Magus Books

Magus Books is located in Seattle's University District, at NE 42nd between University Way (The Ave) and 15th NE. Classic indie bookstore since 1978! I have stopped in off and on since my university years, but my last visit was back in 1999-2000 while in pastry school. Yes, that's like in dinosaur years, lol. I love indie cafés, record shops, and especially bookstores, bonus though if it has that classic indie bookstore scent. I learned of a particular book resource while at a class yesterday on Vashon Island. Did a Google search and found it listed at Magus Books! Traffic was merciful, found nearby free parking on this hot Sunday late morning (7/31/22). This culinary bookhound made a beeline to the cookbook section asap. The anticipation of the treasure hunt peering at the vast shelves and rows. Found it! Did that inner happy dance! Ended up finding additional titles. Just like Costco, can't just buy one item, am I right? But had to exercise restraint since likewise I didn't win that recent 1.3 billion dollar lottery drawing either, lol.Pleasant counter person rang up my purchases and mentioned their book buyers deal. Accrue $100 subtotal in purchases, receive a $5 voucher. Sounds good, just have to make sure to not wait another two decades for a return visit.

Rare and new books of all kinds. Only a university neighborhood could maintain this quaint business; a book lovers dream.

I'm generally more of a new books kinda gal, but Magus Books was an instant favorite for me. I stopped in with a couple of friends on a late Saturday morning. We found some metered street parking right across the street. There were quite a few people around, but it wasn't crazy busy. The building itself is beautiful, a nice red brick with ivy growing up the sides and a classic green awning. It sets the scene.They have a great selection here. Immediately upon walking in I was arrested by a shorter shelf at the till with some staff recommendations and a whole bunch of New York Review of Books Classics. They also have a bunch of merchandise from stickers to mugs to tote bags and t-shirts. It's big but not cavernous, though they were doing some building work in the back. I don't know if that was for expansion or just building shelves. Anyway, they have lots of shelves, stacked high, and clearly labelled by interest. I mostly looked through the biography, essays, and fiction. I didn't see anything particularly old or musty looking, for the most part the books were great to like new condition and priced at about half of new sticker price. I picked up a couple of novels for $8 each. The booksellers were really friendly and happy to make a recommendation. As we checked out they told us about the second location they're opening called the Magus Annex, which opens in mid-October. They do buy used books, but not all the time. It looks like they're pretty active on Instagram and Twitter and they take appointments for book buying. Really great second hand bookshop. I'll be back!

Accidentally stumbled upon this bookstore while walking through U District, and I'm so glad! Although the space is small, there is such a wide variety of books to choose from! The walls are filled with books from top to bottom. This is a used bookstore, so the books are at a relatively good price. They even have cute cart out front for all the books that are on sale.

What a cool place! Staff was SO helpful with helping my teen locate some books she was wanting. Tons of books. It's a tight space due to the amount of shelves and books, but this wasn't a problem for us since they had so many books to choose from. Good prices, too. We will be back!

It's not very often that I take a place that's not particularly wheelchair friendly and say "That's a 5-star joint!" but such is the case with Seattle's indie bookstore Magus Books. I wheeled by Magus Books a couple of times during my recent visit to Seattle for my goddaughter's wedding. I stayed right next to the University District and spent a good majority of my non-wedding related time in a neighborhood area known as "The Avenue." The Avenue is a several block long row of businesses, restaurants, and vendors in a historic district that balances an intensely urban feeling with historic and academic vibes since it's also next to the campus of University of Washington. Magus Books is actually right off the main drag on a small side street. It draws you in, though a rather steep ramp at the entry (definitely not ADA) initially kept me away. However, about the third time I wheeled by I stopped and was really checking out the window when an employee came outside and asked me if I wanted to come in and browse. Well, gee whiz. There's nothing like an invitation. He held the door open and this allowed me to get the adrenaline and right angle to get up the ramp. Once inside? I fell in love. Magus Books is a book lover's dream. It features rows and rows of used books at fair prices. They buy books. They sell books. They have special events. They seem to have a relationship with America's librarian Nancy Pearl - Pearl's recommendations are front-and-center in the bookstore. It's a cramped, busy bookstore and it's the kind of place where you linger and absorb and immerse yourself in the Magus world. Is it completely accessible? Oh my, definitely not. Truthfully, the most iconic bookstores really aren't because there are books laying about and narrow aisles of bookshelves where you have to depend upon the kindness of strangers to squeeze through. Fortunately, these strangers were quite kind. Given I was traveling fairly light and had only one suitcase, I really didn't want to buy a book. However, this is the kind of bookstore I love to support and I ended up buying a book for the flight back. The people here were super friendly and helpful. The customers were a quirky delight. The bookstore looked and felt like a bookstore should look and feel. They've been around for 40 years and you can also shop online. They are well organized and despite having a setting that looks like chaos it is, in fact, well organized and thoughtful chaos and they have their selections electronically recorded. This was definitely one of the little indie gems during my trip to Seattle and I was thrilled to discover it. The selection is amazing, the people are awesome, the atmosphere is everything you want in a bookstore, and Magus Books was my favorite hidden gem during my Seattle trip.

I have a lot of books and was moving recently, so I figured I would sell some if possible. Magus is a good spot for that. They have set days and times where they take in books. (Friday, Saturday, and maybe one other day? Til about 4pm.) I called ahead (no appointment needed unless you have more than 3 boxes of books.), and it seemed like a good time but by the time I showed up, I guess a few others came around the same time (which was fine), but the staff seemed a little frazzled with the amount that had just come in. It didn't take long, maybe about 30 minutes, but I had already left. I returned a little later the same day and they had taken maybe about 10-15 books out of my big box, got $25 cash (or you could take it as double store credit.) so can't complain. Not the most friendly place, but all things considered, I would come back to sell books. It's a beautiful shop by the way!

I've visited Magus since undergrad and their selection is unmatched. I always find great copies of books for myself and for others. During the shut down they had mailed me a few titles that my then newborn and I still enjoy. Recently revisited, while the UW students were on break, and found more excellent kid titles for both my kid and a friend's baby shower.Throughout the years, I have always been impressed by their selection and quality of used titles. They don't buy books everyday. If you're interested in selling back I recommend calling to check when they are buying books.

It rules, just go. Really, I mean it o don't need 85 letters. OK, go I say it's the best...

Absolute WORST EXPERIENCE selling books here! It was so awful, they tried to rob me by stealing one of my textbooks and claiming I only brought 12 books instead of 13, and I came back to get them in a hurry and they ended up switching my BRAND NEW History of the Modern Middle East book with an old, used book. They picked out five books they wanted to buy (all brand new in excellent condition) and offered $15, when I didn't like the offer, they crumpled up my paperback covers and were so careless and disrespectful with them. My suggestion is to never sell them any books because they don't respect people or property.