Kinokuniya Bookstore - Torrance — Attraction in Torrance

I come to Kinokuniya quite often. This store is a great store that has a little bit of everything. I think it's the perfect store to go to when you want to find that "hidden gem" that you can't find at any major retailers.

I buy quite a bit of stationary here and I love their vast selection of journals, notebooks, sketchbooks, art supplies and everything else. I mainly go to purchase Midori paper supplies and Traveler's Company accessories. They also have a wide assortment of fountain pen inks and I was very surprised to find one that had been eluding me up until I found it in their store. The staff is amazing.

They are very helpful and extremely pleasant and I enjoy going in just because of that. My only wish is that the store was a little roomier. They are located at the Matsuwa in the fashion center and it gets crowded on weekends. I find myself needing to say "excuse me" a lot more often than I am used to. I also wish they get more of the necessary Traveler's Company assortments that I need. I have gone a few times for 001 (lined paper insert) and they just don't have it. I don't know if it sells out quickly or if it's on back order, but I have never been lucky enough to get that selection since the first time I purchased it a few months ago. That doesn't take away from them being a...

The atmosphere is chill and the employees are wonderfully patient. If this place was a library, this store would be prefect.

However, it's not a library; it's a buisness. And this book store seems to be in the buisness of letting Papa Kinokuniya keep this place in life support because the employees don't know how to make a sale.

Since August, their card reader has been inconsistent at best and has frequently not worked. This is not an issue for any other establishment at this Mitsuwa. But one type of unique incompetence tied to this store for having no work around for anyone with a credit card. They don't even have an analogue method of inputing card numbers into their register! It's an infuriating to know that these folks have not created a work around for their own register after 4 months of buisness.

To anyone who must come here, just know the cash is your best bet because I have never seen their card...

The worker with bangs had a really bad attitude. After purchasing over 100 dollars worth of manga/books, asked to purchase a paper handle bag due to the weight and needing to shop further. The cashier gave me a really judgmental look and said "sorry we don't do that service".

One of my other friends purchased a plushie and was given a paper handle bag. So it was a bit weird that they were unable to accommodate giving a handle bag with my heavy purchase. Make sure to train the girl with bangs with a little more customer service or giving a better...