Pensees Bookshop

Charleston is lucky to have such a thoughtfully stocked and kindly staffed bookstore. Towns and cities with access to more resources would dream of having such a valuable bookstore. Highly recommended!

Pensees Bookshop is an absolute gem, and I can't say enough good things about this place! My recent experience with them left me truly impressed and grateful for their exceptional service and commitment to their customers.

The owner's unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction was evident when they made a pricing mistake on a set of books but honored the incredibly low price of $6 instead of the intended $60. That kind of integrity and generosity is a rare find in today's business world. It not only reflects their commitment to fairness but also their genuine desire to create a positive experience for their customers.

What's even more remarkable is that these books were already priced significantly lower than their actual value, showcasing Pensees Bookshop's dedication to offering great deals to its customers. It's evident that they genuinely care about providing value and fostering a strong sense of community among book lovers.

This is the kind of business that sets a shining example for others to follow. Their honesty, generosity, and commitment to customer satisfaction make them a true treasure in the world of bookstores. Even if you don't currently have a need for their products, I wholeheartedly recommend going out of your way to support Pensees Bookshop. Businesses like this deserve all the support and recognition they can get. It's not just a bookstore; it's an embodiment of exceptional customer service and ethical business practices.

I visit used bookstores everywhere I go and this is one of my favorites. It is crammed floor to ceiling with a fantastic variety of unique old treasures as well as newer material. You can spend hours in here and still feel the need to come back. The owner, Bob, is a great guy and very helpful.

I have visited Pensee’s more times than I ever thought I would have. And if I’m honest it is only partly because of the books. My good friend Bob is one of the most wonderful small business owners I’ve ever experienced. He is smart, kind, and always willing to help find a book for me when I need it. Great store! Great family! Great great books!

This is such a cool bookstore. A lot of history, but also new stuff too. HUGE selection, and the gentleman working was very kind in talking to us, telling us a little about the store, and just an all around awesome experience! Lucky to have in Charleston!

My husband and I were in town from Minnesota visiting family and thought we would stop by. My husband is an avid reader/book lover, but I am not as much. I thought the book store would be your typical book store with thousands and thousands of books with nothing much that really interested me, but instead it was a mixture of books and antiques. I have recently been interested in antique original art work, and I have had a very hard time at finding any at a reasonable price point. I bought four original antique paintings from Bob at a very affordable price! Not only did my husband have the best time of his life viewing all the books and looking through them, but I also had the best time viewing all the art he had to offer in his store. I definitely recommend stopping by! Bob is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and we cannot wait to visit next time we are in town.

What a wonderful store! It's exactly what I want in a used bookstore. Aisles crammed floor to ceiling with books where you can get lost for hours.
The owner, Bob, was very friendly & helpful as I made my way around. This was my first visit to Pensees and it won't be my last!

Easy to find on the Square and has books LITERALLY from floor to ceiling. Going back, I find even more that people have donated and see more of the store that I haven't noticed any time before. You won't Walk away with empty hands.

I loved this book store! The man working there was very friendly and the environment is cozy and intriguing. They have literally tons of books and the prices are very reasonable. I could probably spend hours in there getting lost and I’ll definitely be back when I have some more time!

Very nice used book store with a fair number of antique books. Balanced collection with some realia for sale as well. Some newer titles but that isn't their main focus. They were open on Saturday until 6:00 PM. On-street parking, welcoming atmosphere.

My favorite place to purchase books locally. Amazing selection, great prices, amazing service. My kids love the children's books I have bought and my oldest enjoys looking at what's available. He was able to get quite a few books that piqued his interest and now my once adverse-to-reading child can't put them down! :D I'm always amazed at what I find here. A lot of book stores will be packed with books but many of them will be mediocre. Not this bookshop. I always leave with the intention of coming back to get that one book- or 10, that I didn't get on my previous trip.

Bob is the BEST! Always so helpful and pleasant.

Had a great time chatting with Bob while I found some great books. Looking through the stacks was fun and there were a lot of great antiques and enigmatic art dotting the spaces in between the shelves.

The owner presented a fascinating discussion to the Academy of Lifelong Learning last week on forged signatures on documents and in books. He is very knowledgeable and had many interesting stories to share. Bring your old books to discuss with Bob - really fun. Stop in - this place is a treasure trove!

Very cool place with a huge selection! More than just books. They have comic books, movie memorabilia, old history books, and Indian artifacts. There is something for everyone no matter what type you are in to. The owner is a really nice guy- maybe a little shy! Very helpful

From the Chicago area myself and going into this place, It felt like walking into a bookshop should. The smell of the old pages around you, items placed around the store to catch your eye. If you love reading YOU NEED TO STOP HERE!!

He has lots of great books. I go there a lot. Great book store. I totally recommend this store.

What a surprise. They have a wide variety of books from antiquarian to new. Lots of old artifacts and crevices. The coffee was even good. I found a few things that they did not even know they had. One of the best bookstores that I have been to in a long time.

Great shop, run by a very nice guy with all of he books you can ask for. This place was like walking into Narnia but with books. I recommend it to anyone passing through this town or anyone who likes words on paper.

This used bookstore is filled to the brim with spectacular books from floor to ceiling. Amazing journey the moment I started looking around. 5 stars!