About Verbatim Books

“I started Verbatim Books in 2015 after working at Fifth Avenue Books in Hillcrest for over ten years. I’m a native San Diegan and Hillcrest is where I grew up, but at the time I lived in North Park, and since there weren’t any bookstores in North Park I thought Verbatim Books would fit in well because of the burgeoning artist and academic community. Verbatim Books started as a 1,500 square foot space and in 2019 expanded to include the building next door, bringing us to 5,000 square feet and making us the largest bookstore in San Diego. I started out doing only used books and local authors, but now we carry a very curated selection of new books as well, mostly from small- and micro-presses.

“My goal with Verbatim Books was to be a place where you could find something unusual and interesting that you might not have known about before. This isn’t limited to books, either; I feel that this energy is the core of our events, the art you see on the walls, our social media, the curious antiques and toys we find for customers to enjoy, and really every aspect of the store.” – Justine, owner & manager

Verbatim Books is a secondhand bookstore with an eclectic range of gently-loved and antiquarian books. Our stock is extremely curated to help you find quality editions of classics, favorites, and new discoveries.

Our zine corner is full of stuff made by local zine and chapbook creators, as well as a selection of the best new releases from small presses and micro-distributors such as Burn All Books, Caboose Press, Eternia Press, Microcosm Publishing, Tiny Splendor, Broccoli Mag, Party Trick Press, Genderfail, and more! We also carry new books and zines from over 200 local authors.

In the past, Verbatim Books has helped to produce popular community events such as the North Park Book Fair and the San Diego Book Crawl. Please check our events page for the latest!

Tijuana-based artist Armando Elizarrares completed his 90-foot bookshelf mural on the north wall of Verbatim Books in December of 2021.