The Looking Glass Bookstore

It’s sad this little bookstore is closing and having to liquidate the stock. Everything in the store is 25% off if you need to stock up on books. I went in for the first time today so I could catch a glimpse before it’s gone. It’s sad that bookstores in general are suffering so much in this economy. People (like me) are just not buying enough books.

I have been going to the Looking Glass for years. They used to be located downtown, but the store is now in Sellwood.
The staff is friendly but not intrusive. The store has a very nice warm friendly atmosphere.
They have a good selection for a small store. You may not always find what you are looking for, but you will certainly be pleasantly surprised by what you find!

Five stars for bringing out a really comprehensive selection of Persian literature to the Portland Iranian Festival this year. They had everything from history to cookbooks to children’s books. I am always impressed at the way small bookstores can reach into a really important yet often forgotten niche like that. Way to go, Looking Glass!

The external appearance of this bookstore is somewhat enchanting: a bright red caboose-​looking building that i just could not bring myself to walk past. It pulled me in. And so I entered.
Upon walking into the children’s section, I was greeted by a handsome black smooth-​haired retriever. He was lazily lying across the stairs. But when he saw me approach, he kindly sat up and moved his paws out of the path. Charlie and I were immediately buddies. As I perused the various sections, including the ample poetry section and the fiction room, in search of some beat writing, I saw Charlie roaming from spot to spot, politely watching the patrons and excitedly accepting pets, pats, and scratches.
I adored the back garden area, with ample lush flowers and ferns, surrounding the soothing water fountain. I could easily see myself sitting out there on warm summer evenings, catching up on some Burroughs with Charlie at my ankles, listening to the calming sound of flowing water.
Very charming.
The owner of the shop was informative, helpful, and kind, without being pushy or desperate to sell her product. She also informed me of their Thursday night poetry readings, which I would love to attend.
I purchased a shiny new poetry anthology for $ 24. It’s not the Powell’s used book bin, but it’s something that I can revisit over and over for years to come. The experience all-​in-​all made it worthwhile to me.
As a perk, with the purchase of ten books, you’ll receive a 10% refund on the total price of your purchases. So you can go buy Charlie a nice big bone.

It’s hard to not notice this bookstore when passing by. The big red caboose makes it stand out like a sore thumb. What lies inside the doors is a really nice local book store. The caboose area is a well stocked children’s section. Just beyond that room is the rest of the bookstore which is small but well stocked. They always have a good selection of local interest books which is important for small bookstores. My favorite thing about this place is they have a back patio with a nice little garden to read your newly purchased books in.
Small independent bookstores are a dying breed, but it’s good to see this one still alive and kicking.

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? I always ponder this question in bookstores. Since there are so many free or discounted options to acquire books or view them on-​line, why pay retail (or close) at a bookstore? It seems so last millennium.
The reason is clear. Because you want to support the author as well as your local bookseller and money spent on books is ALWAYS money well spent.
Even though my kids have a constant flow of free books through their school and our public library, there are times when you really can’t bear to return a favorite. I saved books from my childhood (Roald Dahl, Robert McCloskey, Dr. Seuss, Nancy Drew) and it has been really fun to share some of my favorites with my boys and to see my name scrawled inside the cover.
I’m always trying to find a good local bookstore and aside from Powell’s, which is great but really a whole different beast, I haven’t found that special place in Portland until now. First you are greeted by the family’s dog as you walk up the stairs and into a caboose. This is where they stock children’s books and host story telling events. Then you descend into the main store. It is ‘MUCH bigger than it looks.’ The perspective shift is very Alice through the looking glass.
The personal customer service was amazing. On top of great book recommendations, your purchases are tracked so you get a 10% discount on your total purchases after buying 10 books. The entire experience was so wonderful, I can’t wait to come back with the kids. Moo!

Best bookstore in Town!
Powells is big and carries used books and I love it. But hands down, I would rather spend a day at The Looking Glass Bookstore!
First off, who can refuse browsing books in an old caboose? The upper nook for reading with kids is a great place to climb to and curl up with a good book.
Charlie the book dog is also a constant companion and loves a scratch behind the ear.
The best thing is the staff. The love books and the discerning selection reflects that. If you love books, good books, you will love this place. If you want to browse harlequin romance or true-​crime head elsewhere. Though I am sure they would love to order it for you. This is a place for book lovers. The staff love to sit and talk about the books, they have read most of them. Their recommendations are always well thought. The quality of books, service and atmosphere are high. They love kids and love people to come browse, hang out and fall in love with books.

Just one of many magical spaces in Portland brimming with charm and luster. A really wonderful selection of books waits inside of an old caboose, complete with a whimsical garden, friendly animals, and quirky staff. Like the city itself, a delight.

I came back to PDX after the snow melted and was feeling a bit bummed, but Looking Glass chased those blues away in a heartbeat! Its whimsical exterior alone lassoed my attention and it cozy, well-​stocked interior captured my heart. The friendly and helpful staff, roaring fireplace and cutie fido-​in-​residence are reason enough to lighten my wallet here every so often!

Portland is a tough town to own an independent bookstore — Powells looms large over the scene. However, Looking Glass is something special. It’s a wonderful place, both as a bookstore and as an architectural experience. The owner and staff are friendly and fascinating, and it’s a great place to go if you don’t know precisely what you need.

Fantastic bookstore.
Their monthly storytime features the city’s best storyteller.

I happened on this little bookstore (bigger than it looks in the photos) by accident, and spent a joyful couple of hours perusing their excellent children’s book collection, then found the local books section, then met the bookstore doggie and wandered from sunny cozy room to room, and ended up talking with the proprietor while overlooking the garden, filled with bright birds…
I love unique, eclectic little neighborhood bookstores, and this town has spawned a wonderful variety of them. I would happily spend an afternoon here on a regular basis.

It’s Magic!
Despite architectural cues that might lead me to believe otherwise, I say it’s magic that allows all of this
to fit in this

Not only do I believe in magic, but I believe in the Looking Glass. What a great independent bookstore (even if they don’t have much science fiction). Red Caboose in the front. Cute courtyard in the back. Great selection. Charming staff. What’s not to love?
My winter plan (should we eventually move to Sellwood) is to spend my days hibernating here, curled up in their cozy fireplace room, absorbing a good book through direct forehead osmosis (my preferred college study method).
Even Maddie was welcome here (though to be fair she may be the world’s most affable dog… smaller, sweeter, cuter, and better behaved then most of us humans).
Sure you could probably locate the book you’re searching for elsewhere, BUT if you want to experience m-​a-​g-​i-​c, why not journey through the Looking Glass and find it here?

When you live in Portland, home to the independent bookstore behemoth known as Powell’s, it seems like it would be hard to carve a niche as a smaller, independent bookstore. And Looking Glass has done just that. It is located in adorable little Sellwood, with an adorable little outdoor courtyard, and inside of and behind an adorable little red caboose. So in addition to being a perfectly capable independent bookstore, I now dub Looking Glass the Most Adorable Little Bookstore in Portland. Take that, behemoth.

One of the best small bookstores in Portland. You wouldn’t know it from the small exterior (which is a cool red caboose parked on train tracks) but this shop is filled with rooms of books. The caboose is the children’s section, then down the stairs brings you into the adult sections. From popular titles, travel, poetry, cooking and lots of fiction/​non-​fiction. They have a room with a fireplace for cozy reading in the winter and a small outdoor atrium for spring/​summer reading. Many birds fill the outdoor atrium which make it an extra special place to visit.

Yay for independent bookstores! Tucked into the red caboose on 13^th Ave is the newly relocated Looking Glass Bookstore. This place is the perfect example of a friendly, knowledgable neighborhood bookstore. Although small, they have a good selection of new titles (and most of the titles that you hear about on NPR). I am especially impressed with their kids section and area of books on current events/​politics. The owner is very nice and will order you anything that is not in stock. They also have a buyer discount card — basically you buy ten books and they keep a tab on the total spent, you then get 10% of your money back as credit toward you next purchase. I love this place, spend your money there.

It appears that someone has finally occupied the cute converted train car adjacent to Grand Central Bakery. Looking Glass Books appears minuscule from the outside, crammed into a red caboose, but the opposite is true. The old train caboose is attached to well-​lit and organized retail space that is home to Sellwood’s newest bookstore. Although limited to new books (for used, check out Wallace books in the same neighborhood) the selection was vast, including small press editions and comprehensive special interest sections. Looking Glass Books is a welcome addition to the neighborhood in a kitchy locale, but don’t expect a bargain. Their inventory is limited to full-​price new books and I didn’t see a sale shelf.