Bookstores of the Triangle Pt 4: Reader's Corner
O, Reader’s Corner! We discovered this gem of a spot while we were attending the MFA program at NC State; it’s tucked on Hillsborough Street westbound from campus, a wondrous relic of what we understand this part of Raleigh used to be like, before it was taken over by slick off-campus housing and Target (I mean, we love a good Target, don’t get us wrong, but we also love urban texture and character).
Emily asked; Reader’s Corner answered.
Reader’s Corner is a used bookstore, selling cheap books from its outside shelves and slightly more expensive, high-quality tomes inside. It’s not a store to go to if you absolutely know you must have the latest hardcover that came out last week; however, they somehow, miraculously, often stock beautiful, like-new copies of new releases from the last five to ten years. On a recent visit, Emily was hoping to find a copy of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, and lo, she found it. She’s also picked up older classics by authors like Daphne du Maurier and Mary Gaitskill there, and she’s seen friends scoop up more arcane tomes like Robert’s Rules of Order. Reader’s Corner’s treasures are not limited to books; you can also find records, CDs, DVDs, and other kinds of books like comics and antiquarian offerings.
It’s also worth noting that Reader’s Corner buys used books, so if you have some you’re looking to get rid of, you just might be able to take them in, do a trade, and pick up some new-to-you reading for no money at all, which honestly, is pretty much the dream. And finally, one last note of praise for this store: you’ll find strange little notes, phrases, and comics taped up everywhere, from the YURT FOR SALE ad on the front window to the newspaper clippings and photographs taped up inside. Cheap books, old-school Raleigh, fascinating ephemera, nice staff—what’s not to love? We urge you to mosey on down to Hillsborough Street and browse next time you’re in the area (the store also imposes a strict limit on the number of customers allowed inside these days, due to Covid, so you can browse in relative safety).
Check out this WALTER article for more information about the founder of Reader’s Corner. And let us know in the comments: have you ever found any bibliophilic gems here?