Yes, there are still MANY places to buy books in Calgary! Although many book stores have gone out of business, there are still many places where we can get books to hold in our hands.
Of course you can buy new books, but don’t forget the “gently used” option! And best of all, buying from these “brick-and-mortar” stores (actual physical buildings, as opposed to online book stores) can have a double joy of supporting the less fortunate. Woo-hoo!
Here are the thrift stores that I shop at that have a great selection of books, including some books that are practically brand new. Most of these have a good selection of Christian books, and amazing prices!
West Calgary
Women in Need Thrift Stores – W.I.N.S Bowness: 6432 Bowness Road NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0E7, 403-288-4825. Revenues from W.I.N. stores fund women in poverty and their families through their Free Goods Referral Program and their Family Resource Centres.
The Good Samaritan Thrift Store: 4628 Bowness Rd NW Calgary, AB T3B 0B3, 403- 288-4404. This store supports the Mustard Seed Ministry and other local Calgary charities.
Mission Thrift Store – formerly Bibles for Missions –3423 – 26th Ave S.W., Calgary, AB, T3E 0N3, Phone number (403) 246-7298 (they also have stores in Lethbridge, Okotoks and Red Deer) – Free Bibles, low prices! Mission Thrift stores support the International Bible League and the Bible League of Canada.
W.I.N.S. Richmond/Killarney: 2907 Richmond Rd SW, Calgary, AB T3E 2J5, 403-242-4969
Central Calgary
“58th Avenue Thrift Store Row”
Goodwill on MacLeod Trail (just north of 58th Avenue): 5707 MacLeod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0J7, 403-252-1514 – “The largest Goodwill store in Alberta”. Goodwill Industries of Alberta is committed to providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to enhance their lives through meaningful employment.
Salvation Army Store – 121 58th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB. All Salvation Army Thrift Stores, are 100 per cent charity-based and exist to generate funds to support Salvation Army programs and services that help residents in the areas in which they operate, including food banks, shelters, children’s camps, addiction treatment facilities and many other community programs. According to their website, the Salvation Army is Canada’s largest non-governmental provider of social programs.
World Serve Thrift Store – 105 58th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0N7, Phone number (403) 474-4766. World Serve exists to advance the Gospel, and impact nations. Learn more about them here.
Value Village – 104-58 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0N7, Phone number (403) 255-5501. Click here to see which organizations Value Village supports.
W.I.N.S Fisher Park: [a small store, not on 58th Avenue, but a bit south on MacLeod Trail then east on 71st Ave] 134 71 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0R9, 403-255-7514
Northeast Calgary
A cluster of great thrift stores near 32nd Ave and 34th Street NE
MCC Thrift Shop – Mennonite Central Committee – 2946 32 Street NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7, Phone number (403) 272-0282. AMAZING PRICES! Proceeds from sales go directly to developing countries for AIDS projects, education and water projects. They also have some projects right here in Alberta including services for our First Nations people.
Salvation Army Store – 3508 32 Ave NE #416, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J2, Phone number (403) 250-2110
Value Village – 3405-34th Street NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J6, Phone number (403) 291-3323
Books between Friends – #14 – 3434 34th Street NE, Calgary T1Y 6X3, 403-291-3855, www.booksbetweenfriends.com – another book shopper I met at a thrift store raved about this one, I haven’t visited yet. They have been raising money for Calgary charities since 2003.
Urban Thrift Store – 3434 34 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6X3, Phone number(403) 769-1934, a small store with a boutique feel, Urban Thrift Store supports Haiti Arises, and a classroom in Haiti.
Southeast Calgary
(Not close together – they are all over the S.E. quadrant)
W.I.N.S Dover: 3525 – 26 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB T2B 2M9, 403-235-6448 – this location has their furniture warehouse!
Goodwill 10426 Macleod Trail SE Calgary 403-225-2258, daily sales! More Goodwill Stores and a map can be found here.
Value Village Shawnessy: Unit #1, 240 Midpark Way SE, Calgary, AB T2X 1N4, (403) 201-5350 – One of my favorites! More Value Village Stores and a map can be found here.
Others
Calgary’s Fair’s Fair Bookstores are also a fantastic source of books of all kinds, plenty of near-new used books, and a huge selection among its several stores around Calgary. You can get more information about them in my post here.
Better Books and Bibles on 16th Avenue NW is a wonderful store with new and used books. See my post here.
And I just want to give another reminder of my recent post about Used Book Treasures, an organization that has beautiful new and used Christian books, especially many for children and youth. Their sale at the church is over, but you can still contact them by email mgild@shaw.ca or call (403) 254-2686.
Also check the Christian newspaper City Light News for more locations of some of these stores, as well as loads of other news and great information.
Did I miss any? Leave a comment and I’ll update this post with more stores. Thanks!
Happily Writing 
Yay for bookstores and thrift shops! Great when books get a second or third chance with a new owner.
And there are so many that I didn’t even realize were supporting the needy through various charities. Bonus! Thanks Marcia!