Tacoma Book Center is waiting for you!
It’s a self-guided tour, but I’ll be chatting at you a bit, giving some directions, encouraging you to eat sweets, drink warm cups of coffee and tea, maybe a pint too. I’ll show you around Tacoma’s bookstores, and then I’ll quiet down and leave you alone so you can do what you came to do; get lost in a book.
It’s been two years since I first traversed Tacoma with the intention of creating a bookstore tour that is also a tour of our city, a neighborhood scan, a journey from North to South (or South to North if you want to do it that way!). Tacoma has seen some changes since that time, coffee shop-stops along the way have opened and closed, and soon, one of the seven bookshops will be closing its doors.
With the return of fall, now felt like the right time to retrace my steps and renew this Tacoma self-guided tour for another season of rainy day reading. I read all year, turning pages during lunch breaks, on my back on an old quilt in the summer grass, knees tucked up in my grandpa’s old plaid armchair before the morning tea runs out, but there’s still something particularly satisfying about reading while rain blurs the window panes, beats the window sills, thrums the roof. There’s a bliss to not so much leaving my life for the story in the pages, but taking my life into them, feeling the boundaries slide away.
It may not be just like home, but there’s an armchair or two for you at King’s.
Enough about me. This article is for all of you Tacoma folks who love books, who prefer browsing shelves to scrolling online, who thrill to an armful of volumes - crisp or dogeared, yellowed or bright, rare or reprinted. It’s also for anyone who wants to explore Tacoma with local bookshops as your guide. This new edition of the tour includes additional and updated suggestions for sustenance and a map of the tour as well.
Support small, local businesses, get to know the city better, go on a book hunt in Tacoma! Stopping for a cup of coffee, a pint, or a snack on your browsing adventure is encouraged! Get out the door on this bookstore tour of the city from Proctor in the north all the way to the Fern Hill District in the south. Read on for an introduction to these 7 Tacoma shops and where to eat and drink along the way.
Display window out front at Teaching Toys & Books.
1. Proctor District: Teaching Toys & Books - 2624 N Proctor St
Look for this new book that will guide you and kids you love through Tacoma together!
Monday-Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 11 am - 5 pm
This Tacoma Bookshop Tour runs from north to south, start at Teaching Toys & Books where you'll find a seasonally changing creative front window display outside, and a nicely curated selection of children's books, from board books for babies, up through young adult fiction inside. Classic children's books like The Snowy Day and Goodnight Moon are present beside beautiful new books thoughtfully organized by themes like "animals" or "bedtime."
Teaching Toys staff are kind and helpful and will also offer complimentary gift wrapping. There are usually about 5 kinds of wrapping paper to choose from, so if you stop here for a birthday gift on the way to the party you're in good hands! Don't get back in the car when you're ready to move on, your next stop (whether you’re ready for coffee, a snack, a beer, or more books) is just down the street.
Hardback classic and contemporary picture books at Teaching Toys & Books.
Culpepper Books opened in 1999.
2. Proctor District: Culpepper Books - 2521 N Proctor St
Monday-Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday Closed
Sad Announcement: Culpepper Books is closing after December 2019. Until then, their inventory is 40% off. If you’re taking the tour in 2020, maybe you’d still like to walk down the block and see what’s moved in at 2521 N. Proctor. If you’re touring this fall and winter 2019, go ahead an walk 2 blocks south, cross the street, and you're at Culpepper Books selling used, rare, and out-of-print books. On my most recent visit the proprietor kindly indulged a group of kiddos shopping for books with their mom. The kids asked if the store owner was excited for Halloween. Then, “Are you excited for Thanksgiving?” He patiently went along with all of it, and meanwhile shared his retirement plans with me. Following closing up shop and retiring this December, there’s a trip to Florence in store! The shop is small, organized, and offers a lot of hardback editions in a low-pressure environment.
Olympia Coffee’s version of a London Fog. Fragrant, foamy comfort in a cup.
If you're looking for one of those coffee stops, just cross N. 26th to Olympia Coffee Roasting Co., drop by Metropolitan Market's cafe, or Top Pot, all within a couple of blocks on Proctor St. If it's time for a brew of another sort, or a delicious sandwich, head north out of the store, turn right on N. 26th and stop in at Peaks & Pints.
When you’re ready to go, drive south to N. 21st St. and take a left. You’ll find yourself driving past Lander Coffee when you reach the Three Bridges District. If you missed your chance for coffee in Proctor, or just need more because you love it so much (to each their own), pull over here. Lander opened in summer 2019. With its big windows, it’s a perfect spot to sit and read the books you’ve found so far.
Hardback poetry and fiction shelves at Culpepper Books.
King's is home to store cats Atticus and Herbert.
3. Stadium District: King's Books - 218 St Helens Ave
Open Daily, 11 am - 7 pm (later for events)
King's Books is probably Tacoma's most well-known, beloved bookstore. Home to Herbert the cat (R.I.P Atticus), book clubs, literary readings, live shows, printing arts events like Tacoma Wayzgoose, and crafts fairs like Tacoma Is For Lovers, you'll find a huge variety of used books here. King's also presents a trove of well-selected new books on display tables in the front, along with some new card games, calendars, and greeting cards. You’ll find various armchairs and stools throughout the shop, as well as a sofa and chairs set up near the children’s books area where you just might find yourself settling in.
Herbert offering customer service.
Find the latest volumes of Creative Colloquy at King’s!
King's is a great bookstore choice if you're looking for reading suggestions; they even host several monthly book clubs right in the shop. There's a shelf dedicated to staff picks with handwritten, mini reviews by King's Books staff, so head there if you don't know what to read next. If you're looking for a book group, take a look at the book club shelf where you'll see a variety of book groups presented (groups include Banned Book, Classics, Seeds: A Queer Latinx Book Club, Tacoma Sister Cities Book Club, Well-Read Black Girl Book Club, Buddhism Today, Night Owl Nature, and Shakespeare) with the current month's selection for each group on display and a small flyer you can take away.
If you're a vintage lover or comic book fan, this destination is doubly good as Destiny City Comics is connected to King's by French doors that are often open, so you can come and go between them without stepping outside. You can also head straight into Janku Land (a collection of records and vintage apparel) just turn left into their space before heading out the front doors.
Choose a book or two or twelve and settle in. There’s a bathroom, so you’re all set.
Of course, if you're hungry or thirsty at this point in the tour, you're just a few feet away from Doyle's Public House. Just a little further and you’ll find Indo Street Eatery and Moshi Moshi. If you want to warm up with some coffee head west along Wright Park up Division to Cosmonaut Coffee. You’ll find Anthem Coffee at 102 N. G (where the baked goods are prepared from scratch by our cousin, the local Vintage Baker. If all you need is some fresh air, take a stroll through nearby Wright Park before heading downtown to our next bookshop. And no worries, if you get on your way and wish you’d had more to eat or drink, there are still a couple of spots along the way for coffee and bites.
Selected new books at King's. New books are also shelved alongside used throughout the shop.
Hearty sweetbread and a glass of Bona Fide Potents drinking vinegar at Honey along the way.
If you’re moving straight onward from King’s, head south on St. Helen’s. Now, if you wanted one of those “along the way” stops, you could turn up 6th Ave and stop in at Corina Bakery where you’ll find layer cakes, sweet and savory baked goods (with gluten free and vegan options), and coffee as well. If you have brunch in mind, or just want to get further on toward Downtown, you could stay the course until S. 13th. Head up the hill to Honey Coffee & Kitchen where more espresso, baked eggs, vegan options, ebelskivers, and a rotating seasonal menu (which currently includes a fried green tomato BLT!) may be calling your name.
If you’re on a bookstore roll and nothing can come between you and your next browsing experience, it’s on to destination number four!
Union Station reflected in the University Bookstore front windows.
A glimpse of the University Bookstore interior, similar in character to a Barnes & Noble.
4. University District Downtown: University Book Store - 1754 Pacific Ave
Monday-Thursday 9 am - 6 pm
Friday-Saturday 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday Closed
This is much more than a student bookstore stocking textbooks. In the heart of Tacoma's downtown shopping district, this bookstore offers bestsellers, general fiction and nonfiction, a nice children's section, some YA, a small local history section, a bargain table, and a New York Times "New and Notable" shelf.
Unlike our other small Tacoma bookshops, the University Book Store offers a searchable online catalogue of their inventory. Recently I found a book I needed for my book club (14 holds already at the library where I always check first!) by searching the catalogue. Just be sure to call the Tacoma branch (253.692.4300) to check if they have it here. In my case, the book was up in their larger Seattle store, but they brought it down for me the very next day.
You'll also find notebooks, cards, and other gifts in this shop conveniently adjoining a Starbucks and directly on the Tacoma Link light rail line. You're on Pacific just across from the old Union Station and the Bridge of Glass, so this shop is also a great starting point for a visit to the TAM, the Museum of Glass, or the WA State History Museum. And if you haven't eaten yet, head south on Pacific and you’ll soon find The Harmon Brewing Co., Savor: Tacoma Creperie, and Indochine Asian Dining Lounge. If it’s sweets you’re after, you may have noticed Hello, Cupcake is nearly next door. Or, save all that for another day and continue on to the next 3 Tacoma bookshops.
If you’re thinking, “This tour is crazy! How am I supposed to eat and caffeinate this much?” Just remember, no one is suggesting you throw down a quad-shot with a pint at each location, or eat brunch, and triple-layer cake, and vegan scones, with a quiche, and some Pad Thai on the side before moving on to a hot sandwich and some pho. I mean, it’s up to you. Everyone goes at their own pace. Some people take parts of the tour on different days. Also, now you’ll have ideas tucked away for where to find a snack, or drink, or a meal when you return to just one or two of these bookshops in a day. Deep breath. Move on. There are more books waiting for you.
A look at the University Book Store’s Children’s Section.
Bargain carts are just the beginning at the entrance to Tacoma Book Center.
5. Dome District Downtown: Tacoma Book Center - 324 E 26th St
Wind you way back, up, around, and over.
Open Daily, 10am - 6 pm
Located near Freighthouse Square (where you can find food and lots of additional local shopping) and the Tacoma Dome, this shop has tons of used books! You know you've arrived when you see the sandwich boards announcing "Washington's Largest Used Bookstore - 1/2 Million Books" on the corner of E. 26th and D. If you have trouble finding street parking, look for a free lot behind the shop on D Street. Access the parking lot from E. 26th, or turn into the alley from D and take a right into the parking area.
Inside, floor to ceiling bookshelves and a quiet staff invite you to take your time here. The experience is immersive. You’ll find yourself surrounded by books, looking through a window in the book shelf to books, upon books, upon books beyond. Tacoma Book Center offers a huge variety of used books as well as some audio books and DVDs. The Classics/Modern Fiction shelves are labeled with famous author names such as Atwood, Bellow, James, Swift, and Wharton to help guide readers through the alphabetically organized section. In nonfiction, find books on crafts, music, pets, engineering, travel, religion, cookbooks, sports, etc. as well as atlases and other reference books. You’ll find a shelf just for books about Tacoma and the Salish Sea region. There's even a section just for hardback literature.
Old, clothbound beauties in the Children’s Literature section at Tacoma Book Center.
Did I mention the children’s literature and YA section? When you first step into the shop you’ll see several shelves for young readers on your left. They’ve shelved popular modern fiction like Harry Potter and other series together, with classics like Little Women and Heidi beyond. Many of these books are a pleasure just to look at, with their colorfully faded clothbound spines creating a patchwork, out-of-print menagerie. Enjoy the search, then on to the South End!
But, if you’re hungry (I mean, maybe you haven’t stopped yet, or perhaps you’ve taken all our food tips and just still feel ready for a sandwich) it’s only a 2 minute drive to The Valley. Okay, now I’m actually ready to say, “Then on to the South End!”
Head to the back (which back? to find a section for books about Tacoma and the region.
For a nice route from Tacoma Book Center to the next stop in the Lincoln District, head up pas the Tacoma Dome on D St (which becomes E. McKinley), then turn right on E. 34th. This street is going to take you over bridges across deep gulches and will give you expansive views of Downtown Tacoma (if you’ve ever sat in Stanley & Seaforts on E. 34th, you’ll know what I mean). Take a left when E. 34th dead-ends into G and you’ll soon see our next destination on your left.
Looking through a window in the books to more books beyond at Tacoma Book Center.
Revolving Books: A "New To You" Book Store
6. Lincoln District: Revolving Books - 3639 S G
Monday-Saturday 11 am - 5 pm
Sunday Closed
Revolving Books sells used books in Tacoma's Lincoln District. The store is organized and easy to navigate with mostly paperbacks on offer. The general fiction section is quite limited here, but other areas, such as mystery, suspense, and romance have more to offer. If you're looking for genre fiction and follow a particular author or series, this might be a good bookshop to check out. The staff have a very good idea of what is on the shelves and would like to point you in the right direction. Along with the used books, shoppers can also find some new maps of the Tacoma region up by the register. Make sure to at least glance across G Street at beautiful Lincoln High. Or stick around a little longer with a visit to a local noodle shop like Vien Dong, or Pho Dragon, both on S. 38th, or stop by El Zocalo bakery just a block south from the bookshop on 38th and G. Then onward, to the final stop in the bookshop tour!
And when you are ready for that onward move, I recommend taking S. Park Ave (just a block east of D St.). Park will takes you straight where we’re going, and gives you a chance to take a slow roll through the South End, to get a glimpse of some of the character of this Tacoma neighborhood with colorful homes, some Craftsmans, some ramblers, some beautifully kept. You’ll pass right by Tacoma’s iDEA High School, some churches and other schools, so do keep a careful eye out for pedestrians and cyclists.
Revolving Books focuses on mass market paperbacks.
One of my favorite out-of-the-way Tacoma spots.
A few local bookshops combined to create Park Avenue Books in Fern Hill.
7. Fern Hill District: Park Avenue Books - 8304 S Park
Tuesday-Saturday 11 am - 5:50 pm
Sunday & Monday Closed
As the open hours suggest, this is a quirky spot. It's friendly (a homey, neighborly kind of friendly) and it's packed with used books. The staff are sweet, willing to chat, and happy to help you find some treasure. On one of my favorite visits a walkie-talkie was involved in helping a fellow customer locate a book; it took some time, and team effort, but the search was a success. On my most recent stop, a volunteer worked diligently to restock and organize one of the romance sub-sections (they’re serious about the romance here). But they have it all at Park Avenue Books: Modern Fiction, Men's Adventure, Seafaring Adventure, Regency Romance, Local Romance Authors, Historical Romance, a UFO section, a VHS collection, and children's books too, of course.
For the Princess Diana collector.
Just a glimpse of what’s in store for you at Park Avenue Books.
I even noticed a shelf dedicated to material about Princess Diana. Who knew? That’s not a section I noticed at the other 6 bookstores, but I wasn’t looking for it, either. In the end I found a novel in the Modern Fiction section (a very orderly shelf along the far wall to your left when you enter). The proprietor seemed so genuinely pleased that I was going home with a book. “How about $4 even?” he said. I agreed. $6.25 was pencilled in on the title page, but I’m not one to argue. If you're okay with stacks, scooting over a bit to let the next customer by, and finding books in every nook and cranny, then make a stop at Park Avenue Books and delve in with good humor.
If you haven't visited the historic Fern Hill Business District, this is a great reason to get there and get to know it. There's a library, a barber, a thrift store with an iconic mural on the side (once the home of Foam & Fabric), a clock and watch repair shop, farm to table Tibbits@Fern Hill and Little Jerry's Seinfeld themed diner (thank you, Tacoma).
Shelves, stacks, racks, and piles at Park Avenue Books.
In case it’s helpful, here’s a map of our Tacoma Bookstore Tour for you with all 7 bookstores marked!
This is the last stop on the Tacoma Bookshop Tour. I hope it's also the beginning of a good read - a journey into the fantastical realm of Earthsea, a tour through the history of women’s suffrage, an exploration of the thrills of paperback romance - and maybe even the start of a new or renewed relationship with a Tacoma neighborhood and our book-loving community. And if you’re hungry (that’s not my fault!) you could go back to any of the spots already suggested. Better yet, head home, snuggle deep into that chair in the corner with the lamp beside and stick your nose where it belongs, deep in a book.
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