Twice Sold Tales

One of my favorite spots in Seattle, been coming here for 15 years or more. I love all the books and cats. The place is filled with used books of all sorts and is home to a great collection of cats. The former mascot, Marco, was king of the bookstore cats and his giant round polka-​dot ghost keeps watch over the place. I admire the brilliant eccentric owner, she’s an expert on books, cats and a random wide variety of interesting topics. I do miss the overhead (bridges between the shelves) catwalks from the old location, but I like the multi-​room layout of the new place. I appreciate that it’s open late and has a happy hour.

This is one of my favorite used book stores. If you love classics, they will most likely have them! You get used to the cat smell and I love the feel of an old dusty shop. This is a true gem. They have the BEST prices! I always get a good deal here and you really can’t beat the happy hour discount either. So much better than Half Priced Books!!!

I go there to hang out with cats. They are super cute. Book choices are good as well.

This book store is covered in books and I mean covered! Pretty much from wall to wall, on the floor and filled shelves everywhere! It may sound like it is hard to navigate in a bookstore like this but it absolutely is not. They have concise and clear signage as to what section you are in and where you need to go when you want to move onto another. They have what seems any topic at your fingertips. They also have antique books that are locked up and look beautiful… too beautiful to touch and read.
The experience of coming here would not be complete unless you pay a visit to the cat who will probably be sleeping on the front counter or making an occasional stroll around.

Came across this gem after having brunch with a group of friends! This wonderful find of a bookstore was absolutely enchanting! Do not be fooled by the outer appearance of this bookstore; there are many exquisite books in here! Not only do they have books for all ages, they have some antique hand drawn comic books/​pamphlets here too!
As I started to venture into the maze of the bookstore, I was happily greeted by Eleanor, one of the few cats that «guard» over the shop! I also met the shop owner/​bookkeeper/​cat owner who was the sweetest and most knowledgable lady you will ever meet! She introduced each of her cats to me and even allowed me to feed them treats!
Although the bookstore smells more like cats and old pet beds, I had a good time over cute cats and amazing books! Definitely going to make a stop here when I’m around Cap Hill area to get my kitty fix!

Super cute place, very friendly and nice staff. Very eager to help, great environment. Love the kitties of course but we all know that’s why we’re there!

Two things to know– the place is filled with cats, and crammed with books. If neither of those appeal to you, stay away. However if that kind of thing is up your alley, check it out. They have everything, from signed first editions to well worn fifty cent mass market paper backs. I bought a literal arm load of books for only thirty dollars, and found a copy of a book I had been looking for. If you need someplace to wander this is your book store.

Great bookstore and I will go out of my way to go there. I think the lady that works there knows every book in the store and even if she doesn’t have a book you want she will try to find it for you.

Twice sold tales is awesome! They have two awesome bookstore cats and just got two foster kittens.
As for the book part of the bookstore, it’s also good. They have a wide selection and I can usually find what I’m looking for. The pricing is pretty much what I would expect from a used bookstore, although maybe a little above average; the pricing scheme, however, doesn’t always seem to makes sense – e.g. books with the cover coming off may still be priced at $ 12. They have a rewards system which isn’t bad – 8 purchases (collect all the different cat-​themed book marks) and get either a 10 or a 20 dollar credit.
The employees/​owner are helpful and will get you what you’re looking for, even if they’re not overly conversational. Overall, it’s a great used bookstore!

A used bookstore with cats! What’s not to love?
Twice Sold Tales is pretty much exactly how I picture a used bookstore: a maze of little rooms with floor-​to-​ceiling shelves of books, more piles of books on the floor, and the occasional sleepy cat curled up in a corner. The store is open pretty late even on weeknights, so it’s pretty convenient to stop by, although parking can be a pain in that area.
They have books of all genres, including local WA books, cookbooks, and a good travel section, so it’s worth checking here before you pay $ 20 for an expensive travel guide. Their history section is pretty extensive and I always manage to find something good in there. Some categories jump across walls and into different rooms, so don’t forget to follow the arrows, especially for the large fiction and literature section.
Prices generally seem to follow the «half off the cover price» rule, although there’s a bargain section by the front door for $ 0.50, and usually a $ 1 rack by the cash register. Since I usually go without any specific titles in mind, I’m happy to browse the sale racks. On the occasions that I have come in looking for something specific, I feel like I’ve had about a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ success rate, but that’s the same with any used bookstore.
The cats are friendly and approachable and don’t mind being petted. I’ve never noticed any litter box smells or lack of cleanliness, but the cats do roam freely through the store and sleep where they want, so if you dislike cats or have allergies, this might not be the place for you.
Buyers seem to be on hand most of the time if you want to bring in books; the last time I came in was on a Saturday, and they said it would take about an hour, so I spent the time browsing through the store for books. You get more value if you trade in your books for store credit vs. cash. I didn’t think that I got a *huge* value considering the amount of books I brought in to trade, but since I was primarily trying to get rid of books, it was fine.
Overall, a fun place to get your kitty fix and find affordable books, and a Capitol Hill institution.

Why go Twice Sold Tales?
1. It is tucked in the cute neighborhood of Capital Hill close to numerous restaurants to go to before and/​or after your visit.
2. Everyone that works there wants you to find the perfect book, Especially the owner. I love old children’s novels with illustrations and she was steered me to a fifth edition of 101 Dalmatians.
3. The selection is great, and if you can’t find what you want they will try to find it for you.
4. Last but not least, CATS. 2 adorable felines are waiting to greet you.
Why wait, go today! :)

This is the cutest little secret in Capitol Hill. I almost don’t want to write this review because I like how it’s easy to get lost in the quiet shelves without people milling around everywhere like in the big bookstores.
Twice Sold Tales is the easiest place of this size to get lost in that I have ever come across. It’s incredibly disorganized when you first walk in but once you get the hang of it it’s always easy to find something worth your time.
They have every book imaginable, as long as it’s not a new release, and they generally have it at a very reasonable price. You can find me perusing their shelves for a David Sedaris novel or a teen fiction book or the occasional Stephen King almost every weekend, and I frequently find things I never knew I needed until I stumbled upon them there.
I also love that while wandering through the shelves, I’m liable to come upon a kitty tucked away into a nook taking a nap. It feels very homey and the overall effect is somewhere between the crazy cat lady’s house, Professor Kirke’s home in the Chronicles of Narnia, and the worst and/​or greatest home library ever.
If you like to read, I recommend it. There’s just something about a pre-​loved book that makes it feel more supple in your hands. Maybe they soak up some of the feeling they illicit from their readers. Maybe they just have character. Either way, Twice Sold Tales is bound to please. Just don’t interrupt my solitude as I glide among the shelves, and I’ll smile knowing you’re in on the secret.

Most of the time I stop by Twice Sold Tales, it’s to scoop the Lady Eleanor up for a cuddle because she’s one of the sweetest store cats I’ve met in Seattle. Her ginger companion was also eager to crawl up on my shoulder when I came in with food. In addition to the sweethearted furballs, Twice Sold Tales have an extensive collection of used books to peruse. Titles tend to lean towards popular authors, but there’s plenty of non-​fiction extensively catalogued as well. I was glad to pick up a Richard Bachmann copy of The Long Walk last time I was in town and if I’m going to stop by to see the cats, I’m happy to give the place my business.

Large selection of books, but kind of hit and miss in its selection.
As we entered, we were greeted with a blended smell of old books and cats. There were two cats there that we saw, and they were content to just lounge around, but reviews informed us that there were more cats than we saw. As we continued to explore the collections, we kept passing by a torn up kitty condo here, and a matted cat bed there. And multiple stains on the carpet that indicated previous cat-​accidents and pet hair that didn’t look like it had been vacuumed for a while.
There was an extensive selection of science fiction, and history books, but limited in many other areas. There was a cute nook of Queer Studies, Fiction and Erotica, but it was largely gay-​male erotica and not a lot of lesbian or trans. The section of «queer studies» was less than impressive. Books weren’t as competitively priced compared to other bookstores I’ve been to, and there was a lot more new titles in a bookstore that looked like it was crawling in used and vintage books.
All in all, we were in there for maybe 20 minutes, but the longer we stayed in there, the less it smelled of books and the more we kept feeling like it smelled like a cat hoarder’s house. I’ve been to other stores with cats (including Ophelia’s Books in Fremont neighborhood in Seattle) and for the longest time, Bijou Arts Cinema in Eugene had a cat named Boo in its theater lobby (until Boo passed away), and other businesses I’m drawing blanks on right now in Oregon and California. My point is that, the stink of cat pee in this store outweighed the positives about a bookstore with cats.

Ordered chaos.
They have so many rows upon rows of books that you could get lost in here. The books are more novel type than scientific but you can pretty much guarantee that you will leave with a book when you come visit this store.
Warning: There are a lot of cats running around the store so if you are allergic you should probably avoid!

How could anything be wrong with this place when cats clearly run the joint?!
Combining two of my favorite things in the world (cats and used books), I don’t think Twice Sold Tales could make me any happier. Immediately upon entering, I am greeted by a lovely furball rolled up, sleeping contently. But wait, there’s more! Cat condos, beds, and toys are all over the store, with another cat perched lazily at the cash register. The fact that this place is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main areas of Capitol Hill just make it that much more charming.
This place has a TON of books, too. What a great selection! I could spend hours in here if given the time and an unlimited credit card. Just imagine the possibilities…$$$.
This place would be heaven on earth if it had coffee. That would make it the trifecta of perfection!!!

I stumbled upon this bookstore while exploring the city and the sign outside definitely called to me.
This is a thrift store of great finds. The books are well priced and you are sure to find some gems.
I left here with a copy of «Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories for Late At Night.»
You can tell that the workers really care about the books and know their stuff. The cashier wrapped the cover of my book because it was falling apart for no extra charge which was super sweet of him.
I am forewarning all those allergic to cats this is not the place for you. This place was awesome but if you are allergic or do not like cats I would not step foot in here. There are quite a few cats and dander everywhere.
For those who do love cats and books this is your new home.

I get my books from the library but do enjoy browsing every once in a while. The main draw here was the kittys. The cats delivered — kind of. They were cute, but definitely not well groomed by any means, with greasy coats and crusty eyes. The floors looked like they hadn’t been vacuumed in a (long) while and there were straight-​up clumps of matted hair in some areas. As a result, the whole place had that «this is the dwelling of a cat» stink going on. That mixed with old book smell — not necessarily the best of odors.
As far as books go, this place was difficult to browse, as books are literally EVERYWHERE — in stacks on the floor, crammed into the shelves, above doorways, on counters. There also seems to be very little organization to the store itself, and it truly felt like a maze as I couldn’t pinpoint where exactly I was at any given moment. I did ask where the Anthropology section was, and the guy showed me without any hint of a smile on his face.
If I’m ever in the area again I might stop in to take a look-​see just to kill some time, but I was not impressed with the execution of what could have been the greatest place ever.

Hundreds of books overflowing the bookshelves, and cute cats that follow you around… what’s not to love?! Some prices were a bit high, but overall this is a great local bookstore!

It’s better than a library, because of the kitties and sweet finds. I will catch myself browsing for children’s animal anatomy books and come across kid’s science experiments with picture diagrams. Stumble across Copernicus the Bibliography and find Marie Curie’s right next to it.
Wander around a new section. At times I forget that I am in a store, until I see another person. But you never feel pressured to leave, make a decision or pay too much. It’s comfy and tranquil. Pay before you leave and leave the kitties for others.