If you ever ask me the question “Would you like to go to a used bookstore?”, the answer is going to be “YES! Can we go now?”. I’ll take the opportunity to try just about any used bookstore once.
Now sometimes, one trip is enough. Other times? You scrape together your pennies and try to go right after Mr Paycheck hits Mr Bank Account because you know you’re going to find some new treasure. And since I live in Connecticut, my go to used bookstore is the Book Barn down Niantic way. But Book Barn? You have a rival in awesome used bookstore land. And it’s in my beloved Providence, Rhode Island.
If you’re fortunate enough to be in Providence (imagine being lucky enough to live there?), take a stroll downtown and turn down Mathewson Street. If you get to the Hotel Providence, you’ve just walked by the unassuming entrance to one of Providence’s treasures, the Cellar Stories Bookstore.
Once you’ve opened the metal door and climbed up the flight of stairs, you’ve entered a book lover’s paradise. The shop itself is one level, with a main room filled with a maze of shelves and a side room with cookbooks, crafts, magazines and maps. If you’ve been to a larger used bookstore like McKay, Powells or my beloved Book Barn, Cellar Stories will feel small. Ignore that thought. Cellar Stories is bigger than it seems when you first walk in.
If you’re me, you are at the front desk, eyes scanning the glass display case to see what amazing Lovecraft/Arkham House titles are available. And wonder just how mad Blacklight would be if you decided that a book signed by Lovecraft himself in 1910 was more important than paying the rent and car insurance. Living inside wins and you’re just as thrilled when you decide to buy the $10 Barnes & Noble reprint of the L. Sprague de Camp Lovecraft biography.
Now if you’re not the type of person who would swoon over the Arkham House, Lovecraft, Necronomicon Press and vintage Weird Tales on display, a) why do you read my blog? and b) are you Blacklight?, worry not, Cellar Stories will have something for you no matter what your budget. Considering the scope and breadth of subjects and titles, prices are quite reasonable. $1.50 could get you a mass market paperback, a vintage pulp paperback or a pamphlet put out by The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution circa 1926 for people who recently moved to the United States. Actually am now rather kicking myself for not picking up that last one just for the novelty value of the thing. Have a little more cash? There are $3 special tables. Higher budget? No problem. Team Leader Ash found several interesting finds in the music and poetry sections and was quite impressed by the vintage magazines. And if you love Rhode Island and New England history or vintage maps? Bring your checkbook. Heck, just empty your 401k.
Now to plot, plan and save for my next trip to Providence and Cellar Stories.
Store: Cellar Stories Bookstore
Where: 111 Mathewson Street Providence RI 02903
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am – 6pm, Sundays 12-5pm (winter only)
Contact: (401) 521-2665 or info@cellarstories.com
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