Independent Used And New Book Bookstores In Tucson, Arizona AZ

One of the great pleasures in life is to browse around in an independently owned bookstore.  At least for me and millions of other book lovers.  I love the fact that independently owned bookstores get to know you as a customer, can personally recommend books for you and will sometimes even let you bring your dog with you to shop.  During the past twenty years many independent bookstores have gone out of business, unable to compete with big box, corporate giants like B & N and Borders.  But in Tucson, Arizona, the independent bookstore thrives.  In this Hub I want to share with you my three favorite independent bookstores that are fixtures of Tucson culture and places you must visit if you stop by Tucson, Arizona.

Just over 30 years ago in Tucson, Bob Oldfather started a used bookstore with the mission of creating "...a cool place to hang out". Thus was born Bookman's, one of the coolest used bookstores ever. Still owned by Oldfather, Bookmans now has three Tucson locations and three other locations in Arizona (Phoenix, Mesa and Flagstaff), and their motto is "Bookmans, good for your pocket, good for the planet."

Called the Bookman's Entertainment Exchange because you can sell and trade your used books, CDs, DVDs, video games, board games, magazines, jewelry, housewares, vintage furntiure, housewares and electronics. Even though the stores carry all the other used media and entertainment items, books are still the main focus.

Bookman's are always crowded no matter when I go there to "hang out" The stores have free WiFi and are dog friendly. The Bookmans at the corner of Campbell and Grant Rd also has an electric car charging station! There are different book groups that meet regularly. All the stores also sponsor musical events and author readings.

Bob Oldfather supports and promotes the arts and music in Tucson by selling concert tickets and sponsoring musical and art events in the community. Bookmans is also very involved and supportive of education and other community institutions. If you are a music or book lover, Bookmans is just the best place to take your used music and books and trade them for "new" items. If you are a video gamer, trading your used games for new ones is a no brainer with a Bookmans near you.

Check out the locations at www.bookmans.com All the stores are open every day from 9 to 10

Antigone Books is another excellent independent bookstore located in Tucson, Arizona. This great store was founded in 1973 and is currently owned by Trudy Mills and Kate Randall, who bought the store in 1995. Antigone Books focuses on new books, feminist books but also has something for everyone. They also have gifts, CDs and cards. Some of the things that make Antigone Books unique include:

Bookgroups: Antigone's has five active book groups that readers can be involved in. The bookgroups have themes and the books that are chosen to be read and discussed are based on the theme of the book group. The book group themes are

Democracy and Dissent Book Group

Living Your Best Life Book Group

Second Sunday Book Group

Buddhist Book Group

Mystery Book Group

Only the Second Sunday Book Group reads a variety of fiction and non-fiction. The other groups read books that focus on their theme.

Events: Antigone Books is the home to many live events that include author's reading from their works, music, storytelling and writing workshops.

Kid's and Teens Books and Events: Antigone Books promotes reading for kids and teens by having a nice area of the store set aside for this genre of literature as well as events for kids and teens.

Local Authors: Antigone Books is committed to promoting local authors from Southeast Arizona and the southwest region. They hold readings and receptions for authors and the staff is great at recommending new local authors to try out.

Antigone Books is a member of IndieBound a non-profit organization that promotes independent book stores. They also belong to Local First AZ a non-profit that promotes shopping local independently owned Arizona businesses rather than national chains.

Antigone Books is one of my favorite Tucson bookstores and they are great members of the Tucson community.

My third favorite used book store in Tucson is The Book Stop. This independent used bookstore was located on Campbell Ave in Tucson for almost 40 years and then in 2007 moved to 214 N 4th Avenue to be part of the vibrant downtown/university neighborhood. The store is owned by Tina Bailey and Claire Fellows.

This used bookstore is a good place to find rare, out of print and vintage books. I found a great set of Little Golden Books from the sixties on one visit and the price was very reasonable. I'm liking the new locale as it is a little less cramped and more airy than the Campbell location and its still a dog friendly store (can you tell I like to take my dog to the book store?).

You can trade, buy and sell books at The Book Stop, although in the summer they don't buy your used books but will give you trade credits to use in the store. When you visit The Book Stop, check out the 93 year old cash register that the ladies still use to complete your transactions with them. They inherited that cash register when they opened the store in 1967 on Campbell Avenue in Tucson. See why I like the independent bookstores?!

The Book Stop, Inc.

214 North 4th Avenue

Tucson AZ 85705

520-326-6661

www.bookstoptucson.com

M-Th 10-7

Fr and Sat 10-10

Sun 12-5