Mandala Books

Mandala Books is closing down. Owner is retiring. Sad.

This book store has a very unique selection. The most variety I have ever seen. They have a socialist section, massive religion section, and an entire history room. My only problem with this place is that the African American section is in the bathroom. I understand that the place is overflowing with books, but the bathroom? Nonetheless, the owner is very nice and the prices are super cheap.

Quite possibly the best used bookstore I’ve ever visited. I first visited Mandala as a child on family vacations, became a regular when we moved to Florida, and I’ve missed it after moving away.
Victor is a fascinating man, and has superb taste in books to purchase for his store. If I understand correctly, he not only purchases books from customers, but orders many volumes and essentials from other retailers so that his shelves are abounding with interesting material. Prices are consistently low.
I am sure to visit at least once on every trip «back home» and always leave with more books than I intended to buy. One of the best collections of books on world mythology I’ve seen outside of my apartment. The books on photography cover a wall. Great science shelves. Fiction is well selected. I’ve seen Wilhelm Reich in the Psychology section.
Where else can I walk away with Bertrand Russel’s History of Western Philosophy, a book of vintage photographs of native americans, Darwin’s Origin of Species, Mircea Eliade’s Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries, The Fools Progress by Edward Abbey, and the Lost Treasure of the Sierra Madre?
The last honest small bookstore, out of time and place. probably the best reason to visit the «world’s most famous beach».

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I did work at this store in high school.
Don’t expect an inventory system, because last time I checked there was not one. If you ask for a specific book, the staff will point you in the general direction and tell you to have fun looking. But that’s definitely part of the charm, and every time I’m looking for a book I always find an amazing one I’d never expected. If you need a specific book, unless it’s the ubiquitous Austen or Dickens, go to a new bookstore. If you love books and want to explore an AMAZING and unpredictable selection, and you don’t mind a place owned by a somewhat crotchety but endearing book snob, go to Mandala.

Mandala is what a used book store is supposed to be! So many independent book shops I’ve walked into seem to be chasing after Barnes & Noble’s business, focusing on recent fiction to the detriment of the older, weirder stuff that people go to used book stores to find. Not Mandala. The store, which is actually rather large, and an extensive collection of literature, first editions /​rare books, psychology, cookbooks and my personal favorite, occult and miscellanea. My teenage mind was opened to a much wider world because of some of the strange books I stumbled upon here!
The atmosphere is friendly and inviting. The owner, Victor, typically has some jazz playing softly throughout the store, and it attracts a varied and welcoming crowd. Prices are cheap, CHEAP. A wonderful place to while away a Saturday afternoon.