This new location downtown just opened and it is great!!! They are still setting some of the books…read moreup but the 2 people working there when I went on their 2nd day were so nice. Went to pick up some children's books for a book drive and walked out with 8 books and then 4 records for me. Win, Win.

The space was bigger than I expected yet small enough to still feel quaint. The guy working seemed…read morenice enough but not overly friendly. They had a good amount of books but I was expecting a lower price for being used. They actually had the book I wanted for virtually the same price I could get anywhere else, as I'm writing this review I checked online and it's significantly cheaper now than it has been. I guess that's the price of supporting local business.

Endless fun. Limitless gift ideas. If you leave empty…read morehanded, you may have bigger issues to solve. Kara Unlimited is like a deep dive into a creatives mind. Books. Cards. Posters. Bookmarks. Stickers. Trinkets. Gizmos. Gadgets. Whozits. Whatzits. You could spend hours in here looking at all of the creativity, humor, and the immaculately curated whimsical elegance of everything in between. Local artists. Small businesses. Fresh brands. Major franchises. And everything in between. Yeah, you could be a jagoff and scan everything and possibly find a cheaper price by $0.50 on Amazon... but didn't you just fill enjoy the curation of this store to the value of that $0.50. Somehow even with tight aisles and every nook and cranny accounted for... the employees keep this all perfectly organized. If you are in Shadyside, you'd be a fool to not take a lap through here.

If I could give them a higher rating I would! This little place was definitely my favorite stop and…read morewill definitely be back. So many great finds and clean, organized store.

I'm not sure why this location was marked at closed. I went to the store yesterday (1/22/2020) and…read morebought a few books. This place is great--the selection of pay-what-you-want books is really interesting, and the second floor is filled with an eclectic mix of books, from religion and philosophy, to medicine, to poetry, to geography-specific books. I always like to peruse the medical books, where you may find a new(er) book about updated technologies, or old hygiene guides from 1921. I never know what you're going to find when I go, but I'm always happy with my visit. They do have an online system that allows you to search for specific books, but I've never used it. The people who run the shop are nice and always happy to help. I will definitely be returning in the near future.

From the owner: Online only bookstore based in Pittsburgh, that specializes rare antique and antiquarian books and…read morerelated ephemera.

This place was such a joy to spend an afternoon in. For those who are very well read and those who…read morehaven't picked up a book in awhile, I can guarantee you'll find a title that catches your eye. This place has a very apparent and pointed purpose for existing. Not necessarily to convert everyone into being anarchists, but more so wanting to encourage free, critical thinking. It's certainly worth a visit and had so many intriguing books that brought me a lot of joy to browse through.

I love that they don't emphasize or even sell newly published, meaningless fluff fiction like all…read morethe other bookstores nowadays. I like the zines, and the 'name your price' rolling bookshelf of books outside, the unique genres, and the not being followed or made to surrender my bag at the counter, lol. The selection of *non*-antiestablishment books, however, is a bit scarce. I mean, even people who've already read all those need something new to read now and again. And I didn't realize or see they had coffee and tea - what? - where was that?.. Thank you for the visit to your lovely shop. Good luck in the new year.

This is my absolute favorite bookstore, not just in Pittsburgh but across the board! The staff is…read moreso friendly, the store is cozy, the coffee is delicious, and the events add so much to the community. I would highly recommend!

Had to stop by the award-winning friendliest bookstore in Pennsylvania -- White Whale Bookstore…read more(ranked 71st in the country!!) Not only do they have an incredible book selection, but there's also a cozy coffee + tea shop attached Huge shoutout to Luis (GM!) for helping me pick the perfect latte -- I went with the banana bread latte (on the menu until the end of the month, so don't miss it!) They truly prioritize community, host events, and create such a welcoming vibe. Definitely check out their website for upcoming happenings!

Jerry's Records made me fall in love with my record player. I couldn't have asked for a better…read morestore to help me build my collection. I can always find something I'm interested in for $10 or less. Jerry's is a third place to me. It's a must visit every time I'm back in Pittsburgh! Jerry's is estimated to have over 500,000 records. Here's what I've learned from my two years in Pittsburgh to help sort through the collection: 1. Best sellers are located upfront. Normally there's a few of each artist: The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rush, Aerosmith, and many more. Price range between $20-60 2. For people starting out, Jerry's has a lot of well known albums and artists for $7-8 a record. Common finds: Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Santana, REO Speedwagon, Jefferson Starship/Jefferson Airplane, Elton John, STYX, and Chicago. 3. Huge Christmas selection in the $3-20 range. They likely have what you're looking for. My boyfriend's mom was looking for Christmas with Mitch for many years. She found 8 copies at Jerry's Records in less than 15 minutes. 4. There's a large Broadway and musical soundtrack section tucked in the corner down the first hallway on the right. Normally they are about $5-15. 5. Before checking out, look at the record and sleeve for damages. From experience, most priced above $7 play really well. They may have a few crackles, but a quick wash takes most of that away. Things in the $3 range are risky.

Excellent selection and friendly knowledgeable staff. Could be a dangerous place without a spending…read morelimit!!!

--Location/Parking-- There are multiple locations throughout…read morePittsburgh. I went to the one close Carnegie Melon on Forbes Ave location. Street parking can be hit or miss. I took the bus there to avoid any parking issues --Ambience-- Think of a Gamestop but will a clean interior and the game organize by consoles and knowledgeable staff willing to help you. I recommend this local gem if you are looking any retro and non-console media/gaming/ etc. --Service/Staff-- The staff knew their stuff. Friendly and energetic. I wouldn't mind spending time there to nerd out on pop culture. --Food/Products-- Wide range of media from video games (which I was interested in) to CDs to toys to many Blu-ray. It's like a Gamestop and Best buy in media selection all in one. --Capacity-- The Forbes Ave location is kind of small. I would say about 20 or so people would be crowded in the store and could make it awkward to walk around in the tight space. --Overall-- I would be back to see what new items they have in stock and see if people have traded items that I would be interested in.

Great prices, and good selection. I come here often. It's in sq. Hill area…read more They always have new things coming in

I love coming to kawaii gifts to look at all the little trinkets and nic nacs. Some of the things…read moreare a little pricey but they have tons of good stuff. I personally love the minions in disguise mystery boxes.

My first trip was July 2024 for my bday, and I fell in love with this place! Super friendly…read moreworkers, lots of figures, keychains, kpop albums, etc. and not crazy expensive like a lot of kpop/japanese merchandise stores. They also host a lot of pop-ups for kpop album drops, which is super amazing. I've become pretty good friends with one of the workers, and I can say this is such a great store for anyone into kpop, Japanese shows, figures, stationary, etc