While you can’t quite get out the door of Downtown Books with a nicely broken-in classic in your hands scot-free, by handing Scott Free a couple of bucks on your way out the door, you will have acquired a great read for a modest price. And that’s how it is at Downtown Books at 108 8th St, SW in Downtown Albuquerque, its rooms filled with shelving, stuffed with books that cover just about every topic, genre and discipline imaginable. Downtown Books is in a building that was Albuquerque’s attempt at row houses in the early years of the last century, and collectors can find books of the same vintage as the architecture. It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Scott has just about everything anyone might want in books, including a kitchen sink full of children’s books. There are areas where you can sit down and peruse books at your leisure in the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere of the shop.
Ironically, Scott and I and both our wives had studied flamenco dance together in the early 1990’s. Scott had the bookstore on 6th Street for some time, but then when he moved just two streets to the west, we lost track of each other. We happened to cross paths on Monday when I was out front of our building talking to Nina and Greg from Cafe Fino. Scott walked by and we said “I know you!” so we talked a little while, and he mentioned he had moved his bookstore to 8th Street. So for the past 8 years or so we were working just 6 blocks from each other, but had lost track of each other.
If you are in the Albuquerque area, Downtown Books is worth taking the time to visit. The web site is www.downtownbooksabq.com and you can find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/downtownbooksabq. If you are looking for a that special, hard to find book, you email Scott at dtownbooksabq@gmail.com he might just have what you are looking for.
Off Center & Not Even 
Lovely pics Timothy
Thanks, Leyla!
Wow! What an amazing and beautiful place…
Thanks! I didn’t see any snails, but I’m sure he has books on them;)
I can always mail some snail photos if necessary… 😉
I would love to get lost in there for a week or so.
Thanks! If you are ever in Albuquerque, you can get lost for whatever time you have;)
these are really great!
Thanks!
You sold me on this bookstore–it looks delightful..Your pictures make it look so cozy and inviting…and the building just fits too. The sign in front is also very nice. Great picture story.
Thanks! When you visit the shop, tell Scott how you discovered it:)
That’s my idea of close to heaven …
You would love it! Thanks!
Who knows, one day I may find that out for myself!
Looks like such a beautiful place to spend a rainy day. 🙂
It hardly every rains out here. But it’s a good place to spend a cloudy day;)
Haha, clouds are just as good! 😉
Sounds like my kind of bookshop. In another, healthier life, I’d have run such an establishment myself!
Thanks! I hope that despite heath issues you are doing what you like!
I am, Timothy, I am! (or are you a ‘Tim’?) To be quite frank, it was a bit of relief to have such problems, latterly, getting acting work because of disability but art and blogging is giving me even more satisfaction because I’m in control of how much or little I do. By the way, thank you so much for your support of FND – I appreciate it a great deal.
That’s great to hear.