At first glance, College Park’s used bookstore might seem like it’s only aimed at students looking to trade in textbooks.

But if you walk a little farther into BookHolders, you’ll find an extensive collection of books packed onto plywood shelves that in some places bow under the weight.

Located at 7326 Baltimore Ave. in the College Park Shopping Center, the store occupies the cavernous 12,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by the Rugged Wearhorse discount clothing store.

The bookstore is part of a small chain that includes locations near Towson University and West Virginia University.

Although it’s popular with students buying and selling textbooks, BookHolders has a wide selection of general interest books, including classics, contemporary fiction and nonfiction and children’s books, many priced for 85 cents, and some for as little as five cents. There’s a large two-for-a-dollar section, and even some free books and magazines.

BookHolders was originally located across Route 1 near the new City Hall, but moved to Berwyn in 2018 amid rising rents. Then, it moved to its new location closer to campus last year.

The store also buys books, with customers able to either accept cash immediately or sell their books on consignment and receive a check in the mail. Students can also “rent” certain required books for a cheaper cost for a semester at a time.

Along with a small bookshop inside Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville’s Arts District and My Dead Aunt’s Books near Franklins, BookHolders is one of a handful of bookstores on the Route 1 corridor.

Support the Wire and Community Journalism
Make a one-time donation or become a regular supporter here.