Tacoma Book Center

This place is a must for book lovers everywhere. I’ve been there a few times, and I have enjoyed each visit. They have shelves filled up to the ceiling with books in the storefront, in a small nook area (with some steps to get to) as well as in the corridor that leads to three smaller rooms in the back (one is up some stairs, two are on the ground floor). You can also ask any one of the employees for a book rec, they are friendly as can be. From my experience, the prices are reasonable (just check the inside where they write the price down), and they have a few carts with books sold for 25¢ each. You will need to plan to stay for a few hours because you’ll be reading to your hearts content - They don’t have a public restroom, you’ve been warned. Masks are optional.

While Tacoma doesn’t have Powell’s City of Books, we do have Tacoma Book Center, which is a regional jewel in its own right. Floor-to-ceiling books in a building with high ceilings, which means *lots* of books, in fact so many books that even those high high shelves can’t contain them all. Well-organized with numerous hidden nooks with even more books, this place is awesome for anyone who loves used books. We found the books to all be marked reasonably and affordably - great quality and selection. The staff is friendly and cordial, and the parking easy, in fact far easier than Powell’s, so in that regard Tacoma Book Center is even better. The singular downside is that there are no public restrooms available, so you best visit one before you visit.

This bookstore is amazing, it's my favorite. There's a lot of everything and it could even be considered overwhelming with how many books there are. BUT I LOVE IT. Pretty good prices and the owner impressively knows where everything is. Hard to miss since it's on a corner and there's a small parking lot in the back. I plan to take my book loving family members when they come to visit!

This place is like a treasure trove of books! It's absolutely packed with all sorts of books, from every genre and topic you can think of, and the prices are just too good. The only catch? It's a bit too perfect for my wife who's a total book addict. We always end up leaving with way more books than we planned to buy :)

The coolest bookstore I've been to. Many books. The vibe is great. I suggest coming with enough time to look through all the aisles. Workers were helpful and kind. Loved it.

So many books; so little time to read all of them. I could live here because it is my version of heaven: warm with unlimited books to read.

It's a big used book store and it smells like it. They have stacks of books in order. I found a book that I was interested in from 1918.

I've been going here since I came as a seven year old with my Dad. It's a difficult time to be a used book seller, but I love this place and am so glad it's still open.

I've been to so many bookstores in the United States and a few in other countries and this one is really awesome because they have books of all eras and I feel like I walked into a bookstore in Harry Potter world there could be a new corridor in the store going to another world. I have loved libraries and bookstores since I was a kid. This place is one I feel I can get lost in reading and research all day sprawled out in a small spot on the floor. I'm grateful this place exists and they are open Sundays. My mom, fiancee and I found so many great ideas on wedding planning and Japanese home design.

The Tacoma Book Center is awesome! It has such an amazing selection of books! There's so many to choose from! I was especially impressed with their collection if Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. Just look at the picture I took of it! Anyway, this is definitely an ideal book buying destination.

This bookstore has every book you could think of and more. I could spend days in here looking though everything. The gentleman that helped me was very knowledgable..there is plenty of parking.

Spent far too much time here. Honestly could have been here all day. So many neat finds in here. It is stacked full of books. Reasonable prices. Including a 25¢ book rack outside the store

Sooo many books. I love this place. Just going in where there are ACTUAL books is amazing. Anyone will find something that interests them. I believe they said over 60,000 books. A one of a kind book store. I would work here if I had the chance.

Now this is a bookstore! It smells like pulpy heaven, and has every category of book you didn't know you needed until now. Well done, guys! I'm actually glad I don't live near Tacoma, because it wouldn't be kind to my free time or my checkbook.

What a great gem to find in the area. Here for a work trip and was wanting to find some books for an upcoming cruise. I was able to find a full series of a favorite author growing up. Recommend checking it out.

I love this place. I go here every so often as a treat. There is so many different sections of books and all are well taken care of. The cost are from 25 cents up to 15 ish dollars. All of the workers are super nice. The only requirement is for the customer to wear a mask and if you walk in without one you go up to the desk and ask for a mask. Please show this shop some love and check them out.

This is a great bookstore for unusual finds. There is library smell everywhere.

The closest comparison I can make to a place I've been lately is Scarecrow Video. Scarecrow has a different mission of course, more focused on film, preservation, and its lending library experience. But I got the same feeling of intense curation, nooks and crannies going on forever, titles shelved high to the ceiling, and variety.

I found a book that I had only ever read on reserve in the University of Washington drama library. I found different books on sumi-e, the tea ceremony, the poems of Robert Service, the next volume of a science fiction series I've been reading, and the first volume of a different one I've been trying to replace after my garage flooded. I could have bought a lot more but I restrained myself.

Can you?

The only caution is that this is not a discount book store like Half Price Books. You should expect to pay market prices, even for old books. But it's another great location in the Western Washington book scene. Worth the trip for sure.

Packed to the brim with books of all kinds. Really interesting mix of ages. Good prices.

every book you could want I’m sure they have

Shelves and shelves of books, new and old. If it isn't here, you dont want it anyway. Excellent prices. Crammed packed, you need the step stools, little nooks scattered. Short walk from the Tacoma Dome transit station.
Will be making a return trip for sure. This little gem is worth the drive from Lynnwood