Midway Used & Rare Books

Really surprised by the somewhat mixed reviews. This is the kind of gem you hope to find when you visit a new city for the first time. Lots of antique books as well as just a good selection in all topic areasWhat makes this place stand out though is the number of old pulp novels and magazines that's one of the best I've seenThey also have an outstanding comic book selection that has a lot of depth. Lots of back issues though you have to jump through some hoops to go through themPrices seemed more than reasonable for every book I picked up! This is a place I would spend hours in if I had the timeA grand discovery of you love books!

Not a good place to try to sell your old and valuable books, despite the inviting banner on the building. They are super picky and denigrate whatever you bring. To avoid this problem, I told the buyer what I was bringing, got a positive reply, then wasted an afternoon carting the books there and back, unsold.That said, they are one of the few full-service antiquarian bookstores in St. Paul and deserve praise for it. As for prices, the name of the bookstore says it well, they are about "Midway." That is, for many of their premium items online, they seem to be about the middle of the road as for prices--not the highest, but not the lowest either. As for geology books, which I know best, I can easily find better condition for a lower price elsewhere. They are still worth visiting, however, for their June sale and the Bargain Basement.

I really wanted to like this place. But after hearing the man working behind the counter go on an extremely racist rant I can't support this place. A (black) man came in and asked if he could have a tissue, the old white man behind the counter gave him a napkin and the black man left. It was a pretty innocuous interaction, but after he left the man working there went off on a racist rant to no one in general, but loud enough for most of the store to here. Saying things like "those people are so rude, it must be something in their DNA." And "They're all so ungrateful, they just want some thing for nothing" and "damn morons". I was shocked. I don't remember if the black guy said please or thank you but he definitely asked in a polite tone and was in no way rude. And all he was asking for was a tissue! It sounded like something that would come out of a 1930's southern lunch counter, not a Saint Paul book store in 2022. The man working there was in his 70s, fairly short, and balding. Not sure if he was the owner or just worked there.There are a handful of really cool books in there that I wanted to buy but I just took photos of the covers and I'll be buying them online or at another book store.

A real non-chain old-school (i.e., you won't find only bestsellers that were read once and appropriately discarded) used book store. Well organized by subject and author over three floors (bargains in the basement are not junk but all $2.50). I think the prices are quite modest, especially compared to some used bookstore chains. One important note: They do not open until 11 am, not 10 am as on Yelp. They do have a parking lot in the back: Going north on Snelling from 94, pass the light at University and turn into the alley just before the liquor store. Regarding selling books, remember used bookstores have a very (italicize that) narrow profit margin and will know what they are able to sell...

I do dig this book store, man they have a ton of books to peruse and the staff is pretty laid back yet helpful.Not having had much time to spend here, I moved fairly quickly in search of a gem I have been in the hunt for then headed out. Enjoying the smell of old books and seeing the classic art on some of the covers as I browsed, almost like stepping into the past and enjoying part of my youth through a different lens.I am looking forward to returning to this location when I am in town next and spending an afternoon browsing around.

Love it. If you're a book person, you have to check it out. It's probably the best used book store I've visited in terms of selection and breadth of subjects. I could easily spend hundreds and hundreds of $$ every time I walk through the door. I don't know anything about comics but there are a ton of those too. In business since 1965, this is a neighborhood stalwart. I'm aware that some folks have had negative experiences here, and while I haven't had any problems I'm also not surprised others have.

We loved this book store. A huge variety of books at great prices. The Bargain Basement was full of hidden gems for $2.50 or less and the regular sections were well stocked with newer publications as well as some older "classics." I particularly love their extensive collection of paperback mysteries (all we're about $4 or less). Staff was helpful (not overly friendly, but I don't mind as when I go to bookstores I mostly like to walk through the aisles alone). Huge comic book and graphic novel selections as well!

Best Bookstore in town. Incredible selection for very reasonable prices. Tom and the staff may at times be a bit on the gruff side, but I find that is fairly typical for used book shop owners. Just don't be a jerk and you will be able to nestle into this bibliophile's haven and community fairly easily. Tom and Cathy are active in acquiring new stock, I have been coming in for nearly 40 years, and can always find something new, needed or fascinating. A true Twin Cities gem. One of the few legacy hold-outs from the golden ages of Twin Cites used book stores.

Ordered a moderately esoteric book via a well-known third party seller but listed by Midway Used & Rare books. Within minutes of placing the order I received an email advising me the shipping label had been created. I received the book in about three days and was thrilled by how quickly it arrived and the excellent protective packaging Midway used.Highly recommend for this means of commerce!!!

We were here on Monday 26 of December. (around 1 PM). I stayed on 1st floor looking at Design and Architecture coffee table books.My friends who have spent quite a bot of money at Midway Bks. went upstairs. I suddenly had to go to the bathroom. I put down the book I was considering on it's shelf and asked the employee directly in front of me,who was working on the computer, whether I could use their bathroom. He said, "No, I am sorry." So, I started pacing, hoping my friends had found their books. After 15 minutes, I asked a different employee if he " would go upstairs and tell me friends that I have to go to the bathroom and we have to get out of the store now." I moved away, a year ago, from the Midway area, ( by Hamlime U), and knew because of the Christmas season etc. that there weren't any options nearby for me to find a bathroom on foot. Still waiting I walked up the stairs, ( I recently injured my knees), and hastily announced to my friends that it was urgent that I get to a bathroom. I'm sure it was from the coffee I had drank late this ( 26th Dec.), morning. On the way out, angry about their "house rule", I announced to everyone on the 1st floor: "The won't let me use their bathroom." Incidentally, I was neatly and well dressed and it was obvious I was a potential customer. My friends drove me to the nearby Cub. THE REAL FEEL TODAY WAS 6 DEGREES. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT ON FOOT & THEREFORE DRIVEN OUT OF THE STORE TO FIND MY WAY TO A BATHROOM ELSEWHERE. CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS AT THE MIDWAY BOOKSTORE!