Beautiful, historic, and deeply gratifying to the bibliophile in all of us. Theres too much to love about this place but if you want to buy, bring your banks A Game cause its not cheap. Almost positive you can buy the Necronomicon and a Gremlin from someone in the back. Must visit.

Wonderful old time bookseller.

What a beautiful shop! We found some lovely antiquarian books. Friendly service. My only regret is that I dont live closer. Plan to spend at least an afternoon perusing their collection.

As a long time Richmond resident, this lovely independent non chain bookstore is a charm to browse and find unusual books. Having spent many hours doing such, I can recommend it heartily to any bibliophile. A slice of calm and charm and worthy of your patronage.

Amazing place to get books! The owner really knows what they are doing. Ill always shop here and be back often. Thank you for such great selections and service. Well done!

Much more 5han books. I could have spent hours there. Great place to find a unique gift for that special person.

This bookstore is a gem. They have a great selection of books and a great atmosphere . The owner is a consummate professional who is knowledgeable and courteous. I highly recommend it! If youre in Richmond or decide to visit, be sure to check it out.

A truly magical place, where old books lodge during their (often brief) odyssey to find new owners. If you enjoy perusing old literature, maps, or circulars, this is the place for you! Nick is very helpful, and a real gem, he loves his craft and it shows.

Amazing stock. Very informed and gracious staff. I found a few books for fair prices that I had been looking for. Very rare books.

Great book store. Staff is awesome. My 1st experience here was several years ago waiting for the midnight release of a book and staff was as awesome then as they are now.

If Im ever visit your state from California I will definitely come in to get some books from you. Nobody should be bullied for standing up for his customers.

Wish I lived near this establishment. Way to go not letting politics get in the way of business. As a business owner myself, much respect.

What a great store to find all kinds of written treasure. I think theyre great! Too bad some childish adults want to make running a business about politics. Like selling a book is giving aid and confort to an enemy. All customers should feel safe in a business, and this store is run the right way. Its about selling books, not political grandstanding.

Excellent location... excellent selection. A bookstore of the highest standard!

Lovely, classic brick-and-mortar bookstore with lots of vintage and collectible books. I sold a chunk of my collection to this establishment and the owner was friendly and easy-going, and he didnt rush me while we were sorting through the numerous items I had brought in. He even offered me the opportunity to dicker on the initial price that he himself had quoted for the purchase of the stuff I was selling, so he isnt a shark who is out to fleece you, either. The stock is a fascinating selection of literary artifacts in an environment you could get lost in for an afternoon. You may even stumble upon that rarity you have been seeking for years!

What a great place! Such a diverse collection of books and a pleasant atmosphere for any book lover like myself.

Excellent staff and very knowledgeable. Wonderful selection of antique books, will definitely be going back again and recommending to others

What an interesting place. It is really fun to browse so many old books that cant really be found at a typical book store.

One of the best bookstores I have ever been to! The owners are great as well!

Absolutely not racist unlike the other reviews, polite people....just trying to run a small business

What a wonderful book store with a huge selection of books of all kinds. A great place to find that rare book youre looking for.

Fantastic environment. Cant wait for my special order to arrive.

Wonderful place. Helpful staff, great selection.

Great book store, if you are looking for a special or rare book this is a great place to start looking.

Nice selection and helpful staff made my visit through this store very pleasant. Will revisit.

Great store, very helpful staff. Highly recommend.

I love this bookstore! Best place to get amazing gift ideas, wonderful down-to-earth staff!

Very nice bookshelf very nice place and it is wheelchair accessible

Extremely satisfied! This store is great for gifts, collectibles, and research.

Huge selection of books and employees were very helpful!

Good selection, clean, helpful staff, found what I wanted

Very nice store. Nice employees.

All of the recent negative reviews are from political extremists. I applaud the owner for not letting someone get attacked in his place of business.

Great book selection and incredible staff!!

Wonderful little nook to relax and enjoy a book.

Great selection, friendly Customer Service. Will be back.

Great place which is guarding our freedom of speech.

Best place for books.

Great little store, honest and ethical. Pay no attention to the 1-star reviews left by bigots spreading hate.

We were appreciative of his expertise.

Thank you for standing up for grace, decorum, and decency.

The Finest Book Shop Between Philadelphia and New OrleansI do honestly believe that Black Swan is the best overall bookstore in the Southeast and Mid Atlantic. I am a Richmonder and so there is a modicum of home town pride in this statement. However I have travelled widely in the area that I have described and I always wind up muttering to myself There is no place like Black Swan.Black Swan has been a regular haunt of mine since it first opened on Meadow Street many odd years ago. Let me articulate for you why a trip to Black Swan never fails to bring a smile to my face.The first reason are the proprietors Nick and Ellen Cooke. Nick is the impresario of this wonderful operation. He loves both books and people in equal measure and would make buying books from the back of his Cherokee delightful. Ellen is typically working in the nerve center at the back of store attending to requests with dispatch and completeness, and of course making Nick toe the line.The next aspect of the store that is so spectacular is the building. The store was designed by the noted Richmond Architect Burt Pinnock, a conversion of a former wholesale meat dealer. The space has been transformed to a light and airy marvel, save the concrete vault where the rarest and choicest books are kept. It is a store where the biblophile can perambulate it ups and downs and twists without fear of falling shelves or tripping over piles of books. Its is fully and completely accessible to persons with disabilities. All visitors should be mindful of Copy the Black Swan Poodle who silently and harmlessly roams the floors of the shop.The store has comfortable seats where you are welcome to sit and test read your purchases.Black Swan is store for all manner of folks from the serious collector to the casual reader. While it has many choice and rare volumes, it is filled with high quality volumes at reasonable prices. Nick is a careful buyer, so only worthwhile bins line his shelves. The reader will find strong sections on poetry, the outdoors, reference works, travel, the Civil War, the American South, Americana, African American subjects, collectable fiction, the British Isles, Europe, art, cooking, and gardening.The area in which Black Swan simply cannot be exceeded in books on Virginia (Virginiana as it is known). Books on Virginia and Richmond are front and center. Although he is no snob and does not wear this fact on his sleeve, Nick is a direct descendant of William Byrd of Westover. Known as the Black Swan, Byrd, the founder of Richmond, possessed one of the largest libraries in Colonial Virginia. The point is that Nicks knowledge of books and particularly Virginia books is a nearly 300 year-old legacy from the first Black Swan.Go and spend an afternoon at Black Swan. You will not be disappointed.T. Tyler PotterfieldA Most Satisfied Black Swan Customer.P.S. Anyone who does no not love Black Swan is either demented, feels no emotion, or has never been to to the store.

Love this bookstore, always nice and welcoming staff

Ownet is a legitimately good person

Best book store ever!

Fun, rare book store.

Best book store in Richmond!

A place you could browse for hours.

The selection of old books was quite good but the prices were unreasonable for what was there.

Very helpful staff

Lovely store.

Not into customer service.

Incredible book selection

Cool place

Love the store

Great place

Great Staff

Great