I adore used bookstores. Their aura is always calm and slow, places I happily spend a free Saturday combing through the books and their pages. My recent bookstore crawl was in Raleigh, expanding into the triangle area. I was privileged to go to three fantastic bookstores and talk to passionate workers and owners.
Originally, I was going to rank the bookstores in Raleigh. The only problem? Each bookstore provides something unique and different, you can walk into ten used bookstores and come away with a different feel each time. Instead of ranking, I decided to give “awards” so you can find a bookstore that suits you the best. So, which store in the triangle area is the best for you? Let’s find out.
Books Do Furnish a Room
Award: Best for Hidden Treasures
Address: 1809 W Markham Ave, Durham, NC 27705, United States
Phone Number: +1 919 286 1076
Online Salesplace: https://www.abebooks.com/32806/sf
Hidden among northeast Durham is a trove of mysteries and treasures. If you are willing to spend your time getting lost in the stacks you are sure to come out with a book few have heard of before.
I was privileged to talk to the co-owner, who originally opened the bookstore. Inspired by the freedom of opening his own business, he opened the bookstore on September 3rd, 1983, and has been providing the community with books ever since.
Alongside hundreds of books, they also sell a copious amount of CDs and comics. The center of the bookstore is dedicated to the CDs that they’ve curated over the years, while the back is a dream for anyone interested in comics. They have shelves and boxes full of them for anyone willing to dig for that perfect edition.
If you’re one to ignore the trends of the newest BookTok book and wish to dive deep into stacks of unknown gold, I would highly recommend spending a Saturday here. After all, getting to recommend an unknown book to a friend is always well worth it.
Wentworth and Legget
Award: Best for Antiques and Other Unique Findings
Address: 905 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701–2054
Phone Number: +1 919 688 5311
Website: http://wentworthleggettbooks.com/
Book collectors, Antiquarians, and anyone looking for something truly unique, look no further. This is an antique shop out of a bookworm’s dreams. Wentworth and Legget have curated an unparalleled experience of book shopping.
David Wentworth and Barbara Leggett Wentworth opened this antique bookstore on March 6, 1982, making it the oldest still-standing bookstore in Durham. They have focused on antique, leather-bound books that are next to impossible to find elsewhere.
They are members of both the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, making them accredited antique booksellers with access to hundreds of conventions and contacts, should you ever be searching for something specific.
Miss Barbara is constantly searching and buying leather-bound books to add to the collection, keeping their antique collection up-to-date and stocked, regardless of how many book lovers come through. She also has up-to-date nonfiction books on North Carolina History, US History, Travel, and even a US Presidents section.
To complement their theme, they have several other gems set up for you to comb through. There are hundreds of postcards, both random and broken up by state for easy finding. They also keep vintage ads for all sorts of things. My personal favorite is the vintage maps, they range from several years and decades apart, hold every state or country imaginable, and don’t forget Miss Barbara is still finding more.
Located near the heart of downtown Durham, I encourage anyone to stop through this store. The owner and employees are passionate and lovely to talk to and can help with any of your questions, just ask away!
Readers Corner Inc.
Award: Late Night Adventures
Address: 3201 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607–5438
Phone Number: +1 919 828 7024
Website: https://www.abebooks.com/354845/sf
Late-night runs to a bookstore you ask? Absolutely. Readers Corner is located near the college in Raleigh, and while they have a wide selection for any used book reader, they also have something even more unique.
Located outside the bookstore are hundreds of books for you to buy anytime, day or night. The right side is a dime and the left a quarter, with all proceeds going to National Public Radio, NPR. Over the years they have raised hundreds of dollars for this free education resource.
Although I didn’t get to talk with an owner, the employees were kind and talked to me about the history and mission of the business. I loved hearing how knowledgeable they were, discussing their history as a building and their outdoor book sales to help educate America.
Conclusion
Final Award: Used Bookstore Community for the Win
Above all else in these bookstores, I was surprised by how much they support one another. When each owner or employee heard I was writing an article, they all recommended and ensured I was going to the others. I wasn’t only in a bookstore, I was engrained into a community of booksellers who make it their mission to support the book community rather than just themselves. Instead of viewing each other as competition, they come together and build one another up.
The Raleigh Used booksellers prove what I love about the book community- our willingness to help and build each other up. The only regret I have from my bookstore crawl is the bookstores I couldn’t make it to. Next on my list is Dog-Eared books, which I’m sure I’ll see soon. I can’t wait for that adventure!
I hope you all have found your own book communities, and I’ve encouraged you to join a new one if you ever find yourself in Raleigh, NC. Leave me a comment below if you have an idea of where I should book-crawl next! Thank you all for reading, stay brave!
