I have been contemplating getting an Amazon Kindle for a while now ... I keep resisting because I have 3-4 stacks of books 6 feet high next to my bed that I have yet to read. But while strolling through Alameda I stumbled upon Blue Rectangle and found a treasure trove of used books for cheap cheap cheap. Fun, trashy, easy reads - so much so that I grabbed 2 books and am still feeling pretty guilt free about it all. Not a bad selection of books - both current novels as well as goodies from when I was younger ... just maybe, I'll be back for more. read more

can't believe I haven't reviewed here yet; what a gem I am a non fiction and art junkie so get my fill on the self help stuff, humor, etc. great prices, local staff, show your love of course the clothes and vintage vibe is on point. when I get my new releases across the street at books inc, I just donate back to here to keep the good vibes going, thank you so much read more

This inviting thrift/ vintage and used book and record/ cd/ dvd shop on Park is high on the good vibes. We walked in because they were playing some old stop motion animation movie in the window, from a very old TV set. And we were going to Kubo, so enter we did and were met by a friendly employee, who showed us some amusing Mindy Kaling conversation-starter flash cards. We then proceeded to explore the books, all well organized by category. To my delight there was a small selection of vintage fashions and accessories for men and women. The prices--excellent. I bought a Tiffany 20th Century jewelry book for under $5! What a gem! We'll return soon! read more

Rocket Reuse - Mrs. Roper. Love it! - Bookstores Near Me - Alameda, California

Great family owned business. A real hidden gem. So glad they are in Alameda! My kids like finding games there. Please support them!

Really cool little shop. Super clean and they make sure to limit the number of customers in the store at a time which is good for not feeling crowded. You can spend hours going through books and music and there was awesome vintage clothes in pristine condition. read more

These people are so help. Plus they are now open so go and support them. More books are being read than ever. Buy used!!!

I love going in here. Great place to buy or sell books. They also have other cool stuff besides books. It's super cute too!

A quaint store and love that they have a nice small collection of vinyl records to feed my renewed interest in vinyl. They also have a nice collection of used books, carefully packaged comic books, vintage clothes and music CD's and cassette tapes (if you still have some). Staff is always pleasant every time I come here. read more

Super friendly staff and cool vintage stuff that's well kept and showcased beautifully. Came in to sell my grandmother's vintage fur coat, hoping they would have buyers who would better appreciate it. They offered me a fair price and even gave me the option for double the store credit. Definitely planning to come back as a customer next time! read more

I love this bookstore, they always got some new cool picks to look at on an outside table. It's like a sample of the good stuff they got inside. All books have affordable prices, most ranging from $3 to $10. Variety and taste are staples of this establishment. Popular and rare books are readily available. They also have vintage clothing and a couple of other clever things to look at. My only disappointment was that the philosophy section needs more development ;-; read more

Eclectic shop of a breed that comes in short form in this day and age. Think of it as a cool Goodwill. The prices are awesome! Buy 2 or 3 DVD's get one free, and the ones that were not, were less than $2! A children's book section that included a "take one free" section! What's not to like about the prices...but do support the store itself. We stop by every time we are in alameda. One thing we noted is that whoever has happened to be working there, is always very pleasant and helpful. read more

This was such a nice find on park street. I didn't even know it was here! It's a small thrift store but they've got a lot to offer. Clothes, music, DVDs, games, etc. I didn't get to look through the clothes as much because I ran out of time but their collections of DVDs and books are pretty impressive. They've got so much! I love thrift stores because you can totally go on a spending spree and buy so much stuff and still end up spending way less than you normally would at regular retail. Rocket Reuse is no exception to this rule. I've been to a lot of thrift stores and their prices here are on point. Everyone should go here. I know I'll be back! read more

Rocket Reuse is not closed! They have been hacked, so uncool! They are still the coolest store on Park Street! Used books, records, CD's and cool vintage clothing and stuff. Definitely worth checking out. read more

This place is open! Whoever marked it closed is out of their mind. They are the best in music, movies and books. An alameda staple and forever a classic! read more

There's always something different and surprising available at this bookstore on Park Street... last week, that happened to be a long-haired, lipsticked man (sorry, honey... you're not passing...!) who thought it was fine to doff shis top and attempt to "try on" a vintage dress from a small rack, near the counter. It wasn't... and the guy at the counter was very professional about shooing the gender-confused individual out of the store. *Insert your own rant about the dismal state of mental health benefits in this country, here.* I give this high-ceilinged, brightly lit gem 5 stars because: * They give books out, free to children (just ask) * Hardbook editions of very readable and contemporary books cost about $4.60 and you can't beat that with a stick. * Their stock rotates quickly; it's a good idea to visit often, so as to pluck highly desirable finds from their neatly organized shelves. * There's a very clever, hip tableau in their front window * You can also pick up nostalgia candies like Pixie Sticks and Necco Wafers at the front counter. This is a great place for a leisurely browse... if you have reservations, go after you eat, because you can easily lose hours in this shop. read more

where else can i buy the following items in one place? 1. vintage dress a la mrs. brady ($12) 2. rufus LP on vinyl ($5) 3. used copy of dan brown's angels and demons ($3) 4. 3 pieces of pixie stix! gotta love it-- a nice petri dish of a mish-mash of decades. :) read more

This shop is absolutely the cutest! It's hard to find a place that both my husband and I love equally as he is a book nerd and I am a vintage fashion nerd - but WOW this place is it! The owner is literally the nicest woman and is so helpful and cheery. We always find something fun, from throwback DVDs for my husband's collection to a 1940s skirtsuit for my next event - we stop by here every time we're in Alameda. The fitting room is also a gem - you'll have to stop by to see what I'm talking about. read more

3 stooges playing at the back of the store. Pasty Cline playing in the background. I was already sold. Considering the size of the store, they had a great selection to choose from. All the books were in VERY good condition, and priced reasonably. I didn't get a chance to look through the music or movies as thoroughly as I wanted, but what I did see was very promising. Blue rectangle = Colon, Hyphen, Parenthesis. read more

Omg this place is amazing for random CDs that you used to own but no longer have for whatever reason. These are the ones I got: The Fugees Green Day - Dookie West Side Story Korn Haha, the guy working the counter was like....nice selection *chuckle chuckle*. Um that's right Mr.! There's also awesome old movies, vintage stuff, books, etc. Pretty effin' cool. read more

Location? Intersection of Swag, Chic, Passion and Prudent. This is such a neat place. The ambiance and low prices hooked me. The passionate bibliophiles who work there? Well ... Not only do their great attitudes keep me .... they are lucky to get rid of me. I spend hours pouring over the well - selected wares. Go to Rocket Reuse with more time than you think you'll need. The good news? You'll spend less than you imagined. It's a great place with low prices. Bravo! read more

If you've got an LFN (and who doesn't?) or just like bargains (ditto), you'll appreciate this new addition to the Park Street commercial strip. Prices are rock-bottom here (paperback literature starts at $4 inc. tax, cookbooks at about $5), especially given the high quality/cleanliness of the books I paged through. The selection is pretty limited--but if you're in search for something in particular, the staff can check to see if what you're looking for is in stock at their San Leandro warehouse. (No and no, for the two items I requested... but it's worth asking.) Minus one star for limited inventory and because the salesperson didn't know who Anthony Bourdain was. Is that petty? read more

Love this gem of a store with all of it's retro & midcentury treasures. Not sure why the Yelp listing is stating that it is "Permanently Closed" because that is fiction. It is a thriving mainstay on Park Street in Alameda. read more

Can't believe I haven't written a review till now. We LOVE this place. We've easily been here more than 25 times. In the last few months we've brought in books, audiobooks, CD's, CD-roms, DVDs and MAD magazines, They don't give you tons of money but unlike other used bookstores who are very very very very choosey they do usually take everything you bring in and give you either money or twice the amount in trade. Maybe not enough for a trip to Paris but usually an amount you can be satisfied with. Just an FYI they don't give you an immediate figure but will call you later in the day. You don't need to come in immediately--they'll keep your info in a notebook. You do get a receipt when you drop things off. They also buy board games, vinyls, vintage clothing and other items. Although the store is on the small size it is well-organized. They have an especially nice selection of children's books and a FREE basket of kids' book where your dumpling can pick up a wonderful picture book....these books are in good shape and aren't just run-of-the-mill titles. I picked up a copy of "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" for a young friend of mine. Their CD selection is smallish but they sell for $4.95 for single CD's...I've gotten some great titles in great shape in Jazz, Musicals, Do-Wop Mr Rinky has picked up some great history and natural science books. This is absolutely the perfect place to spend $10 or less and have a fun tome browsing The staff here is very down-to-earth and friendly. I love their window display of the kids and dog watching an old tv featuring The Little Rascals or other retro classics! read more

Seven [used] metaphysical books at Blue Rectangle equal one and a half new books of the same sort at Borders or Barnes & Noble. I didn't shop around for any other titles. I spied books, records, VHS and an interesting assortment of candy for sale. The staff seemed very friendly and humble, even on a rainy Park Street afternoon. Blue Rectangle also buys books! P.S. They smell good You know how many used books stores have a dusty, musty smell? Not Blue Rectangle! read more

The positives: What a great variety of old things! They have media including games, books, CDs, DVDs, VHS, and vinyl. The record collection is impressive in its selection of many kinds of music. They also have vintage clothing (even undergarments!), accessories, and old fabrics in super cool retro prints. Old movies/programs are projected on to the back wall, huge! The store is bright and airy and clean. The negatives: It's not an easy store to find if you're looking for it. You're probably more likely to come across it while strolling down Park St. The signage is in the window, not the awning, so we went around in circles for a while before deciding to just park and walk to find it. No one greeted us as we entered, which was a little odd but not a deal-breaker. Also, I couldn't find anywhere cozy to sit and peruse potential purchases, so I ended up sitting on the cold floor to do that. If you're a collector, consider that every item here has a price tag sticker on it. (Well, with the clothing, the price tag comes on the tag which you cut off -- but for books and record albums, you're screwed.) Don't know how easily they come off. For me, the cover is integral. I'd no sooner stick a price tag on the vinyl itself, or the inner pages of the book. I opted not to make a purchase here, but if I did, I'd start with one item and see if the tag could come off without causing damage. I'm not sure what the solution to that would be for shop owners, as the old records aren't shrink-wrapped with the price tag on the outside wrapper like when they were new. read more

i didn't sell back any books, so i'm not sure about their buy back rates. The staff is super friendly and willing to help you find items. I purchased two books at prices that were much MUCH better than what you would get at Half Price Books! Makes HP Books look expensive! Granted, Blue Rec. doesn't have as much selection since it's a smaller store, but what you find makes up for it! I'm definitely headed back when i'm through with my recent buys! read more

This place was pretty awesome and filled with all kinds of gems! A small selection of vinyl records, dvds and some clothing but a huge selection of books. What stood out at this place was that everything was priced dirt cheap! I traded three toothpicks, some pocket lint and a piece of gum for two records and the true story of the three little pigs. Okay, so that didn't happen but I did spend less than 10 bucks and walked out with a bag of purchases I was pumped on. Check the vinyl quality before you buy, I made the mistake of not doing that and came home with a record that skips on one side. Even with that hiccup I would still recommend stopping in here if you are in the area and especially if you are in the market for some used books. read more

I rarely give 5 star ratings but Rocket Reuse deserves the hype. No, it's not a huge store, but there are plenty of gems to be found here. I'm an avid reader so I love walking in here and finding all kinds of vintage and secondhand books that I wouldn't normally be able to find on Amazon. The books here are cheap, too. Aside from the books, you will also find movies, music and clothing. The people who work here are very nice as well. read more

Very much a fan! I sell books and records and it's a treat. Their books are organized and their clothing selection usually has a couple of gems. Prices are great. I've gotten some of my favorite skirts and purses here! read more

The Blue Rectangle is awesome. I can't help but stop in here almost every time I am on Park or even in the area. I have added many a cool book to my collection here and all at really cheap prices. The staff are super nice and helpful and they have a lot of cool stuff in a smaller sized shop. I would definitely recommend them to anyone in the area, or anyone going to the area on an aloof weekend trip or even a date. That's right, peruse the shops of Alameda and stop inside the Blue Rectangle. you'll be amazed how much easier it is to see what a person is like once you see what they read. It also helps bring about intriguing conversations and ice breakers about all the cool stuff in the shop. Either way it's well worth poking your head in if you are already near by and even if you know you're going to be in the area. CHAD read more

I was on a mission to find me a go-to used bookstore for my future reading needs and BlueRectangle is one of three used bookstores that will be on my list of used bookstores (Hey-O). BlueRectangle is very urban in a sneaky kind of way, they are closet urban. Clean, well lit, well dusted, organized...everything you wouldn't expect a used bookstore to be! However, if you only have 15 minutes and need to get in and out with a new read in hand upon exiting, I'd recommend stopping in here. They have a great selection of used books that are organized so that you don't have to spend hours digging through stacks of old books, yet, if you wanted to you certainly COULD spend hours here checking out the titles and browsing about. Out of the three stores that I checked out in Alameda, their prices were the lowest by $1-$2 which pleasantly surprised me! They also have a selection of vinyl, clothing, DVDs and other random joys and knick knacks. The people working there were friendly and helpful as well. -1 star because in order to sell/trade books you have to leave them there and they will give you a call back once they have gone through your stash...I'm an instant gratification kind of gal! read more

When you walk into this store, you enter another time and place - where life is easy and it's pace swanky and slow. So, if your world seems a little frenetic and you need a laid-back place to escape as you re-live golden memories through books, vintage clothing, and hard-to-find videos, make the trip to Rocket Reuse. Don't let the small store front and the narrow corridors in this store fool you. It's filled with lots of interesting treasures waiting to be discovered. If you have items of your own you'd like to turn into some lucky person's great find, send it on in. The folks here are quick to give you a quote and offer fair cash or fantastic credit for them. Seriously a cool, semi-hidden gem on the Island's main drag. read more

We were wandering around downtown Alameda before dinner, and happened onto Rocket Reuse. A very cool store with an eclectic mix of used music (vinyl & CDs), books, movies (DVDs & VHS), clothing, and more. The store isn't that big, but they make really good use of the space. My fiance found two CDs by Poi Dog Pondering (a band whose albums you don't usually find out here), and a book, all priced around $5.50 each; very reasonable. The CD selection in particular, while fairly small, included some great albums/artists at bargain prices. Definitely worth a stop when you're in Alameda. read more

The short: Full of discounted older items. I was lured by the books right outside the store, and I came across the book, "Julia's Kitchen Wisdom," by Julia Child. I have her Mastering French cookbook, and was so amazed that she even had another book that I just had to buy it. Leave it to Rocket Reuse to carry unique items not commonly found. This store also carries vintage, period clothing pieces, postcards, movies, vinyls, comics and LOADS of books. My friends from Alameda have given their books to RR and rave about the finds that they find here. I most certainly can tell and I love how it's a community store right in the middle of downtown. read more

Love coming here to find used DVDs and Blurays. Great deals and prices on used movies and TV seasons. Better prices than a nearby video store. The also buy your used items. Books, comics, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and more can be found. Very nice and friendly people. read more

Thrift stores. There are a ton of them in the bay area. How many of them offer a wide variety of awesome stuff for a dirt cheap price? Not very many, but Rocket Reuse sure does! They have so many used books, DVDs, comics, and vinyls all under $5-10 dollars. They also have a small selection of really awesome vintage jewelry and clothing also reasonably priced for its style and quality. There is something for everyone in this lovely jewel of a store in downtown Alameda! read more

I love this place! I always take my used books/movies/music and even some vintage jewelry here to sell because they always give me the best prices. And usually I just get the double store credit and expand ye olde record collection. The shop is primarily used books and DVDs, with really cheap ($1) VHS tapes, which is great for me cause I still have a lot of VHS lol. They also have a decent little record selection and a few vintage clothing/accessory items, and a few hidden treasures along the bottom shelves. And I love that they are open till 10 because every other shop on the street closes at about 6. Go here and support them, because they are awesome! read more

Very cool and ecclectic book store with some classic dvd's and vintage clothes to go with.Cool place to browse ! Gotta love the little rascals shows being projected on the wall when I was there ! read more

I think that used "stuff" places tend to be either chaotic messes, ala Salvation Army, or way too expensive, ala most hipster stores in the Mission, San Francisco. This hits the perfect middle ground -- not that expensive, but a curated selection of awesome stuff. They sell CDs (including a $2 bin), books, records, DVDs, and some clothing, in a small but really well laid out store. The staff was really friendly, and I found a couple of real gems, including a beautiful hardcover anthology of 1940s science fiction short stories for $6 that was on display out front. I recommend you never go here, because every time you do, you'll lose money by buying awesome things. (Sarcasm, of course; Go here!) read more

First time at this cool little antique thrift shop. Its loaded with tons of stuff! I could stay here all day. But beware the freaky dolls downstairs !!!!! Lol. I bought a cute cup for my tea & a pair of sunnys both for $5! :) id come here again mostdef! read more

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