This Giant Used Bookstore In Oklahoma Is A Page-Turning Marathon

The first time I stepped into Gardner’s Used Books & Comics, I actually froze for a second. It just keeps going.

Shelf after shelf, floor to ceiling, packed with books, comics, vinyl records, DVDs, and collectibles in every direction. I didn’t know where to look first.

It feels less like a store and more like a treasure warehouse where getting lost is part of the experience. I’ve gone in telling myself I’d “just browse” and looked up to realize an hour had disappeared.

With a 4.7 star rating, it’s clear I’m not the only one who feels that way. If you’ve ever wanted to wander through a bookstore with zero time pressure and no regrets about staying too long, this spot in Tulsa makes it dangerously easy.

The Scale of This Place Will Genuinely Surprise You

Walking into Gardner’s for the first time feels less like entering a bookstore and more like stepping into a small city made entirely of books. The space is enormous, warehouse-style, and the moment your eyes try to take it all in, your brain quietly gives up and decides to just enjoy the ride instead.

Rows and rows of shelves stretch out in every direction, organized by genre, author, and format. The sheer volume of inventory here is genuinely hard to describe without sounding like you are exaggerating.

People consistently call it Oklahoma’s largest used bookstore, and once you are standing in the middle of it all, that claim feels completely believable.

What makes the size feel less overwhelming is how thoughtfully everything is arranged. The layout actually makes sense once you get your bearings.

Sections are clearly labeled, books are alphabetized, and the whole thing runs with the kind of organized logic you would expect from a well-run library rather than a chaotic secondhand shop.

First-timers often admit they wish they had given themselves more time, because the store is much bigger than it looks from outside.

Plan for at least two hours if you actually want to see everything, and pack your patience in the best possible way.

Every Genre You Could Ever Want Is Here

Mystery lovers, sci-fi fans, romance readers, history buffs, and self-help seekers, this place has something for every single one of them.

The genre variety at Gardner’s is one of the things that keeps people coming back again and again, because no matter what mood you are in, you will find something that speaks directly to it.

Classic literature sits next to contemporary fiction. Cookbooks fill their own section.

There are shelves dedicated to children’s books and young adult titles, making this a genuinely family-friendly stop. One man was thrilled to find Agatha Christie novels they had never read before, despite having been a devoted fan for years.

That kind of discovery is exactly what makes places like this feel magical.

The hardback section deserves its own moment of appreciation. Hardcovers are often harder to find at used stores, but Gardner’s keeps a solid selection stocked and organized.

Audio books are also part of the mix, which is a nice touch for people who prefer listening over reading.

If you are working on a specific reading project, like tracking down every Newbery Award winner, this is genuinely one of the best places in the region to hunt them down at prices that will not make your wallet cry.

Comics and Collectibles That Deserve Their Own Visit

Here is something that catches a lot of first-time visitors completely off guard: Gardner’s is not just a bookstore. The comics section is substantial, well-curated, and genuinely exciting for anyone who grew up flipping through panels on a Saturday morning.

Titles across decades and publishers fill the racks, and the selection rotates regularly as new stock comes in.

Beyond the comics themselves, the store features life-sized props and display pieces that add a serious wow factor to the whole experience.

Giant figures of characters like the Hulk and Deadpool are positioned throughout the space, giving the whole place a kind of playful, pop-culture energy that you do not expect from a used bookstore.

It makes wandering the aisles feel a little like exploring an exhibit.

Toys and memorabilia round out the collectibles corner, and these pieces attract a different kind of shopper entirely. People who collect vintage figures or pop culture artifacts will find things here that are genuinely hard to track down elsewhere.

The staff knows their inventory well, so if you are hunting for something specific, asking at the counter is always worth a shot. This section alone could justify a dedicated trip, separate from whatever reading mission you originally came in with.

Vinyl Records and DVDs Round Out the Collection

Not everyone who walks through the door of Gardner’s is on a book hunt, and the store seems to know that perfectly well. The vinyl record section is a legitimate draw for music lovers, offering a rotating selection of albums that spans genres and eras.

Flipping through record bins has its own satisfying rhythm, and this place gives you plenty to flip through.

The DVD section is similarly well-stocked. There is a bargain area where you can find movies at very low prices, which is a great spot to browse if you are not looking for anything specific but enjoy the thrill of a good find.

The main DVD section runs a bit higher in price, but the selection is broad enough that it tends to have titles other stores have long since sold out of.

Having books, comics, records, and movies all under one roof creates a shopping experience that feels more like a full afternoon adventure than a quick errand. You come in for a paperback thriller and leave with a vinyl album you forgot you loved, two DVDs, and a comic you grabbed on impulse.

That is the Gardner’s effect, and honestly, it is a very enjoyable problem to have. Bring a bag with some extra room, just in case.

The Organization Rivals an Actual Library

One of the most common complaints about used bookstores is that they are chaotic, impossible to navigate, and full of mystery piles that lead nowhere useful. Gardner’s flips that expectation completely.

The organization here is something people genuinely rave about, comparing it favorably to a library in terms of structure and clarity.

Everything is alphabetized within its section. Genre labels are clear and easy to spot.

Hardcovers have their own designated area, children’s books are grouped together, and even niche categories like audio books and cookbooks have their own dedicated spots. You do not need to wander aimlessly unless you want to, and wandering aimlessly here is actually a perfectly valid strategy.

For people who hate the feeling of not being able to find what they came for, this level of organization is genuinely reassuring. You can walk in with a specific author in mind, head to the right section, and find what you need without having to dig through unsorted piles.

The staff also knows the layout well and can point you in the right direction quickly. It is the kind of thoughtful setup that makes the store feel respectful of your time, even when you end up spending way more of it there than you originally planned.

The Trade-In and Credit System Is a Smart Move

Here is something that regular customers absolutely love about Gardner’s: you can bring in your old books, and the store will give you credit toward new purchases.

It is a simple concept, but it creates a really satisfying loop where your shelves at home never have to get too crowded, and your reading list never has to stop growing.

The store also runs a loyalty program tied to receipts. Save up enough in purchases and you unlock something extra, which gives frequent visitors a reason to keep coming back beyond just the love of books.

These kinds of small perks add up over time and make the whole experience feel more like being part of a community than just being a customer.

A word of honest advice: make sure you understand the credit system before you bring in a big haul of books. There are some nuances to how it works, and being clear on the details upfront will make the whole transaction smoother and more satisfying.

The staff is generally described as friendly and helpful, so asking questions before you hand anything over is always the right move. Going in informed means you walk out happier, and that is really the whole point of a great bookstore experience.

The Staff Actually Know Their Books

There is a particular kind of joy that comes from asking a bookstore employee for a recommendation and having them light up with genuine enthusiasm. At Gardner’s, that experience seems to happen on a regular basis.

People specifically mention the staff as a highlight, describing them as knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and genuinely helpful rather than just technically present.

That matters more than it might seem. In a store this large, having someone who can actually guide you to the right section, suggest a similar author to one you already love, or help you track down a specific title is a real advantage.

It transforms a potentially overwhelming experience into something that feels personal and warm.

The friendly atmosphere carries through from the moment you walk in. Visitors describe the vibe as cozy despite the massive size, which is a tricky balance to pull off and one that speaks well of the people running the place.

One customer mentioned calling ahead before their visit and being greeted with genuine warmth over the phone. That kind of consistent, human-centered service is what turns a one-time visitor into a regular.

Good books and good people in the same building is a combination that is genuinely hard to beat, and Gardner’s seems to have figured that out well.

It Feels Huge and Cozy at the Same Time

Somehow, impossibly, Gardner’s manages to feel both enormous and comfortable at the same time.

That is not an easy trick to pull off in a warehouse-sized space, but the combination of organized shelves, warm atmosphere, and the smell of well-loved books creates something that feels genuinely welcoming rather than cold or clinical.

One visitor described it as a place that feels huge and cozy simultaneously, and that is honestly the most accurate summary you could give it. The scale is undeniable, but the energy inside is calm and pleasant.

People browse quietly, staff chat with customers, and the whole place hums along with a relaxed rhythm that makes it easy to lose track of time in the best possible way.

The store even smells right, which sounds like a small thing but absolutely is not. That particular combination of paper, ink, and history that old books carry is present throughout the space, and for book lovers it is basically aromatherapy.

First-time visitors frequently comment that they felt immediately at ease once they started walking the aisles, even if the size initially seemed a little daunting. Give it ten minutes and you will understand exactly what they mean.

The place has a personality, and it is a genuinely likable one.

The Treasure Hunt Factor Is Real

Every seasoned used bookstore shopper knows the feeling: you were not looking for anything in particular, and then suddenly you are holding something you have wanted for years. Gardner’s runs on that energy.

The inventory turns over regularly, which means the store rewards people who visit often and browse openly without a rigid shopping list.

Visitors describe the experience as a treasure hunt every single time, and that framing is spot on. You might arrive hoping to find one specific title and leave with five books you never expected to discover.

The variety is wide enough and the stock deep enough that surprises are basically guaranteed if you give yourself enough time to wander properly.

For fans of popular book communities and trending titles, it is worth noting that highly sought-after books tend to move quickly here. Arriving early and visiting frequently gives you the best shot at finding those hot titles before someone else snaps them up.

But even if the trending stuff is gone, the depth of the general selection means you will almost certainly find something worth reading. That is the real magic of a great used bookstore: it meets you where you are and sends you home with something better than what you came looking for.

Planning Your Visit to Gardner’s in Tulsa

Gardner’s Used Books & Comics is located at 4421 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74146, in the south part of the city. The store is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and is closed on Sundays.

If you are planning a weekend trip, Saturday is your best bet for maximum browsing time.

Parking is easy, the location is straightforward to find, and the store is accessible without any complicated navigation. If you are visiting Tulsa for any reason, even briefly, this place is worth carving out time for.

One person stopped in on the way to the airport and wished they had given themselves far more time than they did. That kind of regret is preventable, so build in extra time from the start.

You can reach the store by phone at +1 918-627-7323, and more information is available at gardnersbooks.com. With a 4.7-star rating, the reputation speaks for itself.

Bring a list if you have specific titles in mind, but also bring an open mind, because the best finds here are often the ones you never saw coming. This is a Tulsa institution that genuinely earns every bit of its praise.