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Bear's Bookstore logo: Bear the dog in a gold leaf wreath Mon–Sat 10–6 Call the shop
705 N York St · Muskogee

Lose an afternoon in 24,000 books.

Push open the door on York Street and the noise of the road falls away. It smells like old paper, that faint vanilla sweetness of pages that have been loved before. Vines spill down the front window, a wooden stool waits at the end of an aisle, and somewhere on these shelves is the book you didn't know you came for. Pull it out. Feel the weight of it in your hands. That's how it starts at Bear's.

Plan a visit (918) 913-7157
Checking hours… 100% recommend · 32 Facebook reviews
The white-brick front of Bear's Bookstore on N York St on a rainy day, with BOOKSTORE painted above the windows
A rainy week on York Street. Perfect weather for a bookstore.

Before you even pick a book

What it's like to walk in.

A used bookstore is something you feel before you read a word. Here's what the first five minutes at Bear's are like.

A tall wooden bookcase packed with hardbacks and paperbacks, a wooden stool in front
Chapter I · Smell

Old paper.

Warm, a little sweet, like a library on a quiet Saturday. Every spine on these shelves has already been loved by someone.

A green vine hanging in front of a rain-streaked window and white curtain
Chapter II · Sound

Rain on the glass.

Carpet hushes your steps. Somewhere two aisles over, someone turns a page. A stack of finds lands softly on the counter.

A hand holding a vintage cookbook with an illustrated cover
Chapter III · Touch

The weight of it.

The heft of a vintage cookbook, one of 500 in stock. The soft, cracked spine of a paperback someone read three times.

Potted pothos plants on a shelf in front of a sheer white curtain
Chapter IV · Sight

Green in the window.

Pothos tumble off the shelves, fresh plants wait to go home with you, and the whole shop glows on a gray afternoon.

Browse the shelves

Pull a spine. See what's there.

Some 24,000 books, sorted so you can actually find things. Tap a spine to see what lives on that shelf.

Tap a spine ↓

Thriller paperbacks held up in front of a full shelf
Fiction

Thrillers

James Patterson, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Jane Harper and a lot more. Ask about the thriller buddy reads: matching copies for you and a friend.

Trade-in for store credit

Bring a bag. Leave with a stack.

Books you've finished, or know you'll never get to? Bring them in, gently used, and walk out with store credit toward your next read.

Tue–SatTrade-ins taken
10–6During store hours
~15 minEstimated time
Tuesdays: 10% off for teachers & homeschoolers Veterans: 10% off every purchase
Wanted
now

On the wish list

What we need right now

  • Kids' graphic novels
  • Harry Potter
  • Classics
  • Romantasy
  • Fantasy
  • Colleen Hoover

Extra credit for

  • Dark romance
  • Spicy romance
  • Manga

Store credit can't be used on local author books, tumblers, keychains, bookmarks, plants or plant hangers. The wish list changes often, so call ahead if you're bringing a big load.

More than shelves

Little reasons to stay longer.

Two matching copies of a paperback held up for a buddy read
Buddy reads

Two copies. One friend.

Matching sets ready to go, so you can read along together. Message the shop to reserve one.

Children's books by local authors held up in front of a shelf
Signed copies

Local authors.

Children's and young adult books by authors from right around here, and many are signed.

A table of potted houseplants in front of tall bookshelves
The plant shelf

Take home something green.

Freshly potted plants from Boo's Spellbound Sprouts, restocked right here in the shop.

Events at Bear's

Mark your calendar.

Author signings, bingo nights, craft nights and classes. There's finally room to gather at 705 N York St.

  • Plant & Book Bingo with Boo's Spellbound Sprouts
  • Craft nights: bring your own project and join in
  • Book signings and launches with local authors
  • Yoga among the shelves
A long aisle of wooden bookcases with plants on top, inside Bear's Bookstore
Coming upDates from Bear's Facebook events
Nov07Sat

Kay C Rice book launch & signing

The second book in the Mark of Ancients series. Kay was the very first signing Bear's ever hosted. 11 AM–3 PM.

Nov23Mon

Pet Portrait Painting Class

Paint your own pet with artist Mackenzie Smith. 6 PM.

Oct10Sat

Plant & Book Bingo Bash

Great prizes, great company and a ton of laughter. "We plan to have more!"

Oct03Sat

Authors Patty McCall & Elven Lindblad

Meet the authors, hear about their books and get a signed copy.

Bear, a brindle dog, grinning up at the camera between two fluffy green floor cushions
Bear, our mascot
The black front door of Bear's Bookstore at 705 N York St
705 N York St

Our story

“Hi, I'm Gabrielle, and this is Bear!”

Gabrielle has always loved reading and sharing that love with the people around her. She's the owner and operator, and Bear is the shop's loyal and loving mascot, the dog in the gold wreath on our logo. The goal is simple: a welcoming place where bookish people in Muskogee can come together.

The store has deep roots. It ran as Paperback's from the late 1990s, reopened as Bear's Bookstore under Gabrielle in September 2023, and celebrated its third birthday with a ribbon cutting in its new home on York Street.

Gabrielle · Owner/Operator
  • Late 1990sPaperback's opens in Muskogee
  • Sept 2023Reopens as Bear's Bookstore
  • Sept 2026Ribbon cutting at 705 N York St

From the guest book

“Like hunting treasure.”

Ex libris
This bookstore was a dream to visit! It literally feels like hunting treasure! … I'm very glad that we came across it and look forward to our next visit.
Amanda K.
100%recommend Bear's Bookstore
across 32 Facebook reviews
Ex libris
Lovely bookstore with tons of great choices. Could have spent all day! And if you are a dog lover, you will have a friend for life in Bear!
Penny G.

Come find us

705 N York St
Muskogee, OK 74403

Neighbors with GenTea (701 N York) · Muskogee

Checking hours…
Monday10 AM – 6 PM
Tuesday10 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday10 AM – 6 PM
Thursday10 AM – 6 PM
Friday10 AM – 6 PM
Saturday10 AM – 6 PM
SundayClosed
Call (918) 913-7157 Directions
Bears.bookstore01@gmail.com Facebook Instagram Shop online at Bookshop.org
The white-brick front of Bear's Bookstore with the number 705 on the black door

Look for BOOKSTORE painted on the white brick and 705 on the black glass door.

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Bear's BookstoreMon–Sat 10–6
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