A 90-foot mural of a bookshelf wraps around the north wall of Verbatim Books, marking its corner on 30th Street and North Park Way. The building itself is a former A&P grocery store from the 1930s, and inside, the space is massive – 5,000 square feet, all dedicated to used, rare, and locally published books. When you walk in, you’ll find the store is split into two distinct sides. One half is a dense forest of tall bookshelves packed with a curated collection of over 50,000 titles, while the other is a more open, spacious area used for events.
The decor is eclectic, with walls covered in old maps and art from local artists. Books are used as structural elements, from a large sculpture made of over a thousand damaged volumes to shelves arranged to spell out the store’s name. You can find multiple reading nooks with comfortable chairs tucked away between the stacks, as well as a dedicated children’s corner with toys and stuffed animals. Nothing is cataloged online, so the whole point is to browse the shelves in person and see what you discover.
Beyond just a shop, it functions as a neighborhood hub, regularly hosting free poetry readings, author talks, and musical performances. There’s a strong focus on the local scene, with a program that allows San Diego and Tijuana-based authors to sell their books and zines on consignment. Leashed dogs are a common sight, and there's a table right at the entrance where you can leave a drink while you look around. The store buys and trades books from the public, but only on Mondays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Street parking is a challenge, but there’s a paid public garage directly across the street.
Verbatim