Best book store in Buffalo...hands down! They have a great selection of used books (cookbooks, sci-fi, fiction, children's books, etc...), and the owners are great! I feel that West Side Stories has been key to the revitalization of Grant St, and you can feel the warmth of that when you set foot in the door. So, if you're in the market for a good read, or are in the neighborhood--definitely stop in and browse for a bit. You won't be disappointed. read more

Just thinking about this place makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. It's a cozy used bookstore with friendly proprietors who will strike up a conversation if you want, or will leave you to peruse at your own leisure. They have a great selection with stacks upon stacks of books all over. The average price ranges from $3-$6.50 (I'm sure there are more expensive as well, but this is what I generally saw). Also, the sign of a good used bookstore is one that will either barter or will offer some sort of deal. In this case, there is a "bulk" deal. I bought four books and somehow this was considered bulk so I got my fourth book for free! I'm smiling just thinking about it. :) (minus one star ONLY because they don't have quite as large a selection as some of my other favorite used bookstores - but this is still an awesome store and I love coming here) read more

Went into this little gem on the resurgent West Side of Buffalo on a rainy day with my wife & daughter. Amazing selections in all genres and awesome prices. Great vibe and proprietor Joe P. knows his stuff. Stop in when you can, you will not be disappointed!! read more

"The cheapest form of travel is a book." ************************************** This place is absolutely lovely. Nestled into a little spot on the same block as Sweetness 7 Cafe, Westside Stories brings an artistic charm to a neighborhood that was once overlooked and perhaps written off. I'm not sure if people really realize what they have here - a used book store that is akin to those that line the Seine in Paris such as Shakespeare & Co. Perhaps that sounds like a bold statement for a tiny bookshop on Grant St. in little old Buffalo but really I am just being honest. Walking through Shakespeare & Co in Paris, you find that the store itself, books lining every surface area of the store save the ceiling for obvious reasons, emerges as an artistic expression in an artistically beautiful quarter of an artistically-minded city. And what do we have here in Buffalo albeit on a smaller scale? We have a quaint bookshop emerging as an artistic expression in an artistically beautiful quarter of our more and more artistically minded city. So when I say that we have a rare gem with this shop, that is exactly what I mean. What I personally love about this store is that on numerous occasions I have found old copies of beloved books that I will treasure forever and will become permanent fixtures in my house. In many ways, I feel like in shopping at a used book store, I have the opportunity to find artwork for my bedroom or living room - I even have a nice copy of a favorite book I keep on my kitchen table. Of course I have good intentions that I will reread such books and they will not just be pieces of artwork to dust off - yet their mere presence reminds me of the stories they contain and ensures I do not forget them. The second part I love is the foreign language section in the back where they have novels in other languages. My father speaks Spanish and enjoys Cervantes and I was able to mail him an old copy in Spanish of one of Cervantes' novels. Awesome. Lastly, I personally just love paper books and the older the better so this place is much like the ice cream aisle at Wegmans for me. Instant smiles as soon as I hit the aisle. Come down here on a late morning or afternoon (check their hours beforehand) and grab a beverage at Sweetness 7, some delicious produce at Guercios, and browse this art/book shop for a while. You're sure to enjoy it and you might just find a personal treasure. read more

My husband and I are looking for literary classics to build our leather bound collection and this place delivered! The leather bounds will be a bit more expensive from $9 all the way to $30+ but overall Westside Stories was reasonably priced and well stocked. It is hard to leave without buying at least one book. We also found some entertaining books in the $1 sections. read more

I love a good used book store. This place is fabulous! I was with my daughter so I didn't browse as long as I wanted to. I'll definitely return again soon. Tons of books in every topic imaginable at reasonable prices. read more

On today's self-tour of Buffalo, I decided to conquer Grant Street. I've been meaning to get down to Grant Street for awhile now, after I went on a bookmarking spree and bookmarked half of the businesses on Grant Street. I live in the suburbs and I don't have much time on my hands, so those two things in combination mean I don't get to spend a lot of time in the city. Which is a shame, because there are so many cool places worth exploring. Like Westside Stories. Westside Stories. My reaction upon seeing Jeanenne was, "Oh my god, I love books!" and then proceeded to walk up and down every single aisle at least four times. If you've been keeping up with my other bookstore reviews, you'll know I have strong emotional reactions in the presence of books. This time was no different. I scooted to the back room, by the fantasy section, so no one would see the tears welling up in my eyes. I'm completely serious, by the way. It's just added to the fact that I think this place is absolutely beautiful. The owners, husband and wife, have so many awesome books on the shelf that I just didn't see on the bookshelves of Book Outlet, a used bookstore in North Tonawanda. Book Outlet is like the less hip version of Westside Stories. WS is up to date on what the kiddos want while BO (ha) just has a lot of leftover books that remain unwanted (more tears). Jeanenne knows her books in and out, so when people flow through her doors asking for a particular selection, she can hop right over to where she knows (or feels?) it is and grab it from the shelf. The fact that she can do this so easily and readily just blows me away. This is someone who turned a passion into some beautiful gift that you give right back to the public. What a complete joy! I just met her today, and yet, she radiates something special. A genuine happiness, perhaps? It's desirable and made me quite content to be there. Each section is labeled just like a typical bookstore. Fiction, religion/spirituality, psychology, humor. What a cool way to break down your books into a more manageable system. My favorite section was "Literary favorites" or something of the like which included Hemingway, Jack London. All the classics. I haven't read them all, but I'm tempted to go back and pick out some really old books and get reading. Their shelves were flooding with some really good authors for under $5 for most books. You can't beat it, really. My only suggestion would be to tidy up the shelving a little bit and place books where they need to be. I'd hardly try to tear a book down that was stacked ten high. It's quite unfortunate to say goodbye to some older books, but I feel like some might find a better home in the library than taking up valuable (limited) space in the bookstore. I'm not sure how they feel about that because you never know what people want, but perhaps being pickier with the selection of books would free some space up on the shelves. Just a thought. This place is definitely five stars. I've never known a place to be a local business and be so integrated into the surrounding cultures while still supporting nearby businesses. My heart is singing that I found this place. Do you think if I bought a cot they'd let me stay forever? read more

My favorite bookstore in Buffalo. They have a great selection of books - from classics to contemporary books, nonfiction, gardening, genre fiction - and the atmosphere in the store is friendly, welcoming, and not at all overwhelming. The prices are fair and the owners are pretty awesome. This is, without a doubt, my dream bookstore! read more

This is a fabulous used book store. Almost nothing is over $10 and they have lots of newer releases in stock. If you have some old books lying around, bring them in for store credit! I'm a Kindle owner but I never tire of real books, and this is a great local place to save on some excellent ones. read more

This is my magic shop. It's very welcoming here, you can spend time here without feeling rushed - true customer service. I like coming here to find old books or slightly older (1-3 yrs) as well. I love that diversity. I always leave feeling I found treasure. read more

West Side Stories is my most frequented bookstore. The books are well organized, are in good condition, and the owners are very knowledgeable. I pretty much do my reading from a Kindle but I always seem to find something here I have to have. The bookstore is across from Sweetness Seven cafe and I always make them a combined visit. read more

The more I come back, the more I fall in love with this place. I wish there was a 10 star option. It's been a month or so since I stopped by, but I went in on Saturday and now they've added hot tea for customers to sip on while they're browsing. What a great idea! I was also glad to see they had some stickers for advertising--I immediately put one on my car with pride! Stay awesome! read more

Such a gem! I have a blast sifting through the used books, and always find something to bring home. It's clean, organized, and the owners are as kind as can be. Best thing about it: they CARE about their customers and bettering the Buffalo community. Can't express enough love for this bookstore. read more

Yup, that good. Friendly helpful people, affordable books, comfy space. Pretty much everything you want in a used book store.

A hidden jem in the paper book world. You never know what is hiding in the shelves. Can't find it, try here. Very nice folks. Buy Local, Shop Small! read more

Truly a great find! Their selection is very diverse and the shop itself is bigger than it looks because it does extend into the back of the building. They have a great poetry collection as well as quite a selection of French poetry/literature. The prices are pretty low, they accept credit cards, and they give punch cards. Every $5 spent gets you a punch and once you get 6 (spend $30), you get $5 off of your next purchase. The owner is also very nice and offers great book recommendations. read more

A lovely used bookstore where you don't have to scavenge through piles to find what you are looking for. Most of the books are in wonderful condition and the the employees were kind and helpful. I wish I lived in buffalo so I could come more often. They even have a loyalty stamp card. read more

Seeing a bookstore like this is Buffalo is wholly reassuring. What a fantastic gem hidden in this city. A wonderful selection of books, at 100% reasonable prices (all of the paperbacks I perused were less than $6). Books were in fantastic condition and I loved the setup of the place. Not too organized-books were everywhere! I mean that in the best way- but not so cluttered I couldn't find authors I was looking for. I'm so glad I made the trip to check out Westside Stories! Anytime I'm in the area in the future, I'll be sure to stop by again. read more

An amazing place on the west side to find things you weren't even looking for! I always find something unique with the great help from the store! Stop by if you find yourself on the west side and want to browse around! read more

An awesome little bookstore, with great prices and a relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be shopping here again.

Continues to be the best place in Buffalo for used books! One of the two owners is always there and can tell you if they have a book and exactly where it is. The prices are super affordable. Kids get a free book. Selection is always growing and changing. They also have gifts and accessories for book lovers (bags, shirts, etc.). Amazing customer service and friendly welcome every time I come. My favorite place for books :) I would give it ten stars if I could! read more

Great place around the corner from my house.Friendly people with a nice selection of books at decent prices.

This West Side bookstore has a nice selection of gently used books that are very affordably priced. I agree with another reviewers comments that one of the nicest things about it is that it is such a community-based business. One that cares about the clients it serves to the point that it gives away items like dictionaries and picture books to refugees that have been resettled in the area and allows all children who visit the store to pick out one or two free books per visit. read more

My favorite used book store in Buffalo! An EXTENSIVE selection at great prices! There is also an exchange program where you can bring your used books in and be able to pick out something else from the shop. It's a lot bigger than it looks - head to the back of the seemingly small shop. The owner is SO nice! This is the only used book shop in Western New York I'll go to because every time I go, I know I'll have a great experience!! read more

This is an amazing bookstore and somewhere you should definitely visit if you are in the Buffalo area. I was in Buffalo for the weekend when my friend took me to this gem. When I came in, the owner was engaged in a passionate conversation about one of his favorite books with a customer, giving a very heartfelt recommendation. He spoke with her on and off the entire time I was browsing, leading her to discover four or five new books and promising that she could trade them in for new ones later if she wasn't satisfied. You could tell he truly cares about helping people to fall in love with new literature. Such a nice guy - my friends and I had a very nice conversation with him when we were checking out, and it never felt like he was engaging with us just to make a sale. This place has a great selection and bargain prices. Do yourself a favor and stop by! read more

I love this bookstore. They have an incredible selection and also provide the best guidance. I stumble upon the greatest finds. The family that runs this store are welcoming and extremely helpful. read more

I joined Yelp to review this place. 'Nuff said, really. Cheap. Quality. Cozy. Cool people. Going back.