This place is so cool! I could spend countless hours reading, writing, sipping coffee, and getting lost. I'm a fan of any local bookstore and this one does not disappoint. It has multiple levels and a beautiful view of the water in the café area. There are several new and used books to choose from with every genre available. There are also an assortment of games, puzzles, crafting items, and all other sorts of goodies. This bookstore is connect to a couple of other stores, I believe, which makes it really nice when you are walking throughout the facility. I have to say, after purchasing a book from this place, their prices are pretty reasonable for an independent bookstore, which is really nice. It also looks like they have a rewards program, dang it if only I was a local! read more

Awesome local bookstore with a great selection and a lot of cozy seating for reading books or enjoying some coffee from the upstairs coffee shop. The store is well organized, titles are easy to find and locate and there's always something available on sale. It's a great place to escape from life for a few hours and find a new adventure to embark on. The only things I wish they did more of was sell more used books and maybe add some more writing tools to compliment the massive selection of available notebooks. read more

Overall I like VB very much. But I did prefer the old cafe. Good selection and attractive space.

Fabulous destination bookstore and cafe. Friendly, knowledgeable staff; great collections; cozy nooks for perusing fiction (or non) and sipping something divine. read more

My favorite bookstore in WA state, period. It's lovely, it's spacious, it's quaint, and it's charming. It's location is second to none. It's a place that beckons you to stay, and to linger. The cafe is wonderful as well. What more could one ask for? read more

I stop at Village Books anytime I'm in Bellingham. In fact, you could argue that a visit to Fairhaven and Village Books is one of the main reasons to make a visit up to Bellingham --that and to drive Chuckanut Drive which is absolutely gorgeous almost anytime of year. But I digress. The story of little Fairhaven is wonderfully tragic. A town that invented itself thinking the railroad was coming, and then the railroad passed them by, in favor of the then hamlet of Vancouver, B.C.. A land speculation gone horribly wrong, but a mistake leaving behind a beautiful rose brick footprint on this otherwise out of the way part of Bellingham. It take a lot to impress me in terms of a bookstore, but I have rarely seen an independent bookstore this large in a town this small (sorry Bellingham) with about four levels of books to choose from all in a great historic building. You could argue this is almost akin to a mini-Powells Bookstore (see Portland) but nothing compares to Powell's and its not that mini frankly, considering we are in Bellingham. Great spot. A treat for any bibliophile. read more

I cannot day enough about this amazing gem! We went here on a. Business trip with the intention of just "checking" it out. The selection of diverse books is amazing! I needed to buy some. Books for our social justice library and the gals here were so helpful! We ended up spending about $2500 here and were able to have the books shipped directly to our center at EOU! the seri e was excellent and i cannot speak highly enough about the wonderful employees, especially Emma! Everyone had such fantastic recommendations and were so accommodating. Not only is the selection brilliant but so is the staff! You really cannot go wrong here!! The books arrived in record time and were packaged alphabetically making them so easy to catalog! I cannot thank you all enough! We will be back!!! read more

While I enjoy the new addition to Village Books (thank you so much for keeping the architectural integrity of the building) and I love Fairhaven, I must say that I am often disappointed by the used book selection at Village Books. The new book selection is great, don't get me wrong, but for used books, there are just so many other spots to get a good deal. Overall: stop by Village Books to see and be seen by the cool Fairhaven crowd and to enjoy the wonderful green space outside, but save your bargain hunting energy for another store. read more

Village Books - the Village Books Logo - Newspapers & Magazines Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

As an avid reader and bookstore lover-- Village Books is definitely worth putting on your list for places to stop and explore. The way I explore new cities is via their coffee, food, and bookstores. Village Books is three stories of so many wonderful selections, and best of all, some of the best staff recommendation sections i've seen in a while. I was here for over an hour just sitting through the lovely staff rec shelves. 10/10 would recommend you make this stop a priority! read more

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My favorite bookstore anywhere. I make a point of visiting indie bookstores everywhere I travel (Powell's in Portland, Munro's in Victoria, Shakespeare & Company in Paris, Malaprop's in Asheville), and they're all very special. But Village Books is pleasingly, spaciously spread across three floors, with a marvelous worth-a-visit-alone restaurant on the second floor. The selection is thoughtfully curated, the staff friendly and helpful. Their website is intuitive to navigate if you prefer to do your ordering online (please, support a small business rather than Voldebezos). And you've got adorable Fairhaven and gorgeous Taylor Dock/Boulevard Park to stroll along, before or after shopping. What's not to love? read more

This is truly one of my favorite stores in all of Bellingham (and I love nearly all the Fairhaven stores. But this one really stands out!). Granted, I'm a sucker for bookstores, and I particularly love independent bookstores. Yes, prices may be a bit lower at a big chain, like Barnes & Noble (as another reviewer noted), but you can't beat the character or "feel" of a multi-level historic brick building filled with books (and reading accessories and kids' toys related to books and clothing related to books and practically ALL things related to books). One could literally spend hours in this place and not see it all. There are shelves devoted to a large number of local book clubs, showcasing their most recent book selections. There are shelves devoted to books of local character (history of Bellingham and the PNW, local authors, etc.). Shelves devoted to staff picks. Shelves showcasing recent best-sellers, and others devoted to various themes. There's a fantastic kids' section, and lots of areas to sit and read, in the deep upholstered chairs nestled in corners. There's a café upstairs, and they'll buy back your used books downstairs. There are also meeting and mini-conference areas downstairs, along with a bathroom (and another on the main level, by the front door. Good info to know!). They have cute gift items by the cash and the front door (not inexpensive, but great quality picnic items were displayed when we last visited, and various Bellingham goods). This store is connected to the adjacent "Paper Dreams" gift store, which in turn is connected to a large café and kitchen/oil and vinegar store. One could spend a whole day exploring these stores. Or perhaps it's just me. But I love it! read more

This is a clean, well lit, well designed independent bookstore and I'm a huge fan of their effort to keep the spirite of literary culture alive and thriving. Whenever I come to Fairhaven I make a point of stopping here. I like the selection of new and used books, local authors, and opportunities to hear writers speak! Depending on when one visits, parking can be a bit of a chore. Especially for those with mobility issues where walking a few blocks might be an issue. This location has bathrooms on site even on the first floor, which certainly helps. There is a cute cafe on site as well and a plenty of restaurants nearby to make the experience of visiting rather enjoyable all around. I have yet to have a bad experience with customer service here outside of a long wait one time to get staff attention. But to me this is was an anomoly. read more

Village Books is a place that I cannot imagine getting tired of. A great selection of new, used, and bargain items available on three floors. Items are pretty well organized in this store. If you cannot find what you're looking for, staff is always friendly to offer assistance or recommendations. Village Books offers many events including story times, writing classes, author presentations, camp, and many other worthwhile events. The third floor cafe offers a nice selection of snacks and beverages. I've stopped here on occasion to wander around and have a hot beverage. Village Books is on my "must see" list for out of town company. I can't imagine being in Fairhaven without making time to stop in. read more

Who doesn't love three stories of books‽ The selection is great and every time I've had trouble locating a specific title, I've always been helped right away. Only once did I order in a book that wasn't in stock. Ordering online is great too, shipping is only 99¢ (as of mid 2021) and I love being able to support a local bookstore while still having the convenience and relatively quick speed of online shopping. read more

Earlier this year I reviewed Skylark's Hidden Cafe, indicating that it has become a favorite "watering hole" and suggesting that it might be the de facto "social center" of the "Historic Fairhaven District" of Bellingham. While many of Fairhaven's community events are planned and ultimately end at Skylark's fabulous antique bar, the heartbeat of Fairhaven actually lies a block away, within the walls of Village Books. By far, one of the best independent book stores in the nation, Village Books is an essential part of Bellingham life. Village Books is really so much more than just a great bookstore... located adjacent to Fairhaven's Village Green, the proprietors, Chuck and Dee are inextricably woven into Bellingham's social-political fabric. Fairhaven has become a "regular stop" for noted authors who make a point of adding Village Books to their book tours, and the store is a dependable sponsor for a wide variety of Fairhaven and city and county-wide events. Other than San Francisco's City Lights bookstore, there is no place I'd rather be during "Banned Books Week"! But don't wait for a special event or speaker to browse Village Books. Next time your in Bellingham (or if you live here, on your next visit to Fairhaven) make a point of picking up a bestseller or that more obscure title you've been planning to buy at Village Books. Oh, and if you're meeting friends in the area, tell 'em you'll see them at Village Books. That way if one of you is running a little late, neither of you will "stress". There's no better way to kick-off a visit with a friend! Oh, and one more thing... if you get a chance, check out the coffee bar and cafe upstairs or the adjoining stationary and card shop, Paper Dreams! read more

The book buyer today, Laura, was incredibly rude and condescending. Treating people with the bare minimum of kindness and respect should be an expectation for every decent human being, but her attitude was hostile and insulting. I'm sorry to say this experience ruined Village Books for me. I've frequented this store for many years and I expect better... especially from book enthusiasts. On a more positive note, the person I spoke with on the phone yesterday was very kind, so I know there are good people who work there... I just don't want to patron somewhere that makes me feel like garbage. I will continue to frequent other used bookstores in town with a more welcoming, less elitist vibe. Update: I called Village Books and Laura was the Manger on Duty (of course--that explains why she was emboldened enough to treat someone that way), but she did listen to me on the phone and apologize, so I appreciate that. I hope she is more aware of the impact of her tone with others in the future. read more

After decades traveling the galaxy, a starship captain can start to feel lonely, and even a bit neglected. That's why it's so meaningful when a shopkeeper shows they are thinking specifically about MY needs -- which is why I was touched to see that Village Books stocks notebooks specifically for maintaining my Captain's Log! My science officer, ever the curmudgeon, pointed out that this would be a somewhat wasteful purchase for a captain who keeps all her logs on the computer. Nonetheless, I was touched to have the option. And that is just the beginning of what Village Books has to offer. Yes, it seems to have assimilated an adjacent gift store -- or perhaps the gift store grew out of its side like some kind of retail tumor. But it's quite a charming gift store, and it remains the side show at a store that is first and foremost about books. As for the books: you have three storeys to choose from. The main floor has tables full of recommended reads, giving you an insight into what humans currently find compelling. (Note: Much of their reading appears to consist of religious texts mandated by a god or priest known as Oprah.) It also has a very large children's book section, suitable for the young of species who still learn by reading rather than neural download. On the upper floor you will find an extensive collection of novels. The most exciting feature in this collection: the shelves showing the favorite books of various bookstore staff. This provided deep insight into the inner life of booksellers, long considered an exceptionally interesting group in the eyes of Starfleet, and certainly, the group of humans most likely to earn Earth admission to the Federation. The lower floor is where Starfleet officers will most likely be able to supplement their shipboard computer records with additional information on a variety of topics, since that is where the majority of nonfiction titles reside. We must recommend descending to this floor only after setting clear mission parameters, since it has what some species might term a "funny smell". Village Books is truly a remarkable example of what the human race can accomplish. As the very last stop on our weeklong mission, it left us with a surprisingly positive view of Earth, its readers and its writers. read more

The best book store! The store has comfortable seating to read books, great lighting and so many books to choose. The employees are friendly, avid readers, professional and a helpful. There are 3 floors of books. The store also sells, journals, calendars, greeting cards, games and other interesting items. Attached to the book store is a great restaurant called Colophon and another store which sells oil infused oils, balsamic vinegars, salts and teas. One Saturday a month, the book store has a 20% sale. Ask to join the membership for savings and to receive email updates on specials. This place is an experience and worth the time. read more

Lemme tell you a story: A long, long time ago, in a state very far away, I used to work at a little, unassuming cafe inside of a bookstore. That bookstore was my very favorite place, Sadly, it closed in 2009. Village Books reminds me very much of the bookstore/cafe I used to work in, except it is exponentially more awesome. It's layed out cleverly, with multiple floors, and joined with other businesses (paper dreams/colophon cafe) and so making it a cohesive blend of unique shopping. I loved coming here for the first time in 2009 and it still holds it's charm for me about 3 years later. They have a good selection to choose from, and I could spend hours browsing it's many shelves full of literary treasures. read more

I often have to ask myself...do I really want to go in here? Because I know once I do...there's no way I won't spend a few hours inside perusing all the wonderful book selections! A truly wonderful store that is just plain pleasant to shop in...I always find exactly what I'm looking for here (and many times walk out with way more than I meant to buy LOL) and during times when I have needed help locating something, the staff has been super helpful. They also have a great selection of gift type items, T-shirts etc too which is nice - have gotten some good gift ideas from wandering around the stacks. I have a soft spot for all bookstores really but this one is one of my all time favorites ever. The fact that it's in such an awesome location is just gravy. One of my favorite things to do is pick up a book at Village and then walk down to the boardwalk at Boulevard Park and sit on one of the benches and read. Makes for a perfect day! Love wandering over to Paper Dreams too - they have super cute stuff in there - and of course you can't complete your Village Books experience without getting something at the Colophon Cafe. In conclusion, I think I can sum it up by saying that if loving Village Books is wrong, I never want to be right... read more

Village Books - Wise words right at the entrance! - Newspapers & Magazines Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I love Village Books and I've been shopping here for years. When my kids were younger we enjoyed the story times; especially the annual Grinch visit. Everyone is always friendly and helpful. During the height of the Pandemic they delivered books to our home. If something is out of stock they'll order it and text when it comes in. Such a great local business. read more

I love this book store! The staff are always so friendly and helpful, the store is incredibly cute, and I have bought many of my favorite books here! They love to put out book recommendations based on what is trending, what the staff enjoy, and classics people have adored. They even have book signings with authors often. read more

Awesome bookstore! Absolutely has everything. Very friendly and helpful staff. We went late so I didn't get a chance to look all around, it is attached to another little store. It is in an old building and is two story. It has a beautiful view of the water as well. Caught a pretty sunset before they closed. read more

They don't make independent bookstores like this anymore. I wandered through this place for a nice stretch of time, coming out with a book on elder finance issues and an independent press publications from their upstairs author section. There's 3 levels and multiple rooms to explore, plus very knowledgeable and helpful staff to help you navigate. read more

Word is when they built the new building they worked some deal with city council to be able to build higher than they should have been able to. Why? So they could build a condo that sold for a cool million. So, what, it didn't hurt anyone, right? No, they blocked the view of the condos across the street, which the owners were guaranteed to have. I just go to Barnes and Noble now or one of the less known book stores downtown. P.S. Brandy S, they maintained the "architectural integrity" because they were required to. It was established to maintain the feel of Fairhaven. read more

There's just something about a great independent business, and Village Books has an "It" factor that's hard to define but easy to feel. I've been here a few times on trips to Bellingham and it's always buzzing. Even if you're not looking for anything in particular when you walk in, chances are you're going to find something - I know I almost never leave empty-handed. Maybe it's fact that the layout is a little like a library, inviting browsing in the "stacks"? The way there's so many sections to wander, over, across and down? The mad genius who makes the displays and seems to know just what to feature? Like the Amy Sedaris craft book I found today - I didn't even know she had a new book out - and while paying for it the cashier enthused over it, too, telling me how she'd once heard Amy speak, in a lineup that also featured Barack Obama and John Irving. That's just fracking cool. We had a moment, us Amy Sedaris fans. It can only happen in a village. Village Books has earned it's spot in my Bellingham routine. read more

As far as independent book stores go this one is at the top of my list. I absolutely love going here and wandering around the stacks eager to find a new treasure. You can also bring in books to re-sell as they have both new and used items in their inventory. Make sure you check out the details on how they run their 'readcycle program' before you drag a heavy box of books into the store: http://villagebooks.com/readcycle-used-books Since they learned to read I have bought my nieces books from here as they have a great children's section. They have expanded a bit in the last few years so make sure you wander both up and downstairs. read more

Village Books is a fun place to browse and look through books if you have some time to kill but I generally never buy books here. The selection is decent if you're looking for books that are available literally everywhere else but beyond that, you'll be out of luck more often than not. The other bookstores downtown, and even Barnes and Noble, usually have the books that Village Books doesn't have. The books are way overpriced compared to other stores too. Yes there are some things that are on sale with supposedly huge discounts that somehow only make the books a few dollars cheaper than what you can find in other stores, but the majority of the books are still full MSRP or just a little less. You can find cheaper books at other stores. Basically if there's a book that you wanna buy, I would advise you to look in several other places before coming here unless money isn't an issue for you. I do like the staff, they're usually friendly and helpful but they can lack knowledge at times (in the sense that they won't be able to recall an author, title, or publication date which is totally understandable, that happens to all of us) and sometimes they're just not around the store and you have to go downstairs to the counter if you need their help. Overall, it's a cool bookstore but there's a lot of reasons why you should do your book-buying at other stores and not here. read more

Located in charming, walkable Fairhaven, Village Books is a 3-story book lovers dream. From the Book Fare cafe upstairs, to the basement where they often host authors, and every stocked shelf in between... if I got locked in for a month I would ask to stay longer. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The owners give back to the local community in a million generous ways. Village Books is a local treasure. Spend your dollars here - believe me, they make it easy to do! P.S. As if that weren't enough, VB is connected to the enchanting gift & novelty toy store Paper Dreams. You can browse both places and pay just once at either 'store'. read more

This is a huge bookstore. The selection of new and used books is outstanding. The staff is outgoing and always helpful. I have never had a bad experience in this store and I frequent it often. I can easily spend hours in this store browsing at the selections. I love that it is attached to other businesses and that I can get a drink or a bite to eat also. read more

I love being able to shop for books at a locally owned store (and not at Barnes and Noble). They have a great selection, and their staff is both very friendly and helpful. Bonus - if you are a member they send you a postcard in the mail on your birthday to redeem for a discount on one book! Also, try out book fare, upstairs! you can go by yourself (bring a book!) or with friends, get either tea or a full meal. the food is great! read more

Bellingham needs a great book store. Village Books isn't what I'd call a great book store, but it's Bellingham's best new book store. It used to be their selection was so small and limited you could pick up just about anything and know that it had been selected with care and was going to be worth reading. Now it's just a bunch of books with not enough selection to have what I want when I want it . This is a better place to browse than it is to hit up hoping to find something specific. Their employees are usually quite helpful. They've never had a strong sci-fi section. Check out Henderson's for that. They do have some nice nooks to hang out in but to say this place is anything like Powell's in Portland is overselling Village books and totally undercutting the grandeur that is Powell's. They're not even close. They host some nice guest author series and it's generally a nice place to shop. read more

I love this bookstore. The kids' section is nicely laid out so parents can sit while their kids run around. The layout gets a little confusing if you're not used to it, but I definitely recommend checking out the travel section downstairs. Would love to see more handlettering and crafting books at some point, but this is one of our favorite hangouts when we hit up Fairhaven. read more

Love this bookstore. :) They're all about being local and supporting the community. They also have a self-publishing printing press downstairs and a lovely cafe next door. read more

During a recent visit to Bellingham I decided to drop into Village Books. I ended up purchasing a book of photos which depicted parrots dressed in elaborate costumes on exceedingly detailed sets entitled, "Mrs. Ballard's Parrots." It chronicles the life of a retired, middle-aged woman who enlisted her husband to create these eccentric sets and costumes for her dear parrots. Some of my favorite scenes include: The Great Battle, Sherlock Holmes After the Thief, Honey Mooners, The Devils Judgement, and Batman and Robin. Needless to say, Village Books has yet to disappoint me. read more

Not sure what to make of this - but I highly recommend you thoroughly check your book out before buying it as I was sold a "brand new" book that was SEVERELY water damaged. I called the night before to have them hold a popular book for me and I would pick it up the next morning. The morning the store opened, I went there, paid for the book and when I got home noticed 45% of the book was badly water damaged to the point multiple pages and sections were stuck together, wavy pages etc! Whoa, how did they not catch this. I was in total shock. I had to take even more time out of my busy holiday shopping day to drive back and deal with parking to exchange it. I curiously looked at other copies and noticed they looked "questionable ". I think I'm still in shock.... read more

This book store was so nice to find. It is much larger then it looks from outside. There is an upstairs section which I was pleased to find after going through the downstairs area. There are other items to purchase besides books. There were some t shirts and decals and other gift type options. I could find a spot in this cute little store and read while watching people. The patrons were of all ages and the staff was helpful. read more

This is a pleasant spot. Fair haven is beautiful and the bookshop adds another haven-like atmosphere. There are lots of books spanning a few floors. The staff are friendly and helpful. If you want coffee, tea, or beer, you can snag some good liquids from the upstairs cafe or the downstairs restaurant. They have some well-priced happy hour options. If you go for salad, choose mixed greens and not the Caesar. It's a nice spot in a quaint suburb of Bellingham. Read. Eat. Drink. Indulge in literature. read more

Independently owned bookstore with an interesting selection of books. I love browsing in there, and the few times I've been I've left with at least one purchase. Pricewise it's no Amazon, but they do have discount shelves with varied titles. No comments on the building or architecture, but if you're a book fan who happens to be in the Fairhaven district, it's worth checking out. read more

The best book store in town! Can be a bit pricy but you are paying to preserve a historic an iconic piece of the town which brings joy to countless people every year and has a great atmosphere. The staff are super friendly and helpful, and you can order books online and pick them up! read more