Best Bookstores in Flagstaff, AZ

If you’re a bookworm, you probably have your preferences when it comes to what kind of bookstore you like. While some find magic in an antique bookstore, others prefer a large, well-organized establishment. Flagstaff, which lies tucked away between the mountains and deserts of Arizona, offers a surprising variety in bookshops. Here are four options that cater to the tastes of different book lovers.

Bright Side Bookshop

The locals who took over Bright Side Bookshop a few years back recognized the danger of independent bookstores being eclipsed by large, impersonal chain bookstores. In buying the establishment, their goal has been to create a space where the community can interact and participate in events. The owners also strive to provide emerging authors with a platform and bring them in closer contact with reading audiences by supporting author reading and signing events.

They stock an eclectic mix of books in the shop that ranges from new releases and the classics to memoirs and graphic novels. Bright Side also offers a large selection of children’s books for kids of all ages.

Starrlight Books

When you walk into Starrlight Books, you may feel that you’re walking into another dimension. This small, intimate bookshop features jazz music in the background, books that are stacked from the floor to the ceiling in a seemingly haphazard fashion, and a worn-out antique carpet. Keep on walking, and you’ll see a locked bookcase filled with old, rare books, with a sign that instructs you to call the assistant to gain access.

Those are only the rarest books, though, as there are treasures throughout the shop that you won’t easily find at other bookstores. Despite first impressions, the books are actually quite organized and in general are of very high-quality. However, there are times when you may need to ask a friendly assistant to help you locate what you’re looking for.

Crystal Magic

The first Crystal Magic store was opened in Sedona, which is famous for its red rock formations and energy vortexes. This is quite fitting, as the shop features crystals, incense, medicine bags, and large salt-rock lamps. This family-owned business now also boasts an outlet in Flagstaff.

Apart from their extensive crystal collection, sculptures, and tarot-card decks that are displayed in demo boxes for visitors to explore, one wall of the shop is also lined with a collection of books on topics that relate to the shop’s theme. If you’re into crystals, smudging, Sedona, or astrology, Crystal Magic is the place to go.

Barnes & Noble

Although you won’t be supporting local small-business owners if you shop at Barnes & Noble, the outlet in Flagstaff offers a super clean venue, friendly and attentive staff, and an extensive selection of books that are reasonably priced. The store also has an in-house cafe where patrons can enjoy a cup of good coffee while paging through a book.

These are only a few of the bookstores that you can visit in Flagstaff. Whether you want to get up close and personal with local authors, get lost in an antique bookstore, or read up on the vortexes in Sedona, Flagstaff is home to a bookstore that’s just right for you.

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