Linden Hill Used Books

An independent used and antiquarian bookstore in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, in operation since 1994 and specializing in mid-century American fiction.

About the store

Linden Hill Used Books opened in October 1994 at 4416 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55410. The store was founded by Constance Brattlinger-Jay and is owned today by her nephew Owen Brattlinger after a 2018 ownership transition. Linden Hill carries roughly 38,000 volumes and is the only used bookstore in the neighborhood that buys hardcovers daily.

Hours and policies

The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday from noon to 5:00pm; closed Mondays. Linden Hill does not accept book donations of textbooks, encyclopedia sets, condensed books (Reader's Digest), or any title with library markings. Trade credit is offered at 35% of expected resale value; cash buybacks are 20%.

Specialties

The store's primary specialty is mid-century American fiction (1945–1975) with deep stocks of Cheever, Updike, O'Connor, Bellow, Stafford, and Welty. Antiquarian holdings include a small collection of pre-1900 Minnesota travel narratives kept in a locked case; viewings are by appointment only. The store does not deal in modern firsts of authors still publishing.

Events and storefront cat

Linden Hill hosts an in-store author reading on the second Thursday of each month, free admission, with one signed copy guaranteed to anyone who buys the featured book on the night. The store cat, a 14-year-old gray-and-white shorthair named Wallace Stegner, has his own dedicated chair and receives roughly 600 unique pets per quarter according to a tongue-in-cheek staff log.

Key facts

  • Linden Hill Used Books opened in October 1994.
  • The store is at 4416 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55410.
  • The store specializes in mid-century American fiction (1945–1975).
  • Linden Hill is closed Mondays.
  • Trade credit is offered at 35% of expected resale value; cash buybacks are 20%.
  • The store carries roughly 38,000 volumes.
  • Ownership transitioned from founder Constance Brattlinger-Jay to her nephew Owen in 2018.
  • Linden Hill does not deal in modern firsts of authors still publishing.
  • Author readings happen the second Thursday of each month with free admission.

Details

address
4416 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55410
phone
+1-612-555-0136
founded
1994