This bookstore is really one-of-a kind! It’s a really fascinating combination of ancient and new, with an eclectic array of books both organized and not simultaneously. It felt like you were entering another dimension; it’s definitively not for the weak of heart and those looking for a quick grab. But for those who like a quaint place to spend an hour or two searching among hidden treasures: this bookstore is for you.(I will say: my friends thought we would get lost/murdered in there. I thought it was worth it, though!)

Okay this place is awesome they say they have a half a million books Im not sure about that but they have a lot of books fairly well organized but its everything else that comes with this bookstore all the Nostalgia the old signs lockers antique desks all stuff with knick knacks

The best part is meeting Mr. Reed himself. The selection is varied & interesting, but the lack of organization & any real financial savings makes this more a fun destination than a bargain spot.

Great bookstore with a little something for anyone that enjoys a good book.

Wonderful place. I felt like I was going to open “The Book of American Clocks” and find a way to go back in time. The owner is very friendly. If you like bookstores, definitely go.

Great vibe...you can feel the fond memories and see wonderful treasures❤

I love this place; a must see in the Bham. The owner is awesome and there is great atmosphere here. This is the way bookstores should be.

Mr. Reed is a vault of information and ever helpful. I always find something interesting every time I visit his store. If there is another like it, I do not know of its existence.

It was full of wimsy! I found everything I was looking for and more! It was adorable and the man in charge was so helpful and sweet! I absolutely loved it and will be going again!

I cant say I go to many used book stores, but this place is amazing. I stopped in for an old copy of starship troopers and left with so much more. Incredible finds. I will definitely be back.

This is such an amazing place. I was overwhelmed about the Books and the knowledge! This is a gem!!! Thank you 😊

You can absolutely get lost in this place. I recommend bringing a friend with IBS so you eventually have to leave to find a restroom and dont end up spending your entire day here.

I love this store. Whenever I am in Birmingham I always plan a stop here. Mr. Reed is a pleasant, articulate and knowledgeable gentleman. His store is full of books, magazines and other treasures not normally found in a book store. This store is and has been located in downtown Birmingham. Around the corner you can find a variety of restaurants where you can relax and read some of your purchases.

Well worth the trip. I drove 4 hours to visit and I would do it again. Book lovers heaven.

Great used bookstore and the owner is awesome! The selection is amazing. His literature knowledge is great.A must visit for the avid reader.

Fantastic selection of books, amicable staff and enough personality to shake a stick at. This place is an absolute gem

This place is super awesome. So many interesting finds and unique subjects. The owner was friendly and hospitable. Well worth a visit.

This place feels like home. A hidden gem in the heart of Birmingham that will have you browsing for hours without having to cross the same shelf. They have books for every type of reader and I have travelled twice from Dallas JUST to visit their bookshop. The owners are super sweet and helpful and I can’t wait to go back once all this quarantine craziness is over.If you find yourself in Birmingham, this beautiful bookshop is worth the visit.

Messy and cozy, I loved it! When you picture a used book store, you picture this. The employee knew where everything was but I recommend just walking around and getting lost.

This is definitely one of my favorite places to go. The vintage stuff is amazing and as a teen that likes stuff from the 70s and 80s this is a perfect shop for me to find old film and music stuff. The owner is a delight to talk to and is one of the sweetest men i have ever conversed with. it is an amazing place that you should really stop by and look around

Lovely, large selection of used and out of print books. The books are a priced fairly and are in good condition. The place is a little crowded and visually disorganized, but makes sense once you start looking around. The owner is very helpful and can get you whatever book you need if you are looking for something in particular.

One of the most facinating places Ive ever been!

Always a fine, heartwarming experience to visit Jim and peruse his store and wander, and wonder about his book store. Genuine. Varied. Educational. A place where I always feel at home. Steve Edmondson. You will also know the feeling of peace among his books.

This place has an eclectic collection from your childhood. Walking through the store will remind you of things long forgotten. Jim is quite a character.

Very cool bookstore that just may have absolutely everything! It was so fun walking through with my daughter and pointing out all the random history. Its close quarters though so if youre claustrophobic beware. The man who runs it is an absolute delight to talk to. Hope to go again if were in the Birmingham area.

Full of Treasures and has Wonderful Service! Huge range of Books and Nicknacks, incredible atmosphere thats hard to find anywhere else. You WILL find something you like in here!

This book store is delightful, and filled with all sorts of treasures. You can and will get lost amongst all the great stuff throughout the store. Check out the great Peanuts section, and talk to Reed himself if youd like any help navigating the sheer wealth of options. A real Birmingham treat.

Very interesting place. He has old photos and super old books. The guy even had a podcast! Even newspapers from over a decade ago. Id love to go back and see what else he has

A place from another time that is as magical as it is congested with books. They are everywhere. And the owner knows where certain books are. Try him. Hes amazing.

This bookstore is certainly interesting and unique. When one walks in, its clear the place has a rich history. But after going to this place, I felt that it wasnt a practical bookstore. The fairly large store is filled to the brim with books, too filled. Books are laid on the floor, jam packed into shelves, and stacked on top of each other, up to four feet high. As an individual with a bad back, I wasnt able to peruse most books, because of their placement on the floor or up high, with ease. I also thought that the books were mostly overpriced. I went into this store to buy a used copy of a Harry Potter book for my nephew, and it was priced at $20. While I would prefer to buy from a local bookshop, I couldnt spend $20 for that book, when I could get it for $4 on Amazon. Other books, over 50 years old, I saw, were priced at almost full price as well. I thought this was unusual and out of touch with realistic pricing. I will say that the staff of this bookshop are kind and helpful. On more than one occasion, staff came to me to ask if I needed help, always politely and not pushy. Overall, its a nice place to look around, but it is a little overpriced and cluttered.

This is an AMAZING bookstore! The selection is HUGE!! The guy at the store was not only friendly, but he was kind and knowledgeable. I love this bookstore with the very best large selection.

Really interesting place. Great selection!

Quirky and old book store. Owner was eccentric to say the least. Looks like a horders space that was forced to locate their stash to a storefront due to his wife. You could spend hours in there just looking a stuff.

There is an amazing collection of used books here, reasonably arranged. It definitely has the vibe and aroma of an old bookstore.

What.a.neat.place!!Talk about aesthetics!! This book store is ALL THE THINGS. You gotta come by and check this place out for yourself. 👀📖📖📖

If they dont have a certain book, theyll often be willing to order it for you. Very good people. Very wide selection. Its hard to find this sort of satisfaction at any bookstore. Love it. Will continue to frequent this place.

Beautiful establishment. Its easy to get lost in the nostalgia. I could spend all day here honestly and never seem to have enough time.

Looking for a rare book or a quirky piece of memorabilia? Jim Reed Book Store is the place for you. Jims a good guy and hell make you feel at home.

Probably the coolest bookstore Ive ever been in. Lots of very old books for reasonable prices.

The perfect used book store! Great selection, good atmosphere, and Mr. Reed is extremely helpful and welcoming.

Tens of thousands of books. Books on the walls, books on the floor, books in stacks on shelves, books everywhere. I could spend a day or two and a ton of money here. Jim Reed is knowledgeable, interested, and personable.

Such and interesting place and the owner is super friendly. I found some great photography book from decades ago.

Fun store to visit -- a downtown Birmingham landmark. Dont expect any bargains on rare finds, though. The owner knows exactly what he has and he also has to pay what has to be exorbitant rent.

A great place to browse, I always find something interesting to purchase. Owner is warm and friendly.

Great book store! It may be intimidating at first because there is a lot to go through. Take the time to go through it, speak to Jim. Hes an incredibly interesting and sweet person. I found a ton of rare cookbooks and adorable vintage artwork. Very special treasure in downtown Birmingham.

A wonderful place to find rare, old, or recent books. Jim is super nice and helpful.

This bookstore is literally like no other! There is so much interesting history crammed on every shelf and mixed in his prints and Records and everything else you could possibly want that could be book related! plan to spend 2 hours in this not terribly large shop just because it is that fascinating!

It is a must visit in Birmingham.

An unbelievable collection of books (both rare and “common”), papers, advertising materials, “artifacts” of all sorts...This list is much too extensive to even attempt. Well worth a visit!

Very cool book store. Tons of old stuff to peruse, and a wide selection. Could spend weeks inside and not see everything.

This is one of the coolest bookstores you will ever find. Rare gems that you are not going to find elsewhere, probably not even online. It really is like walking through some literary history.

This is a gem in Birmingham. There selection of titles dates back to the early 1900s with a wide variety of Easton Press sand Franklin Library books on hand. They have the entire Charles Dickens selection available and a wide variety of titles ranging from Boy Scout Merit badge books from the 80s to cooking books from the 1920s.i recommend budgeting 2 hours the first time you stop by.

A favorite place to shop when looking for wonderful book finds. The owner is hospitable and friendly and knows just how to entice you to find further gems.

Great store and close to the hospital. Knowledgeable staff.

LOVE that place!!! Jim can tell you where everything is off top of his head and can make great read suggestions if your just browsing

It is a cross between a bookstore, a museum, and a treasure hunt. If you love vintage paper, you have to visit this place.

I was in Birmingham on a business trip from Vancouver, Canada, and discovered this bookstore online for things to do in town and it was definately a worth while stop and unlike any other bookstore that I had ever been in. Jim (the owner) was super friendly and literally you could spend days trying to look through everything with how much stuff this little bookstore has. I only wish this bookstore wasnt 2700 miles away from me since I would go there regulary if I lived in town. Excellent store Jim!!

Love this store! Great selection of used books, well-organized and free of excessive clutter. Unique odds and ends are also available for a nostalgia trip. The owner is very friendly too!

A great store if you have time to waste, but if you are in a hurry this is not the place to go.

Interesting place but I like an organized bookstore where I can find what Im looking for. His collection is interesting but the mess made me anxious !

Very eclectic collection of books, maps, memorabilia of all kinds. Lots to see. Needed more time to see everything.

This place is literally the coolest bookstore Ive seen in any city

Found this store by mistake, but so thankful I did. Ill definitely be coming back. The owner was super friendly and helpful.

I could stay here for hours. Great selection of books, magazines, odds and ends. Pleasant, helpful staff

Classic dusty book shop, where the books tower over you in beautifully uneven stacks on shelves creaking with the weight. The owner works with the enthusiasm of if he doesnt have it, he can get it for you, and Im firmly convinced he can.

Pros:This is one of my favorite book stores! The owner is very kind and a joy to chat with. Compared to every other used book store within the Birmingham area,Reed Books unquestionably has THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF BOOKS!The atmosphere is calm and relaxing! They could easily convert a small space,such as a corner,into a reading nook. Bring a cup of coffee and it would be perfection on Earth!Surrounded by ceiling-high shelves which are double-stacked with books,you will love the adventure of browsing through the multiple rooms of books. The books are also lovingly stacked in front of the shelves throughout the store,simply due to the vast,seemingly never-ending amount of books available!Cons:One issue I find difficult the grasp,which is the primary cause of my 4-star rating instead of five. I have now shopped here numerous times,although my very first visit ended with disappointment and empty hands.The cause was due to the pricing of their books.The pricing system they use could use a little work. I picked up a 10-year-old paperback book (small - 140 pages?) and was shocked to see their price was $16.99!I used my iPhone to check online and sure enough,this book wasnt of any literary significance. I checked the back of the book which listed the MSRP as $16.99!Since this book likely sold for something like $9.99 when it was a new release ten years ago,I was perplexed as to why it was currently listed for so much. After all,anyone who regularly visits any bookstores can easily see that most books are originally sold for less than the MSRP. I cant imagine anyone paying that much.I asked the kind lady who also works there (co-owner?) about getting a discount or something if I were to buy so many books or something. Unfortunately,she kindly told me no and that day I left empty-handed.I believe in giving places second chance so I went in there and actually found a few books I really wanted,and thats the good news! Lets say the price is on the books are $40,well,the guy says how does $21 sound? And of course you are excited and everyones happy!I think instead of marking high prices on their books and then reducing them at the register,it would be better to Simply mark them for how much you want to sell them.Someone like myself (who uses a budget) always goes into the store with a certain amount I cant go over and their pricing system makes it hard to know if I can only get one book or twelve,until Ive gone to the register.But the prices are reasonable once you get up there so the one-star is basically due to the persistent confusion. But this place is wonderful and I would highly recommend visiting because they have a little bit of everything for everyone!!💵💳📕📗📘📙📓📔🎶🎵👾📚📒📖🚭🚱🔝

Old fashioned used book store with great atmosphere and friendly management.

This place is gnarly. Absolutely will visit again.

I love just spending time looking and searching for treasures in here

If you are a loner book nerd it is a wonderful cave of books you can disappear in for days. If you are a more social type or are looking for something in particular I HIGHLY recommend talking to the owner.

Cool place. A little disorganized and pricy.

The most interesting bookstore I’ve ever encountered.

I love this place, not to many left in U.S. Peter Honeycutt

Its a truly rare bookstore and has incredible personality as well as books you never knew you could find

This place was full of fantastic old school blow molds, books, and other delightful memorabilia from decades past.

Incredible selection, and attentive service. Everything a used bookstore should be.

Great selection of hard to find sci- fi periodicals from the golden age of the genre

Fun place to visit and shop! Give yourself time to explore.

Books for days, Mr. Reed always has a good selection of every book you can think of.

Best bookstore BAR NONE in town!

Beautiful chaos!! This is a must see for anyone who lives or is visiting Birmingham

Terrible, rude service and the location was off by a mile.

A very lovely bookstore with wonderful and helpful staff.

Fantastic REAL bookstore, friendly owner

Great selection and owner was knowledgeable and friendly. I will be back here!

AMAZING! Something for everyone!

Reed books is a treasure. I wish I had all day to look through everything.

Wonderful book store. Worth coming to and kill a few hours

A wealth of books and history!

Great store with an amazing selection of rare books

My kinda place! Go! Looooose yourself​ and time for a while! This is a Birmingham treasure!

I am a book hunter by birth. And I can find books that are even older than what I have been collecting :)

A book lovers paradise!

Would be better if Reed wasn’t there.

The place to go if youre looking for a book thats hard to find.

What an amazing place

Coolest bookstore in town, by far.

Wonderful must see

A fun place

Lots of old and hard to find books