Good selection and peaceful, bright atmosphere! Prices were also quite reasonable. Couldn't ask for much more from a used bookstore!

My new favorite used bookstore! The outside doesn't look like anything special, so I was expecting your average used bookstore, but it's so quaint and cute!! The store is very neat and organized, and everything is labeled so clearly. They have a large selection of books and a lot of popular and rare selections to choose from. The books were also all well priced, I didn't find a singular book about $10. Most of them ranged between $8-$10. The books are also really well kept and in good condition. The only downside is that it may be hard to find parking nearby, but otherwise fantastic! read more

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It's a wonderful store, well organized and a wide selection of subjects and it is bigger than it looks from outside.

A cute little bookstore with a good selection and fair prices. However, the cashier made a few offputting comments about the books I chose so that was a bit odd. read more

I love Mercer Street Books! This used bookstore is set up very nicely, and all the book offerings are chosen with much care and with discerning taste! The conditions, whether they are rare or a more recently released book, are all in pretty excellent state. One can sell and trade books here, too! You can peruse at your leisure, and the staff here are super friendly & welcoming. Limited street parking in the area. +great used book store +books in excellent condition +friendly staff read more

The first thing I noticed was how clean the entrance was no dust, no clutter. A staff member welcomed me right away with a warm smile and offered help. The entire store smelled fresh and looked spotless. It's clear they take pride in the space. read more

Great new and used books. Bought three knitting books for $34 and the owner is very attentive and friendly. Definitely recommend. read more

Mercer Street Books - Great used knitting books. Look new. - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is what a used book store should be like! Anyone can walk in and leave with a book they're going to enjoy while browsing a carefully curated selection. You'll find a lot of great books there that you probably wouldn't find at other bookstores. Also, the store is very well organized and clean. It just feels good to shop there. I do sell a lot of my books to the store and that process is easy and very fair. You get a good deal if you take store credit. Selling my books there has made me better appreciate the curation of the store. They won't accept books that are in less than good condition so you know you're going to buy a book there that is in great shape and probably a book you won't find easily elsewhere. read more

A very inconsiderate owner. If you need any kind of help-- no matter how old or compromised you are-- she won't lift a finger to help. Asked for help and she brushed me off. read more

Cute SMALL shop with a pretty decent selection of books, new and old. Fabulous prices. Would absolutely go back if I'm ever in town again.

A cool little shop, but the service was pretty whack. The shop is kind of small and hard to miss, but the 50 cent rack outside enticed me. I found a book for 50 cents and went in to purchase it. It's a small store and was pretty warm inside (air comes from the wide open window out front), so I didn't stay long. Buying my 50 cent book, I definitely felt like I was in the way or causing a hassle for 50 cents. If you don't want to take the labor to ring up such a small purchase, don't offer a 50 cent rack! Otherwise a super cute used bookshop in a great location, and I loved by 50 cent find! read more

Mercer Street Books - Outside - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is certainly the best curated and best kept used bookstore in town. You will only find books in good condition with an atmosphere that is clean and well organized. This is certainly a rarity for used bookstores. Mercer Street Books is also home to writer and artist Gina Siciliano. Her debut graphic novel "I Know What I Am" details the life of Italy's great female painter. A wonderful read and such a beautiful book. To stumble into a shop and find such unique work is dreamlike for book lovers. Overall, I can't recommend this store highly enough. Mercer Street Books is a true delight for those who find it. read more

Owner or lady who was working at the time i was there wasn't friendly at all. Didn't get greeted just glanced at us when we walked in. I went in with my boyfriend and he asked to see if they had one of the books he wanted and she found it, thankfully! But when we went to pay she didn't even look towards us while we were paying which is weird? Overall this bookstore is priced decently and very organized. read more

Mercer Street Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is such a cute little used bookstore! LOCATION & PARKING // It's located on the corner of Mercer and Queen Anne Ave N. It looks very indie and small on the outside. It reminds me a bit of the typical used bookstore set you'd see in a movie. Street parking can be difficult to find since there's so much happening around here. Be prepared to look around for a bit. AMBIANCE // Everything is organized super well! I was impressed by the curation of books here too. It feels quiet and calming but I never once felt a sense of emptiness. When I first walked in, I was greeted by a staff member. They spent most of their time at the front desk/cashier area but occasionally walked around the bookstore. Personally, I found a book I really enjoyed and read about 15 pages of it in one spot and never felt rushed or uncomfortable. When I checked out, the staff member was really kind! OVERALL // 5.0 I had a super positive experience here. I would love to come back here again. read more

I was passing some time before going up to the space needle for sunset and came across this adorable book store. I had a great time perusing all of the books that were there, but what I really enjoyed was chatting with the woman working, I'm not sure if she was the owner. She was warm and friendly and we chatted for a while because we found out we both are from colorado. I highly recommend popping by here to grab a read and chat read more

Mercer Street Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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What a great place to stumble across! I have a running list of books that I would love to own, and told myself I would purchase if I ever came across any of them in a used book store. Mercer Street helped me knock a few off that list. The books are in excellent condition, and very fairly priced. The lady working was super helpful and happy to answer any questions I had. I would love to go back and spend some more time perusing the inventory. Such a joy to find an organized used book store. read more

Adorable little used book store in Lower Queen Anne. The prices are fairly reasonable. I bought a used travel book for about $8 the other day. The bookstore is clean and well organized. I agree with a few other yelpers... stores like this make you steer away from electronic books like the Kindle. Most of the books I read, I find browsing through book stores. read more

Mercer Street Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Visiting MSB is usually a pleasant experience but that was not the case today. Staff members are usually polite and incredibly helpful, but today's experience almost felt like profiling. It actually hurts to even write that, because I love this little space so much. read more

What a neat little bookshop! Everything was so nice and orderly and the book prices were great. I got a couple books off my list and my husband found some and they were all in amazing condition. read more

The woman working was extremely rude. We were lucky she even gave us answer when asking her questions. Will not be back

Some people are addicted to drugs. Some alcohol. Some food (myself included). I am addicted to books. God, I wish I had known that Mercer Street Books existed so much earlier in my life! I can't even tell you the amount of money I have thrown at full-price bookstores trying to find novels for my collection at home. I would venture to say that Mercer carries 99% of what I have bought elsewhere and for half the price! I'm really pleased with the selection as well. My taste tends to be classic and/or obscure, so it's often hard to find multiple novels and/or copies of the authors that I want in one place. But Mercer has never disappointed me in this regard. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the biggies like Elliott Bay (I mean, how can you not?), but think about giving a second-hand book store like Mercer a chance before heading to Barnes & Noble. It will save you some time and money. read more

This is quickly becoming my favourite (yes, there's a "u", that's how we spell it in Canada) bookstores! Every few months I take the bus from Vancouver BC to Seattle specifically to go used-book shopping. After a day or two of shopping I usually end up with 7-20 books and just this last trip, I realized most of them come from Mercer Street Books! *The selection is EXCELLENT *It's easy to find what you're looking for (see countless reviews about how organized and clean the store is) *Debbie is incredibly helpful if you want her to be (meaning she doesn't follow you around and harass you if you are wandering aimlessly admiring the shelves full of treasures) *The prices are great *The condition of books is OUTSTANDING. *The vibrational frequency of the store is quite high (for those of you who don't know what the means, I'll simply say the store has a good vibe, ya?.. for those of you who do know what I mean, I'll mention that there is an outdoor labyrinth 2 blocks away for your walking-meditation/reflection pleasure. PS. I love used bookstores and I REALLY love THIS used bookstore. read more

Mercer Street Books - Oh, so many choices! - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Visited this lovely used book store for the first time today, and I immediately found the book I was searching for! And another one that wasn't on my list it's a beautiful clean, and well organized space, which is refreshing because I've found other used book stores to be a little dingy and disorganized. Sadly, I learned that the owner Debbie died of cancer last month. There is a memorial table set up with photographs, a guest book where people can write tributes to Debbie, and several flower arrangements that customers have brought. It's clear that Debbie has made quite an impact on our community, and I hope that this beautiful book store she has curated continues to live on for years and decades ahead! read more

The staff member was super helpful in locating books for my husband given few clues and helped him find what he was really after. My son found a rare old mystery book and another book in French. Another child scored an American Sign Language textbook. This shop is tidy and well organized. Only complaint was it was too hot- no air conditioning on a very hot day- so we only stayed a few minutes and had to leave. Prices are on the high side but fair given the shop's prime location in the Queen Anne neighborhood. I'd visit again. read more

Beautiful book store! I stumbled upon this shop while looking for a place to buy a book for school, and I am so pleased to have discovered Mercer Street Books. The owner immediately helped me find what I was looking for, and I left with three additional books, all for great prices. The store is well-kept, organized, and sanitary, all of which I appreciate greatly. Some of the shelves are high up, but there are plenty of step stools to reach them. All in all a great experience. read more

I love this little place. I've never spent more than $12 on a book here and they've been in great condition, usually paperback music- related books. The staff is helpful and friendly if you want, but I'm personally an independent shopper and haven't felt overwhelmed by their presence at all. I walk here on my lunch break a few times a month and never leave empty handed. read more

One of the best bookstores in the city with an impressive selection particularly in fiction, philosophy, art and poetry. It's beautiful inside, too -- lots of wooden bookshelves and plants. The owner is so nice and runs the store in an old-school way -- they have no social media and just sell books, nothing else. We had a great conversation about aesthetic philosophy. Please support this gem! read more

Packs a lot of books into a modest sized space. This is a place for readers, no gifts or tchotchkes here. They carry a surprisingly wide inventory of trade paperbacks in good imprints (Penguin Classics, Vintage, NYRB Classics, Modern Library), carrying titles I tend to not see at other used shops and had to find on the internet. I'm not talking shelf decorations--rare or collectibles--just ordinary paperbacks of less-seen titles. One example: I got a copy of TS Eliot's Selected Essays for $8. For some reason that title is difficult to get outside of new for $20 or even more for some of the used out of print editions. Anyway, this place is a gem. read more

I had a great experience trading in and buying books. All the books I browsed were in great condition and affordable (most in the $8-9 range). The selection included a lot of my favorite titles and others I had never seen before. They are being very careful with COVID-19 - each visitor is asked to use hand sanitizer before entering (which is provided) and wear a mask. Right now they are only allowing one person in the shop at a time (in addition to staff) and you can make an appointment in advance or wait outside until there's space. I really hope this sweet shop can stay afloat through COVID. I'll definitely be going back. read more

A great place for used books: bright and clean, and free of the drab aura that many used book places get. The selection is well-curated and a good mix of expected hits and unusual finds. They even have a Nautical Fiction section! (If you need something to tide you over between Shark Weeks?) I also sold 1 paperback, 2 hard covers, and a coffee table book for $11. Several other books I had were considered, but turned down because they already had a copy in-store. Can't blame them for that. All in all, a great addition to the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. read more

MSB is my favorite bookstore in all of Seattle. It's hard to find a local used bookstore (it seems like you usually have to choose between local and used). The decor, book selection, prices, and service are all great. Definitely check it out! read more

Mercer Street Books - I could stroll through these beautiful aisles all day... - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I almost forgot to review this place! I adore this bookstore, this bookstore alone convinced me to give Queen Anne a second chance, more like 15th chance...but I'm actually more open minded about this neighborhood because of this little tiny bookstore that really isn't all that special. This store reminds me of why I could never own a kindle. I love the smell and feel of a book too much to ever give in. There are certain things that will always relax me instantly, and browsing a wall of books will always be one of them. I could seriously spend hours in a bookstore and feel like I was only there for ten mins. The lady is very helpful and after recommending a few books had me sit down and chose one. She even talked me out of buying all 3 books because I was feeling greedy=) Very unpretentious, yet something comforting and homey about the place. I like it a lot and you should too. read more

I'm always finding great things here, be it philosophy or history, Russian, German or French Lit. I feel lucky to have such a great bookshop within walking distance from my house. Also, the owner is incredibly helpful, and she's always finding new books for me and staying in touch when she finds something I'll like. read more

A good neighborhood book store: curated like a good library. When a neighborhood's supply of cast-off books is this satisfying I know I'm in the right place. I always spend too much. I hope you do too. read more

This shop is a gift to our community!! Far and away, Mercer Street is my favorite used bookstore in the city-- aaaaand in most other cities!! So tidy, so thoughtfully organized, it is a joy to peruse the shelves. The owners collection of bookends from around the world provide delightful little discoveries on each shelf. Pro tip: set aside 10$ a month for books. Go to MSB and treat yourself. Your brain will thank you!! Thank you, Mercer Street Books! You're awesome neighbors!! read more

Love, love, love this adorable used book store diagonally across the street from Toulouse Petit! I have literally been looking for "The Executioner's Song" for three years at used book stores all over San Francisco and New York and BAM! there it was waiting for me on the shelf! Great selection and so nicely displayed -- this place rocks! read more

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Often, when we're looking for an old book it's a classic. We've already read it back in the day or it's by an author we love and we're looking for another title by them we haven't read. If you're like me I love books. Even though a lot of my reading these days is online, I can't imagine myself without a good book to read. This is my first visit here in its new incarnation. I fell in love with this place immediately. I totally agree with everyone here who says it's the cleanest used bookstore around and I also think one of the better organized. What I really enjoyed while browsing was the great variety of titles and I couldn't help but notice, there wasn't any junk books just taking up space. A lot of the classic titles had three copies, a paperback, a quality paperback, and a hardbound edition. So depending on your budget you had a choice. The prices are very reasonable, the condition of the books is good to very good, and the help was exceptional and knowledgeable. Bookstores like this renew my faith in humankind. If you're in lower Queen Anne, take at least a few minutes to experience this great little neighborhood bookshop. I'm so delighted they still exist. read more

This little book store is super charming and my friend and I found some good deals. I would like to mention that upon arriving, we were asked to put on hand sanitizer provided by the store. I told the employee that I have sensitivities to certain sanitizers and was currently getting over a rash from previous sanitizer use and didn't feel comfortable using their's. I understand that this is a store procedure due to COVID-19 but, the way she diffused the situation was rolling her eyes and head back and telling me it is a rule and that I needed to follow it. I told her I wouldn't touch anything (it's true, I didn't touch a single item and just browsed). She could've offered to tell me what ingredients they used in the sanitizer or offered disposable gloves. I get that times are tough but show empathy. I wouldn't return to this store. read more

We came across this little place while waiting for our dinner reservation, and I really loved the beautiful interior. It feels like something out of... well... a book! At 7PM on a Thursday there was no one else there except for the shopkeeper, so it was pleasantly quiet. She greeted us and told us to let her know if we needed any help. I had a great time looking through the shelves-- the place was small but there was a respectable variety of categories. I found a section of Albert Camus, and I was inspired to buy one since I'd only read one of his books before and I had enjoyed it. Now here comes my only gripe-- the prices on these things! These are all used books; they've been pre-loved and pre-worn. The Camus copy was a relatively small hardback, so I'd understand a higher price, but it was pretty darn used. Camus isn't a brand-new author either, you can probably find most of his works for free online if you wanted to. Anyways, none of the books were priced, so I went up to buy it. I didn't expect to pay more than $10 or so. However, I was shocked when she told me it was going to be $17.50! That's similar to the prices of many brand-new books. I didn't exactly want to back down after getting the price, so I bought it anyways. I guess you can call that commitment to reading the dang thing! To conclude: a lovely little bookshop, decent staff, but confusingly high prices for used and old titles. I can't speak for the prices of other books, maybe I somehow picked a special one or something. But my advice is to check for prices with the staff before going up to buy! Otherwise this is a lovely little spot. read more

This place is lovely and so is the woman (owner?) working there. She was helpful and kind and conversational without being overbearing. It's a small place, but the poetry section is nothing to sneeze at and the fiction section is SO nicely organized. Major points! I can't wait to go back! read more