I have never walked out of Kilgore Books empty handed! There have been numerous occasions where I call ahead searching for a rare or less than popular book, and the owner checks their inventory only to tell me they have exactly what I am looking for! Not sure if this is simply me having good luck, or if the owner is that good at stocking the shop! Likely the latter. Regardless, I've been nothing but a happy customer here! As an avid book collector, I have (hesitantly) visited many shops since the pandemic hit. Kilgore requires every customer use hand sanitizer, and is strict about requiring masks and social distancing! I feel very safe shopping here -- more so than several of the other bookstores I have gone to recently. read more

Where to start. I used to go about once a week and there would be some fresh inventory. then they put a sign on the door that they are not paying cash for books, last time I went there was very little new titles. workers are not qualified to work there. the isles are claustphoric. moms don't even think about bringing in a baby stroller. owner is aloof and an ass. boycott Kilgore books read more

Very good selection for a relatively small store! The staff was friendly and I like the location for walking around in Denver before and after visiting. Parking on side streets near by was not difficult! read more

My favorite type of used book store. Knowledgable staff and a huge selection stacked into a small space. I can't imagine coming in and not walking out with something really cool that you are excited to read. read more

love this place! eclectic selection, cool space Plan on coming back highly recommended read more

Aggressive owner and does not know the community. I have going there for years. Boxes were set up a block away and I started to look when the owner began to bark at me just for looking. Thanks John read more

I will forevermore seek out Kilgore Books when I pass through Denver. They have every work of great literature I look for and don't find at other bookstores- independent and big box alike. Kilgore's inventory is fabulous and perfectly curated. What a gem! read more

My husband and I had a little time before our flight from Denver took off yesterday, so we stopped by Kilgore Books. We're very fond of used bookstores & this little place is a perfect example of what you want in a bookstore. There were lots of genres available and both paperback and hardback books were available. There is a very small true crime section that I was unable to find, but John helped me locate it. He was very friendly and engaged my husband & me in conversation about books & other points of interest in town. He told me that Kilgore had been in business for the past 11 years and I hope it stays around for our future trips to the area. The shop has some cool t-shirts and my husband can't wait to wear the one I bought him. We had to dash to ensure we made it to the airport in time, but John was a fun conversationalist and we look forward to returning! read more

I've thought long and hard about what this review should be for - it's my 400th after all. And there was a tough moment when I couldn't decide between Kilgore and Taki Sushi. Then I decided I may be able to live without sushi, but I could never live without books. Kilgore for the win! This place is like magic. It's like what I would want the bookstore I owned to be like. It's like every bibliophiles wet dream, haphazardly categorized into some semblance of neatness so that the owners/workers can find exactly what they are looking for if you ask. Computerized inventory? Only if you count the man's brain. And for all of that I simply adore it. You can find seriously high-quality books here. Although you may never find just the book you are looking for because the space is rather small. Not that I'm complaining - I think it's cozy. As everyone says the prices are reasonable. But, I think my favorite part is I never feel judged no matter what book I'm looking for or even if I can't pronounce the author's name or title of the book. All of that reading in my head makes me say word out loud in a funny way sometimes. So what? I know you've got to have a book in mind that you're itching to read. May I suggest you swing by Kilgore's and see if they have a copy? Even if they don't have that one I'll bet you can find something that makes the stop worthwhile. read more

Kilgore Books - Bookstores Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I am SO full of shame right now. I lived in Denver for nearly 4 years and visited the 'city' frequently for about 10 years before that. I never ever walked into this place (even when I lived a block away). Please forgive me for the trespasses against you. But I have an excuse!!! I had given up on used book stores. See some people have great eyes and they don't get overwhelmed by lots of crap piled up. They can find the needle in the haystack, the diamond in the rough, the other adage and the next. But I can't keep my peepers from crossing and giving up. Kilgore! You're like the pair of xray specs (RIP Poly) I always needed. The place is small but it is surprisingly well organized. The alphabetization actually exists and is maintained! Halleloo! The sections are really well broken-up and the authors are all the ones that you should've read in your hipster years but never got to because of either a) your drinking habit or b) your nonfiction studiousness or c) your 24-7 search for the newest underground band. This is to say this place houses a kind of common language - books that if you run into nifty people on the street you can talk about - or strike up conversation with that bookish geek chic creature who has you all crushed up inside. You can theorize on the role of the imaginary child in "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" finally putting to good use your GRE vocabulary while gazing deep inside their eyes. Absurdist plays. Artsy graphic novels. Independent zines. New titles and classics. Beat poets. The selection is immaculately curated. Realize this is more of a specialty bookstore than one that tries to cover all the bases. The staff is amazing with suggestions and they're even open to suggestions themselves! Why not five stars? Well. The books can be a little pricey. Usually they're about half of MSRP, which means most run you $7.50. I know they need to stay in business and I know you pay for the genius of their contents. But it still hurts my skinny, skinny wallet. Please don't be an arse like I was. Visit. Support them. Get smart. read more

Kilgore Books - Bookstores Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Super cool bookshop located in Cap Hill. Next door to vinyl shop so great place to kill some time. Love the selection of comic books and the curated selection available. Def stop by if you're around read more

Okay selection of used books, they had some cool first editions, but the whole time that I was there browsing (maybe 20 minutes), the owner was talking to one of his friends and loudly cursing and complaining about how new customers who he had never seen before constantly ask him for discounts on books. Kind of awkward since that was my first time in there, but whatever read more

Book stores are awesome! This one is no exception, which seems small but somehow seems to cram a hell of a lot of books into the tiny confines. Just when I was thinking they didn't have something.. guy behind the counter spends about 10 seconds to find it. The prices are okay. The books range in price, of course, but it will be more than half of a new price which is a lot better than most used bookstores I have been to. They do have a decent selection of zines as well. Guy behind the counter complimented my Marilyn Manson shirt and recognized it as "you don't see too many of those anymore!" so I think he was cool. We patronized the shit outta that place.. well, one book. Books are heavy when you're traveling. read more

I do SO love this place. I brought in a big-ass trunk of books and they gave me some cash. Definitely not alot, but probably more than they could have. They've got some GREAT titles. Some really obscure stuff, too. I don't know what you're into (but I should... have we met? Let's talk!) but I can tell you that as far as metaphysics/magick/philsophy/Freemasonry they've got some PHENOMENAL titles for INSANE bargains. Yes, I'm a dork, and this is impressive to me. And yes, their selection is enough for me to love them. But on top of all that... FIRST EDITION OF 'THE ALCHEMIST' by Paulo Coehlo. HOLLA!!! The guys that work there are super cool. Bring them some beer and hang out for a bit chatting!!! read more

To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool. read more

Kilgore Books - Bookstores Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Amazing little shop! Every time I stop by, I find at least ONE book (sometimes many more). I've started to read a lot more since I've been shopping here. I'm not sure why it took me so long to find this little gem. The guy who's always there is courteous and always answers any questions. Check them out! read more

Awesome little book shop. Great selection of books in a quirky little shop. The owner is super friendly. We came for comic books but realized they didn't have much, mostly trades, I didn't see a stand or display with any new comic books. I'll still go when I need a book about aliens or I'm in the neighborhood. Nice place to just stop by and check out. read more

I have a little bit of a problem: I'm a bibliophile. This ailment, one might say, leads me to spend obsessive amounts of time in bookstores, particularly those of the eclectic, used persuasion, and drop my hard earned dollars on things, I technically don't really need. I am always on the lookout for another place I can feed my addiction, and when I find one, I am drawn in like a moth to a flame. I stumbled upon Kilgore's while walking down 13th ave., and my heart started to palpitate with delight. Although small, this shop has one of these best selections of used books I have ever seen. After commenting on this very thing to the store's employee, he informed me that they really try to keep out the crap. Well, I'm glad someone does, because that means I have a book-induced orgasm when I browse the shelves. I find it necessary to restrain myself so I don't go overboard, because believe me, it's easy to do. I imagine heaven to be a little bit like Kilgore's. They make sure there is quality selection, and the prices are completely reasonable. If I could, I would move in. read more

Update: this store still kicks ass. Here's a new reason why. I stopped in to Kilgore last weekend to do some pre-Christmas browsing, and managed to find a couple books that would be perfect for a few difficult-to-shop-for people on my list. The stage was set for Santa sweep, and when I brought my finds up to the counter, I got caught up in book talk with the kind dude behind the register. He swiped my card, handed me my treasures, and bid me good day. Transaction complete...almost. About three steps outside the door, I peeked in my bag and noticed I had accidentally taken up one of my 'like it' selections in place of my 'gotta have it' purchases, and realized my mistake. Embarrassed, I turned tail and went back into Kilgore to explain the mix-up. The clerk was a total class act about it, and when we figured out that the book I had INTENDED to buy was a buck-fifty more than the one I DID purchase, I half-heartedly offered to buy it in addition to my previous purchase. Nothin' doin' for this friendly shopkeep. "Don't worry about it, man...I recognize you. Just throw in an extra buck or two next time you're in." And so I shall, sir. I'll be back before the year is out. As stated in my previous review, Kilgore Books sets the bar high in terms of selection, organization, and presentation. But by standards of real world service, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better store (of any kind) in our fair city. The dude that helped me could've easily (and understandably) made me return my purchases, charged me the extra $1.50 on a separate transaction, whatever...but he didn't. If you're a fan of the printed word and have somehow managed to evade this store so far, get off your ass and make tracks to 13th and Washington. You'll find a banquet of great used books and independent comics, topped off with the kind of customer service that would warm over Ebeneezer's heart. Just make sure you double check your purchase BEFORE you fork over your card. They'll appreciate that. read more

Jean-Paul Sartre "Nausea" - 5 bucks Old hardbound copy of Hemingway - 5 bucks Arthur Rimbaud translated from the French - 3 bucks Signed copy of Chuck Palahniuk, Nick Zinner's "I Hope You Are All Happy Now", Andy Warhol's "A to B", his diary, Hunter S. Thompson, Voltaire, Anais Nin, feminist literature, numerology books, comics, rock 'n roll autobiographies, philosophy, poetry, pulp fiction, stacks, racks, rows, and shelves of what some of the best minds had to offer the world, it's all cheaply nesting at Kilgore. The clerks are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, have incredible taste in music (softly playing overhead as you filter through A-Z of an amazing selection of literature, otherwise undisturbed), and genuinely have an affinity for what they are selling. I adore this place, and recommend it to anyone looking for a great local bookstore to help add to your library, expand your horizons and fend off boredom for the upcoming snow storms and blizzards. Great finds at great prices, you couldn't beat Kilgore. read more

The kids here know what they are doing. It's pretty small as far as bookstores are concerened, but some of the best ones always are. It reminded me of several Brooklyn nooks, where the books that don't make it on the shelf, become a brick on the tower that teeters against the shelf's side. Kilgore's got maybe a third of the amount of room Capitol Hill Books has, but they stock it with a much creamier stock. I've been into Kilgore a few times now and have never left buying less than three books. And those three books where whittled down from about seven. The prices are reasonable (what, half of the retail price) and the staff super helpful, which is kinda' odd. I mean, if I owned a used bookstore it'd probably be filled with a pretty pretentious staff (think High Fidelity, but with books). Kilgore avoids that trap, whether because this is CO, or they are really trying to do business, i don't know, but i can dig it. In addition to a well-stocked and tastefully chosen Fiction section, the philosophy and playwriting are primped-up pretty, too. And the graphic novel nerds will no doubt be appreciative of the comic selection. Big ups, Kilgore. read more

Don't judge this used bookstore by it's size, or you'll be missing out. Packed floor to rafters with quality copies of great titles, perusing the shelves is like looking through a photo album full of snapshots of all your friends. Their comics selection is relatively small but prominently displayed. They don't carry any of my favorite comics, but I'm trying not to hold that against them since my faves are pretty obscure. Behind the counter they have their more upscale copies of rare, first editions and even some signed copies. True to their namesake, they have several pristine copies of Kurt Vonnegut titles including most of my favorites - Slapstick, Jailbird and Cat's Cradle. The cute fella behind the counter really knew his stuff and was it was a pleasure to buy a book from them! I wouldn't come here looking for specific books (unless it was a Vonnegut) but would come just for the joy of finding a new friend. [Yes, books are my friends.] read more

I love comic books and I love getting comic books at used-book prices even better. This is my go-to place whenever I want a used graphic novel. The staff is always good for a recommendation and they have the best used selection in town, for sure. Plus they support the local graphic novel community. Kilgore is more than a local business, it's a community asset that deserves our support. read more

The nicest, nicest guys run this store. They will help you find anything you need. I stopped by at Christmastime last year with a list of sci-fi books for a package I was putting together for Mr. P. Co-owner Luke checked my list twice and helped me gather up all the available titles in the store. For such a small store, they have done an excellent job of cramming it full of new and used books, comics, and graphic novels. Everything is clearly labeled and well organized. Sometimes you might have to step around a box or try not to knock over a stack of books on the floor in order to see what's on the shelves, but that only adds to the charm of this cozy store. During my most recent visit, I noticed for the first time the section of first editions and autographed hardbacks. I saw some of my favorite books and authors represented there, as well as some very old first editions. You know, the kind of thing that would make a great gift. Hint, hint. read more

Small seemingly typical used book nook. Good/affordable selection of used sci-fi (Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman). Found a hardcover versions of Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles" (win!). Also good selection of young readers (plenty of Harry Potter hardcovers) and small but decent selection of graphic novels. That's really all I looked through to be honest. (Nerd alert). Worth it if you're in the area and enjoy these types of bookstores! read more

My husband knows I'd rather have the 450.00 dollar copy of the magazine wherein J.D. Salinger's first story was published than any kind of fat diamond. Even if the fat diamond was crapped out by some kind of talking holy golden naga. I haven't been inside of a store like this since I was 17, and then I wasn't trolling for comics as hard as I was trolling for the attention of the store owner. That place and time is long since bankrupt, and now finding myself several years older, I realize I miss the books and the good comics more than the TV eye. I've been looking a long time, and been bored by most of what I've seen. Kilgore has the books I need. If that's true for me, it's probably true for you too. read more

Cozy is what I would call Kilgore. A closet of a store stacked high with books. Well organized, nice staff and limited selection. Seemed to feature some more independent comics - if that is your thing. It was a fun stop on our Cap Hill walk and might be one of those stores you find a treasure in now and then if you can hit them up a lot, but not us, not today. So it was just A-OK. read more

This is my favorite place in Denver. I walked in after suffering through the first Twilight book, dazed, and said, "Please. I need something that requires my brain." And they hooked me up with some Salman Rushdie without a second thought. For eight bucks. I consistently walk out of there with more books than dollars spent. The staff is awesome, the selection very well vetted, and the bargain cart full of keepers (Jhumpa Lahiri for fifty cents?!). read more

Another one on the list of Used Book Stores to check off! This one is teensy, and seems to have mostly Science Fiction books and Comic Books. Hey, a target audience, for sure! The books here certainly aren't "Collectible" status, mostly obviously used and read paperbacks. And that's fine, if that's what you're looking for. There was a good spattering of authors, too. I also saw a smallish section of Horror, and a bookshelf labeled "Young Adult" or something like that. The Hunger Games featured prominently, natch. It's not very well organized, or clean, with heaps of book haphazardly piled... wherever... but mostly on the floor. The obligatory hipster working the counter at least said hello and goodbye to us, but seemed friendlier to a couple of his "regulars" (Or possibly one regular and a friend.) So, if you're looking for a semi-recent title and not wanting to pay full price for the paperback, I'd say hit this place up. read more

Great selection - lots of sci-fi and fantasy with a rich dose of literature. Found a superb copy of Disgrace by Cotezee. An excellent selection, great service. Could use a bathroom in the store but that is absolutely not their fault. Management should consider this... read more

Out of all the used bookstores that I've been to in Denver, Kilgore is definitely my favorite. The people there are always really nice and the selection is awesome. They have always had what I was looking for and their books have always been in good condition. It's a small space but there are so many books to look at you could spend quite some time in there. The books are also well priced. It's an amazing store. read more

After a recent move to Capitol Hill, I decided to check out the restaurants, bars, and of course, the book stores. This place is approximately 1 block from me, and that is both brilliant and dangerous (for my wallet of course). I walked in, just to take a look....and walked out with not 1, not 2, but 4 new books. On the brightside, I got 4 used books (in great condition) for the price of 2.5 new books at a regular book store. This place had amazing selection! Even though it's small, it's not cluttered. Everything is very well organized. The owner is very knowledgable about his selection, and from what I gathered, seems to have read every book in there..... Can't wait to go back! read more

This is a great local store that has lots of personality. I'd much rather get a book here than shop at B&N or Borders. Their prices are very good since the books are used, but still in good condition. The shelves are packed from floor to ceiling with books. There's very little space for anything else, but that's not a bad thing. You're practically guaranteed to find something (even if you weren't looking for it). The owners are friendly and genuine; you can really tell that this is more of a passion than a job. I only wish there was a comfy seat nearby for quick browsing. read more

Very small used bookstore. I always start off with the scifi section and then head over to the children's section in used bookstores. The children's section here was extremely tiny and didn't really have much to look at. Being a full nerd I also glanced the comics section and all I saw was independents. I half expected to see a good sized used/old comics section and found nothing I recognized. I could see coming back here if I was in the area, but not sure if this would be the first place I'd go to. read more

This is an awesome bookstore with a carefully curated selection of books in great condition. The owner is quite friendly and fun to chat with. One of the things I love most about Kilgore is the eclectic decor. It has a lot of history and character. I just love visiting this place. read more

Kilgore Books - Bookstores Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This place is tiny, even by book store standards. Its claustrophobic aisles are choked with piles of books, and with two other customers the store was crowded. There was the standard gamut of topic selections, with generous shelf space given to comic trade books and fantasy novels. Some sections seemed anemic. For example, there was a whole bookcase for science fiction, but precious few Asimov titles. I know we're not at Barnes & Noble, but I am surprised to not see a staple like the Foundation trilogy on the shelves. TL;DR: Kilgore isn't good or bad, it's just fine. There are better used book store options in the Denver area. read more

The novel section rips, the only reason I gave them a three is because it should just be called Kilgore Used Books. Their comic section is hella whack. I always walk in there and think to myself oh yeah, I forgot about his place, and walk out without any comics ... I know It's slightly immature to only read comics... but it's what I like, and I don't like their comic section. The guys who work their are awesome, very polite and immediatly ask to help you, if you like novels this is a good spot. read more

Great place. Feels homey. It smells like books. They have all that s great pulp fiction with the old time sensational hand drawn hot ladies. Easy to browse., but I feel like you don't have to be cool here, like capitol hill used to be too hipster for me. I think everyone just turned fortyish and now were all dorks. read more

I went here to sell some books. I visited their website first, and they ask people to come onto yelp to leave a review...so that's what I'm doing. The curly haired guy that helped me was pleasant and efficient. They say on their site that they are picky, and it is true. They bought about 15% of the books that I brought in. I think they gave me a pretty fair price for the ones they did buy, though. And I noticed a lot of the books that they didn't buy, they already had several copies of. Like, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" --don't bring that in. When I am no longer in book selling mode, but in book buying mode--this is a place that I would check out because they have a pretty wide selection, and it seems dumb to pay full price for a new book when you can get the same words in good condition for a fraction of the price if you buy a used one. read more

You can spend hours going through graphic novels and learning about other rare works from authors you've heard of but never had the time to explore. The staff is kind and the selection is plentiful. Top it off with affordable prices and you've got one of my favorite weekend getaway spots in Denver. Kick. Ass. read more