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Some bookstores are quick stops, and some swallow your whole afternoon before you notice the parking meter. Arizona has a surprising number of that second kind, from Tucson to Flagstaff, and a few of them stock far more than paperbacks.
Think vinyl, retro video games, instruments, puzzles, comics, fancy pens, and shelves stacked with thousands of used titles waiting for a new home. This list covers six big, browsable shops across the state where the selection runs deep and the hours slip by fast.
Some are local institutions, and some are the kind of place you pass a hundred times before finally stopping in. Every one of them rewards readers who like to wander without a plan.
So charge your phone, bring a tote bag, and maybe set an alarm, because these stacks are built for getting lost.
1. Bookmans Speedway Entertainment Exchange, Tucson, AZ
VHS tapes still have a home in Tucson. At the Bookmans on East Speedway, old movies share floor space with new releases, cassettes, CDs, and books from just about every genre you can name.
The store buys, sells, and trades used books, music, movies, video games, and instruments. You will also find puzzles, game consoles, and a healthy supply of nerdy trinkets that make browsing feel like a treasure hunt.
Size is the big draw here. Since the merger of two other Tucson locations into this one, the Speedway shop has become the go-to Bookmans in town, and its layout makes an hour or two disappear quickly.
I would save this one for a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, which tend to be the quietest times. Weekend afternoons get busy, especially Sundays.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days, stretching to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The store also has Wi-Fi, so you can look up that half-remembered author while standing in the aisle.
If you have a stack of books or games gathering dust at home, bring them along. Trading in is part of the whole Bookmans routine.
2. Peregrine Book Company, Prescott, AZ
Pen people, take note. Peregrine Book Company in downtown Prescott carries a serious selection of pens and inks, right alongside stickers, buttons, games, and stuffed toys.
The books, of course, are the headliner. The shelves mix new titles with used copies and comics, and the store has a reputation for carrying hard-to-find books that bigger chains often miss.
Displays here are thoughtfully arranged, which makes wandering half the fun. It is the kind of shop where you come in for one title and leave with three, plus a sticker you did not know you needed.
The store sits at 219 N Cortez St, an easy walk from Prescott’s historic core. Parking options include free street spots and a free lot nearby.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so weekday visits give you more elbow room.
Even Prescott residents treat this place as a favorite escape, which says plenty about a shop in a town full of charming storefronts.
3. Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
Author signings, local art, and a mix of new and used books all under one roof explain why Changing Hands has lasted so long in the Valley. It is one of Arizona’s best-known independent bookstores, and the Tempe store keeps a steady calendar of readings and events.
The shelves cover a wide range of genres for kids, teens, and adults. New releases sit near used finds, so bargain hunters and hardcover collectors can shop the same trip.
Gift lovers get a bonus. The store features work from local artists and artisans, including ceramics, cards, and crafts.
Cozy corners make it easy to settle in with a book before deciding to buy it. Free Wi-Fi helps too.
You will find the store at 6428 S McClintock Dr with a free parking lot. Hours run 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Weekend afternoons fill up fast. Curbside pickup and delivery are available if you already know what you want, though that kind of skips the fun.
4. Bookmans Mesa Entertainment Exchange, Mesa, AZ
Retro gamers and rare book hunters tend to end up in the same aisles at the Mesa Bookmans. The store has a strong reputation for rare books, retro video games, and odd collectibles that pop up without warning.
Shelves are packed with used books, comics, vinyl, DVDs, Blu-rays, and puzzles. Instruments and music round out the inventory, since this location buys, sells, and trades all of it.
Plenty of Valley shoppers consider this location larger than the Phoenix Bookmans near Northern and 19th Avenue. That extra floor space means more ground to cover and more chances to stumble onto something good.
Find it at 1056 S Country Club Dr, with a free parking lot and free street parking. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Weekday visits are the calmest, while Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons get crowded. I like this stop for a slow weekday browse when there is no rush to be anywhere.
5. Books on 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Mystery and romance readers, this one is for you. Books on 7th Ave in central Phoenix is a spacious used bookstore that covers a full range of topics but leans hard into those two fiction favorites.
The inventory runs into the thousands of titles. Books are piled high, and most of them are in great condition, which makes digging through the stacks feel productive rather than dusty.
Unlike the big entertainment exchanges on this list, the focus here stays squarely on books. No game consoles or guitars, just aisle after aisle of reading material.
The staff are known for being friendly and helpful when you are hunting for a specific series. Prices sit a bit above bargain-bin level, reflecting the condition of the stock.
Plan around the schedule. The store at 9201 N 7th Ave is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays, with free on-site parking.
6. Bookmans Flagstaff Entertainment Exchange, Flagstaff, AZ
A coffee stop and a used bookstore in one trip makes the Flagstaff Bookmans an easy pick on a cool high-country day. Many in town rank it as the best coffee spot in Flagstaff.
The inventory covers used books, music, movies, instruments, and video games, including older systems. Antiques and crafts show up on the shelves too, which adds some variety to the browse.
This is a smaller store than its Valley siblings. Still, it packs in enough to earn its spot as a top choice in town for used books, movies, and games.
Staff are friendly and helpful, whether you are a Northern Arizona local or passing through on a summer escape from the desert heat.
The store sits at 1520 S Riordan Ranch St with free parking and free Wi-Fi. Hours match the other Bookmans: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days, 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Arizona readers really do have options in every corner of the state. Pick one, bring a tote, and let the stacks take over your afternoon.
