Where to Find Indie Bookstores in Reno, Nevada

Although e-books are fun, affordable and easy to read I love holding a book in my hands. I’m tired of seeing my favorite brick and mortar bookstores go out of business. If we supported our local bookstores then they wouldn’t feel pressured to close up shop. Here is a list of my favorite bookstores right here in The Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, Nevada.You will find loads of well-loved books in varying degrees of use. And remember, this is where the thrill of the hunt begins. Zephyr Books: Located at 1501 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89501, 775-322-6657 www.zephyrbooks.com

According to Ivye Johnson, owner of Zephyr Books, the store is over 5,000 sq. ft. with over 24,000 books available to purchase. Zephyr Books is spacious, clean and well-lit. The staff is helpful and friendly. There are tables and chairs available for the customers to use while perusing the books. They even offer wood fired roasted coffee. During certain events and book signings there is free coffee and cookies. Zephyr Books carries nearly every genre. Paperbacks are around $3, sometimes more depending on the book and publisher. The prices are marked in pencil on the inside of each book. Hardcovers are usually half of the list price and are marked as first editions if it applies. The owners are knowledgeable about their books. They are particular about the condition of the books they accept and only buy gently used paperback and hardcover books. If selling books it is best to call first to make sure the buyer is in the store the day you plan a visit. Dharma Books: Located at 11 N. Sierra St., Reno, NV 89501, 775-786-8667 www.dharmabooks.biz

Dharma Books is one of the smaller bookstores in the downtown area. Located near the Riverwalk district, they specialize in rare and hard-to-find books. They have more hardcovers books for sale than paperbacks and are limited to nonfiction, classics and literature. One quirk of the store is that it shares a wall with the movie theater behind it. The bass beat of whatever action packed thriller is playing can be heard thumping away throughout the tiny store. I asked an employee if they heard that noise all the time and she said, “Yes, but after a while I don’t even hear it.” If you happen to be downtown waiting for a movie or table at one of the nearby restaurants, you may want to visit Dharma Books. Grassroots Bookstore: Located at 660 E. Grove St., Reno, NV 89502, 775-828-2665, 775-826-6556, www.grassrootsbookstore.com

Grassroots Bookstore is spacious with a high ceiling and large windows that allow for excellent lighting. They are sellers of new and slightly used books. Grassroots Bookstore has a large selection of nonfiction, cookbooks, reference, and how-to books. They also carry fiction, mystery and horror. According to their website they sell and buy gently used DVDs, video games and music. Among the perks listed are new bestsellers at 20% off list price and free Wi-Fi. There is a calendar hand-out showing the daily book deal, free book coupons, and if your book isn’t available in-store they will put your name on a wish list and give you a call when the book comes in. Paperback Exchange: Located at 131 Vesta St., Reno, NV 89502, 775-322-8822

The store is filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves stocked with paperbacks. Paperback Exchange carries a large number of romance books, including hard-to-find and out-of-print Harlequin and Silhouette series romance. They also carry, science fiction, mystery, western, fiction and nonfiction books. They have a great trade-in deal, which is too complicated to go into here, but they will try to explain it to you. The cost of a paperback without a trade-in is roughly half the price of retail. This cost may make a difference to a picky book buyer as some of the books can be in much-loved condition, quite used in fact. There is a large red stamp on the first page of every paperback and a large numeral written on the top edge of the book in black or blue marker pen. This, in my opinion, devalues the book, but it is used as an in-house code for pricing. The pricing chart is clearly displayed on the wall behind the cash register. Paperback Exchange has a friendly staff that is happy to help find any book, even if it means going out to their storage area out back if the book can’t be found on the shelves inside. The staff is knowledgeable about books and can recommend authors based on your favorite genre. Don’t look for any hardcover books at Paperback Exchange, as the name implies, they only deal in paperback books. I agree with the sentiment of one elderly employee when she said, “Whenever I’m sick I never take medicine, instead I read a book. Books are the best medicine for me.” The Book Gallery: Located at 1203 Rock Blvd., Sparks, NV 89431, 775-356-8900

The Book Gallery is an enjoyable store to linger in while hunting out a book. There is usually music playing over the sound system. The customer is left in privacy and peace while browsing the shelves. Phil, the owner is always helpful and makes time for friendly conversation. The Book Gallery has a large assortment of paperback and hardcover books to choose from. If trading books, paperbacks are 75 cents plus your book, otherwise paperbacks usually sell for $2. Despite the table at the entrance to the store, which is piled high with books in no particular order, the rest of the store is well organized. Both hardcover and paperback books are shelved in alphabetical order by author and divided by genre. There is also a separate room for nonfiction, cookbooks, biography, how-to books and reference. Although slightly less organized, there is a “secret back room” where finding overlooked gems is possible. The Book Gallery stamps each paperback on the first inside page with their bookstore stamp. Hardcovers are clean of stickers and stamps. The Book Gallery also has used DVDs, videos and music for sale.

In summary, all these bookstores are worth a visit. I shop at different ones for different reasons. For an easy beach read, one I don’t mind getting messed up, I purchase it at Paperback Exchange or The Book Gallery. All these stores are great. Each one sells quality books. If I don’t find a specific book in one store I know I’ll find it in another.

What local bookstores are in your area? Do you have a favorite bookstore experience you would like to share? I would love to hear it.


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