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Backstory Books & Yarn

3129 SE Hawthorne Blvd · Portland, OR

Why you should go…

Backstory Books & Yarn is an independently owned used bookstore on Portland's Hawthorne Boulevard that also buys and sells yarn. The shelves lean toward textiles and fashion, nautical books, Black history and literature, books by and about women, and collectible illustrators, with trade credit offered for books and yarn. The shop opened in the Foster-Powell neighborhood in late 2014 and moved to its Hawthorne storefront in 2018. Open six days a week from noon to 6pm, closed Tuesdays, with later Friday and Saturday hours April through October.

  • #bookstore
  • #used books
  • #yarn
  • #hawthorne
  • #portland

Good to know

General shopping guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Vendor hours are their own thing

    Market stalls and independent sellers keep shorter hours than the building around them, and quiet days end early.

  • Bring a tote and a little cash

    Smaller sellers do not all take cards, and bags are rarely free.

  • Weekdays browse, weekends buzz

    Pick the weekday for a proper look at the shelves and the weekend for the atmosphere.

  • Ask about shipping

    If something will not survive the suitcase, plenty of sellers will send it home for you.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Backstory Books & Yarn, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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