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.

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!

Very nice and cozy bookstore, they have plenty of accessories for your kitchen, office and they have very cute gift ideas.

One of my favorite places. Warning. When I die I might hang around your store as a ghost reading books and drink your beer.

This bookstore felt like one of those places you instantly want to slow down in. From the moment I walked in, it was clear this wasn't just a place to buy books, it was an experience. There's a full book bar inside serving wine, beer, coffee, or tea which made it incredibly easy to settle in and stay awhile. I grabbed a beer, found a cozy spot, and continued reading my travel read while soaking in the atmosphere. I basically got something for every age. A couple for my kiddos (5 and under), my niece (a teen), and me. It's the kind of bookstore that invites you to linger, browse without rushing, and truly enjoy being surrounded by stories. A dream stop for book lovers who also appreciate a good drink and a welcoming vibe. Overall, a true independent bookstore gem.

My favorite bookstore in all of Arizona. I love how there its organized with recommendations from the staff. This particular location also has a bar and sitting area for you to read your new book or catch up with a friend. My favorite sections are their best sellers and the newest/latest. I also like their bargain/clearance section (located near the bar and also outside on the carts) pretty much always able to find a book without breaking my frugal budget. Clean and large bathroom, handicap capable. Love this place. A must visit if you're in town!

Changing Hands combines everything I love in one place: a workspace + bookstore + bar + community event center! For the past year, I've been telling my friends and family to go to Changing Hands, insisting that my coworkers and I meet here rather than at a coffee shop to get work done. Parking is easy too (sometimes they have valet though, which confuses me lol) This is a great inclusive space that works to bring people together based on interest -- one time, I was getting work done in their working area, but I had to move and sit at the First Draft bar because they were prepping the work area to host a poetry night. I got to do work while people read their poetry aloud (as an arts lover, it was beautiful seeing people feel comfortable and vulnerable with their community, so touching)! They have a bulletin board near the back too where they staple up community events and have printed local newspapers (awesome for people who like to venture). I also love books, and their selection is awesome, everything is easy to find. I bought my friend a journal from here and she loves it (I might just have to get myself one now). If you like to buy books, make sure to get that bonus card and fill out the 10 squares so you can get a discount! You can trade in books too for some store credit.

I absolutely love Changing Hands Bookstore, especially the Phoenix location because they also have the First Draft Book Bar, so when I'm attending a book event, my husband can tag along and have a drink while I'm living my best life! I love that they carry a big selection of indie author books, and the service is always top-notch! They also offer a ton of other gift-like items. Definitely stop in if you are a book lover. You won't be disappointed!

While in Phoenix AZ we stopped into this fabulous bookstore! What a BRILLIANT idea to have a bar/cafe attached to the bookstore. First draft where you can get some light bites named after books ....Horton hears a hummus, Moby Dick sandwich (tuna melt) you get the idea! Sit & sip on wine, beers, cider or NA drinks. The book store has a great selection of new and used books, as well as novelty gifts. It's not just a bookstore it's a fun experience! Such a unique spot that I wish we had in my city!

What a great bookstore! I took my daughter for the Jennifer Lynne Barnes event and book signing. We had never been to this bookstore and can't believe how cool it was! They sell new and used books, have fun merchandise for sale, has a large event space in the back, and has a bar called the "First Draft" where you can order beer, wine, coffee, tea, and small bites. Everyone was very friendly. Such a great place, looking forward to going back.

Great community stop, their tuna fish sandwich is great. I appreciate their keeping the tuna cold for me. Great community area for groups to meet and lots of goodies to keep yourself entertained.

Oh my where do I start, shame on me for all those years that I spent @ that we won't say the name of the chain bookstore SHHHHH! So no longer because thanks to my fellow Yelpers I found Changing Hands & all I can say is OMG! We came here after breakfast, different location...but FYI next time we will be doing The Toasted Owl before hand ;-) As soon as you walk in the first time you're just in awe, what an amazing bookstore yet so much more! You don't even know where to start... so being that tomorrow is my Aunts birthday & there's a huge selection of cards, bam...my hubby finds one with bumble bees, well my Aunt has a thing with bees therefore I must get it!!! This is a very good start, then a couple aisles over there's a children's section with so many good quality toys, wooden Melissa & Doug, etc. our son chose a kaleidoscope ... very good quality made out of metal not card board! After about an hour or so we were only able to go through the one half of the store being that our son was getting restless with his autism & the store was starting to get crowded on a Sunday late morning @ 11:30 am so we decided to head towards the check out area. Well once you get the check out area you might as well give yourself another 30 minutes ... lol! They had a glass case with some handmade beaded bracelets & such, just so many more little goodies to browse through to buy! We had so much fun discovering this store & all they have to offer....trust me, you will also plus you'll be supporting your local businesses!

Changing Hands is one of the premier independent bookstores in the AZ area. This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. To get here, they are located in between two eateries: The Toasted Owl and Tesota. Inside, they have a very spacious store with a superb selection of different books and even a draft bar! You can definitely spend a couple hours here just perusing everything they have. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Prices are very reasonable and they have a book that can suit anyone's reading palette. Come stop by to support and grab a book!

"It's always better to have too much to read than not enough." ― Ann Patchett Changing Hands is Arizona's leading independent bookstore, offering new and used books, unique gifts, toys, and more than 300 author events every year since 1974. I love books. I've even written two books (link in my bio)! As for Changing Hands, they're an amazing bookstore that often hosts book signings and other fun events. On top of books, they also sell some really cool items. With the holidays coming up, you can find some fun and unique items here from oracle cards to incense holders, knit cardigans to crystal sun catchers. Want some cool earrings? Need some holiday ornaments? Come here! You'll truly find some interesting finds for everyone on your shopping list. Support independent; support local!

Books? Coffee? Alcohol? Yes!!!! This place is absolutely perfect perfection. I Popped in here after seeing a few posts and I cannot wait to go back. They have a great book selection (loved the book summaries), Sticker selection, and other knickknacks/odds and ends that are book related. Parking was a little hectic/limited.

This is a really cool, independent bookstore that also has a bar inside and tons of seating! They host a bunch of different events too, but I haven't gone to any yet. There's a great selection of reasonably priced new and used books, as well as some other random items. I've gotten a few small games from here that I really liked.

First Visit First Impressions This bookstore has the best selection of artsy books and cookbooks. I love it. They even carry Seattle Chocolates about 6-8 varieties. Friendly staff. They got a bar next door. This was a recommendation from the a staff member from Nomad's in Uptown Plaza which is clothing store and gifts. This is the kind of bookstore that you can get lost in different kinds of cool books. Hard to find cookbooks are here. This is a must visit for the bookworm snob!

I finally made it! I've been wanting to go to this location for a while, but I live closer to the Tempe location, so I go there a lot more. However, after this visit, I am considering meeting my friends here! This would be the half way point between me and them! It's more compacted than Tempe, but it's super organized! The lighting was good. They also have a book bar in there perfect for book clubs, chess, homework, and card games. I will absolutely go back again.

Went to Changing Hands bookstore on a rainy day and fell IN LOVE with the ambiance! They have a wide selection of reads to choose from, and they also have tons of affordable and durable trinkets for you to take home! I will definitely be visiting again to pick out one of their gorgeous wind chimes

Changing Hands is a great bookshop. But, more than just a bookstore, this business has a lot of other things going on for it. In addition of books, it also has a lot of great novelty and art style items for sale. Thus, if you're coming in here looking for a gift, either for someone else or even yourself, you never know what you will find. There's also a café attached to this bookstore. So, if you wanna grab a latte or something like that, you can easily do that here in association with you checking out their books. This is a fully stocked bookstore. They have books on all of the various subjects, and a very good selection of each. The staff here are all very friendly and very helpful. They'll be glad to help you out with anything you may need. Overall, this is a great bookstore. It's a great addition to the greater Phoenix area. And, an interesting place to go whenever you need that something for yourself or for someone else.

Wonderful book store that I visit every time I'm in town. Great selection of genres and knick knacks. New titles and recommendations all reasonably priced. Have even found a few nice signed books on some visits. And then you can enjoy your reading selection in the First Draft book bar with is inside. The service is seamless and knowledgeable of where things can be found. I usually Uber there so can't speak to the wider parking options, but there is a small parking lot outside the entrance that is shared with a restaurant. I adore this place!

This is a hidden gem in Phoenix. Coffee shop, bar, event venue, and bookstore all in one!! They have all kinds of fun gifts and books galore. Fun to walk around and get lost.

I finally got the opportunity to visit Changing Hands Bookstore a couple months again and what a great store! I loved the way the genres were organized and set up through the store. The bookstore felt so welcoming and bright. I love that they have a coffee/wine bar with some seating. It has a great community feel and was a great place to just hang out with a coffee and read. It wasn't very busy, but no one offered help or asked if I needed any assistance. I would still recommend and would go back again.

Beautiful bookstore. Amazing bar Puzzles and other mind games! Brick walls and natural lighting, a true gem!

I love Changing Hands! My parents used to take me to the original one on Mill Avenue in the 70s. I am a big supporter of local bookstores. It is a great place to look for books and different. Cute items as gifts. I love that they have like a coffee wine bar right attached.

It was really lame to drive 30 min to a bookstore where used books are being sold at full price. If it's not a used book store, their selection is super small, one skinny shelf that's not even full of manga.

This is my go to bookstore. It's nice to shop local and see local authors and events featured. There are book clubs, things for kids, and a lot of book paraphernalia/tchotchkes that make great gifts. They provide a lot of recommendations, making browsing a lot of fun. Their loyalty punch card rewards you for shopping there with money off, which means their prices are on par with larger national corporations. Plus, the fantastic vibes I get every time I step inside are unmatched-- online shopping can't compare. If they ever don't have what I'm looking for, I order through them and pick it up later. I also enjoy grabbing a drink and cookie at the First Draft Book Bar. There's so many reasons to keep coming back!

This store is beautifully curated with tons of literary gems of all genres as well as very fun merchandise and creative gift options. There are 3 food and drink options connected to the store as well. Support your local booksellers and check this place out and grab a bite and drink while you're there!

Book lovers will love this store! With plenty of parking, it's a restaurant, bar, and cafe inside a bookstore with organized sections like fiction, business, and travel. You could easily browse for an hour or so. The largest section is fiction. As a travel writer, I always find a bookstore's travel section. It's very small compared to other stores.

Really cute book and gift shop that we visited while waiting for our table for brunch at the Toasted Owl. They have a nice selection of gifts including kitschy things and some more serious items like calendars and tote bags. Of course, books too! Cute children's selection. We bought a beautifully illustrated children's book called Mushroom Lullaby. Highly recommend pairing your visit here with a meal at the Toasted Owl. They also had an intriguing space in the back that looked like a cafe/ bar space. Nice bathrooms.

Great book store with a nice selection and helpful employees. I liked the book summaries on the shelves. Also next to a great brunch spot - The Toasted Owl

Changing Hands is my favorite local business to support. They have some of the best selection of books, including banned books, that drive me to purchase solely from them. I also love spending my day on the first draft. I ordered something online, and while it wasn't processed, they allowed me to pick it up in-store. They are so inclusive, and it makes me feel safe in this chaotic world as a queer person!

I go to Honor Health Peoria only to see a PD. I recently was assigned to Dr Wooden and he has followed through very well faxing Referrals for me. He also takes the time to listen and discuss matters. This office seems more organized lately and Dr Wooden has been excellent.

I love the concept of Changing Hands and the store is wonderful. BUT BUT BUT why can't they keep clean restrooms? On the only two occasions I have had to use the restroom while having something in the peaceful cafe, I have been disgusted. On the last occasion it was shortly after opening when you would think that the restroom would be clean for sure. No. Horrid. Really put me off my food in the cafe. Wish I hadn't gone to the restroom. The toilet seat was broken and paper was littered on the floor. Next time I go to exchange/sell back books, I will skip eating anything and just hang around for the 20 minute wait. Definitely anyone should think twice about eating there. If they can't keep clean restrooms, do you think their food prep is hygienic? Please, management, do something about this. Maybe I can even make a report to the public health dept (city)????

I'm a frequent changing hands customer. The best part about changing hands is not only is it a local business, but they have the most educated sales associates at the store. I love learning what they are reading. The book clerks are always so friendly and helpful. I'm impressed how current they are with local and global issues.I got to sign a petition regarding abortion rights at changing hands a year ago. They push that boundary in this conservative gentrified area. I see them as a business that uplifts the community that's already been here. I was in a month ago and noticed their display for Palestine. I see what is on the news but the display opened my eyes to much more. I had chills because I was so proud that a business in my neighborhood was bringing "controversial" issues to light. I know I'm spending my time and money at the right place. I have been recommending changing hands to people because it's not a typical bookstore. I prefer it over the corporate bookstore feel Barnes and others have. I noticed changing hands was participating in highlighting the books on the banned books list. I loved their graphics on it. I love that they are again using their stance as a business to say, "fu** fascism fu** trump and fu** banned books". I do love this idea and support it, but I'm bummed that the palestine display is down. I understand graphics are seasonal and displays need to be changed; It's not a seasonal issue. It's an issue we all need to be educated on.

I absolutely adore Changing Hands! Ever since I've moved to Phoenix, this bookstore has always been my favorite. There is such a great selection of books and I enjoy scouring the "Sale" section every time I stop in. Their book pre-order process is also really easy!

Been meaning to come here and finally came on my birthday because they provide $10 to anything you want, just show your ID. I ended up getting animal socks, but they have mugs, fun kitchen items, kids toys, puppets, bags, jewelry, and more. Lots of used and new books plus gifts and trinkets. They also have events in the evening in The Commons, a big room with seating. There's also a bar that serves alcohol and coffee. There were pastries too. I had fun looking around and checking it out. I'll definitely return for an event. Bee at the counter was very nice and knowledgeable too!

My daughter and I recently found Changing Hands on a book hunt. From the moment we walked in, we both felt like we'd found a hidden gem. Cozy enough for comfort, but with an extensive selection, it hit the sweet spot for us. We both found new book series to begin and decided Changing Hands was on our "must visit" list.

Changing hands is a beautiful book store with a lot to offer. I usually always enjoy my stops here, as a treat when I'm down in central Phoenix. Today was a weird experience. My spouse and I had breakfast at Toasted Owl, then decide to wander over to changing hands to pick up a few books. We walked up and saw the usual discount carts, a sign advertising trivia, and even the children's books. Opened the door, walked in, and started looking at the books. An employee came running across the store and said "We don't open for ten more minutes", motioning for us to leave. Embarrassed, we completely left. Why was the door unlocked? And why not just let us know and let us keep on browsing, given another employee was less than 15 feet away from us arranging some displays? Just kind of strange.

I always look forward to visiting Changing Hands! Even if I'm not looking for anything in particular I always have a fun time looking at their book selection and their staff picks. Their used books are my favorite to look at, they usually come at an excellent price as opposed to buying them from a chain store. They also have really unique and fun trinkets and stickers from local artists. I love supporting local book stores like Changing Hands!

I had some time to kill before meeting up with a friend. I was genuinely surprised how popular this place was with people of all ages , as all bookstores should have books for infants to senior citizens. The coffee bar was also an excellent opportunity to have a drink while browsing through you new purchase. It was a busy Saturday morning there, but everyone was having a good time socializing and looking for books . This bookstore is not to be passed up ! See it if you're in the area, you'll be glad that you did ! I know that I enjoyed my time there that Saturday morning...

I Love this place. I've been trading and buying books from them since the 1970s. I followed them from 6th St to Mill to their current Tempe location. I'm overjoyed that I can shop in Phoenix. We buy gifts and special order books and gift cards. One of the best features is their stamp card. One stamp per purchase of $10 and a full card gets you $10 off your purchase. Good people. Phoenix needed them. Thanks for opening on Camelback and 3rd Ave. The former Beefeaters Restaurant building is having its best, second life.

This is known as a used bookstore, I'm told, but most of the books are new. Everybody is very kind though; that's the best feature here. However, I found this sign (photo attached) at the register incredibly offensive (even "triggering," to reuse a common modern victimization trope). First off, "queer" is a completely offensive term for gay people. Its use suddenly made me feel unwelcome as a gay person. Secondly, to ask people to default to "they/them" pronouns is arrogantly rude. Doing so diminishes the very existence of homosexuals and is homophobic, not to mention misogynistic. But the weirdest part of the sign is, when speaking in second person, we do not use pronouns anyway! So the sign is not even necessary. If someone gets "misgendered," it's hardly fair to blame or ask the majority of the population to change its behavior. That's a narcissistic request. When people become trans, it's part of the deal to expect misgendering. It's not on the rest of us to have to address, as we haven't done anything to alter or change ourselves and don't deserve to be lectured as if we've done some wrong just by existing. I'll not be returning to this establishment so long as such an offensive sign remains posted. Also note the sign omits "gay" people. That's telling. If "queer" were meant to describe all of the alphabet community, why the need to spell it out and separate "trans?" It's all just...so very rude. And if my review gets censored or removed from Yelp, I'll consider it another act of homophobic hatred.

I LOVE coming to Changing Hands, while we never really interact with the staff I love how they have events and new things every time we come. Support your local bookstores and check out Changing Hands! Their prices are within market and they always have interesting finds!

I love this place. I had it recommended to me by multiple people, so of course, I had to stop by. Why a bookstore with a bar isn't a more common thing, I don't know. It had super chill vibes. Lots of books, fun trinkets, and whatnot if you're also searching for a gift. I got a simple sticker to remember the occasion. I will have to go back next time I'm in town. There was plenty to see and do!

Nice niche store they have little coffee and beer and wine selections The guy or the lady at the counter is pretty nice they will let you bring your small backpack in. The book selection is no Walden books or Barnes & Noble it's just extremely simple with a limited selection on every title there is that they carry. Even this they are extremely organized. For their value you could either like it or leave it you can go to Barnes & Noble or some other bookstore that you might choose better than this one but if you like it just be respectful

Best warm hug of a book store and coffee tea house. The gifts are fabulous and kids area is magical! I adore this gem in our city!

They have an ok selection of books but, having previously lived across the street from their Tempe location, I prefer the other store's larger selection and kids area (but I now live down from this store). This location has a large empty space for gathering, which is nice, and they host craft nights and other events, but I miss the larger selection and more used books of the Tempe store. I rarely leave the Tempe store with less than 6 books; I do well to find one in this store but I think it has more to do with the vibe and smaller volume of this store. The Tempe store just feels cozier and friendlier.

I've been wanting to go to a bookstore/caffe for SO long and this was the perfect find. The environment is very cozy and the coffee is great! Definitely recommend if you want a new work environment.

I had a chance to visit Changing Hands during my trip to AZ, and saying I loved it would be an understatement. There is so much in this bookstore, literally something for everyone. From books to journals to accessories and gifts, you are sure to find what you need/want at Changing Hands! Very cute space with places to sit around the bookstore, along with cute art. The staff is helpful and friendly also. Definitely check out this indie bookstore.

Old out of date books that nobody would want. Couldn't find anything current. Virtually no sports books at all. I'd avoid this place, there are several other used bookstores in the Valley that put this place to shame!

Books and beer, this may be the pinnacle of my life experiences and I'm okay with that. Hallelujah.

Stopped in here the first time today to check it out and also get a couple thing for my mom for Mother's Day! This store is big and they have a ton of stuff to look at. I ended up getting a book about historical cats for myself that I can't wait to read! Glad I came by today!