Bluestocking Books

San Diego, United States

4.7

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 619-296-1424
Website:
bluestockingbooks.com
Address:
3817 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92103
b/t Robinson Ave & University Ave
Hillcrest
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.3 miMiddletown
1.3 miFashion Valley Transit Center
1.4 miSan Diego Airport Loop Shuttle
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (San Diego) 10:51 Thursday, 28 November 2024

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 9:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 9:30 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Description

Specialties

We stock all kinds of used and new books, greeting cards & exclusive postcards, Putumayo world music cds, as well as quirky gift items and character-​filled ephemera. We order new books once a week and can include your requests in our order, usually with no shipping fee — call to check title availability. We recommend books too, because we love to read. Recently we’ve added some posters, vinyl records, and cool Disney memorabilia. Our stock is always changing. We have a database, so we can see if we have what you’re looking for, and if we don’t have it, sometimes reserve it, so that when it does come in we’ll contact you. So give us a ring, send an email or look up authors & titles at our website! We do gift certificates!

History

Established in 1999.

But there’s been a bookstore in this spot since the early 1960s. We have a complete computerized database for easy stock checks & our our website is updated daily. Order direct from us! We ship locally, nationally & internationally, and would love to be Your Local Bookshop Wherever You Are. We sell books through Amazon, and Abebooks for pre-​1970 and antiquarian titles. You can stay updated on our specials and news by joining our email list or Facebook fan page for Bluestocking Books. With helpful service, we preserve the bookshop tradition & we appreciate your reviews and support.

Meet the Business Owner

kris N.

Business Owner

Local gal makes good by working to keep bookselling and literate traditions alive and well. Raised and schooled in East San Diego. After wandering the earth ten years, returned to SD to purchase a bookshop in fabulous Hillcrest. Loves the variety and unpredictability of used bookstores but carries new books & magazines too in order to take part in what’s currently happening. Enjoys seeing all the interesting books people special order & recommending favorites. Over 20 years bookselling experience. Would rather be reading.

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20 reviews of Bluestocking Books

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Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I love this book store! Bluestocking always has a great selection of new and used books. I can also count on great recommendations from the very friendly staff. Stop shopping at the corporate book stores and support your local shop!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
There is lots of kind of old books, it was attractive place and I really enjoyed the time in this store.
The atmosphere was cozy, I wish I could have stayed whole day. :))
I’m in love with this book store even though it was my first time to visit ;)
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Love this place! The friendliest, most helpful staff around and a great selection. Just donated some books to them rather than ask for credit and purchased 5 more to support this wonderful local business. Perfect place to pick up holiday gifts too.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I LOVE this place. It’s one of my favorite places in Hillcrest. I buy a lot of books, and have even sold books back to them, and the staff is just lovely. Whenever they don’t have a book in stock that I’m looking for, they order it for me and I usually get it within the week. Sometimes I just wander in when I need to kill some time before meeting up with friends. It’s just such a lovely atmosphere.
Place rating: 5
Redondo Beach, CA
Hooray for small businesses! Bluestocking Books is a nice oasis in the Hillcrest area. I had fun in here perusing the shelves and looking for my next read. I found a book by an author I love (Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni) and a new book to read (The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia’s Founding). Success! If you can’t find something, ask the woman at the counter for tips– I’m sure she can find a good read for you.
Place rating: 4
Phoenix, AZ
We wandered into Bluestocking Books after roaming the post-​Pride streets. It was lovely to find a quiet corner of Hillcrest to escape the wet streets. The shelves here are packed and nicely labelled by genre, ordered by author.
The woman at the counter was helpful and pleasant. We chatted a bit about an author I was looking for and tried to recall a name I couldn’t. Her demeanor was welcoming and totally non-​intimidating.
After finding one book I wanted, I raided the shelves for a cheap one to round out my purchase. While I didn’t find the $ 2 book I wanted, I did get close at $ 3! I left pleased with both finds.
While we don’t live in the area, I’d recommend slipping in for a moment of peaceful book perusing.
Place rating: 3
Lahaina, HI
Nice location in the middle of Hillcrest area. Not a huge selection. Books looked used but were sold retail price… I think.
Place rating: 5
Chandler, AZ
This place is great. The owner is really friendly. There are tons of books and it seems like people truly enjoy being there. Definitely go to this bookstore and skip out in going to the rude jerk in the bookstore across the street.. He is a little better on prices. if he acknowledges you at all.. but the difference is not much and I love being able to give her local store a boost. His store could close down and no one would notice. Anyhow, go to this store and go often!
Teacher discounts! Lots of local events advertised… Just a good overall place. Any book can be ordered if it’s not already there. I love all the signs and stickers and quotes, especially that door behind the register :)
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This place is friendly, inviting and posts a lot of community fliers– that’s cool. Knowledgable on all genres and if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll order it for you. They host groups there too– I haven’t attended the book/​writing group but plan on it.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
As an avid reader who can NEVER truly go all digital, used bookstores are some of my favorite places to lose an afternoon. And in San Diego, Bluestocking Books is the absolute best of the best.
Bluestockings is on 5th Ave in Hillcrest, right across the street (and next to) some great food places. My perfect morning is a breakfast at Snooze and then a stroll over to Bluestockings.
Bluestocking Books has a great selection, the décor is charming, and the customer service has ALWAYS been fantastic. The women who run the store are always super kind, and never seem annoyed to help when I ask for help finding what I’m sure is the most common Stephen King novel. No judgment at Bluestockings! Just great service.
Because Bluestockings is a used bookstore, you can also trade in your own collection. They have a unique credit system in which you can use your trade in $$$ towards a certain percentage of whatever you’re buying. It’s something like 50% off used books and 25% off new books. Don’t quote me on that. The point is that even though you can have $ 100 in credit, only a certain amount can be used toward each purchase, which is a great thing, considering it keeps this gem of a store in business.
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
Love this bookstore!!! I just moved to hillcrest and this was one of the first places I went to visit. The ladies that work there are incredible and easy to talk to. They gave great recommendations and even gave my pup some treats! I will be frequenting this store…
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
I spent a happy hour perusing the books here. Both staff members, owners (?), were friendly and helpful to all who walked in. I asked, as i always do, if there was a section for award winning books. No, but books were arranged by authors in some cases and popularity in other sections. I found a few used books, 3 for $ 17 with the 20% off, way better than the 1 for $ 17 at barnes and noble the other day.
I liked the layout of the store and the open invitation to browse. I had my well behaved dog with me and they gave her a squirrel cookie, her favorite!
A woman came in asking about hard to find books and they have a specialist who will track em down and ship em to you. Very cool.
They have an extensive women’s studies and lgbt section as well. Even chick lit, which i had to have explained. They are definitely customer centric.
Happy to visit again!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Interesting collection. Great prices. Support small businesses!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I love love love love love this bookstore. I went in yesterday looking for some christopher pike books and thankfully they had two. They’re a nice quaint little store, but boy do they have a lot of books. I like that they have a lot of older classic books. I’ll definitely be back. They also let you know when books you’re looking for come in, and that’s especially awesome. I love the customer service here also, they’re so sweet, helpful and nice.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Great little bookstore in fifth avenue on Hillcrest. Picked up a book I was looking for, for only $ 3.50! The staff was friendly and helpful. Would definetly recommend this place!
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
I’m so glad they are in the neighborhood. .
pretty good selection, very unique cards, and posters, wooden floors, prices not to bad…
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
My favorite used bookstore! I was able to trade in two boxes of books for store credit and the credit goes a long way!
If they don’t have what you are looking for, they’ll graciously try and order it for you. They’re helpful and always smiley! It’s not overwhelming in size and so even though there are so many to choose from, I don’t feel too daunted.
I’m in a book club and I’ve always been able to find the book of the month. Bonus, I usually spend between $ 2-​$ 7 per book (even those with popular titles)!
Place rating: 4
Bonita, CA
This is a truly wonderful store with a great selection of books both new and used, and in all different categories, (the classics being thoroughly represented, as are art books, history books and other intellectual reads. This is the mark of a classy bookstore, and it’s what pleases me enough to keep me coming back.)
The staff there are nice as well. One of them in particular is someone I consider a friend, and I actually gave her a card last Christmas. I also appreciate their insight on the book industry as well, and how balanced and non-​hysterical it is. (I find comfort in that, primarily because I wouldn’t read books on a screen if you paid me to. I wish all eBooks would go to h*ll in a handbasket.) but anyway, on with the review.
I hardly ever get to discuss books on so deep a level as I can with these people, who not only know books, but love them as well. I just wish I would do more buying and less talking. (Maybe when I do my Christmas shopping…)
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Bluestocking books is near and dear to my heart. I stop by every time I’m in Hillcrest. I tend to look at everything, cookbooks, health, fiction, etc. Lots of feminist literature! It’s such a cozy place to spend time in, and the employees are friendly and helpful. I’ve been asked for my opinion on whether they should order books I’ve asked about, whether people would be interested and whatnot, and it’s so refreshing to see a business that both seeks and values customer input.
I’ve traded books in for store credit, which translates to 25% off new books at 75% off old books. Got a fair amount of credit for them too.
Disclaimer: I usually come here to BROWSE rather than to search for a specific book, because yes, it is a small location and they don’t have quite as many books as 5th Avenue Books across the street, but for all the gems I’ve found here I always enjoy my time. I know they will order a book you’re looking for if they don’t carry it, but I haven’t yet taken advantage of that amenity.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
I love checking out local bookstores when I’m on vacation, so I was happy to run into Bluestocking while waiting for a table at Hash House a Go Go. The buzzer got mad at me for wandering out of range, but it was worth the quick visit.
Bluestocking is a small bookstore that sells a mix of new and used books, from the looks of it heavy on the used. Most of the used books weren’t in pristine condition, but some looked quite nice. I spotted a barely read copy of «The Surrendered» by Chang-​Rae Lee, and a lot of Kerouac, if that’s your thing. (I hate that guy.)
Actually I found it strange that the store had such a wide selection of Kerouac and Bukowski when it’s clearly a liberal, LGBT-​friendly, and probably feminist leaning place. Sure, Kerouac might have approved of the sex scenes in the lesbian fiction section, but I doubt he’d have cared for any of the parts where women talked. (I hate that guy. Did I already say that?)
I couldn’t spend too much time browsing without losing my spot in the lunch line, but I liked Bluestocking. A friendly neighborhood bookstore is always a good thing, and I thought this one was charming.