Renaissance Book Shop

By far Riverside’s best bookstore. I always make it a point to stop by here when I come visit my alma mater. Both new and used books with selections from both the East and the West, as well as DVDs at reasonable prices, huge sci-​fi and fantasy selection, as well as philosophy and the arts. The owner is extremely cool and always willing to order books if he doesn’t have it. He’s also very knowledgeable about the areas of study of the books that he carries which is wonderful.

I’ve been to a lot of used bookstores and wanna-​be used bookstores. This is the real deal for sci-​fi, fantasy and weird fiction collectors. The owner was very friendly; store was clean; selection was great. I can’t wait to make a second trip. The only complaint is that the store isn’t open on Sundays, which would be nice for those of us who have to come from LA County.

Huh… How did I get the idea this was a ‘used’ book store? My mistake.
None the less, I was excited to finally check this place out, I know it’s been around Riverside a loooong time.
First of all, it does not open until noon. Yilkes, had to waste a lot of time in the near by junk err I mean «antique shops» first.
I had no idea though, it was also primarily a history and politics books store. Yikes! Some sci fi along the sides, math and physics in the back, I think.
I really really REALLY want to like places like this. I really want to support small businesses, I do!
But there was no where to sit down, it was kinda of hot inside, I thought it was a traditional used book store with many titles AND used book prices, but alas, few books I checked out (I *think* were new. Not all books looked new to me) I knew I could get for pennies used on Amazon from other small businesses/​private sellers.
Arg, I’m sorry, but I cannot justify spending $ 23 on a book I can get for $ 2 + $ 4 s/​h on Amazon, I’m sorry! Had they been used books at used book prices, then YES! I’d have bought as many as I could find to read.
Know this review is a individual personal experience, clearly, others love this place. Just know what it is and I tip my hat to the guy running the place, it cannot be easy.
Oh and he kinda snubbed me when I asked if he had a particular kind of book … He said he wouldn’t buy them anyways because he didn’t think they’d sell, yet I buy these online and they sell for a LOT AND they are history type books so… *shrug*. lol. Oh well, can’t win them all.
:)

I came here on the recommendation of a friend, and I’m glad I made the drive out to Riverside to visit this bookstore.
This place is full of books — from front to back! You could spend hours browsing. The stores looks very nice and organized. I don’t know how the books are catalogued, but books are relatively easy-​to-​find if you know what you’re looking for.
A bookstore like Renaissance is (unfortunately) hard to find nowadays, but I’m glad they’re still out there. I’m glad that there are people that are still passionate about literature.
Since bookstores are such a rarity (I’m not including places like UBE — yuck), you know there has to be someone interesting behind it. The owner, Gene (who was at the register when I visited), is just as interesting as the books that line the shelves of his bookstore. Just browsing and overhearing his conversation with customers is enlightening — he’s very knowledgeable about the books he sells, libertarianism, and guessing from his conversations — he’s a bit of a Francophile.
The books are not cheap, but they’re also not expensive. Not only do I support local businesses, but I support GOOD local businesses, especially anything to do with art, literature, music, and/​or film. Knowing that this place is there for other people to discover and experience is worth paying the extra money. I know these brick-​and-​mortar stores are fading, but I hope that people can keep them going, and Renaissance is one those places.
FYI, this is a new, wonderful location for the business. I had only heard about it from my Riverside friend, but never visited, but this new location seems more convenient. Support it!

I was looking for a particular book in this store one day and they only had a hard cover version of it. I wanted a soft cover so the owner of the store, I think, helped me order a new one online. A couple of days later I received a call from him telling me to come pick it up at the store. Their service is always helpful and I appreciate him going out of his way to help me get my book.

Best bookstore in Riverside

Awesome.

No café. No new CD’s or DVD’s. No delusional ego-​trips from political vavasours shouting at you in overpriced hardcover; not air-​conditioned. Just great literature at fair prices.
A sizeable and diverse collection of American Fiction, Foreign-​Language Literature and an impressive wall of Sci-​Fi to keep one enraptured in alternate-​universes for a lifetime. Virtually every other category of book (fiction or non) is well represented, crammed into the roughly 400 square feet of Renaissance. Language learning software, informational pamphlets and some used VHS/CD’s round out the diverse and eclectic inventory.
The knowledgeable, friendly and pleasantly quirky owner humbly fights the good fight. Probably the only place in the Inland Empire that will still buy books (worthy titles of course). This is truly an important institution to Riverside and beyond. I am compelled beyond reason (by reason?) to visit whenever I’m in the area.
A landmark firmly resisting the tidal-​wave of tidy corporate bookstore culture. Amen.