Around Asheville: A Used Bookstore Review
Roan Church | February 1, 2024
Whether it be fantasy or fan fiction, there are many used bookstores to help you find any type of literature that piques your interest! With many forms of media being digitalized now it is more important than ever to support the physical halves of your favorite works to keep things accessible and prosperous.
All of these stores are located within a twenty-minute drive of the Warren Wilson College (WWC) campus and allow access to a wide selection of books and media all with a small price tag and unique book-buying experiences.
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$ - 1 - 5 $$ - 5-10 $$$ - 10+
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Free Little Library On Campus - $
Located just outside the center of Sage Circle on the WWC campus is the Free Little Library.
This place has been one of my favorites mostly due to the price tag, which is free if you could not guess! It does not have a large selection of literature, but if you pass by it frequently enough, you might as well take a peek and see if there's anything new that catches your eye.
Mr. K’s Used Books - $ 4.6 ★★★★ (1.2K Reviews) All Reviews Given Via Google Reviews
800 Fairview Rd, Asheville
Mr. K’s Used Books is a books store outside Asheville near Oakley. This is an amazing used bookstore that has lots of great selections from poetry to fan fiction. Mr. K’s is a family-owned and independent bookstore with multiple locations throughout the western North Carolina area. These locations are always accepting book donations and offer unique advantages compared to the other books stores which will be discussed later in this article.
The thing that got me most excited about Mr. K’s is that they offer cash for specialty books and other collectibles such as CDs and video games. Mr K’s offers trading as well, which means if you have books that you want to get rid of and want something new you can take them into one of the locations and see if they will trade items with you. This feature is incredible and something I rarely see in used bookstores.
As for the book selection at Mr. K’s, it's downright incredible. They have so many different options of bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction, young adult, children's, local interest, cookbooks and many more.
It is clear to me why this chain of stores is as popular as it is.
Goodwill - $ Ratings and distance vary by location
Goodwill has to be my overall favorite place to find amazing second-hand books that are in good to alright condition for quite cheap.
The variety may not be great and it is a better resource for casual browsing of books instead of looking for anything specific. However, what you find is heavily dependent on which location you go.
The Black Mountain Goodwill has a great selection of non-fiction works while Asheville Goodwill (located close to WWC) has many amazing large-print fiction and some good poetry selections.
Goodwill Bins - $ 4 ★★★★(463 Reviews) 1616 Patton Ave, Asheville
The Goodwill Outlet, or the bins for short, is the processing outlet for the Goodwills of the area.
Books are only 89 cents for every pound of books you get! This is by far the cheapest second-hand book option. However, much like the Goodwill stores, it lacks specifics. On the other hand, it makes up for the lack of specificity with the price and variety.
I have found many great prints at The Bins, however, it was a process of frequent visits to find something that stood out. If you are looking for a more surefire selection this may not be the place for you.
Downtown Books and News - $$ 4.7 ★★★★( 337 Reviews) 67 N Lexington Ave, Asheville
Downtown Books and News is a place you must visit if you are looking for new and used books of any genre. Moreover, the store's atmosphere is so quaint and joyful that it's hard not to fall in love with this shop.
It is located in downtown Asheville and is worth the trip even if you are just browsing. The workers are exceptionally nice and their selection of literature is large with many notable and lesser-known authors.
Downtown Books and News is directly in the middle cost-wise, with variation between more expensive titles and cheaper used books. It is truly a gem of a bookstore that offers so much in such a small package.
Bagatelle Books - $$$ 5 ★★★★★(78 Reviews) 428 C, Haywood Rd, Asheville
Bagatelle Books was a place I had only recently heard of and visited in West Asheville. It is a small bookstore whose environment seemed very friendly. With it being a small bookstore the selection is minimal but what they have are more known authors and some unique prints.
The books there are more expensive than the other bookstores listed due to the books' more modern nature. However, they do have less expensive options and are also able to order specific books that you may be looking for.
Overall this was an all-right bookstore with a pleasant atmosphere and little book selection but still a great option for any reader. However other options might be more accessible and cheaper for college students.
There are so many options for used books and I only listed a few. From the casual reader to the Olympic bibliophile these local bookstore options all have something unique to offer, with my personal favorites being Goodwill and Mr. K's used books.
With reading on a decline, it is so important to keep books and physical media in circulation and relevant. Many options listed above are great and easy ways to support this effort and explore what you like if reading is a hobby you enjoy. From academic to leisure reading, donating and buying used books helps keep the world of reading alive.