As I wandered around the country in my early adulthood (voracious reader that I am) one of the first places I sought out in any locale was a good used book store.

Many places have outstanding book stores, some of which one wonders how they stay in business unless they are selling on Amazon or someplace else.  Several are more community center than place of business while others are lonely, dusty outposts of culture, manned by recluses who give off an impression that the general public are ill-read cretins who are only fit to peruse the dog eared pulp novels in the corner.  Most are somewhere in between.  Truly great bookstores are wonderful, but hard to find.

Moving to Tucson over 6 years ago, one of the wonders I found was Bookmans.  Started in 1976, the once small business has evolved into a thriving institution with 3 locations in Tucson plus stores in Phoenix, Mesa & Flagstaff.  Bookmans has something for everyone--going beyond books to CDs, Videos, games, software & electronic equipment and much more.  The stores are the size of small groceries, well-lit and vibrant with helpful, knowledgeable staff - hosting community events, activities for children, educational forums and the like.

                                                
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Got a bunch of old books, albums, movies, cd's, sheet music, games, whatever?  Take them down to the store and trade them for house credit or cash.  Need some computer memory or a mouse?  Go to Bookman's.  Wonder what is going on in the community?  Curious about some obscure title or just want to hang out with your laptop and surf the 'net without having to buy a $5 latte (and feel like you should buy another if you are there for a while)...go to Bookman's.

The owner sums up his company's evolution:  "I think the fact that I didn't know anything actually worked in our favor. Because I didn't have preconceived notions. I was able to engineer my own concept of what I thought a bookstore should be." An organic "why not?" approach..."

The list of awards that this business has won over the past 20 years is truly impressive:  Awards  The day-to-day operation and feeling that one experiences when walking in the front door is even more so.  Bookmans is more than a place to find good used stuff, it is an institution and a place BE.  If you're ever in Tucson, Phoenix, Mesa or Flagstaff, check it out.  You'll be glad you did.