If you’re looking to buy a gift for someone, why don’t you get them a second-hand book in good condition? One of the following 10 top used bookstores in Missouri might have just the ticket.
1. Prospero’s Books
With three floors, 70 book categories, and over 50000 titles, Prospero’s Books has one of the most eclectic collections of second-hand books in Kansas City, Missouri. It also has a publishing house called Spartan Press that began operations in 1998. Since its establishment, it has published over 200 books and scheduled numerous in-store events like book releases.
Prospero’s Books sells books in categories like history, finance, adventure, mystery, and linguistics. The shop also schedules other events like book readings and signings with poets, civic leaders, artists, and (local) authors. Customers can even book events like private parties and weddings on-site.
Get in touch with Prospero’s Books.
2. Willa’s Books and Vinyl
Willa Robinson is the owner of Willa’s Books and Vinyl, a bookstore in Kansas City, Missouri, that features the largest collection of African American books in the area. The history of Willa’s Books and Vinyl started in 1994, and it has since become one of the highest-rated bookstores in Missouri.
Willa’s Books and Vinyl has a sizable inventory of out-of-print, used, and rare books, including books about history, social justice, law, American presidents, science fiction, and more. Customers can also purchase vinyl records, rare selections of vintage magazines, art pieces, family bibles, and children’s books.
Reach out to Willa’s Books and Vinyl.
3. Left Bank Books
As the largest and oldest independently owned bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri, Left Bank Books sells plenty of culturally diverse books in all kinds of categories. It began operations over 50 years ago and is well-regarded for the excellent customer service that staff members provide for all visitors.
Kris Kleindienst, the owner of Left Bank Books, uses over four decades of book-buying experience to curate the shop’s selection of books that come in categories like women’s studies, history, science fiction, anthropology, western philosophy, interior design, cooking, and architecture. Customers can also purchase children’s books and books on LGBT+ topics.
Contact Left Bank Books.
4. Dunaway Books
Awarded the title of Best Used Book Store by The Riverfront Times is Dunaway Books, a bookstore with over 80000 titles in St. Louis, Missouri. The store is well-known for having an incredible selection of books and reasonable pricing. Its inventory consists of a mixture of recently released content, antiquarian works, and collectible books.
Dunaway Books sells books on literary criticism, psychology, mythology, history, science fiction, cooking, agriculture, coin collecting, religious holidays, and art. The store is highly selective about which books to purchase and hires an experienced appraiser to look into the quality and marketability of books that customers can bring to exchange.
Connect with Dunaway Books.
5. Hooked On Books
1986 saw the establishment of Hooked On Books, a second-hand bookstore in Springfield, Missouri, that stocks over 100000 books on-site. The store is open daily and has a generous book trade system where you can receive 50% of what the shop sells the book for, depending on marketability and condition.
Hooked On Books sells biographies, autobiographies, children’s fiction books, comics, graphic novels, and cookbooks. It also sells books on categories like business, education, relationships, architecture, gardening, industrial buildings, personal growth, human resources, and programming languages.
Find out more about Hooked On Books.
6. Pagination Bookshop
Offering complimentary book curation and gift wrapping is Pagination Bookshop, a bookstore selling second-hand (and new) books to residents of Springfield, Missouri. The store hosts virtual author events and is a member of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Association.
Pagination Bookshop sells graphic novels, biographies, and books in categories like social justice, science fiction, history, and personal development. It also sells toys, puzzles, note cards, poetry collections, mugs, and other items such as journals, conservation stationary sets, and pens.
Learn more about Pagination Bookshop.
7. ABC Books
Pre-read books are available through ABC Books, an indie bookstore that began business in 1989. The store is in Springfield, Missouri, and accepts book trades every day except Wednesday. Customers can trade in a maximum of 20 books per visit and can also attend book signings in-store.
ABC Books sells books in subjects like science fiction, fantasy, general fiction, thriller, mystery, and romance. To support the local community, the store also has plenty of titles by local authors in categories like cooking, classical history, interior design, currency, art techniques, and architecture.
Say hello to ABC Books.
8. Columbia Books
Opening its doors in the winter of 1977 is Columbia Books, a bookstore with an inventory of 35000 books, some of which are hundreds of years old. The store is in Columbia, Missouri, and attributes part of its success to the book-buying expertise of proprietor Annette Kolling-Buckley. The store also has a notable collection of paper ephemera, maps, and prints.
Columbia Books sells books in categories like Irish limericks, nature, cooking, medical & scientific history, botany, African American history, adventure, religion, and ornithology. The store also has plenty of artwork dating back to the 1800s. Many purchasable artworks in-store illustrate the beauty of nature and its inhabitants using vivid colors.
Head to Columbia Books.
9. Yellow Dog Bookshop
Kelsey Hammond and Joe Chevalier are the founders of Yellow Dog Bookshop, a Columbia, Missouri, bookstore with an extensive selection of second-hand books in all genres. The store regularly hosts author readings, signings, and other events such as Children’s story times, poetry readings, and more.
Yellow Dog Bookshop sells books on adventure, music, history, and Norse mythology. Moreover, the store expands its inventory through trading with customers and local donations. It also has a book box subscription service where customers receive gently used books in their favorite genres every other month.
Visit Yellow Dog Bookshop.
10. Aesop’s Treasury Books and Games
Well-regarded for its impressive collection of second-hand books and games is Aesop’s Treasury Books and Games, a bookstore in Farmington, Missouri. The store regularly schedules events such as book signings, board games, and raffles to bring together the local reading community.
Aesop’s Treasury Books and Games stocks over 20000 books on science fiction, cooking, fantasy, space, strategy, and adventure. It is open daily, and customers can also play board games in-store or rent them to play at home. Furthermore, the shop has a trade-in policy where customers can exchange paperback books for 20% of their cover price.
Check out Aesop’s Treasury Books and Games.