Reviews of The Book Trader. (Book Store) in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).

The Book Trader

550 Reviews

280 Comments

Book store

Used book store

7 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States

Description

Information of The Book Trader, Book store in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

Map

Open hours of The Book Trader

Popular times

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Reviews of The Book Trader

daniel deutsch

Looks small on the outside but goes waaay back. Quintessential used bookstore feel. Every available space crammed with books. Pretty well organized not too difficult to find different sections. Some places to sit and peruse although it seems the cat, Mr. Pickles, usually takes up a spot.

Stephanie Rolon

Cutest Bookstore in Philadelphia. Great selection of books and Mr.Pickles the cat steals the show. Truly an amazing place if you’re a book lover.

Daniel Schatzmann

What an amazing second hand book/vinyl/CD store! Full of hidden gems with an almost mystique touch. The vinyl section is loaded with old classical records of all the great composers. More modern music (rock, pop and newer) is quite limited. The staff is extremely knowledgeable. If you try to find something more specific, they are more than happy to help you. If you look very well around you might even spot Dr. Pickles, the Book Trader‘s guard 😉.

RL JSON

I went there in the late afternoon on either 11/18/22 or 11/19/22 looking for books by a certain author. The person working there that day told me where to check for that author. Turned out I couldnt find the author and went back downstairs for help. He took the time to help me do so and I really truly appreciated that. You never know what you're gonna find there. I found a hardback cover of the book I've been looking for over 10+ years sitting right there in the window. That made my day. Plus I love seeing the cat they have there🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾.

The Nerdy Millennial

This was my first time visiting and it was amazing! This place is two stories and is filled wall to wall with books and they also have DVDs and CDs. Some of the aisles are tight to walk through because they are just totally packed but that's part of the charm in my opinion. That being said if you have a wheelchair this may not be a great choice for you because you would have a difficult time moving around and there's no elevator so you wouldn't be able to access the second level which is where half their inventory is. The staff here is so friendly and they have really good prices. I was able to get three hardcovers and three CDs (all were in great condition) for a grand total of $35! Normally just three hardcover books would have cost me $80-$90 not even including the normal prices for CDs. Just a heads up they don't accept credit cards for purchases under $50 dollars so be sure to have some cash on you. They will also buy books DVDs and CDs from you but instead of cash they give you store credit. Bonus points for having a cat that lives in the store (I didn't see him this visit but hopefully next time)! I am a fan of this place and I will definitely be back. Edit: So apparently I was misinformed about their buyback and credit card policies- oopsies! Please refer to their comment for the correct information on that!

J Z

Fun place to browse. An absolute jumble of books and you never know what you will find. All. Books in great condition. No strange smells or pet hair. It is hot thought in the summer the AC was pumping out cold air on the first floor but the second floor was intolerable due to heat. Cute cat on second floor by the window. Be warned no public bathroom.

Sarah Dattilo

This is a packed house of used books and more, perfect for a visit if you have time to go searching for treasures! Good prices overall, especially bargains near the counter.

Andrew Bowers

Gem of a used bookstore that begs to get lost in. The book trader is like a comfort food for bibliophiles. With it's tall labyrinthine stacks the experience feels like a muggle version of wandering around Ollivanders, or at least the prelude companion to reading on your couch under a blanket with a warm drink nearby. Along with two floors of books, helpful and friendly staff they also have a large library of DVDs, VHS and LPs to thumb through and various other items from time to time. Open until 10 everyday somehow and will trade books as their name implies for store credit. Careful, the cat bites.

Rachel Iverson

Love this mess of an old shop! If you like used books this is a must visit. I bought 8 books $49. Very reasonable prices, good selection of new and used. Plus records and movies if that’s your thing.

Len Shaffer

Lovely independent local bookshop (2 floors) packed full with well priced second hand editions in good condition by authors through the ages on a wide range of topics from fiction to philosophy & science to art & architecture to religion, young adult, antiques, and travel.

Aaron Gainer

I would say this is my favorite bookstore, out of all the bookstores I've been to. Their music literature section is great. Cute fluffy cat is an added bonus.

Alisa Wismer

Love milling around here when I'm in the area. It's incredible how so many books can fit in one space! Also, keep your eye out for the book store cat <3

Zoya Nawaz

Such a cute place with a wide selection! My husband and I didn’t want to leave at all—we came out with 15 books, and they gave us some bookmarks as well.

ILoveMyFamily M

I love this store. And the cat lol. Alot of books and really good prices. I will go back. The lady was so kind.

Jasmine Rosario

I love visiting the Book Trader! His prices are fair when you trade in books for credit, and it ends up being worth it because they have a great selection. If you don’t have credit and ads paying cash, the prices are honestly going to be more reasonable online, the majority of the time. I really do enjoy spending hours in here though, but I wish it were a little more organized in there.

Fabio Quaglia

Go buy a book her right now! They are amazing people that love what they are doing and you will meet very interesting people the shop here

Samus Holder of Yabai Gravity Gun

This place is like another Universe. Stacks and stacks of books at friendly prices. Staff were personable and lovely. There are cats and people reading casually. Beautiful.

Dennies Chung

Love this place although it might not be the best bookstore if you’re looking for something specific. Books everywhere - mostly used, and they have some great finds as well. If you’re a rare book collector or a used book hook, this is for you.

sharon

Its such a cute bookstore

Harper Leary

One of the best used bookstores. It’s somewhat overwhelming when you first walk in, but once you spend more time, you adjust pretty quickly. Staff is super helpful. They have pretty much every book/genre you could ever want, you just have to find it. I would say they have more books than most other used bookstores, so this is definitely the place to go. Bonus; they have a cat.

Julianne Layden

An incredible amount of items for people of all interest. Inventory ranges dozens of genres, from super popular titles to more obscure stuff. Its hard to come in and not find something wonderful. The prices are great. The staff has always been friendly over the years. Within walking distance to dozens of other cute stores and cafes. Plus they have a store cat.

Greg Myer

Great used book store. Feels like what an old school book store should feel like

ryan

This is one of the best places I have ever been. The collection was extensive, the atmosphere cozy enough to lay down and fall asleep in, and the music playing phenomenal! The cute little record room could hold my attention for hours on end. The cat sleeping peacefully by a shelf and welcoming pets made my day. And to top it all off — one of the workers ran after me a block and a half down the street after I left to give me a stack of records from their free box because he noticed they matched my taste. A true gem.

Suraj Nyalakonda

Tremendous variety of books: classic used bookstore vibe. Cute cat, too.

Chantal Moyer

I love uses book stores!!! The staff here friendly and knowledgeable. The cat sleeping.

Rachel Garber

Best used bookstore in Philly, with a huge selection in every known genre. Very pleasant staff with a generous credit policy. They check the internet for publishers cost to determine credit for donated books rather than having a flat rate regardless of the the retail cost of the book you bring in. There is a small alcove on the second floor with seating in front of huge window, as well as a children’s section featuring child size chairs for little ones. Richard, the owner was the founder of the store that eventually became Philadelphia AIDS Thrift (PAT) originally on South Street. There is a Philly centric window display featuring books about the history of Philadelphia, ghost stories set in Philly, as well as tour guides among the displays.Many books are new which makes it a great place to find a gift without breaking the bank. Happy browsing

K. Stiefel

Favorite used bookstore. They have stacks nearly to the ceiling with books of all types! Reasonably priced as well. Only drawbacks: hard to navigate for mobility impaired and they don't accept Discover cards.

Michael Snell

Probably the best used bookstore in Philadelphia in terms of volume of books. Because they are so frequently visited, however, there are often a lag of highly-sought after books, such as Dune, or American classics. It is a great place to peruse and find something used for your shelf.

J. H

So few of these bookstores remain. Pls support local bookstores. They're little gems that make your city and town alive and interesting.

Josh Brown

Really cool store with a massive supply of books and music!

Snehal Parate

Beautiful bookstore. I recommend this place for people looking to buy used books

Alexander Williams

Didn't have what I was looking for, but Dr. Pickles made it a worthwhile visit. Reminds me of the bookstores of my childhood, ramshackle and crudely organized, yet somehow functional & accessible, definitely worth visiting.

Matteo LeCompte

The book trader is a readers haven. So many areas of study and reading for entertainment as well. I go there for the theatrical plays they have. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. A 12 week program in discovering and recovering your creative self. I have bought that book for many people. Go there. Hold a book in your hand instead of your phone. The staff is always pleasant and accommodating. Love it there!

Microorganism

Great prices, huge selection, and a cute cat! Will definitely have to come by again and see what’s new! :P

Valerie Hicks

Visited for the first time yesterday and loved it! They have 2 floors FILLED with books, some still in boxes or stacks on the floor. Definitely a little disorderly but that adds to the charm and wonder of a used bookstore imo. The guys working were nice and seem like they have fun there. The cat seemed a little intimidating at first but he's chill and let us pet him. There's certainly hidden treasures throughout, I came across some quirky books and old books. My most exciting find was a Bantam edition of The Catcher in the Rye from 1965 (it's my favorite book!) No cafe here, which I usually look for, but otherwise it's perfect. I highly recommend giving The Book Trader a visit.

Vincent L

You'll find all sorts of things you'd NEVER see in a big-box bookstore. Say hi to the resident bookstore cat, Dr. Abraham Horatio Pickles, but only when he's awake.

Abiotic

Awesome shop with a huge selection from books to vhs tapes! Shopkeepers are a delight and they have the cutest cat you can find napping around the store 🐈🤍 I picked up some manga for myself at a great price, I 100% recommend to anybody! …

Ashlee Cheatley

This book store is amazing. They have great options of books for all ages, & even records. They have old books, new books, all genres. You can even trade in for credits! All books are priced cheap, I bought a 15 dollar new book by a popular author for about 4 dollars, & it’s in great condition. I recommend this book store to anyone who loves to read actual books, & wants to read on budget. We all know books can be so expensive. Love this place.

Julie

Organized and disorganized at the same time which I love! The place is old and unique.

Dustin Webster

If I can say anything for Book Trader, it's that they definitely pack a lot of books into the space. I'm talking 12 inch wide aisles between ten foot shelves jammed with books! It is huge, two floors, and they must have thousands of books here. That being said, it's far from the worst selection I've ever seen, but it is definitely loosely curated. It's one of those bookstores with a high percentage of books that will probably never be sold. Now, that being said, there are definitely gems to be found if you are willing to spend some time digging, and that is part of the point and fun of bookstores like this. Prices seem pretty reasonable and standard for a used book store. It is super cramped though, and can sometimes be a bit claustrophobic. I would for sure spend more time here, but I took off one star because of the curation of the offerings. There is a lot of junk here, and I had trouble finding titles I was interested in. Again, lots of fun to search, but they could probably weed out some of the stuff with no value.

Bernadette Penn

Very nice place they have a nice variety of books. If you're looking for something specific you may want to ask the cashier because it's a lot of books in there and they have two floors. And if you have time to spare, take a look around. And the staff is nice.

Madeleine Loose

This place is very charming! It is a little disorganized, with stacks of books all over the place, but that’s part of the appeal of it, I think. I definitely enjoyed spending a half an hour wandering around in the Book Trader, especially through their back room with old records. Plus, the resident cat, Dr. Pickles, was a sweetheart. I might go back just to see him again

Tara Sue

Love love love. Looks small from the outside but is quite a large store. Books from wall to wall. Narrow isles to fit more books. And upper floor, with more books. This is a great place to go to look for stuff for a collection or just to find something new. Also there's a cat here. He likes me.

Andy Van Dinh

Feels like you're in a scene from a movie. Full of so many books you wouldn't be mad if they tumbled on top of you. In fact, be careful, skinny passages make it difficult to move around but it's the adventurous attitude that's required. The cat is cute and grumpy, or at least the day that I visited. I def recommend checking it out. The smell is what you expect from an old book store, it's quite inviting.

Evan Hall

Charming, packed book store reminiscent of the tight, floor-to-ceiling stacks of Paris's Shakespeare and Company. Staff is helpful and friendly. There is a cat, so allergies beware, but this bookstore is the perfect place to find hidden gems and long-forgotten classics. I found a like-new hardcover classic printed in 1950 for less than the price of a cup of coffee!

des

This shop was very nice to browse through and it had an expansive collection. However, the best part of our experience was the cat running throughout the store! What a delight.

Kurt Weber

A marvelous store with an excellent selection. It's very cozy, and if dust isn't your thing it might not be the store for you. I don't think I've ever walked out of here empty-handed. For the most part, non fiction and DVDs are downstairs, with fiction and some non-fiction upstairs.

Tristan Evans

Very large selection of books, including traditional books, a few comics, maps, reference books and more. However, the extremely narrow and tall bookcases on the first floor can get very crowded even with just a few people. It also makes finding things tricky even though things are organized relatively well. Second floor is better. There is more space between shelves and things aren't packed a high and tightly.

GAil Welsh

So many books to select from. Bring your used books in for credit towards books you select from the store.

Tom Nicholls

This place is phenomenal. They have an eclectic collection of books and an incredibly friendly staff. If you are overwhelmed by the sheer volume just ask the clerks they are happy to assist.

Ben Stanley

An absolute DREAM for book lovers! And I always love old stores that are jam-packed with books of every kind in every nook and cranny in the building. I was out with some friends celebrating the night before my old roommate’s wedding and we passed by this place after dinner. And then spent more of the evening there. And my roommate couldn’t have asked for a better bachelor party.

Tate Perazzelli

A fantastic experience, from scouring the aisles to checkout. You never know what you might find from day to day. This is the bookstore that was once on South Street.

Mark Del Vecchio

Absolutely incredible environment, I could get lost here all day. Dr. Pickles is very cute and friendly as well, I'm sure you can find them taking a nap somewhere around the store and say hi.

Nikolaus Maack

A messy bookstore needs to be careful. Don't cross the line to full blown madness. This store comes close. Some of the towering aisles of books are claustrophobic. A good earthquake could kill you. But what a way to go. Upstairs, fiction. After ten minutes of looking, I found two books that appealed. Then I stopped looking. If I'd continued, I would have left with armloads of books. If you're not a random book shopper, this store will drive you crazy. If you like picking up random books, taking a gander, buying what appeals - this bookstore is a great find.

Patrick McCoy

Omg this place was so fun. My fiance and I came here for our engagement photos and we had a blast exploring the TONS of shelves of books. There are books of every variety here and we found ourselves some real gems. If I lived close I'd be here weekly and buying a ton!

Clemens van den Berg

Bookshop that is so good you'll never want to leave. The whole place feels like something out of a Harry Potter movie: crammed to the ridge with shelves, narrow aisles in between for you to wander through and booksellers with unkempt long beards. Definitely recommended - you won't go home empty-handed!

Thomas Owen

Best bookstore ever! Think of the bookstore from the Neverending Story with a wise old shop owner but with the addition of a chubby cat. There are books everywhere! In fact, there are so many books, they are literally falling off the shelves.

Sanela M.

My favorite used bookstore recently closed in Montreal. This was my hottest find during my time in Philly. Biggest regret was not having enough room in my carry on to bring home extra loot. Great selection and despite the apparent mess, actually well organized. And bonus! They have vinyl. Definitely coming back next time I'm in town.

Marcos General

The book trader is a great place to find interesting used books of every genre. There are so many books it's a little overwhelming, I would venture to guess there is over a million books in the store. If you like diving in and searching for a rare and interesting book , you could spend all day at the book trader. Also the books a fairly priced.

Jessica Villarreal

This is definitely the kind of place you can get lost in for hours which makes it amazing. The shelves are very high so it's difficult to see past a certain point and it's hard to get around people in the isles. That being said, that's part of the place's charm and it's a great used book store.

Ayon Ibrahim

Cozy spot with a great selection

Mercedez M

I love old book shops like this and came all the way from another state to visit this Gem, it reminded me of a book shop with hidden treasures that you had to earn to find by digging. One thing that through me off though was the books all over the floors in piles. Ok managable. But it that plus that fact the bookselves are only 70 % organized & very cluttered made me feel overwhelmed. Then i opened some books and realized most were priced at 8+ ! ... Huh? Thats alot for a used book store and i believe this general price comes from laziness. Some were only worth 1, 3 at most but 8 was a price marked in most reg books bc the shop keepers are overwhelmed so thats a price they throw on any old book. Advice to owners, take some time to weed out the books that arent in demand and price them fairly! Books that are popular should be 8+, not every single book. I wanted to spend 100 and walk out with a good amount but i was limited due to this general pricing. Which is technically over pricing. All DVDS were 5$. Didnt matter how unpopular the movie was, all were 5. I know places that sell them for 1$ & in bundle deals. Take some time to sort through this boat load of inventory, do correct pricing & you will find your customers will he alot happier. But the whole Charm of the bookstar earned it 2 stars, and your beautiful cat earned it an extra one! Good bookshop over all.

Phil Caldwell

College kid loved this place. Tons of books, overwhelming almost. Everyone in the store was kind and helpful. Loved the cat watching over the place.

Smokin Steve

Enjoyed their selection and prices.

Nate Smith-Awesome

This place is HUGE! So much that it's a bit overwhelming! Best to have an idea of what you're looking for before visiting. Awesome shop for used books!

Adarsh Nair

Amazing bookstore. Should visit when you have a few hours to browse. Vast collection and being someone who loves buying old books, the store was a treat for me.

Aubrey P

This place is the promised land for any bibliophile. Books on every imaginable subject stacked higgledy-piggledy as high as you can reach. Priced well enough you can justify leaving with a whole stack.

Srinidi B

such a cool bookstore with a huge selection of every subject you could ask for and at veryy good prices, i wanted to spend hours more here than i had time for :( there's a fluffy cat that was upstairs napping in the sun too! i only wish there was some kind of inventory so the staff would know if they had a certain book, but i understand that might be hard since the collection is so big. loved it! definitely coming back again :)

Christian Bouwense

Super cool hole in the wall book shop. Tons of books, feels like you're in Diagon Alley. Staff was very friendly, definitely recommend if you're a tourist or just looking for cheap second hand books.

Benjamin

This is my absolute favorite used bookstore in Philadelphia. Everyone who works there is trusting and unintrusive, but helpful when asked questions. They have an incredible fiction selection upstairs, and even though it can be a little tight to maneuver, it's really exciting being able to explore all the nooks and crannies this place has to offer. I've only ever traded in a few books, but the pricing was fair and have gotten many, many books in return.

Elijah Williams

The inside is claustrophic as one might imagine from an independent store such as this but it has an extensive collection of seemingly every topic if you care to explore. The hunt is half the fun!

Ceddy M

I highly recommend this awesome book store. I've been coming the Book Trader for 22 years. I've gotten many and rear cd's and books from them. 📀📚📘 …

Barry Hamilton

Awesome shop. Really takes you back in time. Gotta love the cat too! 😊 …

Amanda Neff

Floor to ceiling books. Organized well. Shop cat. They also have dvds, records, and a kids section. Love this place.

Ari Kuroda

Very interesting place with nice people but the narrow aisles are difficult to navigate. I use a medium-sized backpack and I had to pull it off and hold it close against my chest because I was afraid of knocking stuff over with it. I did enjoy my visit though.

Cosmin-Constantin Popescu

Plenty of books of multiple genres. They have both old and new books (2010 and maybe more recent). Feels like one of those old houses. The sellers were nice and welcoming. The store is quite well oorganized

James Barton

This review comes from a vet of used & new book stores . It's interesting , just a few months back , while coming up South st . As I passed fifth & South where the Booktrader was initially located , I tried to recall the very first book I purchased & couldn't put my finger on it simply because I purchased a few initially. Glad the move to olde city in Philadelphia came along with the first Friday art galleries began holding forth ! It has been a long time philadelphia landmark & still doing biz even during pandemic.....Always a Pleasure !!!!

Chad Todd

Favorite used book store in the city!

Eric Nguyen

It's got plenty of books and the people are friendly.

Christine Seel

Love it! Used book stores always have a much better selection of books because they are not limited to what is currently being printed. It is so much fun to browse and see what I might find.

Michael Atkinson

I love this place. I bring my old books to sell and grab a few while there. Their prices are very reasonable and they have something for everyone.

Fay Johnston

So many books, so many great choices. I could spend hours in here. The music is always different. Really helps capture the ambience. Thank you for your store!

Chris H

I love going here, they always have neat and interesting old books. I personally go for the photography books; not only do they have great out-of-print art books, but lots of how-to's about film processing and printing, as well as essays by master photographers.

Cheeto Whitman

I stop in here a couple times a month just to peruse the shelves. Sometimes I find something, sometimes I don't. I love that they're open so late. However, in spite of the already narrow aisles, there always seems to be stacks of boxes and books on the floor next to the shelves that can make browsing difficult.

Tom Dascole

Charming used book store, the place is literally stacked full of narrow passageways full of piles and piles of used books, I'd you spend time looking you can find some great things, but the sorting system seems outdated and just plain mislabeled in some sections. Definitely worth checking out if you have a minute.

Greg McKinley

A special gem in Old City Philadelphia unique unto itself amongst all other used and vintage book stores! Learn more about trading books for books, buying books and donating books! Absolutely for Book Lovers nothing else like it that I know of on two floors!

Bella Orcutt

Adorable little book shop with a ton of options for every reader. Staff were all incredible nice and helpful. Got 3 books and I cant wait to read them!

Rob Gerke

It's always a great experience. The only drawback (and I say this with sarcasm) is that in addition to getting what I went in there for, I end up leaving with several other books that I hadn't planned on buying (but am always glad I did).

Alan Stahura

This is the classic used book store- looking messy but somewhat organized, treasure mixed with trash. And a plush bookstore cat. The devoted bibliophile will be rewarded.

Astrid Lim

A labyrinth full of books!! You can find anything here- from old books to the newer ones. The price is great since most of the books are second hand ones. The thing is you really have to spare some time to look around because the best books are usually hidden somewhere haha. Oh and dont forget to look for the cat!!!!

Mary Ogubehi

2 levels worth of books! I have found many titles in perfect condition for half their usual price. Definitely worth the visit. The people there are super nice too.

Grantorino 18

I’ve been in this store a few times. A lot of books, dvds, comics and vhs to choose from, but not enough lighting to see what you’re doing. The books can be a bit pricy, but just compare prices to Amazon. There just isn’t enough used book stores anymore.

Dennis Wilson

Truly diverse offerings and a friendly, masked-up staff makes this a great neighborhood haunt. Personally I appreciated the dense sci-fi section and its cozy aesthetic.

Harrison Bradley

Definitely my favorite kind of bookstore, the kind with older books stacked to the ceiling. Pretty well organized too so you don't have to do to much digging for the kind of thing you're looking for.

Eric Li

amazing selection of books and classical records.

Ned Kuczmynda

Very well organized book store. Cluttered slightly, which only adds to the character. Bargain priced books that are in fairly decent condition. I will be returning next time I am in Philly.

Aaron Dawson

Amazing bookstore! Give yourself time to dig and climb the stacks. Friendly staff. Recommended if you're a book store lover!

K. Friedgen

A great place in the city to get lost in on a rainy Sunday. Don't go here looking for a specific book, as you'll be disappointed. But definitely come here if you're just looking. A great place to find hidden gems, inspiration, and surprises.

Rebecca Mendoza

My absolute favorite used bookstore. They have the most generous trade in policy. Big Philadelphia/PA centric section in front of store. Sections for a huge variety of topics: from politics to mysteries. From Hollywood and theater to sifi. LGBT women's studies religion, you name it, they have a section. Separate children's section that is quite extensive. I miss Pumpkin resident cat. Someone's little monster, I mean child poked at him and got scratched. Instead of being admonished for tormenting cat, store was forced to get rid of Pumpkin. Hope monster, I mean child, and it's parent were banned from store. Chairs on second floor encourage browsing.

MELISSA JONES

There full of wonderful books and people. I was in a car accident in front of there establishment and one of the gentleman remembers my truck being rear ended. Wonderful place wonderful people great books. Everyone should check it out.

Carlos Diaz

I realize there are always a few people at any establishment that can ruin a costumers experience. I, luckily, had a good experience. I ordered "Rendezvous with Rama" off of a book seller on amazon for $4. Problem was that Fedex lost it. I checked out this store and I found it for $2 and some change. The gentleman that was there when I purchased it was more than helpful. I will be back for any books I am looking for in the future.

Mil Agueybana Soul Being

Amazing store. And alot of books. Will go back for more.

Cora Gi

Great place to browse for hours. Two floors. You can bring your old books for store credit. A very nice selection.

David Bendell

I have general anxiety but as soon as I entered the ground floor room, I felt a weight lifted from my head and shoulders. Such a beautiful and calming store.

Leif Skoogfors

If you can't get to Foyles' book shop in London's West End, the Book Trader is the place to go. Thousands of good used books at very reasonable prices and a knowledgeable and courteous staff. With its wide selection, it is a worthy successor to Philadelphia's famed Leary's Book Store, a cultural landmark which closed in 1969.

Georgia Gilbert Gladitz

Amazing atmosphere - I loved that it was jam packed with used books in a kind of chaotic fashion. I especially loved that they had a deal on where you would get store credit if you donated money to help save a sick cat!

David Lincoln

I've been shopping there for almost 45 years.Two fioors of books.Today,i purshased a large hardback book, new condition for just about $13.00.

Crispy Bacon

Good stuff in there if you like books and other physical media. Complete with 2 floors so enough for hobbyist to take there time and browse

Matt Roman

Great variety of books for low prices. Way better than Amazon!

Kyle Deakins

Quaint bookstore with wide selection, well preserved books, and great prices. It’s a little too easy to end up leaving with more than you intended to buy, but the prices make that okay!

Chelsea Hart

Go there to see Dr. Pickles, their adorable cat, and stay for the excellent variety of books and records

Andrew T

High prices, poor organization/labeling, boxes strewn everywhere. Guy behind the register who couldn't be less interested in you. Both the book corner and brickbat books are better. Just go to one (or both!) of those.

Stuart Spinner

Two floors packed floor-to-ceiling with used books of every description. Very, very few stores like this left. If you love books, a must-see in Philly. Conveniently located in the middle of the old City tourist district

Justin Rogers-Cooper

One of those idiosyncratic independent bookstores filled to the brim with titles on most subjects that appeal to book readers. Quirky with an entire second floor devoted to fiction. Worth a search whenever we’re in town.

YS

Cool place nestled in on a side street in Philly. Couple of books away from being a hoarding place of books and literature with many aisles having books piled, strewn, and/or laying in middle of small dusty aisles. Found some cool classic literature.

Ken

Great selection. Never know what you'll find. Prices are reasonable. Some books are not in great shape, though.

Philip Gross

Cool place with a huge selection. All used books, so you might not find what you're looking for, but it's always a fun experience looking through thier stock.

Adam Talley

If you love books, this store is a must. Very well organized, and a huge selection of fiction and non-fiction.

Angel Hogan

Old school used book store with over stuffed shelves and narrow aisles. In other words, heaven. Only thing missing are a few friendly cats.

Taylor Baker

Didnt see the cat, did see the massive world history section! Reasonable prices too!

Nicole K

As a place to find a book... overwhelming and exhausting! As a place to look around, giggle, laugh... excellent. Talk about making a person have anxiety with the stacks and chaos.

Chunfen Zhou

Your good old days used bookstore. Well-stocked and has some vibe. But you really have to squeeze through its aisles at times.

Maxwell Myers

I️ thoroughly enjoyed my time at this bookstore. The customer service was great and the person, Alle, that helped me out was very patient and entertaining.

Kaitlin Stopyra

It's my favorite hideout between work and home. If you have the patience to sift you can find some great things. Their records shouldn't be over looked!

Wilbert Bishop

This is the best used book store in the city! They do have used DVDs as well!

Joanna Janiszewski

Love this place found the books i needed cheap! Also such a selection that most library or chain book stores dont even have!!

Ashlee Pilla

The best place...could've spent hours on here...any book, CD, VHS you can think of is here!!! Great prices as well

Mayra J. Torres

Excellent. Not only do they have a massive variety of books, I also found just what I was looking for. Thanks Book Trader. 😃 …

Memnoch

It should close down for about a week though and get organized. Very tight spaces also. Saying that though I love the place. You could spend hours and hundreds if you are not careful.

Abigail Morgan Rex

Amazing selection, and good circulation. Always something new and delightful.

Ed Waters

Great place to buy used books. They have a fantastic selection.

applepi

It was a very good experience and had an amazing atmosphere. The car wasnt a bother at alk and there was an outstanding amount of books

Michael Potts

Friendly and helpful staff, great selection, great trade-in program. I am a regular and have been for some time.

Stevie Solutions

Cool selection books, please use stickers not pencil. Nice people, the pecan man was here

Matthew Miller

Great selection, and like any good used book shop, requiring of lots of browsing to find what you want.

eliza ford

Lots of books, also some records, CDs, and cassette tapes. There was also a book shop cat and it was a very nice surprise

John Bertolino

Great selection, somewhat disorganized, lovely bookstore cat Dr Pickles.

Jack Caspar

If you have never been here, you have no idea what you are missing. I am not much of a reader, but do enjoy and appreciate books. Worth it to stop in.

Daniel Oliva

Great used book store.

Scott Cox

A labyrinth of narrow aisles, tall shelves, and tons and tons of used books to browse through. In otherwise, heaven. Also, the staff seemed friendly.

Celma Costa

Love this bookshop! Amazing selection of books, from classics to modern literature, national and international.

Marie Rector

So nice, friendly staff, books are cheap, & they have new and old books, books for all ages, records, & DVDs!

Walt Johnson

Very interesting place Loads of books Some records

Sky Stage

Love this place! Purchased 5 books from well-known authors for under $20

B Sln

Omg loved it if you like used bookstores you got to stop in!!

eric caldwell

Cluttered old bookstore. Which is exactly what I like. Was alphabetized and found one of the books I was looking for.

Luke Fischinger

Relatively cheap used books, nice but small collections of VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, and records.

Justin Moorhead

What an assortment of used and slifhtly new books. Every big city's must have. Patience to explore, essential. Little organizationization. Ask for help.

John Silva

Crowded but awesome used book shop. I really enjoyed browsing the shelves.

Kelly Peterson

Good used book store to explore, but I was disappointed to find them selling ARCs (which clearly state "Not for Sale" on the covers).

Bill Mcculken

Been patronizing this shop for years & their selections have always satified both my intellectual & personal entertainment need.

Michael Kane

After visiting many bookstores across the Philadelphia area, I can say without a doubt that the Book Trader is the best in both selection and price.

Alene Levin

It feels so good if ur a bookworm. So much tonpick from.😁😄😍 …

Susan Heston

I like it there, cozy and filled with every type of book. You'll find something you like there.

Bina

I got a decent credit for books I traded in, and was able to get a normally pricey book for a low price.

jak shadows

Who doesn't like books? This place is great!

joseph clark

Books galore, old fashioned bookstore reasonably priced, friendly staff very convenient to public transportation.

Willie Price

Nice place nice area after buying a book you can grab a bite to eat and get comfortable on a bench you can't loose!

Sean ainechi

Loved this place. You may not be able to find what you are looking for, but you will find amazing stuff in here. Give it at least two hours.

Elene Karangozishvili

Very cozy!

Alex Daniels

Bookstore with seemingly endless amounts of books, friendly service, and great prices.

John Christopher

Long established store. I've been able to find books unavailable on the shelf elsewhere. (Particularly foreign language)

Sarah

I could spend HOURS at this place and hardly scratch the surface. Great spot to get lost and forget about the outside world.

Rian Winchester

I could wander about this store for days. One of the best bookshops around.

Sean Ferrier

This is the new location of the shop that used to be in South St. Back in the day. Still lots to find here, with many surprises. (I stumbled upon a cookbook by the Frugal Gourmet from the 1990s).

Abbi Warren

Classic used bookstore with lots of nooks and crannies and a great selection in many categories. Open late!

sifu Steve

Plenty of books, prices are very unclear. Why can’t you mark the books clearly. I’d make more purchases if I knew the price.

CJ Cunningham

I love the selection but I wish the books were in better shape.

Temi Olawunmi

I love this place. It's quaint and you can find any book here!

Makaiya Lindsey

Very cozy

Steve MacFadden

LOVE this place. Very fair prices on trade-ins and purchases. Super friendly and helpful staff!

Dennis Duarte

Huge collection, a little overwhelming but not in a bad way just a place you could spend a whole day in a still not have enough time

Brendan Raftery

My favorite bookstore in Philly. Great prices, and wandering through the stacks here is an experience it itself.

Wayne Waltower

I love this place. I refuse to go to big name bookstores.

Matan Barnea

Incredible selection but not very well organized with many books in the wrong sections.

Sarah Morton

Cozy spot - LOTS of books, but not particularly easy to navigate the organization system - great for browsing and getting lost in.

Fatima Hasan

You get to pet the kitty and smell old books 💯 Would go again …

Joe DiRosario

Great place to kill some time and find wonderful books

Edwin Smith

My son found a set of books he had been looking for. They seem to have a little of everything

Brian Korecky

I could spend all day here. Great selection and the prices are very reasonable.

Marlene McPherson

They have plenty of books on every subject at reasonable prices

Sharon S

Nice selection of books . Takes trade-ins too.

Mark Miller

Loads of used books but very crowded with books. No space to walk around.

killerqueen

Lots of books, plus the cat was super cute

William Walker

This is a neat little place w all kinds of old and interesting books.

Pat Tomlinson

Old fashioned book store. You can smell the books when you walk in.

jon mmmayhem

It's crowded and jumbled and good luck finding what you're hunting for, but they will take literally anything in trade so have at it

Rose Chiango

Have gone here many times with my father, who is a book dealer. Love it!

Luis Ortiz

Lots of random stuff, though the selection within each author's catalog was lacking at times

Cyndi R (Pickle)

it can be a little tricky to find things but this is the best used book store I have ever been to!

Voxel

Cute cat ☺️☺️☺️

Ashley Taglieri

Such a vast selection of used books that you literally get lost in the stacks.

Benjamin Kemp

Good selection. No AC on the top floor. It can get pretty hot up there.

Marcus Dagan

Immense collection of books a treat for anyone with time to spare and browse and browse

Melissa Hope

Is a great, unique little used bookstore.

jada gordon

Good Selection of eclectic books.

Lindsey Faciane

Wonderful selection and great prices! I could spend hours in here!!!

Walter Taggart

I love the store needs better lighting

Laura Barry

Great selection of used books at a great price

Camilla Allen

it's a huge place but the African American book section was small,come on be real

Jeremy Yowell

Intimate spot with a wide variety of used books and vinyl.

Juju Baby

Good used books not bad prices

Adam Willhouse

More books than I'll ever have the time to read. Low prices to match

Hunter Newman

This is my favorite book store in the world.

Jose Santiago

Awesome place

Samuel Snyderman

Love this place. Read and replenish! Kyle is great.

Ricky Pierson

I love used book stores

Robert Sulentic

Used bookstore in the old style. Never know what you'll find.

Angie E

Friendly staff. Large selection of books.

matthew hopkins

Books, books and more books. If you are bibliophile you will be in heaven.

Joseph Brown

I enjoyed my time there,great selection!!!

donald coppersmith

You will find what you are looking to get; it takes a lot of time.

Tim Szczesny

Great finds in a unique store!

Josh Friedman

Great used bookstore, especially for history

Haoshu Li

Such a wonderous place. I lost an hour in there without realizing it

Joe Giambrone

Love the selection. Always find some treasure

Stephen Viesti

Books, books, and more books. You will love the cat.

Tim Robinson

Kissed a cute girl behind the mystery novels

Ryan Winick

An eclectic addition to the Old City neighborhood.

Roman Kalinin

Great bookshop

Miguel Borbon Arias

They have so many books Is crazy

aparna singha

It's a real book world. People also friendly

Scott Hartman

Heaven for all those who love books...

Genevieve Nesom

Overstuffed and overpicked, but am easy way to lose track of time.

Serdar Engin

They sell very various books.

Lynda beyer

Love it couldn't find anything

James Dorwart

Amazing selection... great staff

Timothy P Carey

Best used book store in the city

Bridgette Smith

Cool place to get a few manga.

Renee Rector

My niece and I love it there!!!!

Katherine Morse

Great used book store

Tania Samoshkina

Amazing place!

Rita Bengermino

It's an experience and education that can't be missed! 📚✌📖💿🌏🎼📔 …

K O'D

Old time book store with a cat

Kristen Barber

Cute cat

W. Carl Ammons

Interesting mix fun to explore.

Malcolm Harris

Fair prices both ways.

のTriGuN

More books than you can read

Linda Yheaulon

Can always find a treasure there

Tina Sonzogni

A booklover's dream

Aaron Levinson

An old favorite. Digging for daze.

Julia Grassi

if you want it, they have it.

Mae Downs

A true classic in Philadelphia.

Bidisha Mukherjee

Some treasures hides in those shelves

Darcella Cross

Lots of selection on every subject

Aysha K. Minor

So many damn books

William Nelson

Had exactly what I was looking for

Pauline Dziama

Stalagtites and stalagmites of books.

Drew White

the legends are true.

Yeremiah Hardt

I loved this place

*Where you go I will go.*

Nice people.

Dawn Marie

Big

Vince Ambrona

wonderful

Eric James

Philadelphia's finest!

Lynn Grace

Loyd of good books

Leshen

Plenty of books

Pete White

Good selection

Carlos Sverdloff

amazing amount

Rocky Smith

What a treasure

Anirudh Ravipati

SO MANY BOOKS!!!!!

Tony Waites

Great store

Bernadette Curtis

Great place

Luisa Gomes

An hidden gem

Z S

Beautiful.

Gretchen Gerloff

Love love love

Jack Howser

Nice place

Kirsten Jones

I loved everything about it, but the cash register guy.

Nirbhay Singh

Large collection of books of different genres. Even casual skimming would require an hour or two. There is also room full of vinyl record at back of the 1st floor.

Ryutaro Kajihara

(Translation) A great bookstore with lots of used books. You can browse slowly! (Original) 沢山の古本があって、とても雰囲気のよい本屋。 ゆっくり立ち読みできます！

パーカーアミン

(Translation) This is a remarkable bookstore. There are novels written in various languages such as Japanese here. (Original) これは注目に値する本屋です。ここでは日本語などさまざまな言語で書かれた小説があります。

Pierluigi S.

(Translation) Excellent used book store and much more. A must visit. (Original) Ottimo negozio di libri usati e tanto altro. Assolutamente da visitare.

Jaime Macho

(Translation) Marvelous. Next to the episcopal church. (Original) Maravilloso. Al lado de la iglesia episcopal.

Markelle E. E.

Denys Gamzinov

Tushara Duvvuri

ara zeibarian

christian reice

Maria B

Roy Blumenfeld

Khang Vu

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