Vroman's Bookstore

(626) 449-5320

695 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101 34.1459 -118.136

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Neighborhood: South Pasadena

VROMANSBOOKSTORE.COM

Years in business

Established in 1894

Hours:

Call for hours

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Bookstores, Gift Shops, Office Supplies, Stationery Stores

Payment Methods:

American Express, Check, Visa, MasterCard

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Vroman's Bookstore

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Two expansive floors of books, stationery and gifts means lots of lingering. The ground floor is almost all books, but in case you still can't find something to your liking, there's a wall of employee picks with suggestions. Upstairs, you'll find pretty much everything else, including the noted children's department, which often hosts storytellings. The "go figure" item of the moment here? A surprisingly darling miniature cat topiary kit. Try finding that at Borders. – –

Editor's Tips

Save Time:
Call in your order (books, stationery or gifts) ahead of time, and pick it up from the convenient will-call window on the second floor.
The Extras:
Use the free ARTS shuttle nearby to explore the wonders of Old Town Pasadena. Call (626) 744-4055 for route information.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Exccellent choice of books, and a fabulous atmosphere.”
  2. “Comfortable atmosphere and great selection”
  3. “They offer a large selection of books and interesting little trinkets to add culture to your decor.”
  4. “The Best Bookstore with free parking!”
  5. “They have a very large selection of books in a very nice, comfortable setting.”
  6. “This is a really fun store to just wander around in.”
  7. “The wide variety and high quality of knick knacks and books gives Vroman's that comfortable cozy feeling of a small bookstore that beats out Borders and Barnes and Nobles hands down.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “An amazing bookstore, magazine stand and coffee shop all together, yet still separate.”
  2. “Another plus is the little cafe when you can curl up with a coffee or maybe some lunch and enjoy the books you just purchased.”
  3. “Downstairs is sort of a gift shop type of set up, and the best thing is that if you get tired, or you just bought a book, you can't wait to read, Zeli's coffee shop is right in the store, and the staff of both Vroman's and Zeli's are wonderfully helpful.”
  4. “Vroman's is also great for marathon browsing; when my parents come to town, they like to check out the travel section, the cutesy "lifestyle" stuff (soaps and stationary and all that) and coffee at the adjoining cafe.”
  5. “Great books, good coffee, wonderful kids section upstairs, great selection of greeting cards.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “like this place because it is a welcome breath of literary fresh air from the Barnes & Nobles further down the block.”
menu variety
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “They also have a wonderful children's book area and wonderful gift selections.”
  2. “They have one of the best selections of books and very friendly and knowledgable servi.”
  3. “They stock a wide variety and selection of books and not just the best sellers.”
  4. “They offer a large selection of books and interesting little trinkets to add culture to your decor.”
  5. “Upstairs, there a nice selection of cards and writing paper, and a room full of children's books that also always full of kids.”
  6. “The store is huge and they have a nice selection of books.”
  7. “they have a large selection and the store is very inviting- the perfect.”
  8. “The wide variety and high quality of knick knacks and books gives Vroman's that comfortable cozy feeling of a small bookstore that beats out Borders and Barnes and Nobles hands down.”
  9. “And while the big discounts offered from megachains may not be available, there is a huge selection of bargain books, audiobooks, gift items, etc.”
  10. “The selection of books is also expansive, and the staff is always very friendly and knowledgable.”
  11. “They have a very large selection of books in a very nice, comfortable setting.”
  12. “California's oldest and largest independent bookstore, it also has one of the best selections of children's books and hard-to-find toys that.”
  13. “Great books, good coffee, wonderful kids section upstairs, great selection of greeting cards.”
  14. “They have a wide variety of books, pretty good for an independent store, and a fantastic staff.”
  15. “Comfortable atmosphere and great selection”
overall
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “They have a wide variety of books, pretty good for an independent store, and a fantastic staff.”
  2. “It's a great place (or the worst place) for impulse shoppers like myself.”
  3. “Vroman's is a great place to stop in and buy that "forgotten" gift.”
  4. “If you're looking for a good book here's the place.”
  5. “Downstairs is sort of a gift shop type of set up, and the best thing is that if you get tired, or you just bought a book, you can't wait to read, Zeli's coffee shop is right in the store, and the staff of both Vroman's and Zeli's are wonderfully helpful.”
  6. “When I first started getting familiar with Pasadena, friends told me that this was a great place to find books that were rare, varied, and really cool.”
  7. “Vroman's is the best book store in the Los Angeles Area.”
  8. “know one parent who finds it's a good place to while away an hour with his two boys because there are so many other kids and so much to do there.”
  9. “It's a great place to spend a Sunday morning.”
service
96.87999725341797% positive
  1. “It may not be a big bargain store, but the knowledgable staff and excellent service make up for the minimal savings at those other places.”
  2. “The customer service is also very very helpful!”
  3. “Friendly, helpful staff.”
  4. “The staff is 10x more helpful than a chain store.”
  5. “The staff is very friendly and helpful.”
  6. “Downstairs is sort of a gift shop type of set up, and the best thing is that if you get tired, or you just bought a book, you can't wait to read, Zeli's coffee shop is right in the store, and the staff of both Vroman's and Zeli's are wonderfully helpful.”
  7. “The selection of books is also expansive, and the staff is always very friendly and knowledgable.”
  8. “In fact, the entire staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and their inventory is amazingly complete.”
  9. “They have a wide variety of books, pretty good for an independent store, and a fantastic staff.”
  10. “They have one of the best selections of books and very friendly and knowledgable servi.”
  11. “get why people love this store: it's an independent in a sea of conformity.”
  12. “Good customer service.”
  13. “Love, love this place: best postcards, invitation cards ever, beautiful gift wraps, best gift bags, great books, and helpful staff too.”
  14. “With a very helpful staff, this bookstore really caters to th.”
  15. “The sales staff is very friendly and helpful.”
  16. “If I cant find what Im looking for, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The store is huge and they have a nice selection of books.”
  2. “They have a huge children's se.”
  3. “They have a huge slections of books and if you can't”
  4. “Vroman's Bookstore is a fine alternative to the huge bookstore chains such as Barnes and Noble or Borders.”
  5. “And while the big discounts offered from megachains may not be available, there is a huge selection of bargain books, audiobooks, gift items, etc.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/19/11

One Of The Best Bookstores

by Marie Brown

What a wonderful bookstore! If you're a rabid bookworm like me, then you will love Vroman's; sadly, this is one of the last of the independent bookstores. This bookstore is huge, with an exceptionally wide and comprehensive selection of literature; as a plus, the staff is most helpful and polite. Please support this outstanding establishment.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/24/11

Huge selection

by claudiea

Great bookstore, huge selection with very reasonable prices. They also have a huge selection of dvd's and cd's for those of you, like me still have a cd player.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/10/10

Best Bargain Section

by Jon Fox

Aside from all the other great things you've heard and can read here about this great bookstore, it has what has to be the best bargain section I've seen. I've gotten some really great books that you wouldn't find on standard bargain shelves in other bookstores, including bestsellers, Dr. Seuss, and other terrific books, CDs and DVDs.

In addition, the kids section of Vroman's, which takes up the bulk of the second floor is second-to-none. It has the largest selection plus games, toys and even some clothes.

It's a great place to spend a Sunday morning.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/21/10

Going to Vromans is always a treat

by EaglesFan

Vromans is a wonderful place to come to. Walk in and escape reality. Great books, good coffee, wonderful kids section upstairs, great selection of greeting cards. Plus they have this thing call Vromans Gives Back, they donate a portion of your purchase to local charities. Why the heck anyone would go to a chain bookstore is beyond me.

  • Pros: Independent -- not a chain!!
  • Cons: Parking sometimes a hassle especially during the holidays
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/19/08

Cannot compete with online ordering.

by deathtosmoochie

The reason why Borders and Barnes and Noble are taking over is because they can handle things like shipping books. I get why people love this store: it's an independent in a sea of conformity. What it lacks, however, is the ability to compete effectively online. Witness my recent experience, never got any email regarding status of my order, it sat in a 'pending' queue for 5 days until I emailed them. After requesting a credit for shipping, was told they would do essentially nothing. Not the kind of customer service you expect from an independent bookstore -- more like something you expect from B&N, and even then, they would give you something for your inconvenience.

The Details on Vroman's Bookstore

Place Categories:

  • best little bookstore
  • helpful sales staff
  • great place
  • great books
  • love stationary store
  • big vroman
  • wonderful independent bookstore
  • helpful entire staff
  • best gift selections
  • very helpful customer service
  • awesome sellers
  • comfortable atmosphere
  • knowledgable servi
  • huge children
  • great kids section
  • really enjoyable gifts
  • great kids
  • amazing coffee shop
  • not great bookstore
  • best new bookstore
  • beautiful gift wraps
  • terrific magazinene
  • amazing stand
  • great titles
  • very nice setting

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