The Best Bookshop in the World
GQ magazine has compiled, what it claims to be, a list of the Top 10 Best Second-Hand Book Shops in the World !
Quite a claim, not sure how on earth they arrived at their list, nor indeed that I would entirely agree with it.
Check it out and see if your favourite book store is there - even nominate your own !
Please note these are for used, secondhand and collectable books not new books
The Top Ten Best Bookshops in the World
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1: Left Bank Books
New York
2: Judd Books
London
3: Oxfam Bookshop
Marylebone Branch London
4: Fisher & Sperr
London
5: Cosmopolitan Books
Los Angeles
6: Powell’s
Oregon
7: Wychwood Books
Stow on the Wold UK
8: Strand Books
New York
9: Hay on Wye
Wales all inclusive - numerous outlets
10: abebooks.com
Online reseller site with some 13,000 independent booksellers
There are clearly some pretty big omissions there but an interesting list non-the-less. Interesting to note that they are all located either in the UK or America.
Also that the collective town of Hay-on-Wye is included, not to mention abebooks whom we’ve mentioned before
If I were doing a list I’d have to stick in Tim Smith and his Horncastle Bookshop and Good for Books both cracking shops so if you’re in, or near, Lincolnshire then visit the the best place in the county for books, arguably a Book Town now - Horncastle.
If you have an opinion or a nomination, or simply a bookshop that you would like to recommend, ( vested interests welcome - promote your own if you want ) then why not leave a comment and share the bookstore’s name and location and perhaps a little bit about them.
Leather Boundly Yours
Rod
 On this Day in History1945 saw American troops liberating captives at the Dachau Concentration Camp. Such were the horrors they met summarily they executed the Camp Commandant and 500 of his men 
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George said,
May 10, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
Hi again Rod,
I have visited Powell’s in Portland a few times and so far it is the best bookshop I’ve ever seen. It is only about 900 miles from Calgary.
They started as a small family used books store in about 1962 and gradually bought up every available site on their city block in downtown Portland - then made it one great bookstore handling used, remainders and new books side by side by side. They also have specialty stores sprinkled around Portland - one is for business books and another is for cook books - and I think they have others as well. Their warehouse setup I saw in Chicago seemed odd to me.
Making my first visit to New York City in two weeks to attend the book convention there so I’ll be sure to visit the Strand and Left Bank Books (hadn’t heard of it before).
The state of the book business in Calgary is deteriorating rapidly as store after store is closing. On the other hand, we now have four busy stores operating here and our business is booming - especially since January 1st, 2009 (it took a little while for local customers to overcome the shock presented by the crash in the U.S.A).
We have several prospective investors who have expressed an interest in helping us expand and if they come through we will be opening 4-5 copycat stores in Lethbridge, Red Deer, Airdrie and Edmonton - and maybe another one in Calgary (I think there is a market here for 8 stores like ours - and maybe 12 if we start to handle new books as well).
Ever the optimist - I wish you all the best,
George
Rod said,
May 10, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Hi George,
thanks for the update, always very informative and very interesting.
We rae losing a lot of secondhand bookshops here too George.
One thing that is interesting though is a town I visit, it is small but has 3 bookshops plus several other book outlets - far too many for the town but they do well.
Clearly the number of shops brings in visitors who would perhaps not bother were there only one store.
It’s great to hear how things are expanding since your first comment here, I’ve no doubt you’ll make your future plans work as well.
Very best of luck with them and thanks, not only from me but other booksellers who read this, and find it of great interest.
Cheers
Rod
Jon S said,
September 10, 2010 @ 11:11 pm
Rod,
At the risk of re-opening a long-closed thread (is that a bad thing?) I propose Barter Books in Alnwick, Northumberland. For those who have never had the pleasure, it’s a second-hand bookshop housed in an old railway station, including reading (formerly waiting) room and period stone drinking fountain complete with metal cup attached by a chain. On entering you find yourself in a kind of vestibule area with bookshelves, armchairs and open fire; the scent of freshly-brewed coffee and old books is superb. Coffee and biscuits are available via an honesty box, and at the end of the shop there is now a good cafe. The history of the station is also on display and the shop also has an intriguing selection of antiquarian books behind glass. The model railway at bookshelf-top level adds to the atmosphere. Brilliant - check out Barter’s website.
Jon
Rod said,
September 11, 2010 @ 8:29 am
Jon,
please do revisit and reopen - the comments also bring older articles to others attention - much appreciated.
there is no such thing as a closed thread here
I’ve never been in Barter Books Jon, in fact I don’t visit bookshops anything like as often as I once did.
I would recommend Tim Smith’s Bookshop and Good for Books , both in Horncastle as great bookshops in Lincolnshire.
Here’s to bookshops Jon - I love them !
Best
Rod