Bookmans Mesa: a Bookworm’s Essential Mission for Provisions

In my last semester of college, I had to read 27 books for one class. No, that’s not a typo. Twenty-seven books. For one class. I spent more on books than on tuition. Fortunately, someone invented used bookstores and Mesa Bookmans off Hwy 87 in Mesa became the first landmark I recognized before I even moved to the Phoenix area.

Over the past twenty-plus years, I’ve made probably over a hundred trips there and every time I left with a bag of new-to-me books, I felt like a raccoon who’d found an open window at a bakery. I’d bring in boxes of books to trade in for store credit, which I thought was the greatest thing ever. I have no idea how I got all the books to trade in – once people know you’re a bookworm, everyone’s cousin’s friend’s roommate sends you their unwanted books. More treasure for me. I did trade in some of my own required reading that I may or may not have completely finished.

I have happily shared my love of bookstores with my daughter. This fall (well, technically summer) she started her sophomore year at school and had a list of books she needed for her English class, so naturally our first stop was Bookmans. We both went in with our lists of required (and, of course, optional) reading and started browsing.

When I was little, I remember there being two primary sections of books: fiction and non-fiction. However, gradually over the past twenty years when I wasn’t paying attention, the shelves multiplied. I never know if I’ll find something in fiction, mainstream fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, young adult fiction, new adult fiction, dystopian fiction, science fiction, fantasy, high fantasy (I didn’t even know that was a thing), crime & mystery, thriller & suspense, romance, romantasy (this was also new to me), graphic novels, manga… I wondered if a book about a dragon who solves murders counts as fantasy, mystery, or a cry for help.

At one point, my daughter’s eyes widened and she failed to hide an embarrassed grin as she pointed behind me. When I turned, I saw a large sign for “Erotica.” I felt confident her 10^th grade required reading wouldn’t be there, so we skipped that section.

My daughter and I browsed the different sections multiple times because of course I didn’t find our treasure in the first place we looked. Honestly, she found her books faster because, apparently, I get distracted. We found about 80% of the books on our lists…plus a few impulse buys. Going into a bookstore is like shopping hungry – you want a bit of everything. Since a few titles were still unaccounted for, we had to make a quick(er) stop at my other happy place, Barnes & Noble, for the missing books. I’ve never described a bookstore visit as quick, but we did spend slightly less time in there than at the first store. Their selection is larger and brand new, but if I bought all my books there, I’d be bankrupt by now. Even though shopping in bookstores is the only shopping I actually like, by then I was people’d out and ready to come home.

More on Bookmans Mesa

Bookmans buys and sells more than just books, like magazines, video games, board games, musical instruments, knickknacks, and various bookish items. They have other stores in Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff and are open 7 days a week. Browsers are always welcome in bookstores, so you can be there all day from when they open (9am) until they close (8pm Sunday – Thursdays, and 9pm on Fridays & Saturdays). They also send you birthday coupons good for $10 in merchandise.

Their children’s section has its own smaller archway (plus a regular sized archway for those who are too tall or too serious for the kiddie door). They even have a small café area with warm beverages and pastries. Their bathroom is also quite clean – weird fact, but we notice these things.

If you still need (or want) more books – and if your budget allows – fill in the gaps in your library with a trip to B&N. Both stores are mini vacation sites (not to mention necessary suppliers) for people who’d much rather be reading. And if that sounds like you, hop over to the Quirky Squirrel Shop and you just might find something that fits you perfectly. You won’t even have to talk to anyone.