13 best sustainable bookstores in Denver

Updated January 25, 2019

13 best sustainable bookstores to visit in Denver on Friday the 13th

by Emily Johnson

1. The Bookies Bookstore

4315 E. Mississippi Ave., 303-759-1117, thebookies.com

Bookies is a large emporium of books for children of all ages. Sue Lubeck started this children’s and young-adult focused bookstore in her Denver basement more than 40 years ago. If you have a finicky reader of any age from kindergarten to the teens, go here. They offer 10–15% standing discounts on books.

2. Broadway Book Mall

200 S Broadway, Denver, (303) 744-2665, http://www.broadwaybookmall.com/

With many opportunities to hobnob with local authors, and excellent books in pristine condition (many signed), Broadway Book Mall is a must for local book lovers in the know. Formerly Denver Book Mall, Broadway Book Mall is out and running in its new location. Good sci-fi and fantasy selection. Farenheit’s Books also moved in recently down the road, so pay them a visit while you’re passing through (especially for used graphic novels!)

3. Capitol Hill Books

300 E. Colfax Ave., 303-837-0700, capitolhillbooks.com

With a view of the State Capitol, Capitol Hill Books offers a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction titles in a convenient location for tired wonks. Capitol Hill has some of the bells and whistles of the bigger chains, particularly their searchable online database of used books in Denver. You can search by title and author, get information about price, condition and binding, and reserve books for pickup before leaving home.

4. The Hermitage Bookshop

290 Fillmore St., 303-388-6811, hermitagebooks.com

Oriented toward non-mass-market literary and non-fiction books, the Hermitage also houses fine collectible and signed books, and has some nice first editions from popular authors that may have you fighting the urge to splurge. Specialties include Western Americana, children’s books, literary first editions, military, illustrated books, hunting & fishing, and travel. This is a great place for a budding book dealer to learn.

5. The Book Stop

10840 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 – (303) 425 – 4960

www.abookstop.com

The Book Stop is a maze of rooms, filled to the brim with books. Sean and Renee took it over about five years ago and have invigorated the three decade used book store with some cosmetic redecorating while still keeping the funkiness alive. They offer cash book buybacks every 2nd and 4th Sunday morning liberal trade policy, and over a 100,000 book are ctaalogued in their electronic database.  A west Jeffco institution! 

6. 50/50 Books

4425 Grape St, Park Hill, Northeast, (720) 600-6110

5050books.com

Pay what you can here in this innovate upstart (backed partly by Kickstarter). Want to support the store? Pay more. Want to read but doing the “starving artist”? Pay less. Either way, we fully support this effort in bridging class barriers via book love. 50/50 houses a wide variety of genres, so there’s something for everyone, both new and used (excellent) condition. There is also have a donation box outside, so you can empty your shelves as you get through your book list (quite a bit longer now you’ve visited 50/50).

7. Park Hill Community Books

4620 E 23rd Ave., Northeast Denver, (303) 355-8508

Park Hill has all the used bookstore staples—travel, sci-fi, cookbooks, mass-market fiction and literature, a selection of history & biography, sports, children’s books. They also feature knick-knacks from local sellers (cards, puzzles, etc.). What makes Park Hill different is its co-op, volunteer-run model. This is actually a venerable tradition in the book world—the type of place that offers a respite for critical and artistic thought when we’ve needed it most. Don’t forget to go downstairs. Membership: $15/year optional for their book-trade program. Open 7 days.

8. West Side Books

3434 W 32nd Ave, Highland, Northwest Denver, (303) 480-0220, westsidebooks.com

The very embodiment of a community book store, West Side Books almost doubles as an antique store with an incredible selection of vintage reading materials.  You can find classic collectibles, a climbing journal from the 70s, and a first edition Nancy Drew. There’s a well-curated selection of new books, too, for the shopper with a title in mind. For aimless browsing, there’s a large used-book section in back. We dare you not to lose an hour here.

9. BookBar

4280 Tennyson St, Northwest Denver, 303-284-0194

bookbardenver.com

Probably the most hipster selection here (wink), BookBar fuses bar and bookshop, keeping it elevated with a great variety of books, literary-themed snacks, and a knowledgeable sales staff. BookBar is a great spot for the book club meeting—with wine of course! The staff will suggest good selections based on your group’s reading habits. Upstairs, they host lucky book lovers in their book-themed AirBnB rental.

10. Tattered Cover Book Store

2526 E. Colfax Ave., 303-322-7727; 1628 16th St., 303-436-1070; 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, 303-470-7050

tatteredcover.com

The Tattered Cover is the Denver bookstore by which others are measured. Their flagship store on Colfax is surely worth a visit. Entering through the doors, it’s what you imagine a bookstore should look like—it could be in a museum of bookstores. Not for the bargain hunter, but the infrastructure and location could have told you that. Staff recommendations are on point.

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11. Kilgore Books & Comics

624 E. 13th Ave., 303-815-1979, kilgorebooks.com

Located in between two Wax Trax storefronts, Kilgore’s indie comics and zine selection is the main draw for its loyal patrons. But they also have used books, including fiction, philosophy, history, science, sci-fi/fantasy, and local titles. Kilgore has a legacy connection with the comics publisher of the same name, and you’ll find their comics among the titles.

12. Mile High Comics

4600 Jason St., (303) 477-0042

A comic nerd’s wet dream—Mile High is officially the BIGGEST comic book store in the United States! An unassuming warehouse that might make you wonder if you’re in the right place, keep on and you’ll find no better selection of comics old, new, and collectible. They also sell toys, figurines, and memorabilia.

13. Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore

2553 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, (303) 758-9113

What sets this new age store apart from others is their collection of used books! With about 7000 new books and 2000 used books to choose from, Shining Lotus has all your metaphysical book needs covered. (Honorable mention to Goddess Isis in Englewood for ambience and herbs.)