Albion Books

Vancouver, Canada

3.5

Open now

11 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 604-662-3113
Website:
www.albionbooks.ca
Address:
523 Richards St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 2Z5
Downtown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
240 ft50078
270 ft50079
290 ft50095
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Bussiness info

Accepted Cards
Credit, Debit
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Open now
Local time (Vancouver) 11:41 AM Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Tuesday 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Wednesday 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Thursday 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Friday 10:30 am – 5:30 am
Saturday 12:00 pm – 5:30 am
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:30 am

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11 reviews of Albion Books

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Place rating: 4
Fairbanks, AK
Nice book store. Worth a visit.
Place rating: 4
Coquitlam, Canada
Wide selection of great condition books! I picked up a few books I had been looking for at a fraction of the retail cost. Albion is a lovely shop to stop by if you’re in the area!
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
Great vinyl selection! Scored a Grace Jones album and a live Four Tops record! Fairly extensive book selection but I was more interested in looking through the music. The clerk working at the time was so sweet and informative about everything Vancouver.
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
I bought a few Franklin Library Books from this store a while ago, the staff was nice enough to show me his collection and give me some discounts on the books I bought. I would here shop again. I wouldn’t try to sell my books here or any other bookstore around because they just don’t have space to shelf them plus the fact that most people now shop in chapters…
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
They have a good selection of fiction – particularly recent literary fiction and CanLit. I always see something in the windows that I want. The books are decently priced and in good condition. The staff are helpful and friendly.
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
A quiet and dusty book shop outside the heart of downtown, Albion’s been in business selling records and fiction for quite a long time. Their literature is well priced, but they’re asking too much for used vinyl LP’s due to their very limited curation. For easy, time strapped shopping they always have a few great items on display for any bookworm. Also, the staff are knowledgable of their trade — I have never even seen them put down their books!
Albion is great for those reluctant to put the money down on a kindle or pay back their extensive collection of library fees. If you keep your books in good condition and good taste they may even offer to trade or purchase them once you’ve finished reading.
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
I visited Albion for the first time today, and spent about an hour browsing through the shop. They had a pretty decent selection of books, and I loved that they have records too!
The woman who was working when I arrived was super friendly and helpful. She spent about 20 minutes helping a woman choose an entire stack of new books to take home, and she clearly loved every minute of the quest! Though she was busy, she still made sure to address the needs of any customer who walked into the store.
The owner of the store arrived shortly before I was getting ready to leave. I had spoken to him over the phone the day before, and he had the book I was looking for waiting for me at the counter. He was very friendly and courteous over the phone and in person!
I would definitely go back on some other lazy afternoon for more browsing!
Place rating: 3
Vancouver, Canada
I didn’t even know this place existed until I looked across the street from MacLeods Books. I found the guy working to be pleasant and helpful. He pointed me in the right direction. Unfortunately I didn’t find what I was looking for. The Sci-​Fi section was quite small, but who cares. I will definitely check back on my next venture.
Place rating: 1
Vancouver, Canada
As others have pointed out, the guy that runs this store is aggressively rude and unpleasant. i have seen him literally yell at customers at the top of his voice.
If you feel like putting up with this angry, bitter person you may find a record or a book you want at a price that is reasonable but you better tread warily if you want to avoid his ire.
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
Used bookstores and eccentric, sometimes irascible proprietors go hand in hand — and Albion does not disappoint, but therin lies some of it’s charm.
If you want some sycophantic book porter to look if they can order a copy of that bestseller from the publisher, then go to Chapters. If you want to engage in a conversation with some grizzled old hippy who’s been selling books for decades and knows what he’s talking about then check out Albion.
Some of the store’s specialities include rock books, records, graphic novels and sci-​fi paperbacks
Place rating: 3
Vancouver, Canada
Used bookstore are always a favourite stop on my wanders through the city and Albion books just happened to be on my shopping route the other day.
Immediately after stepping through the doors of the store, an older gentleman rather abruptly poked his nose out from behind his newspaper and barked if I need any help. No, thank you I replied and his nose, actually, his entire head disappeared behind the newspaper once again. The store carries a number of old music records and a mishmash of every kind of used book you can imagine… in somewhat of an order, but not a very solid one. I purchased a hard cover book for a family member (can’t reveal or my gift will be ruined!) that is in near-​perfect condition for a fraction of the cost.
Be sure to ask for help if you need it, navigating for something in here that you are specifically looking for isn’t the easiest of tasks!