Moby Dickens Bookshop

Taos, United States

4.5

19 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 575-758-3050
Website:
www.mobydickens.com
Address:
124 Bent St Ste A, Taos, NM, 87571
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No

Today

Today –
Local time (Taos) 3:04 PM Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Founded in 1984, Moby Dickens is a premier independent bookshop specializing in New, Rare and Out-​of-​Print books about Southwest, regional and local interest items for locals and tourists alike.

We are a general bookstore for Taos locals and tourists, but we also specialize in Southwest, regional and local interest items. We feature sections devoted to Native American studies and special selections of Southwest titles in a variety of genres throughout the store: art, mystery, architecture, gardening, and history, to name just a few. We have an excellent collection of children’s and young adult books, and everything else you would expect to find in a well-​stocked bookstore.

Throughout the year Moby Dickens has free events featuring local and nationally acclaimed authors. We actively support our community and are pleased to find new opportunities to interact with Taos.

History

Established in 1984.

Moby Dickens Bookshop was founded by and opened in December 1984 by Art and Susan Bachrach. The shop was then purchased by Jay, Carolyn, Blake and Cole Moore in August 2012 with the intent to continue the rich legacy of independent bookshops.

Meet the Business Owner

Jay M.

Business Owner

Jay and Carolyn are the proud owners of the Moby Dickens Bookshop in Taos. We are a husband and wife team that manage the business with an excellent and dedicated staff. Jay comes to Moby Dickens with over 13 years of corporate Business Development /​Marketing /​Sales experience and Carolyn brings 8 years of Sales experience in the travel industry.

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19 reviews of Moby Dickens Bookshop

No registration required
Place rating: 2
Los Angeles, CA
I enjoyed stopping by this bookstore in May and gave them a great deal of my money while I was there, but I also ordered one of their t-​shirts while I was there and it was never shipped to me, and after being in contact with Jay about it, I was never even notified the bookstore closed down. Uh, it would be cool to have my money back? Or the t-​shirt? I don’t think the email I have for him is even an active email now. Bummed to hear about the closure but also pretty frustrated — those shirts were not cheap.
Place rating: 5
Tulsa, OK
Whats better than to enjoy a good book while on vacation or anytime really? This is the place to shop for great books.
They don’t need to be charged and have no need for batteries. They have great photos inside them and you can find a book marked spot in them super fast.
All kidding aside, this is a very nice book store and the cats that live there are super cool!
Stop in and browse the books and scratch some cat ears for good luck, you’ll like it!
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
Went to check this out and they have closed. So sad. Support local bookstores before they are all gone.
Place rating: 5
Westport, CT
Not huge selection but very focused on regional needs and increasingly going this direction to stay of high value to the clientele. The amount of local artists and writers filling these shelves is intimidating as this is far from just a local bookshop. Collector edition books in all kinds of topics and the art books available are overwhelming as well. If all bookstores were like this we’d be living in an enlightened society as these shelves alone hold the wisdom of the ages and the children’s section is a whole experience in itself; one clearly focused on the future!
Place rating: 5
Loudoun County, VA
I spent some of the shortest hours of my childhood in Moby Dickens. It’s a fantastic independent bookstore owned, staffed, and loved by real book people. I’m pretty sure part of the reason I grew up to be such a reader is because of the way I was treated in Moby’s as a child. I still remember the joy of getting a gift certificate to spend there on a birthday or holiday.
The selection is small compared to a modern B&N, but it is thoughtfully curated and the staff knows it insight and out. It is a Taos institution, and no trip back to Taos is complete without stopping in to look around and say hello to the cats.
Place rating: 5
Taos, NM
One of the rare jewels of old-​timer bookstores that remain in this country. It changed hands about 18 months ago and has not changed much as far as the selection and cozy atmosphere goes. However, the electronic choices have been expanded. This is a great place to go and meet local authors who frequently hold readings on Saturday afternoons and you can find a wide selection of out-​of-​print books. Books are found on two floors and you can still find an armchair to sit down and look at books because no one will try to rush you. For our small town, this is a real cool place to go and tourists love it as well, as evident from the other ratings.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
A lovely place to browse for books. The owners are friendly and we met a children’s book author while we were there. The kids’ books are in a sweet room upstairs. Great selection of quality kids books (no cheesy books). We had a great time looking through books as a family. I also found 2 adult fiction books I’ve been wanting to read (though they don’t have all the titles that a big box bookstore might have).
Place rating: 5
Gowen, OK
I come here every time I visit Taos. It is so calm, the staff are really friendly, and how can you resist a bookstore that has two random cats wandering around? A must see in NM!
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
I really liked this store. For its size it is jam packed with selection, and the service is sweet and helpful. I recommend it if you just want to browse. I went in looking for something very specific (Princeton Review GRE prep book, I felt too unproductive on my vacation I guess.) and they didn’t have it. Their selection like I said is great for their size, but less popular titles may not be in stock. Overall this store was great though and had a very small town, old time feel. I would go back on a day when I just wanted a good book, and happened to be back in Taos.
Place rating: 5
Lincoln City, OR
I love that there are a few of these truly great small bookshops left that haven’t been wiped off the map by the mega-super-big-box-book+all-else stores. This place has a great selection — with particular attention to regional/​local color — but with an excellent and wide general selection on the shelves. (and some really great art books — of course.)
I always find something fresh that catches my interest and gives me a wonderful read while visiting Taos.
Place rating: 4
Centennial, CO
How can you argue with a bookshop that has signs on the doors to make sure you don’t let the stray kitties get away? We found the cat sleeping away on the 2nd floor and he allowed us to pet him a few times.
I loved the memorabilia for sale on the walls and could definitely see coming back here if I was local!
Place rating: 4
Centennial, CO
A really nice two story bookstore with all the latest titles (and kitties sleeping in the stacks).
It was well organized, in the middle of everything and the staff was friendly.
A good stop if you are into book stores!
Place rating: 5
Taos, NM
Best bookstore in Taos. has been around forever. in the historic district, downtown, in John Dunn Shops (off Bent Street). rooms full of books, books books. They have a great collection of books on Taos, about Taos, and by Taosenos; a large art section; out of print book selection upstairs; a large children’s section in front; huge fiction section upstairs– too many things to list! Cozy laid back browsing atmosphere, chairs, and cats!
Place rating: 5
Taos, NM
Favorite bookstore in taos!
Place rating: 4
Denver, CO
Pretty great book store.
If I knew that there weren’t any photos up of it I would’ve taken more!
They have an awesome painting of people perusing bookshelves in the front window, very cute. This is a fun space that has an upstairs to explore. When told of this, we were instructed to greet the trainees which are the two new resident cats. I greeted them and they were boring, not very helpful at all ;)
Place rating: 4
Round Rock, TX
Great place to browse for some great books. Especially local flavor.
Place rating: 4
Tacoma, WA
Great book store for Taos! I got a really cool picture book here and try to make a point to stop by here every time I am in Taos! Once again, a great place!
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
What a lovely bookstore. There is a great selection, the staff are friendly and helpful and it has one of the all-​time best names for a bookstore in history.
I highly recommend you buy all your books from here.
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
Great local bookshop! Make friends with the cat while you’re placing a book order for that hard-​to-​find or out of print book. A wonderful selection of solar living, rammed earth and alternative materials books. There’s also a nice children’s section to keep the kiddies busy while you’re browsing. Go upstairs for the SciFi, camping, hiking and fiction books, or just to catch a view of the cute little shops.