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Alhambra Books
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
10115 81 Ave NWEdmonton, AB T6E 1W9
(780) 439-4195
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 10:30 am - 6 pm
Thu 10:30 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for Alhambra Books
10 reviews in English
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Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
1/30/2012
When Yelp had their Passport to East Whyte Ave week I tried to get down to Alhambra Books, but unfortunately it was closed the only time I could make it down. So I was happy to finally make it down to Alhambra a couple days ago when I needed to find a book for school.
Alhambra is tucked with a couple other businesses a block off Whyte Ave on 81 Ave. I had taken the bus to Whyte Ave and walked, but there seemed to be some parking in front of the store. When I went into I was surprised to see how big, and open this bookstore was. While many used bookstores are in small spaces, Alhambra feels open and spacious, with book shelves that reach to the ceiling. The fiction section was organized nicely in alphabetical order. The nonfiction section had a variety of categories, from history, to mountaineering (really) to philosophy. I was also surprised by the shelf filled with books by Alberta authors, including local authors.
I wasn't able to spend all afternoon at Alhambra Books, but I easily could have. I found a copy of the book I needed for about $9, about half the price of a new copy. I got something I needed, I saved money and I got to support a local business. In my opinion it doesn't get much better than that. -
Review from Laini G.
10/17/2011
I absolutely love this store, and visit as often as I can. My favorite area is in the very back, where the movie/tv section is.
I'm a creative writer, and many of my works center on old Hollywood. This place has the best selection in town of books on stars like Chaplin, Pickford, Gable, etc. Plus hard-to-find stuff I have NEVER seen anywhere else. I found an anniversary booklet from some bank in Hollywood with amazing photographs of Los Angeles in the 1910s, and a catalog of silent movie stars and their classic automobiles. I was in heaven. In addition to everything else they have here.
You must come visit. Too many of our treasures like this are falling victim to electronic technology.
Buy a real book. They've been around for centuries, and they still work great. What's going to happen when technology upgrades hit the e-book market? Will you still be able to read your favorites? You can if you buy them here. -
Review from Aditya R.
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes I feel that the best things in the Strathcona and Garneau neighborhoods are off-Whyte. Alhambra reinstates that belief with a remarkably well maintained and fully loaded used bookshop. Of course, every bookshop has a lot of books and tends to have a really good collection in some genres, like I do feel that Audrey's books (downtown) has an awesome collection of Margaret Atwood books. In this case, I was particularly enamored by the presence of a large variety of Science books, biology, chemistry and math (no physics, strangely enough); engineering books too.
Don't get me wrong though. It's not limited to just nerdy science books. They've got a lovely collection of literature books and specifically Canadian literature, as well as a huge collection of books related to history. I was also quite impressed by their large collection of cookbooks, from famous classics like Julia Child's French cooking to modern day favorites related to diet food and vegan living. I noticed that they also had a pretty decent section of reference books (outside of those already mentioned) and many related to the local landscape of things - be it birds of Alberta or a book on pre-WW I Strathcona.
The atmosphere is more like that of a library with a lot of old, squeaking furniture and books piled high up in bookstands that can barely carry their own weight. A nice smell to the old furniture adding to the potpourri of mould, ages old vanilla, grassy and moist odor of books with paper browned beyond belief etc. A lovely place that deserves a 5 star based on pure empirical bliss.Listed in: Yelpathon, East of the tracks
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Review from Jeremy and alaka F.
12/29/2011
Okay, my problem with the place is the smell. The musty smell is a little overwhelming when you first step in. Aside from that I think they have a decent selection of books, at a reasonable price. I like the open space and the quiet atmosphere, I just wish they would do something about the smell. But don't let it stop you from going, the selection and price is well worth the visit.
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Review from Alex P.
8/19/2011 ROTD 12/1/2011
WOW!!! If I could give Alhambra six stars I would. I can't believe in all of my years of book shopping and bookstore adventures I've never been here before now.
The selection is the most extensive I've ever seen... period. I mean, they actually HAVE a chemistry section. And they have books in my FIELD! (Nuclear magnetic resonance.) I even found some books by well-recognized authors on rotational and vibrational spectroscopy. They've got lots of cool old cookbooks and an extensive hobby section. And they have a hypnosis section... and even a metal working section!! I'm hard pressed to find even ONE book on those topics in other bookstores! And everything was inexpensive!! (Toxicology textbooks for ten bucks? Yes please!)
I was just overwhelmed by the sheer number of books in the store, and how many were crammed into this corner and that. Everywhere you turn there's a pile of books you haven't seen yet. It's so exciting!!
I only spent a couple hours in the store and already I have a long list of things to buy. Alhambra Books just became my new favorite bookstore! -
Review from Adam D.
8/7/2011
I always wanna swear in my revies to show how superior this store is. So here I go this place is F**king fantastic. Stay away from your corporate book stores , its just the same dribble. Here at Alahambra you can find the book you didnt even know you were looking for. Stock here is great, I have never left this place w/o 5 books or less. The staff super friendly, great people to just have a chat with. One thing they are missing is the shop pet, unless there is one and I havent seen it. Prices are resonable abd its jus off whyte so parking is never really an issue. Whats got two thumbs up and says hell yes visit it here....THIS GUY
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Review from Melanie L.
Edmonton, AB
3/2/2011
Just what a bookstore should be: stocked to the gills with books and organized in a way that is easy to navigate. My go-to anytime I'm looking for a new read. I wish more people visited used bookstores - why buy brand new books when they're made with lesser quality materials and use unnecessary resources (with the obvious exception being a brand new title)? The smell, the helpful but bookish (excuse my pun) staff, the mis-matched bookshelves, the worn but comfy chairs - I love everything about this place. Sometimes I'll go just to chill out when it's been a particularly hectic day.
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Review from Joanna F.
9/22/2010
The Alhambra palace in Granada is also known as 'Al-Yana', or paradise, and this Alhambra is certainly a paradise for old book lovers! Exactly what a second-hand, antique bookstore should be - filled to the celling with overflowing bookcases and a musty smell reminiscent of a well-stocked library. An exploration revealed many treasures, including the entire works of Shakespeare (40 volumes!) from the 1880's. The bookstore also had incredible sections on spirituality, radicalism, cultural studies and more. A great bookstore for serious, non-fiction readers looking to discover new topics or learn more about favourite ones, Alhambra also stocks enough contemporary literature on the shelfs to satisfy readers who are looking for good fiction, although you won't find the NYT's top 100 list here.
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Review from Lauren N.
10/28/2008 1 photo
Out of all the bookstores around Whyte, I find Alhambra Books pays the best for your old books. I managed to sell two of my old books for $6 here, which is a lot better than I fared at Wee Book Inn. Like Old Strathcona Books nearby, they have a wide selection in various genres, including children's literature, general and world literature/fiction, sports, poetry, spirituality, and history. What really impressed me was that one side of the store had books all on war and history. So history buffs would love it here. They tend to have more classic and intellectual books here, like Broadvalley Books on Whyte, and less general contemporary fiction.
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Review from Paula K.
10/29/2008
Alhambra Books is a second hand bookstore just off Whyte that has an atmosphere exactly the way a used bookstore should have: moderately lit, slightly musty, and filled with books. I head to Alhambra to sell my unwanted books for reasonable rates, and also the check out the stock. Alhambra has one of the best Spirituality sections in the city, hands down, including other independent bookstores and the major chains. I know a pastor who comes here to clean it out on a regular basis. The best thing about coming to a bookstore like this is that you never know what treasures you may find.
