Downtown Bookstore Grand Opening

Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland

Local media store Amazing Books and Records is opening its third location downtown on November 5, 2025.  With two stores currently operating in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, this shop offers a wide range of secondhand books, records, DVDs, and other forms of physical media.

Originally opening downtown in 2013, Amazing Books and Records was located on Liberty Ave., where it remained for nearly 12 years.  However, they had moved the downtown location to Walnut Street in Shadyside in 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances.  The new store will be located at 320 Smithfield Street, inside of One Oxford Centre.

A repeat nomination for City Paper’s Best of Pittsburgh Awards, bookmonger Eric Ackland is looking to return to where the business started.  In a Facebook post by Amazing Books and Records, Ackland writes:

“It’s a big, beautiful space in One Oxford Centre, at the corner of 4th and Smithfield Street, smack in the middle of Downtown.  I’m super grateful to Aaron Stauber, the owner of the building for inviting us to be there, as well as Jason Cannon, the realtor who showed me the space.”

The shop will celebrate its grand opening at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, with a party displaying its media selection.  Lucky Sign Spirits and Hazel Grove Brewing will also be present providing free drinks at the event.

The downtown location will keep up their weekly Book ‘n Beer nights on Thursdays, and carry on its staple “buy 3 get 1” deal on its books and records.  Just in time for the holidays, Amazing Books and Records is here to give the gift of literature and music.  With its wide selection covering nearly every genre, this store has something for everyone.

For more information on Amazing Books and Records, you can visit their website at amazingbooksandrecords.com.