I noticed Letters Bookshop from the Pie Pushers window and just watched customers keep going inside…read moreand then leaving with bags. So I had to see for myself what was drawing all these people in. William welcomed me when I walked in, asked what I normally read, and let me know there was an upstairs as well, with more books. I did just stay on the first floor this visit, but I was so impressed by their beautifully curated inventory. They carry a wonderful selection of new fiction, poetry, children's books, and used books, along with fascinating sections on art, music, and nonfiction. They even had a discount section with books priced at $3.98 or less, which is incredible! They also have dedicated topic tables that highlight local North Carolina authors and underrepresented voices, which is wonderful to see. I found some board books to donate to the Little Free Library I was at the other day. If you've been reading my reviews for a while now, you know I love history and the architecture of older buildings being reused. It is an inclusive store, so everyone is welcome. It is a community-owned cooperative bookstore. The 1915 building, originally home to Merchants Bank, was built after the 1914 fire in Durham. It is a Neoclassical Revival-style building with massive, majestic Ionic columns that define its street-facing storefront. It later became Hood Industrial Bank and was then used for businesses like Letters. Letters opened back in 2013 at a nearby location and moved into its current space in 2021. I wish I had gone to the second floor to see the stained glass ceiling. So that just means I will need to make another shopping visit. I need to give myself more time so I can find something for me to read next time.

Lovely local bookstore - excellent children's selection, range of titles, many used and new, great…read moresuggestions/staff reviews, and friendly staff. First spot for gift shopping. Also, easy-to-use online search, and when I don't find something, it's easy to request an order and receive a quick response. Have also taken many books to see if they would accept for store credit. Honestly, just happy to support them!

Once again everybody on my list got a fun book for christmas. I might as well have just browsed…read morearound, but I knew of particular things ahead of time. None were in stock, but the kind staff ordered them for me (3x of one ... they were like are you sure? yeah!) and everything arrived in less than a week! While I'm picking them up, there is interesting shopping to be done here. The staff is kind and attends to their duties. I got a phone call about all the books right on time. They tossed some Regulator Bookshop bookmarks in there, which some of my recipients will enjoy and some will wonder about.

The employees were extremely helpful. They had a wide variety of options. The prices were very…read morereasonable.

Decided to stop and look around while in Durham - very cool store…read more Definitely a lot of music selection, free posters, free punk magazines and fanzines. Store has the musty, crunchy vibe you'd expect and it really suits the store. Employee that rang us up was very friendly and thanked us for stopping in. If you're looking for obscure albums, they might have it! Almost an overwhelming selection, very unusual bands, too. Worth stopping in. I believe they buy your used music items as well and offer cash/value towards purchases. Bummer we missed the store dog, though!

Awesome selection of vinyls with a friendly and efficient customer service!…read more There is a comfortable sofa if you would like to rest. The staff greeted customers kindly and make them feel their business was appreciated. We bought two records. The 2019 Spring sampler of Merge records was offered graciously. It was easy to park on the shopping center parking lot. This famous store is located near the Quickly Tea House and the Rumors hair studio.

It was a quiet, clean, cute bookstore! I had never been before but have always gone to guglhuf next…read moredoor. I was surprised how quiet it was, like a different universe. Very relaxing atmosphere and they have preloved booked, which is a bonus!

A good bookstore for book readers. Theres a variety of used books. The pricing is a bit high…read moreconsidering its for used books. Staff is helpful and informative. The store is small and not busy. Came on Friday afternoon.

This was my first time checking out an Ollie's, the store is huge! I came on my lunch break so I…read moreonly spent 20 minutes shopping. They have a great card selection and each card is only 99 cents. I love that each card was in plastic wrap with its envelope. I saw some nice rugs for a great price while walking by the furniture section. It looks like you could get just about anything here. Prices seemed very fair. I also got a cute yard flag for only $5.

You must reserve at least an hour to peruse the many finds at Ollie's. I always find things I have…read morewanted or needed. They have a large selection of items for your home, including carpets, kitchen, bedroom, small appliances, beauty items, and books for all ages.

Escaping the Durham heat led us straight into the wonderfully chill vibes at Hunky Dory, and…read morehonestly, it was exactly the kind of Sunday reset we needed. The $5 Sunday beer selection made settling in dangerously easy. I ended up having three cups of Tangie Dream from Incendiary Brewing Company -- a crisp, citrusy witbier that absolutely hit the spot at 5.2% ABV. Super refreshing and wildly drinkable. Even though I don't own a record player, I could've spent forever flipping through the vinyl collection just soaking in the nostalgia. There's something deeply comforting about browsing old records with a cold beer in hand while hiding from the North Carolina humidity. Hunky Dory feels like the kind of neighborhood spot you wish every city had.

The stuff of many an audiophile-beer geek's dreams: A record store that's also a beer bar! My…read morehusband is a huge fan of both music on vinyl and craft beer, so obviously it was one of our first stops upon moving to Durham. It feels like a real community space with folks of all ages and walks of life gathering to talk, share a drink, play a game, or just spend time together. Mimi, the beertender, was very friendly and this place also allows visitors of the canine sort. The beer selection looked to be good, with a number of styles and breweries represented. It's especially nice to see NA options on tap as well as regular beer! The vinyl selection similarly did not disappoint, and we did make a few great purchases.

A large and clean game store for all your play needs…read more Atomic Empire is a game store for all physical gamers, be it trading cards, board games, wargames, or pen and paper games. They have a selection of games to try out and plenty of sitting space for you and your friends to test out and have a good time. They offer a wide variety of singles on their website. By buying them and picking it up in store, you save on shipping, giving them the selection of an online retailer with lower costs. Their prices are most comparable to TCGPlayer, minus delivery fees. Atomic Empire also carries a limited selection of comics and graphic novels, a nice to have for sure. They also sell plenty of gaming accessories from dice to paint to playmates to deck boxes. Unlike many game stores I've been to, Atomic Empire is pristine. High ceilings and proper ventilation provides constant fresh air. Bright lights and clean floors provides a welcoming atmosphere. It's a pleasure to take your time and browse a store that's so well maintained. Atomic Empire is excellent to game in or simply hang out at.

Enjoyed walking around the store with my partner, who plays a role playing game there on a regular…read morebasis. Lots of games and related supplies for sale, and a large game playing area. Nice staff, too.

I have been looking for a record star for quite some time in the area and I finally stumbled upon…read moreCarolina Soul. This place had hundreds of selections and some very classics records at deals you cannot beat. The service was great and the quality of records was impressive. Surely to be my go to spot for all my record needs in the future.

Great operation. I wish I had you in my hometown! Helpful staff. Large selection of rare vinyl…read more Good condition standards.

The name says it all. Tiny is a little shop with items for babies and toddlers. There's a decent…read moreselection of clothing and toys. It's more high-end than department stores but you're probably getting better quality. We've popped in a few times when in the neighborhood but weren't necessarily shopping for any particular item. Still, we prefer to shop local when we can so if we need any baby items, we'll consider Tiny.

Cute little toy store with tons of free parking options around. They have a nice new train set in…read morethe front of the shop for kids to play with while you shop. They also have a pretty good selection of train toys to buy in the back of the store. I'd recommend this shop for baby gifts, fancy baby clothes, wooden and unique can't find just anywhere toddler toys, and party supplies. The staff are also very kind and helpful. *I do want to note it is quite a "progressive" shop... you won't find Curious George books here but there are tons of "modern", i have two moms, kind of stories.