This Tiny Bookshop In Utah Is Crammed With More Than 90,000 Used Books
By Catherine Armstrong|Published May 30, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
If you love to spend time browsing in bookstores, you’re surely in heaven if you live anywhere near Salt Lake City. The King’s English Bookshop is our most charming independent bookstore, Ken Sanders Rare Books is a treasure trove of used and rare books, and eBorn Books is a 40,000-square-foot store spanning three floors. There’s also another bookshop here in Salt Lake that has both new and used books. It’s tiny, but it’s managed to fit 90,000 books in its small space in Sugarhouse, and you’re going to want to visit.
Bask in book heaven at Central Book Exchange. It's a cute little bookshop in Sugarhouse, and you'll want to plan to spend at least an hour or two inside. With 90,000 books, it's going to take you awhile to browse!
Address: 2017 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84106
The shop is small and cozy. With so many books in a space this small, you might think it would feel cluttered or claustrophobic, but that's not the case at all.
You'll undoubtedly find several other books along the way. That's okay — the prices here are low enough that you can scoop up several to satisfy your craving for new reads.
Sometimes the sheer volume of books can make you feel overwhelmed with choices. If you're not sure what to read next, check out the staff recommendations near the front of the store. The folks here love books and are avid readers, so they can steer you in the right direction.
Central Book Exchange offers both new and used books, so you can head right over there if you've been waiting for a new release from your favorite author.
If your book budget isn't as large as you'd like, bring in some of the books you've already read and exchange them for points that you can use to reduce the price of the books you want to buy. The shop takes in more than 1,000 books every week, and some of those come from readers like you.
The shop also buys books for cash occasionally, depending on the condition and the demand for the titles you have. You don't need an appointment, but f you're bringing a lot of books in, they'd appreciate a call first at 801-485-3913 so they can be ready to help you when you arrive. Central Book Exchange doesn't accept book club editions, magazines, or Reader's Digest books, so donate those elsewhere.
The annual parking lot sale is held every August and it's a must if you're a book lover. Tents are set up just south of the shop, and they're filled with tables overflowing with great deals. Bring some extra muscle to help you cart away all the books you'll gather up during this sale.
The annual warehouse sale is also an event you won't want to miss, and there are smaller sales throughout the year, so keep an eye out for the bargains.
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Central Book Exchange is seven days a week for your book browsing pleasure! Visit Monday through Friday from 10 a.m to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Check out Central Book Exchange’s website to learn more and to see the shop’s inventory online. Follow its Facebook page to see what’s new there and keep an eye on its sales. Have you visited the Central Book Exchange? Tell our readers what you think of this little bookshop!
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