Brused Books is a local gem and institution with a volume of finds. Whether you are craving a new guilty pleasure or an economically priced copy of a book for class, Brused Books likely has it. With over ten thousand used books, even if they are different from what you were originally looking for, you will most likely find something to buy.

The establishment and community cornerstone has been around for 44 years. In that time, the shop has touched countless lives with its collection of books and the atmosphere it has cultivated.

Brused Books is a punny name based on the worn nature of some second-hand volumes, combining the words “bruised” and “used,” while also referencing the founder’s first name, Bruce, according to the store’s website.

Since Brused Books’ 36th anniversary, the business has survived so much. Many small businesses across the nation had to shut their doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this Pullman staple stood strong.

On a local scale, the construction in Downtown Pullman also took a toll on many of the businesses that WSU students and community members alike have grown to love. Fortunately for Brused Books, its history of community engagement helped keep its doors open throughout the growing pains of Pullman.

The store’s window displays are adorned with paper flowers in the spring and layers of iridescent string lights during the holidays. They have even expanded the store to the sidewalk with a table or two and planters full of flowers in the summer.

Inside, you are met with rows and rows of shelves, each chock-full with piles stacked by many of the sections, where the shelves do not even suffice for their supply. The entire shop envelops you with literature, lifetimes of knowledge and experience shared through the whispers of turning pages.

Here’s to another 44 years of Brused Books, a Pullman treasure that can transport you across time and space without you ever leaving the comfort of your seat.