Here’s Why the Half Price Books Flagship Store Belongs on Your Book Lover Bucket List

Being bibliophiles on a budget, almost all of the books in our home were purchased secondhand from Half Price Books. We are long-time lovers of their excellent selection and terrific prices coupled with the quirky trinkets and vintage records that make up the rest of their inventory. But recently we visited the mothership, the ultimate bookstore: The Half Price Books Flagship location.

This Dallas literary icon is located at 5803 E Northwest Hwy, and it was roughly triple (quadruple???) the size of our local store. Here are the reasons why every book lover should put it at the top of their bucket list.

1. Enormous Selection

Since the flagship store is the original Half Price Books location and is the size of a great big warehouse, the selection is infinitely better than what you’ll find at your average discount book shop. Imagine the shelf space for your favorite genre of books, and then triple it. This not only makes it easier to track down specific books on your to-read list, but it makes aimless browsing a lot more enjoyable. At the front of the store, there were dozens of tables full of novelty gifts and games. I made a mental note to return sometime before Christmas when I’m stressing about finding the perfect unique gift for every friend and relative.

2. Eye-Catching Artwork

Everywhere we looked inside the Half Price Books Flagship, there was something lovely peeking out at us from a shelf or staring out from a display case. Lots of featured artwork on display was constructed from the pages of books, which made us fall even more in love.

3. Convenient Coffee

Readers won’t have to get back in their cars if they want to caffeinate. Tucked inside this enormous store is a quaint little café called Black Forrest Coffee. They have light food options and a display case full of decadent desserts, plus a wide array of warm and frozen beverages. We tried some of their blended drinks, and I could instantly taste the richness of quality beans coming through the chocolate concoction they brewed for us. Although we originally considered visiting the Starbucks right across the street, this turned out to be a much more delicious and affordable choice.

4. Regular Events

We visited the Half Price Books Flagship on a Sunday afternoon, and we were pleasantly surprised to find live musicians performing folk-style music at one end of the store. Thanks to the acoustics of the room, it didn’t distract us from returning to our shopping at all. The Flagship also hosts frequent book signings for famous authors. When we visited, they were planning a visit from James Dashner, the popular YA dystopian author of the Maze Runner series. We eagerly marked the date on our calendars and went to follow the store on social media to keep up with other author-related events they might be hosting.

5. Pet-Friendly Shopping

We kept noticing that some customers perusing the shelves walked on four legs and were covered in fur. At first we assumed they might be service dogs, so we tried not to interrupt them from their work. But when we brought our heavy pile of books up to the register and asked the friendly sales associate about the canines, she told us the Half Price Books Flagship is completely pet-friendly! She said she has seen dogs, cats, lizards, parrots, and even a squealing pig.

None of the animals we encountered were misbehaving or causing problems, and we loved this unique and quirky concept.


Our experience at the Half Price Books Flagship store was nothing short of magical. We spent several hours exploring and hunting down specific books to add to our shelves, but we probably could have spent an entire day just browsing through the volumes of choices. If you love to read and can’t resist a bargain, we bet you’ll fall in love with this literary oasis just like we did.