Changing Hands Bookstore

Changing Hands is a great bookstore and a great hangout! There is a wide selection of fiction and non fiction and children’s books and they will order anything not in stock. Excellent collection of books on Arizona, in particular. The store also has lots of good gifts, from windchimes to cool notebooks to felted shawls, as well as calendars and such. First Draft has a good selection of coffees, teas, beer and wines as well as snacks ( the hot pretzel with dipping cheese is a crowd favorite). The big room with the fireplace is a lovely place to sit and read, to meet friends, or just to have coffee. Every second Sunday evening, the room is packed with all the teams competing in the trivia contest, which is an ever more popular event for Phoenicians of all ages and interests.

The location is easy access from roads with decent parking. I really appreciated the combination of book store, and a cafe together. The vibe is both hipster contemporary with a dash of intellegista. There's a nice range of local based literature and gift items. The curated range of literature is just enough from each section. It's not too vast in areas but also seems to cater to local tastes (lots of fiction and romance). But, there's genuinely a good range for a wide assortment of tastes. The Cafe is also spacious and great place to read. I spent nearly $100 on books and it would have been nice to get a complimentary coffee or tea from the café...something for them to think about. Overall, if I lived here in Phoenix this would be one of my holy places. It's also great for tourists like myself, especially if you want to dig into local stories and subjects.

This bookstore is magical. Why is it so far away??? If i could live here I would. 1. The credit for used books here is off the charts. For those who go to Bookmans or Half Off, forget it. They actually give you more than 15 cents here. The only issue is they take less here due to the size of the ship. Only bring the best here. 2. The staff recommended books are on point. They also are everywhere and point out great reads. 3. The vibe and non book items are super well procured. 4. The coffee shop. I dream of reading and coffee-ing. Yes. If they only had pastries and cakes.... So yes. I even met Ruby, a beautiful pup chillaxing.

Changing Hands Bookstore is a gem in Phoenix, the moment you walk in you’re surrounded by shelves filled with a great selection of new and used books, gifts, and fun finds. I loved how easy it was to discover something new, whether I was browsing fiction, cookbooks, or local interest titles. The vibe is warm and welcoming, and the addition of the book bar inside makes it a perfect place to hang out with a drink while you read. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and I appreciated the variety of events they offer too. Whether you’re just browsing for a gift or settling in for a good read, this bookstore delivers a fantastic experience.

Great bookstore. I actually like their other location even more—despite being smaller, it feels like they have a wider selection of games and puzzles, plus the area offers a bit more to do. What really stands out is how much they give you for used books. Getting over 40% of the retail value for something you no longer want is hard to beat.

You’ve got to go for yourself to experience the magic of this place! Everyone is super friendly and the atmosphere is amazing! This please will always inspire you to look at art, creativity and culture from a different point of view!

Great find! Lots of options, for everyone. Really helpful staff, and a bar to hangout and study, relax, chill with friends, etc. lots of gift options, from wind chimes to candles, socks to gems, tarot cards to games. Fun to just walk around and see the diversity of books and people. Worth stopping in!