms! They sell 1-2% of donated books to cover overhead, but everything else is volunteer basis, keeping The Book Thing a free community even once a month. Be prepared to wait in line. We arrived at 11:45 so most of the big rush had faded. They let people in on the hour, with a max of 100 people in per time. If you arrive after someone leaves, they can let you in to finish that hour out. You could make a day of it - there are several cafés, breweries, and restaurants in the area that you could visit before or afterwards. Inside there are three rooms - red, blue, and green. They are organized by genres. A warning: this is not for claustrophobic people. It gets crowded and while people are generally polite and respectful, you will rub shoulders with plenty of other bibliophiles. My kids enjoyed it, though Child #1 was a tad overwhelmed and Child#3 wanted to get out of his umbrella stroller and run around! They all picked out something that was just for them. My wife gathered several books and I picked up a couple for myself. When you leave, you need to count your books and tell them that number (for their record-keeping) and your ZIP code. Other than that, it's a great deal, not to mention a fun way to meet other folks in the community. One parent reminisced about how her (now grown) daughter used to love a series that my middle child was looking at. I overheard one woman asking about a particular genre and a volunteer told her that those usually get picked over pretty early. So while there is more of a wait and higher demand closer to opening time, it sounds like there are some choicer items that are available then. DONATION - there is a small one-way road that leads around the back. After the morning rush, it seemed like it moves quickly. There's a small parking pad where you can pull up and give your books to some volunteers. Parking - it's Waverly, so pretty much street parking and you will have to look. We lucked out and saw someone leaving their spot right by the donation drop-off, so we were able to park close. If you have a bunch of books that could use a new home, come donate them here! If you are curious about grabbing some new books for yourself, drop on by! Just check the website for specific dates - it can vary from month to month what's available.

Best local coffee spot and a lot of community-centered activities. PLENTY of seating. Go on a…read moreSaturday morning and you'll be right next to the Waverly farmer's market lot.

I didn't have a prolonged visit here, as I just stopped by and picked up some pastries to bring…read morehome. Whilst there it looked like a very big and nice place to maybe meet up with friends or even try to get some work done. It wasn't overly noisy or anything. Also everything is vegan. We actually ordered a vegan pie from them for Thanksgiving and can attest it was delicious. Next to the coffeehouse is the two story bookstore. The ground level is full of books highlighting political and/or social subject matters, whereas the second floor seemed to have more regular fare. It's a nice inviting space for everyone - would recommend checking out.

Cool lil record store on what I call "super block Read street". Just prob 5-10 crates but of…read moreinteresting stuff. Picked up an old Electric Prunes record. Not organized by genre...you have to dig a lil. Has some other stuff like a few guitars, an amp or two, books, and stuff.

The True Vine - musical smorgasbord- drunk on the ear candy of many good times , stories and…read morealbums of every flavor . Find yourself there in a A Baltimore beacon bejeweled .

I stopped by True Vine to do some browsing a few weeks ago when I was in the area. It's not large,…read morebut it had an interesting selection. However, I'm pretty headache-prone in businesses that smell heavily of cigarette smoke. I couldn't stay inside very long for that reason. I was able to find a few things I took home, but I probably wouldn't return to True Vine over some other record shops in the city. The shop does have a classic old store front/facade as well a some great decor. Worth stopping in if you collect vinyl, are checking out the city's record shops, and are in the area!

I love Everyone's Place. It is a historic gem!! Such a wide selection of reading materials and…read moremore! Customer service is always professional, inviting, attentive and hospitable.

Every time I walk in EP, it's the aroma that always make me happy and relaxes my soul. There's this…read moreamalgamation of varying body oils, incense and soaps that truly permeate the air and this fragrant heady aroma that is absolutely intoxicating. My mission: to get raw Shea butter bc everywhere I've gone has refined Shea and I want the vitamins & nutrients raw Shea gives. EP is such a place to get authentic and organic products w/o all the bells & whistles of pretty packaging. It's just really good stuff!! When I tell you no one there gives a crap, believe it. This place has been around 40+ years!!! And u can tell. There is and always has been a type of air that is given off by the employees when you enter. It's as if, 'you should know what's in here and what it's for and how to use it already... and if you don't... ah well'. I get and can't appreciate the hands off approach. I hate nothing more than a pushy salesperson. That's not what's happening in here. It's more of an indifference to anything. This go around, as has always happened here, I had a few questions. The employees seem out off by having to stop looking in their phones to actually answer a question. So after the eye roll and the sigh, I ask... and as is always the case, the question is replied to with complete indifference ['If you want it, get it. If you don't... cool... but put it back where u got it. I ain't movin']. That's always been my 'turn off' w/ this place since I started going in the 90s. Sadly, EP has been one of the only stalwarts that has stood the test of time in the area. Granted, they have good genuine products in stock. Fantastic body oils, tinctures, lotions, soaps, incense, teas, fabrics, art, sculptures a literal library of wonderful Afro centric literature, etc... it's all there. And if it isn't, they can prob get it for you. But it's the 'indifference' for me. I'm sure it works for them bc they've been the same way for 20+ years. While the price points may be a lil higher than expected, taking into account that they are a specialty shop catering to a a specific need/ demographic, the pricing is definitely justified - especially in this market w/ so many businesses closing. I do hope EP stays around for a long time to come. I just wish the employees gave just an iota about what they're selling in the shop (lower level).

I had the opportunity to be part of an author reading and music event at this location, and it was…read moresuch an amazing experience to be a part of! We used the back patio area, which gave us beautiful views of the expansive grounds and created such a lovely ambiance for the event. It was a really special setting. Inside, the store itself was beautifully laid out, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Everything about the experience felt thoughtfully put together, and I was genuinely happy to be an author participating in an event there.

It's a cute bookshop but the employees are something else. I was smiling and greeting them. The…read morelonger I was there the more uncomfortable I felt. I thought one of the employees was a customer until she started pointing out books when asked by someone else. A white girl came in looking for a book and all three employees rushed to greet and help her. Running downstairs and everything. If you're BIPOC don't come here. You're better off at Barnes & Nobles. Definitely won't be back. Sad because it was warm looking inside. Don't judge a book by its cover! Also there is a tiny Palestinian section. Just trauma porn for their patrons.

Great selection and value; really knowledgeable proprietor helped a lot with smart and witty…read morecomments; also great 'if you liked that you'll like this' suggestions!

Very cute and cozy bookstore. The owner is versed in literature and her number one employee,…read moreGermaine, is the cutest black cat in the city. Definitely a great place to stop by.

i just received my book that I purchased from Royal Books. Great deal, fantastic find,…read moreIt was packaged excellently and shipped quickly. I will be watching this store for more books that peek my interest. Jerry Z Oak Lawn Illinois

From the owner: Royal Books specializes in rare books and paper relating to twentieth century literature, genre…read morefiction, the arts, and popular culture, with a particular emphasis on cinema.