SubText - A Bookstore

The levels of coziness are off the charts at SubText! This bookshop does a great job of maximizing space for inventory while also having a good amount of lounge space. We visited for the first time on indie bookstore day. We saw tall shelves with options covering most genres as well as a shelf in the back for preowned books.The store is located in lower town so parking can be tricky. Luckily there is a parking garage across the street!

SubText - A (very very good) BookstoreCool and cozy environment for book surfing, book reading and book buying! They have a dedicated staff of smart, friendly people that are not only helpful if needed but they even offer handwritten book reviews for your perusal located around the shop. That's a beautiful touch and makes me smile every time. I highly recommend this space. Come one, come all!

I was a big fan of Subtext pre-pandemic, but now I'm a diehard fangirl book-pushing evangelist. My handsome manfriend and I were discussing our book order pickup from there this afternoon and he made the mistake of asking why I am so friggin loyal to them. After five minutes or so his eyes glazed over but you, dear reader*, may be interested.This little bookstore is resilient as hell and seamlessly transferred its best qualities- its crazy-competent and well-read staff, its responsiveness, and its ordering- into this pandemic context. I know it takes extraordinary effort and work behind the scenes but from the customer side, it's been flawless.I'm gonna rhapsodize here a little on each of those points because they each deserve a bit of shine:a) THEIR STAFF. Y'all. Sue, Matt, and Sarah are some of the best bookshop employees I've ever worked with. They read good books. Their recommendations are typically spot-on. And they're KIND. The last thing I want in a pandemic is some fucking stuck up bookstore employee shaming me for ordering another Jasmine Guillory romance novel. No one will sling that kind of attitude at you here. They RECOMMENDED those novels to me! TAKE MY WALLET.b) Their responsiveness. They answer their phones. They answer their emails. If I place an order via email, I usually hear back from them the same day. The orders are done on time and perfectly executed.c) Their ordering. They can mail your books to you or do in-store pickup, and I've found mailing to be super easy and cheap ($4-5 per order). They send you an email that has tracking info, and usually the books get to me (in Minneapolis) within a day or two. They did gift wrapping for the holidays.They also go out of their way to work with you on pricing. If it looks like the book you want is super expensive, they'll double check with you before ordering it. I got kneecapped, Tonya-Harding-style, by a local business recently who cooly charged me $25 for 3 oz of loose leaf tea without saying a word about the price over the phone, and it made me realize how rare it is for a shop to be like, "So, here are your options- this one is fairly expensive, but I can get it from this other vendor for less- it might take longer... is that ok?" Subtext is spoiling me, team. And they'll spoil you, too. *Apologies- been binging too much Bridgerton- a series which I will absolutely order from Subtext within the month.

A charming little book store. Lots to see and couches to sit on when the pandemic recedes. Helpful staff and many areas of interest. Specialty on MN history section. Offers some used books.

Bring cash or credit card and prepare to shop. Excellent, well - curated selection of books as well as cards. Staff has comments on some of the shelves, with book reviews. Helpful staff. I would have rated the shop 5 stars, except for the surcharge on credit card use. Considering all books are full retail, and I could have noted the titles and ordered the two hardbound and two trade paperback from Amazon upon returning to my hotel, I give it 4 stars.

What a wonderful place. A curated set of the best that there is to read. I'm in town from a thousand miles away and stepped in off the street. If you read and you happen to be in St Paul, stop in to this treasure box.

I can't believe that a local bookstore could be this fast and efficient. I ordered a book online yesterday (YESTERDAY) and it arrived in today's mail. And I know it went through the mail because there was a stamp on the package. This is the bookstore of my dreams!

First time in here today and was able to walk out with only 3 books... this time. Wonderful local book store. Books are not marked up. A small space, but they make up for it with a huge variety. Only 1-2 copies of most books to ensure they have space for something for everybody. One of the easiest 5 stars I've given.

Just a great store! Walked in one day that wasn't busy and was able to sit down comfortably on a cute couch and read for about 10-15 mins as i like to do because i either will love or hate a book in the first few chapters i swear! I will either get pulled in or NOT. The staff was very kind and helpful and answered all my questions as well.

Well...B&N will never get another cent from me. After many days of walking past, today was my first experience entering SubText. The only regret I have is not experiencing the wonder and glory that is SubText before today. God Speed SubText....a true diamond in the rough.