Tattered Cover Union Station

Book store · Union Station

Tattered Cover Union Station

Book store · Union Station

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Highlights

Denver’s Tattered Cover is a cozy indie bookstore with curated staff picks, comfy chairs, and a welcoming vibe for book lovers at Union Station.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202 Get directions

tatteredcover.com

@tatteredcoverbookstore

@afar

"Known for hosting readingsby big stars in theliteraryfirmament,Tattered Cover Book Store originallyopened in 1971 in a mere950 square feet of space in the Cherry Creek North area. The enterprise has grown to include six additional outposts around the city(including three at Denver International Airport—one foreach of the three concourses), but it hasn't lost sight of the reader or the writer. The locations offer cozycouches and overstuffed chairs in whichto settleand get lost in a book, magazine, or even a newspaper; they also sponsor readings, discussions, and book signings involving over400 authors, illustrators, and speakers each year."

The Best Things to Do in Denver

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@afar

The Best Shopping in Denver

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@cntraveler

16 Best Things to Do in Denver, From Speakeasies to Wildlife Reserves | Condé Nast Traveler

"Denver’s best independent bookstore has been a community gathering place since 1971. In an era when online sales threaten brick-and-mortar stores everywhere, the Tattered Cover has thrived. It now has multiple locations—including an outpost at LoDo’s gleaming new McGregor Square district, across the street from Coors Field—thanks to knowledgeable staff, comfy armchairs, and a lively event series that hosts well-known authors for seminars. There are all types of books here, but don’t miss the curated selection of staff picks, all marked with handwritten notes that detail why a reader might like the book. A whimsical children’s section and an array of calendars and paper supplies make buying housewarming gifts here a no-brainer." - Nicholas DeRenzo, Megan Barber

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Pamella

Google

Great bookstore filled with all types of literacy. I loved how the staff hand wrote their notes on certain books and how well organized everything is. Definitely worth coming in and grabbing a book.

Andrew Hill

Google

Nothing like the original Tattered Cover, which was a few blocks away. But since the original is gone, this is an acceptable substitute. It’s small, like most bookshops in train stations and it doesn’t take many people to be in there to make it feel very crowded. The same level of careful curation that the original exhibited is present in this smaller replacement. Definitely worth a stop-in if you are nearby or taking a train.

Nelson Belanger

Google

Well, I appreciate the tatter cover stores for being a staple of Colorado and Denver as a whole. Even to the point where the character of Micah from Warehouse 13s Father on the bookstore (Yes it's a stereotype that coloradans love bookstores apparently). This location is more of a tourist trap. Which makes sense due to it being inside Union Station. My suggestion to tourists would be to just walk a couple blocks further down the road to the real tatted cover bookstore. It's well worth the walk, you'll have a much wider selection, Access to a coffee shop that is owned by them rather than one of the many gentrified coffee shops that have weaselled their way into this building. And you'll be able to see the historic building for yourself. That's not to say Union Station isn't historic, but it's not a significant to this business. Now for the usual stuff, It's very crowded due to its small size, not very loud because of the bookstore but can quickly become flooded with people due to it being connected to a train station. The staff are friendly enough, but are less knowledgeable than those who work at the real bookstore down the block. I'd recommend that they hold events here, signings or something like that. As this place serves far better as an advertisement for the business than a proper location itself.

Whitney Nordvold

Google

I haven’t been to this store in like 10 years and I was so sad to find that it was I minuscule fraction of the beautiful expansive experience it used to be. :( sad! I did pick up a few good books though :)

Tom

Google

The Tattered Cover used to have a small used book section. It was always fantastic to look through before I caught my train. Recently, they got rid of it. Used books are an important part of any book store, and it’s clear that The Tattered Cover is prioritizing profits above sustainability.

Karel K. Himawan

Google

It’s a must go if you’re a book lover and nearby. Loved the atmosphere, how the books were organised, and the little notes of short reviews of some books. The cashier lady was very friendly, leaving a positive impression for us as a tourist here.

Liz W

Google

A small bookstore located off one wing inside Union Station, this place has a decent selection and variety of genres. The staff wasn't friendly at all, but if you need a new book before your next train (or airplane) ride, this is a convenient spot to grab one.

Carlos Ramirez

Google

This is a wonderful place to spend time amongst its books and authors. Quite a huge independent bookstore in a historical building and many complementary items to keep one amused. This is not a 5 minute stop to appreciate their efforts. Allow time to browse and enjoy. Parking is complicated in the evenings as it is all over the Union Station area. We were lucky and found street meter parking for a buck/hour a block away. See pics for the beauty and enjoy a beverage or snack while there. Definitely a must visit while in Denver.

A C.

Yelp

Miss the old 16th and Wynkoop warehouse location. It was the bookstore of bookstores in the U.S., anchoring its corner of LoDo for what seemed like forever. If it was the grand tome, the Union Station location is but a footnote. The previous owners sold. Sadly, you can't find a newspaper in downtown Denver and now you can hardly discover a new book let alone a place that sells them. Travelers, downtown denizens and those who find themselves in the once celebrated but now often struggling downtown Denver, will be lucky to be left with an eventual Barnes and Noble ownership if this location remains open. Note to staff member behind counter: please acknowledge customers like your job depends on it when they stand mere feet from you at the checkout. Otherwise, they might put down their purchase, turn around and leave. That's what I did.

Jen M.

Yelp

Wow! What a fantastic bookstore! What I absolutely loved was the personal touch of all these little signs of recommendation by the staff. It's nice to have this information there, it makes it feel like it's more than just a place where you would go to Buy A Book. Staff was really friendly and we had a nice chat. I will absolutely be returning here next time I'm in Denver. Personally I didn't buy any books, I kinda maybe have too many at home. I bought a set of colored gel pens, and I maybe kinda have too many of those at home too, but since I wasn't at home I needed them for the trip. My daughter bought a laminated pamphlet about the Birds of Denver, and a little book about the Wildlife of Colorado. We definitely did not have these at home, since we live in Nebraska. But even if you don't need anything or also if you don't buy anything, this is a very welcoming place for just looking, it doesn't feel like one of those places where you feel like you are being an annoyance for being in the space. Great store! Well-stocked and well-organized. But it's the personal attention that made it easily one of my favorite bookstores I have ever visited.

Crystal R.

Yelp

Love all the little notes around the store. It helps guide people like me that can sometimes be a little overwhelmed when browsing for books. It's a decent selection too for a being a smaller store. They also have 50 percent off right now for calendars and note pads. Pretty good deals. And conveniently located at Union Station!

Stefanie C.

Yelp

Long live the remaining Tattered Cover locations! I came to this modest-sized branch with my partner and his kids, and they scoured the shelves for Pokemon and other fantasy books. The walkways are narrow, which makes for somewhat of a cozy or claustrophic feel. The woman at the cash register was exuberant, which made the trip exciting. Always worth stopping by and killing time when you're at or around Union Station.

Daniel L.

Yelp

On a long trip through Hockeyland, on the road I had already finished Jonathan Littell's 984-page masterpiece The Kindly Ones, so I needed to pick up another book for the remaining flights I had to deal with. I tried to pick up a book in the Vegas airport after the Golden Knights game but there was nothing worth purchasing since it was only the lowest common denominator books for the types of people who are probably still drinking, smoking, and gambling whilst at the airport gate to get every vice out of their system before they board a plane back to the sad life they escaped for a few days in, let me assume, northwest Iowa. The minute I hit Denver I headed for the Tattered Cover since they cater to people who read books and have not even incidentally considered marrying their sister, even for "tax purposes". This is a small store in the weird cramped hallway jutting off near Snooze inside Union Station. For such a small store, basically a kiosk, it is well packed with a variety of interesting options and picks. I spent at least 30 minutes assessing my options before picking the right one for the next plane ride from Isaac Fitzgerald. You feel good about supporting TC with any purchase. Obviously you could buy anything in the store cheaper (to the tune of $1 to more than a few dollars cheaper) through Amazon. But to me it is worth the few extra dollars (south of a Sawbuck) to try to preserve an actual bookstore you can walk into and get a book that you cannot find in the lowest common denominator sections that the "news stores" have in airports in their pathetically tiny book sections which may as well be picture books.

Chloe M.

Yelp

Friendly helpful staff! Cute little shop. For how small the store is they have a great selection! And the prices are great! I highly recommend checking out this little book store!

Brian V.

Yelp

Nice little bookstore located in the Union Station. From what it sounds like, one of their flagship stores is located nearby, like a couple of blocks or so, but I'm guessing that they wanted to have a presence here so they took up by a smaller footprint. Nothing too crazy and the selection is limited because of the smaller space but definitely a nice little shop to visit while you're inside Union Station.

Courtney K.

Yelp

Bottom Line: A cute, small bookstore located within Denver Union Station. I love a local bookstore so I wandered into Tattered Cover looking for magazines, books, gifts or whatever just seemed fun. I was immediately drawn to the local sections including a section on railroads where I picked up a copy of Railroaded. I wandered around the store a bit which is relatively small but I hear their main, larger store is just a few blocks away. The store was clean and nicely organized.

Sarah R.

Yelp

I was not impressed. Very small, which isn't always bad, but so many spots were completely bare. Very small selection of books. I wouldn't waste my time at this location and go elsewhere.

Bruce K.

Yelp

Small bookstore that is more "gift shop" for Union Station patrons. Their full-sized bookstore is only a block or so away and across the street. It is a limited selection, but not any more so than you might find at a book store in an airport. This is to buy your books and a few smaller snacks for your train ride or perhaps if you're shopping for a gift.

A B.

Yelp

Lifelong TC patron - love them (all of the locations). My bookworm nieces and I were on the hunt for a sequel and there it was at the Union Station store. Just asked the clerk and she new exactly where it was (and they must have a staff academy for nice ).

Abbey O.

Yelp

Such a cute bookstore. Love the review cards written by staff and customers on the shelves. The staff were warm and welcoming.

Brittany S.

Yelp

Jackpot! During our brief visit to the stunning Denver Union Station, I was able to pop into this book shop for a few minutes. It got me thinking about the simple pleasures I enjoy so much when traveling overseas and hopping between train stations; bookstores are often a part of that puzzle. This small but mighty bookstore features magazines, top sellers, children's books and literature covering Colorado's history. I especially love bookstores like this that feature notes from the staff on favorite picks, summaries, etc. All in all this a sweet small bookstore that could probably use a few extra feet in each direction to accommodate the moseying customers.

Brigitte O.

Yelp

Cute smaller sister store of the larger location a short walk down the block and kitty corner from here. We stumbled in here while waiting for our table to become available at snooze and are so glad we visited! Found some great stocking stuffers -- little pocket books that have sudoku and word games! Very friendly shopkeeper. I would recommend this location to anyone. If they don't have what you're searching for they will call the larger store for you for a stock check -- very helpful.

Shelley D.

Yelp

A lovely little bookstore in the train station. They had an interesting array of books about Denver and had a lot of stuff in this compact store. Seemed more like a gift store than a bookstore, I wish I had gone to the original store to compare.

Megan O.

Yelp

We love this place! Lots of books and a great atmosphere. Has a little cafe inside which was super cute

Lauren S.

Yelp

I went a few weeks back with my 80-year-old grandfather. The attendant was so incredibly rude; I made an account just to review this place. I felt like an inconvenience the entire time I was in the store-The attendant followed us around the entire time and reprimanded us multiple times for the way we were moving around the store (my grandfather was humming too loud, he picked up two many books at one time, he took too many flyers from the front desk). They disrespected my grandfather multiple times (which he thankfully did not notice, although I certainly did). The store was very cute and had a good selection so I ended up buying a book regardless of the service. I hate leaving bad reviews but I certainly will not be returning- this experience honestly ruined my day and certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

Alison W.

Yelp

In the last two days, I have tried no less than ten times to visit this store. Unfortunately, even though the hours are clearly posted, the staff just seems to take random long breaks throughout their posted hours without giving any indication of when they'll be back. WHO does that?! The one time I DID catch them with the store open, I was barked at that masks were required before I even got two steps in the door. Unbelievably bad business practices. I was so disappointed.

Reana K.

Yelp

What a perfect getaway! Denver's Union Station is perhaps one of the best examples of an American transit hub taking a queue from our European neighbors. Everything in this station, Tattered Cover included, is high-quality, useful, and offers an enjoyable way to pass your time (or visit for its own merit). For a small space, this Tattered Cover location is well laid out and doesn't feel cramped. The selection is excellent, and the staff picks show that the folks here are avid readers of good taste. If you're stumped for what to grab for your next trip, just look around for the little staff pick flags and I promise you won't go wrong. Prices are on par with other "higher end" bookstores, but aren't gouge-level like you might find in an airport. They carry local and national newspapers, as well as magazines, in addition to books. Highly recommend picking something up here! FYI there's also a Tattered Cover location located outside of the train station, which (understandably) has a larger selection.

Tuong Vi P.

Yelp

Considered a "gateway store," as described by Tattered Cover Book Store on the website, this location is not at all as robust as the main store in LoDo, which happens to be across the street. I walked in here to just check it out, as I was doing a recon of Union Station itself (which is pretty freakin' neat). I had already made my way to the main store, since I discovered that there was a highly-rated 40-plus-year-old indie bookstore in the vicinity of my hotel. It was every bit as cool as Yelpers reviewed, though because older reviews talked about an upstairs space, my curiosity ate through me when I saw that the stairs had a rope strung across to prevent trespassers. Anyway, this store led to my discovery of Adam Mansbach's "You Have to F**king Eat," which left me cracking up. If you are not in the know, quickly remedy this to get some good chuckles. Anyway, I looked around but ultimately did not get anything. The store is small and as such, as a very limited selection. If you are looking for a Big Blue Bear souvenir to take home though, this place will do just fine. If memory serves me (sometimes it doesn't too well), the Bear itself and prices are the same as what you'd get at Denver Art Museum so if you are not into art so much (how could you not?!) or don't have much time, grab your bear here.

Daniel E.

Yelp

I love this place, an oasis in an overwise hectic world. Located about a block from Denver Union Station, a terrific atmosphere within this historic book store. Love the ability to browse here, you can sit and browse. There's food and beverages available also. Great cards, fun gifts. Staff is helpful, incredibly knowledgeable, and they won't push you. I never fail to stop here when visiting downtown Denver.

Frances H.

Yelp

Just get lost in here. Do yourself a favor and roam through the aisles of books and books. There's a lot of nooks for you to lose yourself in a cozy chair after you grab a coffee and scone at their coffee shop. Everything from the worn-wood floors, creaky sounds, and soft chatter in the background make this place a perfect setting for either a movie about magic, wizards, ghosts, or all of the above. When overwhelmed with options you can peruse the staff picks and watch the afternoon go by as you get lost in a good story. I can't wait to return and delve into a new book. It's been a while since I've been surrounded by just all around goodness.

Annie W.

Yelp

The girl that works here never greets customers and I think it's so rude. It's a small shop so it makes it quiet and awkward. I'll stick to going to the main tattered where the staff is friendly.

Eric Y.

Yelp

Far and away the absolute best bookstore in Denver and one of the premier bookstores in the country. A true Denver landmark. If you're a browser, a bibliophile or just looking to kill some time in fun environment the Tattered Cover is the place for you. One of my favorite places in Denver ever since moving to Colorado almost 25 years ago.

Lynda T.

Yelp

We street parked and stumbled upon this wonderful bookstore in downtown Denver. It's the kind of bookstore that makes me feel like I am welcomed into someone's home. There are scattered desks throughout the bookstore for book lovers who are studying or enjoying leisure reading. The shelves are organized with featured books that come highly recommended by staff. Most of the recommended books are actually books that I have read or have wanted to read so it makes me trust the recommendations even more.

@afar

The Best Things to Do in Denver

View Postcard for Tattered Cover Union Station

@afar

The Best Shopping in Denver

View Postcard for Tattered Cover Union Station

@cntraveler

16 Best Things to Do in Denver, From Speakeasies to Wildlife Reserves | Condé Nast Traveler

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-denver

View Postcard for Tattered Cover Union Station

Pamella

Google

Great bookstore filled with all types of literacy. I loved how the staff hand wrote their notes on certain books and how well organized everything is. Definitely worth coming in and grabbing a book.

Andrew Hill

Google

Nelson Belanger

Google

Whitney Nordvold

Google

Tom

Google

Karel K. Himawan

Google

Liz W

Google

Carlos Ramirez

Google

A C.

Yelp

Jen M.

Yelp

Crystal R.

Yelp

Stefanie C.

Yelp

Daniel L.

Yelp

Chloe M.

Yelp

Friendly helpful staff! Cute little shop. For how small the store is they have a great selection! And the prices are great! I highly recommend checking out this little book store!

Brian V.

Yelp

Courtney K.

Yelp

Sarah R.

Yelp

I was not impressed. Very small, which isn't always bad, but so many spots were completely bare. Very small selection of books. I wouldn't waste my time at this location and go elsewhere.

Bruce K.

Yelp

A B.

Yelp

Abbey O.

Yelp

Such a cute bookstore. Love the review cards written by staff and customers on the shelves. The staff were warm and welcoming.

Brittany S.

Yelp

Brigitte O.

Yelp

Shelley D.

Yelp

Megan O.

Yelp

We love this place! Lots of books and a great atmosphere. Has a little cafe inside which was super cute

Lauren S.

Yelp

Alison W.

Yelp

Reana K.

Yelp

Tuong Vi P.

Yelp

Daniel E.

Yelp

Frances H.

Yelp

Annie W.

Yelp

The girl that works here never greets customers and I think it's so rude. It's a small shop so it makes it quiet and awkward. I'll stick to going to the main tattered where the staff is friendly.

Eric Y.

Yelp

Lynda T.

Yelp

Tattered Cover Union Station

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16 Best Things to Do in Denver, From Speakeasies to Wildlife Reserves | Condé Nast Traveler

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16 Best Things to Do in Denver, From Speakeasies to Wildlife Reserves | Condé Nast Traveler