Annie Bloom’s Books

Yes it is a smaller bookstore but it always has what I want, and they are great with taking specual orders. I tend to buy almost exclusively from the ‘staff picks’ shelf and from the sale table. This is a great bookstore.

The people here are so sweet, and they have the prettiest wrapping paper. We stopped here on the way to a child’s birthday party to get him a gift, and found so many beautiful science books appropriate for all ages. Their greeting cards were also either handmade or locally printed. Sure, this isn’t a bargain bookstore, but it’s clear this store is a strong community member. It’s also a really nice place to spend a few minutes and a few dollars.

Love any store that has a resident cat or two. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to Annie Blooms and not been treated really well. The people working there have skills! They are attentive, helpful and genuinely friendly. If they don’t happen to have a book I’m looking for, they always offer to look into ordering it for me.
There’s a good sized children’s book selection in the back of the store. I never leave without taking a look back there and checking out the greeting card area toward the middle of the store.
Buy local, go here!

This is a fun local book store that I love to support, the kids are always wanting to go in and snuggle up in a corner to read.

While most shops on this street were closing on the weekday that we visited, this bookstore was still open until 10:00pm. I though that was amazing. It is a cute independent bookshop with that Barnes and noble smell. The selection isn’t gigantic, as the shop is a little smaller than those huge chain bookstores, and the prices seem comparable to a Barnes and noble. There is limited seating in the shop, which would prevent people from coming here to study together or hang out. Overall, a cute place!

Great book store! They have a cat walking around so anyone with cat allergies be warned. But it is a great bookstore overall. They have a friendly staff and great books!

Confession: I was a devoted fan of Borders and it kills me that I don’t have it in my life anymore. I loved hanging out, having coffee, getting awesome deals. These are also all the reasons it doesn’t exist anymore, it’s not good for business. In it’s departure I was able to discover what is locally celebrated– the independent book store. Annie’s is a beautiful shop, some of the books are out of my price range (as is everything in Multnomah village though) but I have found that the selection of books here is much more superior to what I’m used to. There aren’t as many books but all of the books are interesting. Another reason I love Annie’s is because they have a great selection of magazines. I always come here for them. And cards. Also the store is ran by a pretty rad cat. Lol well, he doesn’t work there per day but he’s always around. What I’m trying to say is– if you are not a fan of the independent store because you’ve been spoiled by big business like I was, remember that your money is supporting something Awesome, that it’s helping local writers get their books out and that the money goes back into your community. And cats. There’s cats.

As an out of town visitor, I was delighted to stumble upon Annie Bloom’s Books! The store is very well organized, perfectly sized, cozy and locally owned! I had a great time browsing and couldn’t help but purchase a nice stack of books. If you’re a bookie like me, you must stop in!

I love this little, local bookstore! Incredibly friendly folks work there & they even have a kitty to pet.

I’ve been a customer of Annie Bloom’s for many years. It is a wonderful independent bookstore, with the kind of selection that while fairly broad is also delightful. The staff are wonderful. The place is dog friendly if you have a friendly dog, but avoid Molly. Molly has yet to appreciate the worthiness of canines. The fact that Molly is the store cat is entirely beside the point.
Though I moved away from Portland I still work there, and Annie Bloom’s is my first choice.

Exceptionally quaint, little book shop.
Perfectly fits right into Multnomah Village.
The staff is very knowledgeable and all are very well read.
I came in today with a few hours to kill. The staff was very helpful in selecting a perfect find. I’m really enjoying my new book.
The shop selection is broad enough to suit all ages.
The resident Cat Mollie Bloom is Awesome. Very tolerant and friendly to the many visitors she gets on a daily basis.
They could probably get newer chairs to sit in, but it IS Multnomah Village.
I really like the personal experience of a small book shop. Please come in and pick a book. I hate eReaders.

As good as it gets in the indy bookstore world. Really fantastic employees, eager to chat about if you are.

Annie Bloom’s is a very pleasant little bookshop in Multnomah. We walked in during a very warm, sunny afternoon, almost-​melted and in need of air conditioning … and books. There is a pretty good selection in a number of subjects. Fiction was mostly paperback and was pretty diverse. There appeared to be a nice little selection of local books, and a pretty decent collection of cookbooks. What will probably bring me back are the events — there were a few upcoming book readings listed out front — as well as a nice little selection of sale books. The man ringing us up was very nice, and alerted us that there was a giant bookstore cat right by the register (very well camouflaged). He also gave us a map and helped us find our way around. I’ll definitely be returning.

I love everything about this place; the location; the guard cat on duty; the selection of books.

Warm & inviting with an excellent smattering of quality books and helpful staff. While their prices can’t beat the big discount chains, the true value of a shop like this is its high degree of browseworthiness. The titles in evidence are the crème de la crème, and therefore a perusal of the shelves is more likely to yield a more treasured discovery.

Books are a strange bird. But if you want a few physical item special ones in your living space, Annie Bloom’s is a spot to find them. I heard a special author talk here, and anyone should keep a listen for that and book signings. Not the whole block bookstore or interwebs store, it’s a real store!

I was staying on the west slope while looking for a permanent place to live. I stopped here a lot, mainly to look for recreational reading. The stock is small but carefully chosen. Not a place that stocks every popular book, but if you wander in and browse with an open mind, you’re likely to find something worth reading.
I read in the Oregonian that this store is doing well, despite hard times for everybody, and independent booksellers in particular. I think that’s because the people who work here understand that a bookstore needs to provide stuff you can’t get from online retailers (which, frankly, is how I get most of my books these days). There’s browser-​friendly stocking, there’s a friendly space for customers, and there’s an intelligent staff that enjoys their work. Leave out these things, and why should I bother to leave my house to buy books?
Last time I was there, I bought a book on Quantum Physics. When I paid for it, the guy behind the counter made a joke about the weirdness of the subject. I joked back, the other employees chimed in, and before you know it there was a major science gabfest going. When I left, they were still arguing about whether String Theory made any sense.
Alas, I now live on the east side, and rarely get further west than the Central Library. But hey, next time I’m in the neighborhood, I’ll have to drop by and stir them up again…

This store is so charming, there’s something magical about it. The books are displayed in such a way that you just want to pick one up and buy it. From the sidewalk sale bin, to the gorgeous window displays, I was lured inside immediately. Two friendly and helpful gentlemen were working this evening. Both acknowledged me, asked if they could help me find anything and store kitty’s presence was terrific.
I’ve found the customer-​service hit or miss in the past, but was pleasantly surprised this evening. I often find that they have so many different people working there that I don’t feel a continuity or that I know anyone. I go in and no one recognizes me, which is a bummer for such a small store. It’s one reason I don’t go to Powell’s and instead go to a smaller neighborhood store. Second Glance Books, she knows me there and I love it. No one ever remembers me, or says, hey, how’d you like that last book you bought, _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​. I feel like you must have to go to Annie Blooms every single day or weekly in order to be remembered. And often must pull a clerk from their personal call or web surfing to get attention.
I agree with previous reviewer, Bridget P. they do indeed have great cards, nice music cds and an excellent but small selection of magazines. There’s a lot of thoughtfulness in this store, I just don’t always find it in the people there, but the heart and soul is the books, right?
Best thing is the Indi Picks and the displays. I’m all about the displays. The cat bed on the front counter is awesome.

I like this neighbourhood bookstore and Mollie Bloom the cat. My son and I came last Sunday to browse a bit and I made it a point to come back later to look around some more. And if a stand-​alone experience isn’t your thing, this is a great place to hang out while waiting for your Fat City Café number to be called.
Annie Bloom’s Books is how a local neighbourhood bookstore should be. It’s cozy, friendly, welcoming and has a nice selection that wont’ break the bank. I ended up with a 2012 Moleskin calendar, a few gift ideas, and a vow to come back the next time I’m in town.

I want to like Annie Bloom’s. I like the idea of Annie Bloom’s. But the book selection feels like it’s meant for my mom.
And the customer service is hit-​or-​miss. There’s this one gal behind the counter, she might be the owner, she reminds me of a very stern schoolteacher. Sometimes she’s friendly, but often as not, I expect her to tell me to quit slouching.
They do have free, gorgeous book wrapping, and an excellent selection of cards.