Vroman’s Bookstore

Vroman’s is one of the neatest bookstores. It’s independently owned and operating on the level of Barnes and Noble. They offer a wide variety of books, journals, gifts, weekly trades and magazines.
There’s a nice little café outside. It’s perfect for grabbing a drink and reading the daily news. Right on Colorado boulevard, the patio provides a lovely blend of city and people watching.
If you’re looking for a new read, thoughtful gift or place to hang out on a rainy day, Vroman’s is truly delightful.

Just a really fantastic independent bookstore that is huge… you’re bound to find something and all the employees are super helpful and knowledgeable. Their calendar is always packed with events with visiting authors.

I came here again because my boyfriend wanted to go here and we were in the area. Every time I come here, my excitement diminishes more and more. I kind of like the gifts they sell, but other than that, there’s no reason for me to come here. The store has a nice layout. The employees were never friendly. They’ll say nothing to me, but the next person who comes in, they say «Hi, welcome!»

The 2016 Unilocal 500, Review #097
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This place has been around 120+ years, so they are obviously doing something right. First off I will say that this isn’t the Strand, Powell City of Books or even L.A.‘s pride, The Last Bookstore. It is, however, a shop to be admired.
From books to coffee to greeting cards and wall art… From handbags to magnets to jewelry and more, this shop has it all. Even a newspaper stand right out front.
In case you are unaware, there is a small parking lot out behind the building… and it is free!

Awesome bookstore that’s a lot bigger than it seems! There’s a ton of knick knacks and office supplies for sale inside too.

I worked here! In the children’s section which is run by Ashley and Eric! It was fantastic.
The people who work here are genuinely nice to each other and to customers.
Books and tchotchkes draw you in but the ambiance and smell of books keep you coming back. Yes, Vromans is expensive. Most books are full price (expect to pay ~$ 17.00 for a newly released hard cover adult fiction book) but they have a generous sale section down below organized by mr. Steve who also does story time Wednesdays and Saturdays (if I remember correctly). For older releases (think maybe a couple of years) prices are a little more reasonable.
Ask for advice/​recommendations! In general people are very knowledgeable about the section they are in and are passionate about those topics.
I can’t wait to visit again with the new jones roasters in full swing!

1894, that’s how long Vroman’s has been with us. I guess the secret to longevity is don’t sell out like the Borders brothers did in the 1990s.
My second visit was a whirlwind tour, but I found the store to be in the vein of a true independent. a separate section setup for book readings? A nifty children’s section with toys and activities? Wow!
The newstand out front is the perfect draw. They have, item for item, a nice selection of domestic and international titles. My pics only tell a smidgen of the story, but suffice it to say, Vroman’s will keep me coming back. I miss the vibe of a fantastic bookstore. The remaining big player lost it years ago, so please support the remaining independent sellers so they make it to 2094!

This is one of my favorite bookstores in all of this city. There are a lot of really great places, but I LOVE coming here. If I ever opened my own book shop, I would want it to be like Vroman’s.
There are spots to buy great little book trinkets, tshirts, decorations, candles. Then there are great recommendations made by the staff.
I recently discovered the upstairs area, which is home for some boutique items, as well as a children’s/young adult section. They also host author discussions and such up here.
Overall, I come here again and again to wander and discover great new reads. It’s a must see.

My last visit to Vroman’s reminded me of all of the reasons why I love bookstores with a fierce passion. While a small, independent bookstore, the shelves were stacked with all of the latest bestsellers and then some. It seems that they’ve acquired the space next door, which serves as a spillover area for several other specific genres, such as spirituality and cookbooks. When I came, I was on the hunt for a new literary treat that would accompany me on my upcoming nine-​hour flight. As soon as I started prowling through the shelves, John (whom I’m assuming is the manager) approached me, asking if I needed any help finding anything in particular. It began a beautiful conversation between two huge bookworms as we discussed favorite books of the year and he took me on a lovely maze-​like tour of the fiction section to help me find my latest purchase. By combing through my list of latest reads and my takes on all of them, he was able to figure out my general book palate and loaded my arms with several possibilities (many of which I ended up purchasing even though it shot right through my book budget for the month).
The space isn’t particularly beautiful (in fact, one might even call some of the dimly parts somewhat quaint and depressing) and they won’t have every possible book out there but it’s run by amazing folks who love books as much as you do and will not quit until you’ve found the one you need (or, if they don’t have it, a damn good runner up). According to the signs posted on the door, it looks as if they’ll also be serving speciality coffee in their store pretty soon, which I believe takes a bookstore from great to near perfect.
If you’re in the area, if you enjoy getting lost in a book, and if you enjoy talking to people who also love it just as much, I would highly recommend a visit to Vroman’s.

Located on Colorado Blvd, Vroman’s is conveniently close to a local haunt of mine, Roy’s. This store has 2 levels of organized books and other items. It is easy to browse and manuever. If you are looking for nice Christmas/​holiday cards at a discount, consider going during their after Christmas sales. They mark down some items up to 70%.
parking — free lot

Bookstores are pretty rare these days that when I see one, I can’t help but snoop around.
The atmosphere was homey from the moment I walked in. There were many selections of all kinds of books. They also sold a lot of knick-​knacks and gewgaws. I was tempted to buy a «Reading is Sexy» bumper sticker but resisted.
The workers are friendly and helpful. If I’d had know I would be at Pasadena, I would have brought something to study so I could hang around.
It’s nice to see that many people still support their local bookstore. As much as I love bookstores, I am guilty of buying books on Amazon for the discounted rate.
If I’m ever in Pasadena again, I will definitely stop by again.

Such a lovely, warm welcoming bookstore! The staff was very helpful, and the cashier gift wrapped my books for me (for free, I might add!) there are tons of little beautiful trinkets, home fragrances, and just a mish-​mash of things you’d find at your friendly neighborhood bookstore. Plenty parking, wonderful staff, couldn’t ask for more!

I Miss Bookstores and, of course, its Cool that the oldest independent bookstore in Southern California is still in business. We shall see if that stays the case; I have completely switched to electronic reading (not by choice, but a must when you go to law school) and its rare that I’m looking for something in paper.
This location is convenient; corner of El Molino & Colorado. The parking lot is behind and shared w/​Office Max and the spaces are tight.
When stepping down into the bookstore, the stairs are decorated w/​Artistic Colorful Tiles. The store is neatly organized and I easily found the section of books I was looking for, Travel. Further, they had quite a varied selection of travel publishers. The aisles are wide and the atmosphere is quiet; perfect for perusing your book selection.
At checkout, they carry varied gift items, from Little Flower Company Caramels to Burt’s Bees Skin Products. So if looking for a list minute gift, this is a great place to grab something.
Keeping my fingers crossed that these kinds of places stay in business.

My favorite bookstore. The selection of books is diverse, and there is an entire section of stationery and pens. I also love the fact that they have items from Out of Print. Getting gifts here is fun! The neighborhood is wonderful, too, as you can hang here while waiting for your movie at the Laemmle to start.

Love this place! They have a great café downstairs, and a HUGE selection of books!
I could get lost in here for hours on end.

I could wander around this character-​filled bookstore for hours. It’s a great place to find that book you’ve been looking for, a cute knick-​knack, or even gifts. Great selection. Will be back!

Hey, the only bookstore that knew who Motörhead and LEMMY was, and actually had the biography I wanted in stock.
Hell yeah!

Holiday festivities pulled me into this store for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised at how cozy and inviting the place was.
The ambience was very warm, with signage and decorations abound and staff members pretty happy (despite the volume of customers).
We flagged a person to help with finding a book and the lady was very helpful, escorted us to various sections and provided her own personal suggestions.
A great discovery was that this place also provided complimentary gift wrapping! And in 5 or 6 different types!
While online places like Amazon dominate the market, I can see how this place can thrive. The price premium is well worth the cost of marginal convenience.
Other pros include:
— In house café
— Even more staff :)
— Local eating locations (like Blaze pizza)
Cons:
— Price
— Selection on hands (compared to online)
— Parking

The best bookstore in Los Angeles — period.
I called ahead to check on a particular edition of English classic ‘Cider With Rosie’ by Laurie Lee; they were the only place in LA that had it in stock.
Very pleasantly surprised to find such a comprehensive bookstore. What an amazing range — books, magazines, cards, gifts, events, and a very extensive children’s section with wonderful educational publications, games and toys.
My only complaint is there is WAY too much great stuff in here to spend your money on. I could spend all day — and a small fortune — at this place. Not funny, Vroman’s!
If ever a bookstore could be called a work of art, this is it. Just beautiful.

I hope this place never closes. The smell of the books, people, fun. ok maybe scent is a better word not smell. It’s always a good place to be with the entire family, since they have something for everyone.

Amazing bookstore, and a dying breed in this day and age of online shopping. Not only is this store organized superbly, they have almost every book imaginable under the sun. The selection of children’s books is awesome too, in addition to books they have some pretty rad T-​shirts and toys for kids too. For the adults they offer some stellar gift options, literary socks, awesome smelling shaving creams for the gents, cards, and stationary, the list goes on and on.
They offer in store pickup and special ordering of books they don’t carry in the store or are out of stock. My husband special ordered a rare book, a part of a series apparently, that are hard to find to complete a set. I spent awhile browsing the baby book section looking for any books that I deemed necessary to ease the transition from party girl to first time mom. A scary section for a girl like me to find myself in. I digress, I love this store and can’t believe that bookstores are going to be one of those things that future generations won’t believe existed… Like corded phones, dial up Internet, floppy discs, etc.
There is nothing like spending a few hours wandering the aisles, finding books that can transform your mood, and have the power to take you away to a different time and place.
Keep abreast of the live readings and meet and greets they often have at this store, details can be found on their website, they have some of the best events. It’s definitely worse keeping an eye on.

For the beautiful writing instruments only.
I can see why they have been a staple in Pasadena. Walking in and exploring, I realized how much I’ve missed bookstores. There is a variety of books on many many subjects. The staff is friendly. I think if you need to locate a book, you will find it here.
Now onto the pens, it’s our bosses birthday and we wanted to get him something that wasn’t just a tie. We decided to get him a pen and while I know Montblanc is just tops, it’s also not in everyone’s budget to get crazy. Luckily, my coworker pointed me towards Vromans and the wide selection of pens.
Wil the associate was extremely patient with me as I spent about an hour and half deciding from roller ball to ball point back to roller ball and… I think you get the drift. What I appreciated the most was they have all sorts of beautiful pens that range from high-​end to mid-​range to the not so expensive. I learned a few things along the way!
After many many choices, texting back and forth with my coworker, we decided on the Sheaffer in the Metallic Blue. Presenting the pen today to our boss, I think he very much liked it! Fancy pen to sign fancy docs!
Tips-​parking is for 90 minutes. I asked if that is always enforced and was told yes and no. The 90 minutes might be more strict on the weekends but definitely don’t park there forever.

I always enjoy going into Vroman’s to check out their recent featured books, play with their latest knick knacks, and sit in a corner to start an interesting book before I commit to buying it. ;)
They oftentimes have guest authors, story time, and more upstairs. So be sure to check to see if your favorite authors or stories are in queue for the month!

Do people still buy physical books? I don’t know about you, but I just can’t read a book on a computer or tablet or cell phone screen for a long time. Also reading a book really includes the feel of a real book in your hand (you can’t curl up with a kindle now).
Well for all of you purists that need to feel the pages when reading, Vroman’s Bookstore is still around. I came here with my husband this past Saturday. I was here with the intent of wanting to look at a few books in the travel section (I know we have Unilocal and the like websites, but sometimes I just think it is nice to have it all in one little handheld place for me).
So this bookstore is 2 floors with plenty of interesting sections to browse through (restrooms are available on the 2^nd floor). There isn’t a whole lot of seating around though. I would say there was probably a handful of seats on the 1^st floor. But there are some seats (or you could sit on the rug) on the 2^nd floor in the children’s section (where I ended up sitting to go through the books I had in my hand to see if I should buy it).
Anyways, upon this visit, there was a clearance sale on the 2^nd floor. Potential buys can get an additional 50% off selected gifts and books, which had plenty of great things to browse through.
Also educators can get 20% off their total purchase (need to sign up for an account).
All in all, had a great visit.
By the way, Vroman’s is located next to Office Depot with free parking in the back. Vroman’s is also located across from Target as well.

I was very impressed by this book store. I thought Barnes and Nobles was fun to browse but I literally spent two hours here just looking at books and walked out with three novels, a Japanese workbook, a planner, and world map file folders for about $ 105.
This place is a little pricey but I found that it was worth it. I like owning books and this store has almost every book you could want.
The staff was also very knowledgeable. A few seemed less than delighted to be at work but there’s always a couple like that. They answered all my questions and helped me find what I wanted.
The best part is… PRIVATE PARKING LOT!!!
I highly re commend this place to book lovers or if you’re looking to browse at some place other than the millions of antique stores in the area.

I could spend all day here, seriously. Vroman’s is definitely one of my favorite bookstores, with such a massive selection, friendly staff, and plenty of seats for you to read the day away (in a mildly air-​conditioned place).
Their selection of goods offered include (but are not limited to):
— books of every genre you can imagine
— gift bags/​tissue paper/​cards
— stuffed animals (and the cutest children’s section ever)
— small knick-​knacks for your home
— locally made candies and treats
We did some decent damage at the check-​out, my only regret is not making the drive up to Pasadena sooner during my time in SoCal. Check this place out!

I first heard of Vroman’s years ago when my friend called me up one day told me to meet her to participate in the book signing with Valerie Bertenelli. Since then, I’ve made Vroman’s one of my fave bookstores. It’s a two-​story bookstore that sells just about everything and more!
The staff are very kind and helpful. They have a newspaper stand just outside of the store on Colorado. There’s plenty of parking in the back of the store shared with Office Depot. They are doing construction next door, so the parking is sliced in half, but still plenty of parking.

I miss bookstores like this. More than a neighborhood bookstore, it carries everything from tshirts to unique games you don’t find in big box stores. It has two floors. The top floor has a children’s section that is huge. Perfect for the kids… wait, I don’t have any. Also, there’s a public reading area where they have, I’m guessing here, readings. I found great books in the pretty big bargain book section for a fraction of the price. Awesome!!! Then there’s the connecting café. I glanced at it but didn’t go in so wouldn’t be able to tell you about it.
They have what Amazon doesn’t. Charm.