Metro Area Bookshops
| 30 Penn Books 3021 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73107 | |
| Abalache Book and Antique Shop 2225A Exchange Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73101 (405) 235-3288 No website *See Review* | |
| Aladdin Book Shoppe 5040 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6010 (405) 942-2665 http://www.aladdinbookshoppe.com/ | Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
| Archives Books 1914 E 2nd St Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 348-6800 http://www.archivesinc.com/ | Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Michael's Old Books 928 NW 23rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73106 No website | *See Review* |
REVIEWS
| Archives I have to give credit to Wayne and his crew at Archives. They've been around for a while and sound like they're willing to learn and try new things. When I moved to OKC in the spring of '05, I was told Archives wasn't open to browsing, but had gone solely online. If you went to their store, you could only stand a counter and books would be brought to you. I went anyway and found they had opened a dollar store. Every book was a dollar. One dollar. And they would deal with you if your stack grew. I couldn't believe it. Apparently, these are the books that don't cut the mustard for online venues, but will still walk out (and fast) for $1. The store was not organized at all back then, and the bargains were unreal. Since then, they now have a priced books section at the front of the store, and a much enlarged $1 section, where the books are organized, to a point. The deals aren't as crazy as they were two years ago, but I still find gems often enough to not only recommend it, but take people. And I'm not the only one. Archives nearly always has other browsers there. There is still a lot of serendipity involved in a visit to Archives and it remains one of my favorites. I look forward to the next step in their evolution. - Benjamin L. Clark 9/2008 |
| Aladdin Book Shoppe According to my helpful (but woefully dated) Used Book Lover's Guide to the XYZ States that includes Oklahoma---breath--- Aladdin was *the* stop for collectors. Visiting the store for the first time in 2005, I can see that it probably was. Being a collector I was a bit disappointed. Don't misunderstand me, they have a wide selection, and a very nice, clean store. But their books are only so-so. Falling into conversation with the current owners, I discovered they were the new owners and were retired librarians. That explains a lot. Old-School antiquarian booksellers and librarians are very different people who think of books, readers and collectors in very different terms. They have a lot to learn. For instance, Aladdin keeps a card file of collectors and their interests. I told them I am interested in collectible copies of PG Wodehouse. I got a phone call a week or two later and got a very confused answer when I asked her about condition and to describe the book. She said it was fine and had the dust jacket. Fine *and* has the dust jacket. Against my better instinct, I drove to the store and yes a Wodehouse- late printing of an American edition that looked like it had been collated with a hay rake. To a librarian, this book would be "fine". Another, much later visit, but I think my next one, I found a very nice reference book on the shelf. It didn't have a price (they write in pencil, at least) and put it with my other selections on the counter. As I was being rung up, one of the ladies noticed the unpriced book. She said she would have to look it up online before she could sell it to me! I gently (honest!) reminded her I was not buying the book online, but in her store. She didn't get it. I left cash for my other books and walked out of the store. Aladdin has recently posted in the very back of their store all "Oldies but Goodies" for $3. Wonderful stuff back there, mostly fiction from the late 1890s-1940s, with most falling in the inter-war years. They have a decent Oklahoma History section, quite a bit on Religion, and plenty of late 20th Century fiction from the folks you'd expect, but the stock doesn't seem to be rotating much. One thing I really love there, though, is the antique cash register, and the obvious care they take in how their store looks. I wish them all the best, but don't get there very often, although it is in a very convenient location. - Benjamin L. Clark 9/2008 |
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