Atlanta Book Exchange

Hail and farewell; I bought books at this fine used book store since 1976 or 1977, when I took the MARTA bus because I couldn’t drive. Upon returning to the city and working at Chapter 11 Books in 2005, I would refer customers seeking used or out-​of-​print titles both here and to the Book Nook. The clerk at Atlanta Book Exchange from whom I bought many a paperback, responding to how he’d handle a referred telephone query from a customer, told me he’d always check the shelves if he wasn’t too busy.
This was the well organized variety of used book emporium, with an extremely large inventory. I loved their original location, in an old house at the intersection of Virginia and Highland. [Personal peeve: it’s never the Virginia Highlands; the neighborhood gets its name from Highland — singular — Avenue.]
For a time, in 1990s or so, they had a satellite location, with a lot more budget books and the same amazing used inventory, very literate, at the storefront off Ponce at the Plaza, one block South behind the Majestic Diner. I don’t know that story; but, after all, it was the booming end of that decade.
In last few years, the shop moved opposite Manuel’s Tavern, and I visited much less often. Twice. I happened to stop by at end of June seeking a used copy of a newish novel — and found the closing sale in progress. They offered that inventory at 50% of 50% until closing after July 4 holiday. Very bookish. I’ll really miss all the books they offered so easily found. I enjoyed the referrals from the owner, including, upon request for books by master spy novelist Eric Ambler, a trio of memoirs.
That visit, I bought a small box of books, including the Darden Pyron — how’s that for a name — biography, Southern Daughter (Oxford University Press edition, not Hill Street Press reprint) of Margaret Mitchell (Marsh), my grandparents’ Atlanta Journal pal, in same edition I saw — one day previously on this anniversary of Mrs. Marsh’s novel — for about 150 times the price: $ 6.25 instead of $ 75 or so.
To honor the occasion, I read a book or two, toasted the store with ice cream, and listened to jazz on WRFG. Here’s to ‘em! Wha’s like ‘em?
Here’s coverage last week in Publishers Weekly online.
Atlanta Book Exchange Closes
By Marc Schultz
Jul 07, 2011 [From
]
After 35 years of buying and selling used books, the Atlanta Book Exchange closed its doors on Tuesday, July 5. The Book Exchange inhabited three different locations throughout its lifetime, most recently a tumble-​down cottage at the end of a commercial stretch of North Highland, where foot-​traffic mostly petered out. Cherished as an old-​school, in-​town antidote to the big-​box booksellers, the Book Exchange was known for crowded shelves and narrow aisles, but also comfy reading nooks and caring booksellers, like the late Jim Degnan and owner Charles Henson.
Though Henson was not available for comment, customers report that he may continue selling books online, but that much of his stock will be going to a book dealer in south Georgia. According to reports from hyperlocal news blog
, an «eco-​friendly boutique» will be opening in the Book Exchange location in time for Labor Day.

They’re Closing! I noticed the for sale sign while I was dining at Manny’s the other day.
This place is what my mind feels like. Tight, dusty little nooks and crannies full of outdated information that only the select few will be interested in.
I went in with my mom and she asked for the romance section. They don’t have one. But they have the largest section of translated foreign language novels I’ve ever seen in a second-​hand bookstore.
With the Dalek-​like invasion of the Kindle, books and bookstores are dying breeds. They should be on an endangered list somewhere. The shop keepers are already packing up everything, but are going to continue selling online.
Go Now! I bet they are going to have some pretty good clearance sales before they go the way of the dust-​jacket.

So many books crowded on wooden shelves arranged in a maze-​like superstore where you can find classic literature, nonfiction, school texts and children’s stories. I love it.
I wish I’d never found this place because I was perfectly fine browsing through the books at Goodwill. However, the incredible selection and low prices here cannot be denied.
Sad to hear they’ll be closing soon and only selling selections on Amazon (possibly), but I look forward to the sale. Stock up before it’s too late, my loves.

This is the best bookstore in Atlanta. It is a labyrinth stacked floor to ceiling with wonderful old books. The atmosphere of the place, the smell of the books, the fact that whenever you want to take a minute to look at a book there’s always a chair right there, the people, the feeling of possibility — if you love books, it’s really one of the best places to be in all of Atlanta.

I remember my first foray into ABE; it was 2000 and I had to buy some books for my high school Latin American Lit class. I’ve always enjoyed buying used books, so naturally, I scoured several of the used book stores in Atlanta and this one has always been my favorite. I read mostly for fun now, and whenever I come to this bookstore, I always leave with a stack of books that cost $ 10 or $ 11. ABE has a great selection of books that are usually in exceptional condition and the people that work there have always been helpful to me. Definitely one of my favorite used book stores EVAR!

The owners here are great, friendly people. I always have a conversation with them while I’m looking or checking out. Personally, I go for the history books, of which they have a huge collection. I’m talking shelves sagging and I can’t even reach most of the volumes without a stool. The only complaint I have is that there are so darn many books that sometimes its impossible to choose! I tried to dip into literature once and spent two hours going through everything until I gave up and chose Treasure Island of all things (don’t laugh at me, I was going to the beach and I wanted a quick, easy read). But this place really is great and I wish they’d get more business. Buying used books is definitely the way to go, and this place will very likely have what you’re looking for. Why not stop over at Manuel’s Tavern while you’re at it? Or even the Videodrome for a good movie to go along with your good book? The Book Exchange is just small part of a great neighborhood.

Clark Howard put out a list of things never to buy new, and books is one of them. A lot of used bookstores brim with 10 tattered copies of Beach Music, frayed stacks of Kite Runner and the third-​latest version of the Hiking Trails of North Georgia. But not the Atlanta Book Exchange. Although half off the cover price, the majority of the merchandise looks brand spanking new. Plus, I rarely see duplicate copies available at one time.
I love scanning the shelves for a book that’s top of mind because I’m always bound to discover something else along the way. Upon my most recent trip to the Exchange, I fell upon The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which I tried to read as a teenager and only now am probably old enough to absorb. My eyes darted across John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, one of my favorite all-​time reads, so my friend purchased it per my fanatical recommendation.
I also found a collection of Marge Piercy’s poetry from the early ‘90s – a poet whose work I rarely see in the used literature marketplace.
Plus, my friend came to the store with the intention of finding a Madagascar photography book she had spotted there three years ago, just before she began Peace Corps service in that country. While her aim was unrealistic, the book still was in stock, even after the Exchange moved from farther up North Highland.
I left with three books and a fresh sense of excitement over the titles that are waiting in my queue.

This place is awesome. This is like the epitome of Magic Old Bookstore. When I walked in, I thought I was going to find the Neverending Story, or some secret passageway and have a magical quest where I saved some distant land but after I left there I would return and NO TIME WOULD HAVE PASSED AT ALL! and I would want to tell people of my quest, but I would know I couldn’t, and it would make me sad, but also be my own private secret that I would cherish forever!
Great selection, and really interestingly organized — in a good way, I think. Fiction/​Lit divided up by native language, and whether it’s «Pop» literature or not. Also, a nice Sci-​Fi/​Fantasy section *pushes glasses higher up on nose.*
And the lady who works there is the slowest talker I’ve ever met, as well as being one of the friendliest people ever. But, as mentioned before, I come from California, so I’m starting to feel like my expectations for friendliness are kinda low…

This is my favorite used book store in Atlanta. For starters, it’s actually a used book store, not a used/​new hybrid, which I like. I’m usually there browsing the literature and popular fiction sections, but they have a well-​rounded selection of genres. I’ve purchased humor, philosophy, cookbooks, and atlases here…
It can be tricky to buy or trade your books because not all of the staff do this for some reason. That’s sometimes inconvenient, and is really the only ‘con’ here. The staff is quiet, but friendly and helpful if you ask for assistance. The prices are great too, and if you bring something to trade you might not have to get your wallet out at all, which is a beautiful thing.

The Atlanta Book Exchange’s wares teeter in piles and stack in double rows on bowing shelves. Winding through a dozen labyrinthine nooks in the converted Craftsman house, you can find a lot of books that won’t interest you. However, odds are good you will dig through the inventory to find an out-​of-​print title you can’t find many other places (also, you’ll find it cheap!)
It’s the best browsing bookstore for book lovers in Atlanta.

We liked it.
After sating ourselves next door at JavaVino, we felt the need to «bajar la comida» (a Spanish expression for walking around after dinner — literally meaning «lower the food» which… is kind of gross).
Anyway, we sauntered over to this abandoned-​shack-​looking like place; seeing a pulsating Costco-​esque Open sign, we went in.
Or tried to.
A Steve Zahn-​like dude behind the counter inside motioned for us to come in as I was doing that turning the doorknob thingy that you often see in a close up on a horror movie. Unlocking the door, Steve muses about that maybe being the reason why no one was coming in.
Anyway.
So we go in.
I, minding my own business, browse around looking at multiple tomes on items covering everything from the Civil War to Hot to Flirt on your First Lesbian Date.
She, as usual, goes to the sections with more gravitas; we coincide in the children’s section to buy something for the offsprings.
This is a friggin huge house with all sorts of little alcoves and stuff; wide selection and close enough to a coffee place to buy something and then go over and read it there.
Or stay there and read in a chair.
P. S. Steve says that they don’t take Amex.

I really dug this little place. As repeated before, they defintely aren’t well organized, other than by genre, but the staff knows where things are and are glad to help you find that one item you are looking for. Also they have a big section for you people who love popular books, such as Oprahs bookclub books, specifically targeted as a genre in hard back and paper back. So quit frequenting the massive chain stores, i.e. Borders on Ponce, and pay ½ as much for a book from a locally owned business. They may not have coffee in the store but they are next to Java Vino and down the street from San Fran coffee. Besides you might find some new and interesting authors you love in the raggedy old house/​shop. And BONUS: You are saving money– HURRAY!!! You can thank me later.

Yes, its cramped, the staff is odd, and it smells a little weird (and not just in that typical old bookstore way), but the atlanta book exchange is a great place to go with an open mind and a desire to read.
While they frequently don’t have the title you’re looking for, this is one of my favorite bookshops to go to in atlanta when i am looking for nothing in particular, or maybe just an unformed concept. Several times i have approached random staff and mentioned totally vauge ideas or theories and been inundated with potential reads. Say something like «i’m interested in mob mentality» to certain employees and you could be led by an excited guide thru every genre in the store, discovering untapped authors and stimulating works.
Not every visit is that fulfilling, but the ones that are are totally worth it. Atlanta Book Exchange is especially good for exploring works in literary theory and most areas of academia and non-​fiction.
But most important, how regretful can a trip to a new bookstore ever really be?

Atlanta Book Exchange is for lovers. Book lovers. Otherwise, you would probably be frustrated searching through the tiny, packed shop. There are shelves and shelves of books organized alphabetically by author and separated by genre. Yet there is no computer database in spite of the massive selection. I was looking for a few specific novels for class, and the owner was helpful and persistent. He found most of the books I needed. They were half the retail price and in good condition. The downside was he didn’t immediately know what he did and did not have in stock. I recommend this shop for people with time to dig around. There are definitely a few interesting, unusual books to be discovered.

Atlanta’s oldest independent bookstore; they have a wide selection of mostly remaindered books, with some used copies thrown in. They have a great art book section and a friendly, if over-​talkative, staff. Not super cheap, but everything inside is 50% off the cover price, so you can get some good deals.