Clarence Corner Book Shop

I’m a bit of a greenie and if you are too, this is your one stop shop. Raw cakes/​slices and brownies are lined in the cabinets of this gorgeous vintage scene. It is very close to the bus station and the Mater Hospital. It is surrounded by competitors but still produces the best darn coffee you’ll ever taste.
Malaney Dairy is used in all of their coffee, served to you in a bio-​degradable cup! All ice coffee’s and raw unsweetended cacao are bottled by the staff themselves. Most treats are made by the lovely Toni and all salads are her own glorious creations.
Keep your eye out in store for upcoming events. Various gigs are held throughout the year for a small door charge (approx $ 10) with a yummy $ 8 dinner. There are so many good things going for Clarence Corner Bookshop. It continues to grow and flourish through the journey of the owners. Go in and say hi.

Clarence Corner Book Shop is what I imagine my retirement book shop looking and feeling like. Tucked away in an unsuspecting corner of Woolloongabba, Clarence Corner is a coffee shop-​slash-​bookstore with a multitude of second hand delights neatly stacked on the wall-​to-​ceiling book shelves.
Despite being on a main road the store is peaceful and serene — the way all good bookshops should be. Feel at home as you browse books, sip coffee or enjoy a delicious slice of cake.

My sister used to work at the Mater Hospital and I had a little bit of time to kill before I was meant to meet her for coffee one day. Always loving a good bookshop, I made my way into Clarence Corner Book Shop.
This place does not look like much from the outside with its sign slightly faded but the minute you step in you will be hit with the smell of freshly brewed coffee emanated from the back café section as you make you way through quaint bookshelves filled with new and old books.
As a second hand bookshop Clarence Corner is great. They have a nice selection and all of the books on offer are in good condition. I picked up a lovely 90s Transformers picture book from here for only $ 2. They have a quirky selection, great if you don’t know what you want but are happy to riffle through the shelves in search of those hidden gems.
I have not actually been to the café part here, simply because it looked too busy. But then again, that is just testament to how lovely this place is.

Being very fond of books
I find myself automatically going into new bookstores
without even thinking. (A reflex action of sorts.)
I am very glad that I stepped into this one.
Clarence corner is immediately cozy and quaint,
this place is meant to be lingered over.
What I love most about this store is the quirky range of literature on offer.
(given that they are second hand this makes a lot of sense.)
I love seeing old children’s books juxtaposed with lonely planet guides.
The staff are also knowledgable, friendly and more than
happy to track down the perfect book for you.
(Be sure to also check out their handy coffee spot
as well as the perfect little garden outside.)
Ideal to wile away that lazy afternoon or to enjoy a coffee with your book
Clarence corner makes for a very worthwhile pit stop.

When you walk into Clarence Corner Book Shop, you could be forgiven for thinking it sells new books, not second-​hand. This is how orderly and neat the place is. They do sell some new books, particularly in the children’s section where there are more new than old, but for the most part, the books in here are used.
The other thing that hits you upon entering the store is the smell. Sharing almost half its floor space with a café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the store. When I was in there, around 9.30am, I struggled to get to some book shelves because there were so many people milling around, waiting for their takeaways. It’s obviously a popular place to buy coffee at the Gabba.
A desk near the front of the store seats a very helpful lady, ready to assist people in the bookshop side of things.
Books did seem a little pricey there, but it’s well-​organised and you’ll find what you’re looking for without too much hassle.

The Clarence Corner Book Shop reminds me of those extravagant, old world libraries that have movable ladders climbing up the shelves, where you can swing from wall to wall to find that particular book you’re after. I think it’s the dark and wooden interior that does it. (Clarence Corner, I’m sorry to report does not have ladders, just the appearance of a book store or library that would).
When I was studying English Literature, I would make a list of the books I needed for class, and took it to Clarence Corner. Each semester, I was able to find the majority of my literary needs here, and for half the price that I’d usually pay at somewhere like Borders (R.I.P.), or the university book store. It’s not the kind of second hand book store where you’ll be able to fill a bag for $ 5, but the prices are reasonable enough.
They’ve got a wide range of books on a variety of subjects: art, philosophy, mythology, classics, travel, and so forth. Their cataloging is extremely user friendly, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for in the shelves, chances are it’s not there. If you do go to the counter and ask, the staff will look for you again. Four eyes are better than two after all.
Like most contemporary book stores nowadays, Clarence Corner boasts a coffee shop. It’s set in the back of the store, and is open from 6am — 2:30pm. They even offer a fantastic little service for people passing by on their way to work in the mornings. You can text the baristas (phone number is on the website) and order your coffee ahead. Just leave your name, order, and E.T.A, and it’ll be there for you when you arrive. Charming. If you’re going to have your beverage in store, you can either grab a seat and a book in the earthen den, or you can go out the front and get in some leisurely people watching time.
I can’t really express how charismatic this book shop is. It’s old world appeal rubs off on me. I feel like a more worldly, educated, sophisticated person whenever I stroll through their front door. It’s the type of place that would encourage you spending hours in there sniffing the fragrance of old books at your leisure. They even set up a café so you’d stay a little longer.
Parking is a bit of a problem, but they do have a bike stand out the front. Tie a basket to your pushie, hop on, and go for a ride to find your next new literary love at Clarence Corner.