Used bookstores in the greater Cleveland area seem to be doing OK these days. Big chain bookstores, not so much.
Most of my favorites here on the west coast seem to have gone away. I used to be able to waste a whole day visiting at least half a dozen, I think one still remains.
In the St. Louis area, a lot of the used book stores have got some sort of loose alliance together.
They have a Facebook page at St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance and a website at http://www.stlindiebook.com/ .
They help each other out with promotions and events.
To my complete surprise, I found one I had been completely unaware of, in Marblehead MA. Unfortunately, it’s been closed every time I’ve been by.
I also find that some antique stores have used book sections. All the used book stores are gone from Salem, MA (which, as I note above, used to be filled with them), but you can find used books at antique stores and a few other unexpected places.
goodwill and Salvation Army shops also have used books, but it’s a real crapshoot.
It really depends upon the business model. The major local used book store in Knoxville, McKay Books, is going gangbusters, consistently making tons of money and employing a staff of about 50. The one in Knoxville did so well the owner opened up locations in Nashville and Chattanooga too. And they do not sell anything over the Internet.
I’ve never, ever understood this. Somebody says “almost.” Or “virtually.” Or “the great majority.” Or whatever word they want that means NOT IN EVERY CASE.
And then somebody comes along with one single example, one, and declares, THUS I REFUTE YOU!
And you’re doing this with something that’s not even a book store, but a chain that sells lots of higher margin items.
And then people wonder why I get so grumpy.
Thus illustrating once again that the Dope Board is a great place to be Nibbled To Death By Ducks.
Many used book stores also sell online, especially on Amazon. Since there isn’t a physical store where I live, I do all my used book shopping via Amazon.
I’ll admit I was hoping somebody could offer some statistics for the big picture rather than their local status. Something like “There were 11,000 used book stores in the United States in 1990. That total is now done to 5,000 in 2011.”
In Ireland, used bookstores were largely wiped out by both rising prosperity (people just didn’t want secondhand when they could afford new) and by the preponderance of charity shops (those who buy secondhand, pay as little as possible for them). There’s only a couple of stores in Dublin city centre that sell mainly used books. I’ve seen books in charity shops for as little as 10c a pop or usually 10 for a €. In our bookstores, where we have to buy the secondhand stock off customers we couldn’t compete with that sort of price so we’ve actually just got rid of our used sections. They weren’t worth the space they took up. In recent years I’ve noticed a lot of people think that secondhand books have germs on them and whatnot.
I’m not sure who would have this information. The Census Bureau does a variety of surveys every few years and so do other government agencies that classify businesses according to occupational categories. I don’t know if they do used book stores as a separate category or not, and I can’t find those numbers with a quick search.
Part of the problem is that it’s tough to come up with a definition. Does a new book store that also sells used books, like those B&N stores, count? What about antique stores that have a large book section? What about stores that sell a variety of other used products, like McKay books? What about all those used textbook stores near colleges? If you only have an internet store does that not count? But many of those have a physical location that they will open if you make an appointment to come by. Many libraries have permanent stores that sell old library books. Do they count? Used books are sold in small amounts in places like Salvation Army, VoA, and similar stores, and most comic book stores have at least a small specialized selection of books as do the independent record stores. Are remainder stores used book stores? Those books have technically never been sold. Somebody, somewhere must have to make these determinations but I have no idea who.
It’s funny, though. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you tried to come up with a consistent definition and then found out the results were indeed 11,000 in 1990 and 5,000 today. That feels about right. 
Recycle Books here in San Jose has been doing well. They also sell online, I believe.
There was a Wikia project that was intended to be a listing of every book store in the country. But it fell apart due to a lack of participation. (I did my part though and the coverage of upstate New York, Vermont, and Houston was pretty comprehensive.)
Here in northern California, the used book stores are almost completely gone. Borders–where I worked for a year in college–just closed three local stores, but before that behemoth went down, it had already taken down all the small used book stores. I know personally–my uncle owned one. And it was a fantastic used books store, too: it was a converted Victorian house with three stories and a basement filled with National Geographics dating from the early 1950’s. There was color-coded electrician’s tape on the creaky wood floors that directed you to the different sections of the store, each of which were located in a different room of the old house. As a child, I thought my uncle’s store was magical, I genuinely did, and I firmly believe my experiences there have led me toward a doctoral degree in English.
At any rate, no: the used bookstores, at least in this area, are long since gone.
Oh for crying out loud. You said it was almost impossible for a used bookstore to survive without selling on the Internet. I gave an example of three stores not only surviving but excelling without Internet. You suddenly jump in all offended like I somehow kicked your puppy or insulted your intelligence. I wasn’t even trying to refute you, just adding some additional information. But apparently that isn’t allowed, I guess.
NOT EVEN A BOOKSTORE? Wow, just wow. McKay takes in approximately 10,000 books a day. The items you are claiming make it somehow not worthy of being a bookstore (despite that other used bookstores typically have many of those items too) are a tiny section of the store. If McKay stopped selling everything but books it would still be making money hand over fist.
Yes, we get it. You’re grumpy because you apparently are so unwilling to be seen as potentially wrong in any way that you’ll make up nonsense claims about topics you know nothing about to try to defend against a statement that wasn’t even saying you were wrong. Brilliant.
[Moderating]
Let’s avoid this kind of personal attack in GQ. I’m sure you can make your points without the snark. No warnings issued.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
Moe’s and Shakespeare & Company still survive, as do the quasi-ubiquitous Half-Priced Books. And Black Oak Books has revived for the time being. But I agree that they tend to be the exceptions that prove the rule.
Like I said, Recycle Books is doing so well they opened another branch.
Is that two or three? I’ve been to both of their branches (the San Jose store is much better) but if there is a new one, I need to visit.
Just two. Talk of a third. The Campbell store has a great location, but yes the one @ 1066 the Alameda is a bigger, better store.