Downtown Books Bought & Sold

Adorable used bookstore! Best option to grab the next book on your reading list! They have such a range of titles. I have popped in a few times to see if they had my latest book club book and I am always pleasantly surprised that they do!

I enjoyed my visit to this bookstore the last time I came to Milwaukee, and I plan on going back again, of course! It’s a wonderful space with a very laid back atmosphere. A great respite from the city for some quality time alone within the wonderful world of books.

Love this place. Fun to waste an hour browsing with two sleepy shop cats (they’re brothers!).
You can always call ahead with specific book questions.
Huge comic book section.
Lots of cassette tapes — if you’re getting that 1988 itch.
Also: there’s a Walkers Point location that I believe is half off all downtown location prices — I’m pretty certain.
ALSO: you can sell books for store credit or (less) cash!
WOOHOO!

This place seems to have it all in terms of selection and atmosphere. I stopped in with some from-​out-​of-​town guests, and I had a hard time rounding everyone up to leave because one person kept stopping to browse on her way to the register.
I spent my time in the children’s book section, and left with a Raggedy Ann and Andy book that I’d had as a wee little thing. Now I get to share it with my daughter!
The in-​store cats are so charming and easy-​going, they just add to the cozy atmosphere. I really just want to come in with an over-​stuffed bean bag chair while wearing my pajamas with a tall mug of tea, especially since there’s a chill on the wind. Maybe I’ll go do that now. (Don’t mind me, Mr. Store owner!)

Didn’t spend much time browsing, but the cats were adorable! Definitely stop in and look around! It’ll be worth your while.

Solid bookstore that reminds me of Powell’s without the friendly attitude. I really get the feeling that all but one or two people who work here don’t read books at all. I sold them a large academic and literary library of books for pennies on the dollar. I did want to get rid of things and didn’t care too much but I sold them books they know they will make a 2000% profit on. Perhaps the book is dead but booksellers that don’t seem to read is not the way to save the book. A fairly easy place to sell books but expect to get two cents for the still in the wrapper book you sell them. I hope this means they are selling books for 25 cents. On the positive side the sales were easy and they paid me via Paypal.

This was my first visit to the new Downtown Books. It doesn’t seem nearly as big as the old location, but definitely still has more books than any one bookstore could ever need. Customer service is still amazing, prices are still great, and it doesn’t seem as stuffy as the last place. Sadly I came looking for 2 things, and couldn’t find either… but I’d still rather go to a place like this instead of a borders or ebay. Sadly I didn’t see any of the cats today!

I really miss their old location which was bigger and a bit more mysterious. I’m happy that they still exist and although their new spot is a bit too brightly lit, I still make sure to visit whenever I’m in Milwaukee. They still carry LPs and the two cats, Milo and Merlin, are really special. Long live Downtown Books!

My feelings have changed on the bookstore over the years. I was a fan of Downtown Books ever since middle school. (I am now 22.) I enjoyed the stacks and stacks of old comic books and records I could go through.
Of course I was sad when the property was bought and they had to move. They reopened not too far away but the comic section and particularly the record section sucks. Badly. It’s nice that they price things now (the records used to be a free for all) but I have more records in my personal collection then they allow you to look through. It is now one tiny shelving unit. And you can tell they select well-​known artists (and overpriced for these common, basic records) to put on the shelves. There is no longer the fun of digging through stacks and finding new music.
The comic section is a little bigger than the record section, but same problem. There’s no fun in discovery anymore. They are so particular with what they put out now. It’s a huge disappointment and I really avoid shopping here now.

I was on my way to the Public Market looking for Christmas gifts when i decided to walk down Broadway and stumbled upon this bookstore! I was intrigued by the bargain books outside and decided to go inside!
Within minutes I had found great gifts for both of my parents, and was amazed by the vast collection of literature and movies before me.
As I browsed, an adorable orange cat was snoozing by the heater. I tiptoed passed, hoping not to wake the sleeping cutie… but before I knew it, the kitty came over to me and sat on my lap while I looked at books on the lower shelf!
It was so special and fun! The darker cat soon joined and they both nuzzled me. What a moment! :’) I will definitely be returning.
Such a gem in the city… can’t wait to suggest it to everyone!

WHY: No reason in particular. I found a free parking spot right in front of the business on a Saturday.
FOUND & PURCHASED: An $ 8 book about Frank Lloyd Wright
CATS: There are two cats here. They seemed to follow me from aisle to aisle like I was a shoplifter.
COOL: Floor to ceiling books. Organized in an indie-​record or video store kind of way with hand written signs. I could get lost in here. Comics, graphic novels, novels, CDs, books organized by author, kids’ books, DVDs — it’s here. It’s used and probably under $ 10.
NO: Saw a used Bush Sixteen Stone CD for $ 5. People sell this album for five cents at garage sales.
NOT: This isn’t a suburban national chain. There isn’t a Starbucks in the center there are books.
*** Unchain and Support Local Businesses ***

I LOVE USED BOOKSTORES! Narrow aisles, stacked floor to ceiling, with paperbacks and hardcovers. So many words. I want this one. And that one! And this one too!
Downtown is nicely organized and the prices are quite good. My friend was looking for something specific and he couldn’t find it. The clerk knew *exactly* that it was in stock and where it was. I was impressed.
I have never seen this many VCR titles in my life. I think they have more than any Blockbuster Video ever did. If there’s a movie you want to see, I’ll bet dollars to donuts that they have it here.

If I have a crappy experience somewhere, my standard course of action is to reach out to the owner/​manager. Owners have their lives invested in their businesses, and it’s more productive than blasting someone on Unilocal: they want to make customers happy, I want to leave happy, what-​have-​you.
Downtown Books is the only seller to have ever scammed me on eBay. Since last fall, I’ve called, emailed, stopped in, and generally been shunted from one person to another in a madcap chase to find out why I paid for books that were never delivered and disappeared from their records with no trace. I’m not sure what nefarious black hole the books were deposited into, or if they ever existed at all.
Downtown Books has taken sixty dollars and my spirit and crushed the whole mess like a Christmas ornament under a jackboot.

What’s not to love about Downtown Books?! One of my and my husband’s favorite dates is to have a stroll, grab coffee (usually from Alterra Foundry or the Public Market) and then wander around Downtown Books browsing the kajillions of neat literary works available.
One thing that’s always really impressed me and puts Downtown Books in its own category of awesomeness is that when I’m looking for something specific, all I need to do is ask one of the employees, and even though they have no computer system they’re able to tell me whether or not the book is in stock (and if it is in stock, they tell me where it is!).
Downtown Books is where it’s at, friends. Enjoy.

Attempting to locate a used or even a new bookstore in Milwaukee was like trying to manipulate a Which Way book.
We visited two stores, still listed as active, that were closed. One storefront bore the bruises of a 3-​alarm fire or so it seemed. Each stop was an end to our adventure, until finally we paged the Goddess Baalat. She informed us that, yes, there was an awesome, active store at this location.
And what a great selection! The store sells an assortment of new and used books. I was surprised to see how many great writers and popular titles were represented.
The man at the counter was so resourceful and personable. We talked to him for nearly a half an hour just gaining knowledge about the collection and the city. What a great experience!
Definitely worth a visit and oh, there are these two cute cats that live there too. Seems Heminway-​esque, if you ask me.

It’s definitely nerdy and maybe a little pathetic when the most memorable part of your vacation is a used book store, but maaan this place is awesome.
The store looks small from the street, but it extends back into an area filled with books touching the ceilings. The store has plenty of books, as well has a large collection of DVD, VHS, and records.
The gentleman working that evening was the star of the show. He was an older man with a lot of knowledge of what was in the store, and had great recommendations based on what I already liked. He was wonderful at entertaining my dad with fun conversation as I browsed the store for nearly two hours.
This store is incredibly charming, complete with a few calm cats to keep you company as you overwhelm yourself with the massive collection.

I love love love Downtown Books. LOVE!
Yes, it can seem overwhelming. In fact, it absolutely is overwhelming. But this place is gold, my friends.
This is the kind of place that, on a random afternoon, you can wander into — coffee in hand — and lose about two hours of your life in the best possible way.
Every category, every genre, every thing. Downtown books has it. If it’s a book you’re after, chances they’ll have it. Sure, they have a bunch of crappy stuff, but what’s awesome and rare and interesting? They have a lot of that too.
And yes… as others has mentioned, VHS is a medium that hasn’t much a place in everyday society these days… but really… why hate on that when this place is so damn charming on the whole?

Eeeek, I’m venturing out of my restaurant review comfort zone and reviewing a business!
For a reading geek like myself, it doesn’t get better than Downtown Books. It’s kind of cramped and smells like old books and you could spend hours there and that is absolutely why I love it.
Here’s the thing — I’m a voracious reader. I read incredibly fast. I could put myself on. the street if I bought enough books to keep me busy all new from the bookstore.
I love their 95 cent books. I love that I’ve never spent more than $ 5 on a book here. I love that I can buy Harry Potter, crappy romances, travel books and sports books all in the same visit. I love that I rarely go there and leave having not found what I was looking for. I love that it feels like someone’s study or basement or secret book room and isn’t the fluorescent lights and screaming kids at Half-​Price Books. I love that sometimes the organization seems to make no sense, but you ask for help and the person working leads you right to what you need. I love that they’re not pretentious. They know that folks read chick-​lit and John Grisham and they keep those well-​stocked and front and center.
I know the VHS are out of date, but I also don’t expect them to just throw out their stash. They have the room, so they display them and hope to make a buck here or there. I can’t blame them.
Look, I love my Kindle, but sometimes you just want to go fondle some dusty books and feel the heft and hear a spine crack. Downtown Books fulfills those needs.

Are you one of those people who still love to read? Then you’ll love this quirky, labyrinthine, vast and eclectic collection of cheap used books.
People who love books, there are less and less of us, we’ve got to keep places like this in business so I urge you to come in and shop here. Let’s face it, most people are idiots. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, H.G. Wells’ Time Machine, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Cyril Kornbluth’s Marching Idiots, and Luke Wilson’s Idiocracy are becoming our American reality. And you can find used copies of all of these somewhere here, though it may take you a while.

This place reminds me a lot of Myopic in Chicago – multiple floors, tall shelves, various nooks and crannies, mild overpricing based on the quality and selection of books… and cats. The two darlings at Downtown Books were my favorite thing about my recent visit. The orange tabby is far handsomer, but his dark-​colored shaggy buddy was ten times more charming. He followed me all over the store, upstairs and down, from room to room, staring at me almost imploringly, meowing every few seconds, and several times rubbing his head against my leg and asking me to play. Awww.
I was looking for a handful of specific titles and found none. And the size is too overwhelming for casual browsing. Somehow this store contains tens of thousands of books which don’t interest me. Sigh. That’s a tough feat, but honestly I was more enamored with the cats than with the store.
Of course, I love a used bookstore, and if I lived in Milwaukee, this would be a regular stop. I’m sure that I would find a few things to buy but I’d mostly come to play with the kitties. Meow!