A sort of underwhelming bookstore. Perhaps in its heyday it was better but now it seemed more like a small coffee shop that just happens to have a couple shelves of books rather than a proper bookstore. The selection was not too big, and primarily consisted of economics, government, or political science books. On top of this they seemed to be a bit on the dated side. The layout also made it a tad difficult to browse without feeling you're getting into somebodies personal business as the tables are right in the middle of the U of shelves, so if somebody is sitting at the tables you'll have to navigate quite close to them to see anything. They also have a passport photo section as they're right next to the passport office, which is convenient I guess. Prices seemed fair though and it was organized well. If I'm walking past I might swing on by, but given the plethora of fantastic used bookshops in dc i would rather go to, I don't see myself really going back very often read more

This mini bookstore is very convenient if you are in need of a new passport photo. I came here to the passport office which ia right next door in order to get an irgent passport. Unbenounced to me, the photo that I provided did not qualify, so I had to rush to get a new passport photo. The price for the photo was priced slightly higher, and I understood it is for the convenience. They also have a cafe, and I ordered a cafe latte while I was here. The cafw also has a few pastries and snacks They have tables and chairs outside on the brick sidewalk, which made for a relatively stress free experience. The folks who helped me with the photo was cordial, and there was literally no stress involved getting this part of the required photo done. read more

Reiter's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Sophia and T (the workers) have always been kind to me in my time as a customer there- I think there is a respectable price as long as you are a GW student- the pistachio bread, scones and other pastries in general are always moist and they are great for what you get. They are open , welcoming and as homey as it gets on Foggy. I highly recommend and it is a must as a GW student or visitor. Anyone who regulars there would tell you the same, I hope. read more

I really like this bookstore not because I actually got any books but I got coffee at the attached coffee shop (cup'a cup'a) and I just squatted here and no one really said anything. It seems like they have a great collection of books. Maybe because of the school nearby. Apparently, they also do passports. I would definitely visit if I'm in the area. read more

Reiter's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a weird bookshop! I went for Independent Bookstore Day. All used books and they're mostly political and/or economic books. Very small and when I went in, it was like 100 degrees inside, making it very uncomfortable to browse. I also did not really understand how the store was organized. read more

Dropped our bags off at this bookshop via their luggage storage service on this quiet MLK Day. We were met with a small, well-edited selection of mostly secondhand books and friendly staff. read more

Reiter's Books is a DC institution. It's in downtown DC in the bottom floor of a sterile DC office building. It's a small bookstore with a large government, politics, and foreign affairs section. In the front it's a coffee shop selling mediocre coffee and pastries. Outside there are book carts with even cheaper books (novels, etc) and a large outdoor patio to enjoy a good book and coffee. read more

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One of the few book stores in the DC area. I enjoy the selection of books they have. Located on the corner of G Street and 19th. Staff is friendly and always willing to assist with book requests. read more

While I cannot speak for other aspects of the store, such as the (infamous?) passport section, my review is only based off of the Warhammer related goods. I'm in DC for the summer and started getting into Warhammer. Reiter's is basically the only place in DC that carries Games Workshop goods (books, White Dwarf magazine, miniatures, paints, etc.). While the GW section only occupies a small corner of the stores, it is a very solid offering. I purchased a White Dwarf magazine which had a price tag of $9.00. At checkout, the total came out to $8.47 which was a pleasant surprise that I did not question. The receipt listed "Less 10.0% Discount". (EDIT) I recently learned that this is due to a promotion regarding the Warhammer community MeetUp group that meets at Reiter's about twice a month. I have since joined the group and will definitely be back to purchase some GW products as they are normally never discounted. read more

I was in the store for 2 minutes and walked out without anything, but I know I'll be back! I've been looking for a particular book and while at Books-A-Million during lunch I couldn't find it or any help to see if they might have even had it in their store. I was walking around later and came across Reiter's and thought I'd give it a shot. The inside is very clean and well organized. Pretty quickly I was asked if I was looking for anything in particular and once they discovered they didn't have it they gave me the name of a couple of other stores to try. That is good customer service! read more

This review is for the passport service located inside the shop. I went to take a passport photo and not only the price is 27$ for two pictures, the quality of the pictures is horrible. One picture was very blurry, the other one was fine. I tried to have the picture replaced and the personnel denied me. They said I would hold be charged another 4$ to retake the picture. This place is a joke and a rip off. They clearly abuse the fact that people might need a picture last minute before goi g to the passport agency. You can have your picture taken at any CVS much cheaper and they will gladly replace it with another picture if you are not satisfied. I was very disappointed in this service and the "manager" who talked to me. He was very unprofessional and should not be in the business of providing a service. read more

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This bookstore makes you feel smart. Its kind of like those holiday mats that sing songs when you step on them outside of someone's front door. When you walk in here you can almost hear "ohh, baby you getting smarter, everyday" (to the tune of the Peter Frampton original) I used to go here sometimes to check out the econ and development books. And, they have good cappuccino and espresso. read more

Review is for the predatory passport service inside the bookstore. They purposely do not advertise their fees, and only tell you once it is completed, but it is $27 for 2 (mediocre) photos. The two individuals running this 'enterprise' raise concern of a corrupted kickback operation with the actual passport agency employees. The agents next door reviewing your application will find any and every excuse to deny your passport photo and then recommend you to go next door and pay $27 for 2 photos of low-quality at the very last moment, after you have waited over an hour to be seen. I hope the bookstore kicks them out, but chances are they are in fact surviving off of the ridiculous rent these crooks are paying them to be able to continue fleecing citizens. read more

Nerd heaven! I took my engineering/comp sci boyfriend here and he had a blast. Needless to say, I also had enormous amounts of unbridled econ major giddiness at their academic econ selection. Basically, it's a textbook store that's not on a college campus. Prices aren't that much different from college textbook prices, which was a major turn-off for me, but the staff really knows their books, and it is fun to just browse the sundry topics they have available. It also makes you feel a little snooty after you leave. read more

This place is so awesome I have to wonder how they stay in business, especially since they're located right off K Street. I'd probably love it even more if I were more of a math/science type. As it is, they have a great political science/politics/public policy section and a lot of serious books on sustainability, urban design, and other things I love. I've been there three times now, and each time I was one of only a couple people in the store. So go browse now even if you don't need a textbook and you're not a professional urban planner. read more

What a gem! I was lured in by the vivid butterfly species poster at the entrance at street level, and was so pleased with the choices i found at the bottom of the stairs. A friendly feeling place, I felt welcome and comfortable as I flipped through the current issues of Wired and Make magazines, then sat in what appeared to be the kids / science corner after I found an unexpected book on 'Avant Garde'ning. As I made my way around I realized it's a bit of a specialty book store, catering to perhaps the nursing industry, (they have lab coats & anatomy posters on sale), but moving along I found some computer, web and design books, and sat at one of the many tables to skim the books i had chosen before making my purchase. When I did go to the register the staff was very friendly and signed me up for the loyalty program, (gives you a discount if you become a frequent shopper). I even received a 10% discount on the purchase I made that day, the book I had selected was marked down. I recommend a visit to Reiters, see if there is something there for you. Ps. while I was in there a couple came in and said it was one of the stops on their first date, about a year ago. How adorable! read more

Really awesome specialty bookstore. I think since the last review (2009) they have moved locations to be underground. I didn't notice whether there is an elevator, but I would assume so. Great for not just technical books relating to comp sci, engineering, and medicine, they also have some great gift type things and a wonderful kid's section. They also started stocking Ork Posters, which are super cool. A bit pricey, but no more than you might expect for a specialty or independent bookstore. read more

I discovered Reiter's Books as the meeting place for a book club I am part of (check out DC Words and Wine Book Club on Meetup!). Daphne is kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable and I so appreciate the atmosphere of one of the few independent book stores left in the area. There is a wide variety of books for a store of this size, and not just science/technical books as you might assume from the website and advertisements. There are a number of current events/economics/policy-based titles as well and a section on local DC history and local authors. This is also a great place if you need to make a quick stop for a gift - anything from interesting map posters, to puzzles and games, to coloring books. You can even pick up the card there! read more

The bulk of their texts cater to law students in GW just a couple of blocks away. However, since the place is just across the street from the IMF and a block or two from the World Bank they have a somewhat sizeable selection on economics, world politics, and international development. Also, if you ever wanted to know what it feels like to be in a waiting room in a major European airport--this is the place. Expats from Europe and Latin America with their demitasses crowd the cafe next door. read more

The bookstore looks great, but the passport photo tenant is anything but. Photo was better than CVS, but you'll pay twice as much and treated to truly, epic bad service. I won't be back to Reiter's because of the bad experience with their nasty photo booth. read more

NO STAR!!! They will RIP YOU OFF!!! DO NOT get suckered - DO NOT pay the stupid tax! DO NOT get your passport photo taken here! Yes, this review is for the "Passport Security System DC" booth inside the book store, but Reiter's Book is obviously benefiting from the crooks who owned this RIP OFF joint. Reiters should be ashame of itself for collecting rent from these crooks and being their accomplice. Here are the top 3 reasons you should NOT go here to get your passport photo taken: 1. OVER-PRICED - $11 MORE than CVS, Kinkos, and the passport photo booth truck that is parked in front of the passport agency, 1/2 block down 19th street. They won't tell you how much they charge until they take your photos for $25.95 plus tax for 2 very BAD polarid photos! 2. very BAD QUALITY PHOTO, NO refund, NO re-take! Your satisfaction is NOT guaranteed! You don't get to look at your photo before you pay the $25.95 for 2 blurry, washed out, polarid photos! I look like a ghost with shiny reflective cheeks - I can use the photo as a mirror! You will have to pay $4 MORE to have your photos re-taken! DO NOT go here, CVS and Kinkos will retake your photo for free if you're not satisfied with your photo. 3. UNPROFESSIONAL: they are professional THIEVES! They are rude and unprofessional - their only objective is to swindle you out of $26! They are not photographers - they just push a button on their polarid camera, without even telling you they are going to snap the picture. If you complain about the photo, they'll tell you "it's nice" and that you'll have to pay $4 if you want a re-take. DO NOT come here to get ripped off! There are at least 4 CVS & Kinkos within 3 block radius of the passport office - no appointment necessary. read more

This is a great bookshop for law students and I often made the trek down here to avoid overpriced study guides in the AU bookstore. If you need outlines, legalines, or nutshells, check here before going to your school bookstore or ordering questionable condition/edition books on Amazon or Half. Inventory can be searched online. read more

Quite petite, but with an endlessly fascinating selection of books. No magazines, no "Twilight," no crap - but plenty of information on topics from international development to medical practice. A great place to find brainfood. read more

I enjoy this bookstore: - Fun selection of books and posters, especially travel-related items. - Friendly customer service at the counter. - Reasonably priced. It's definitely worth a visit! read more

although it is a small bookstore, the service is very good, I wanted a book that they did not have, they ordered at another store and left at my hotel. And the have a great cafe. read more

This used to be one of my favorite bookstores. I don't know what happened in the last few years but it is nothing more than a coffee bar and passport photo place with three shelves of books. Really, a passport photo area takes up what used to be filled with books! read more

What a rip off! Walked in to get a passport photo (which they take in the back of the book store) and they took the photo before telling me it was going to be $28 for two photos! Huge racket since they are right next to the passport office. Do yourself a favor and walk a couple of blocks to a FedEx store and get it for a quarter the price. Was going to buy a book here while I was waiting but I don't have any money left now. read more

I called here looking for a book I needed and I very politely asked the woman who answered if she could check to see if they had a book I was looking for. She must not have been listening or didn't want to help me because she didn't ask for the name of the book she just said "no." At first I thought I heard her incorrectly so I said excuse me and she said "no. Thanks." and hung up on me. I will never shop here again. read more

This place is the kind of bookstore I'd tell all my friends to check out, if they sold anything my (non-lawschool) friends would actually be interested in. It's completely devoid of any of the stuffy atmosphere the name might suggest, resembling the charmingly cramped used bookstores I love, while being much easier to browse than they are. The staff here are terrific, and make you feel at home shopping for law books notwithstanding how you may be dressed. The prices and selection are very good, but not necessarily the best. read more

Avoid purchasing passport photos from this place. Presumably because they are located next door to the Washington Passport Agency, they try to rip customers off by charging about three times as much ($27, with tax) as other businesses that sell passport photos. read more