Testimonials

I'm a terrible customer in that it's taken me a full year to get around to writing this review. This sad fact is multiplied exponentially by the fact that the bookcase we had built is terrific.

The wife and I decided that we'd much rather buy a custom bookcase from a local place than a particleboard piece of temporary furniture. We sketched out the dimensions of what we wanted and took photos of where it would go in the house. John was really helpful in telling us what would and wouldn't work, and tweaking the dimensions to make it workable.

If memory serves, it took a few weeks to get the bookcase back (which John delivered). We told him up front that we weren't in a hurry, so they may have been able to get it to us quicker if we were in a hurry (but who the hell is in a big hurry for a bookcase?).

The bookcase works great in our house. We painted it ourselves instead of having them stain it. It looks like an architectural piece of the house; not quite a built-in, but close enough.

These guys get high marks all around. Their customer service was great (I suspect that having a clear idea of what we wanted helped), the quality is excellent, and we didn't throw our cash at a shitty big box retailer. Unreservedly recommended.

                                                                                                                                  Dead Y. Bentonville, AR


Beautiful work.  We hired the Bookcase Store to build some custom shelving for our home and match a black matte finish we had on some other Indonesian furniture in our house. 


They matched the finish and style perfectly and delivered a beautiful beautiful product.


The price point was very reasonable and they delivered the shelving on time.


This is a unique place.  The storefront is actually two homes next to each other - a very Austin kind of place. This is not Pottery Barn.  If you want Pottery Barn go to Pottery Barn.  This is a great place for custom and unique work by Austinites.

                                                                                                                                           Julie A. Austin, TX


This is a locally owned store offering handcrafted, well-built furniture that will serve your every shelving need. The owner, John, greeted us and explained dimensions and details of the shelves. He is quirky and nice and introduced us to his sweet dogs. We got a great deal on a quality shelf, all while supporting local business - couldn't ask for more!

                                                                                                                                     Erika W. Houston, TX


I went to see John about a bookcase. He worked with me to get the color and size right. He checked with me multiple times to ensure that the color was perfect. He had samples made up. He is a one person, local shop. He did an excellent job of keeping me informed. I am extremely pleased with the color, quality, and timeliness of his product. He did a great job with my custom order.

                                                                                                                                         Elena C. Austin, TX


"John hooked me up with a beautiful bookcase.  I bought it as a birthday present for my wife's birthday.  The quality is excellent.  John's service was excellent. I had grown frustrated trying to find something sturdy on craigslist, and after being referred here, I wish this was where I started. The bookcases here are made by the owner out of Ponderosa pine.  Beautiful and built to last a life time.  It's great having a business like this here in town. I am sending a friend over who is needing a custom job done.  My understanding is this is what they do the most of.  It was nice being able to stop in and buy a bookcase that was already built, because I was a week late on my wife's present.  She forgave me because the bookcase is so awesome."

Justin T. Austin, TX


I'm so excited to see this place still exists! I bought bookcases here when I lived in Austin almost 15 years ago, and I love them so much I've been dragging them across the country with me ever since. I came to town for a visit recently, and went back to the shop to order bookcases with my sister. The bookshelves are custom made and totally gorgeous. It's a real relief that junky big box stores haven't put this kind of old-school crafstmanship out of business.

Sarah B. San Francisco, CA 


After seeing the Bookcase Store everyday from the bus on my way to work, I finally got around to poking my head in. Two humongous, friendly dogs greeted me, followed a man who introduced himself as the owner.

When I moved from Chicago, my old bookcase didn't make the cut. Meanwhile my morning routine involved knocking over at least one stack of books that cluttered my room for want of a shelf to organize them. Because I'd spent a hefty amount relocating and had just started my job, I'd all but resigned to settle for some particle board from IKEA.

When I came in, I was surprised to find beautifully crafted, inexpensive bookcases.

My specifications were all met: 7 shelves and the molding that I wanted, all within my price range. I opted not to stain the bookcase yet because I'm still unsure which coat will go best with my other furniture. John told me to bring it back any time, he'd do it for $50.

Reading some of these reviews, I'm perplexed by the negative reactions to the management. John helped load the bookcase in my car and tied it down securely for me (I bought a mattress once and it almost fell off halfway home, so his attention to detail here was especially comforting). Maybe people expect a customer-service robot instead of a personality?

John was warm, helpful, and took the time to get to know me so that he got my order just right. Everything was on-time.

5 stars: I wouldn't go anywhere else for my wood furniture. When the timing is right, I'll be back for a custom-made desk. This is the kind of stuff I'll pass on to my kids someday as antiques.

Andrew J. Austin, TX


You need a bookcase and are thinking of going someplace else? Well, does that other place HAVE BOOKCASE RIGHT IN ITS NAME? No. And they don't deserve to.

The Bookcase Store does.

John was super friendly, helping us pick out 2 pre-made bookshelves and thinking of an easy and awesome custom solution for a third bookcase-needy spot in our home. All of the bookcases look and feel great. This is real quality wood.

Plus, it was a pleasure to come into the store, and talk with John. He also guided us through painting one of the bookcases ourselves, and designing the custom pieces was quick & a pretty cool process.

Double plus, the custom pieces were finished up a whole MONTH before they said they'd be ready, and you can't beat that.

Sam P. Austin, TX


I bought my first bookcase from here about 4 years ago.  It was a cd shelf to hang on the wall.  The bookcases and shelves from the bookcase store have a solid enough backing that you can screw on the wall with no extra hardware.  The shelf made it through at least 3 moves and is still holding up.

When it came time for my fiance and I to buy bookcases for our house we decided to go back to the Bookcase Store because we wanted something that would last.  The salesperson helped us design a corner bookcase for our vinyl records and record player, making sure that the dimensions were perfect to fit our needs.  The order came in a few weeks later in the quoted time frame and he even loaded everything into our car outside.

We are planning on buying more of the standard bookcases they have in inventory add to our home.

John S. Austin, TX


This is an amazing place to get custom made pieces.  They'll make exactly what you want and help you decide on the design.  I've been working on a wall unit, piece by piece.  The prices are better than IKEA and the quality is 100 times better.

Betsy G. Austin, TX


I like this place!  :-)

This is one of the establishments that makes Austin a wonderful experience. One can walk into an old house along the 'Drag' on the edge of Hyde Park and pick from a wide range of simple, hand made bookshelves. The quality appears to be excellent, they are made of nice solid wood and are crafted locally.  An excellent value and a nice departure from the cheap imported mainstream. 

P.S. Very friendly & helpful folks!

Schuyler H. Austin, TX


I walked into the Bookcase Store late this afternoon (a Monday), when as it turns out the store wasn't even supposed to be opened. But John the owner was the most patient, accommodating and helpful retailer one could ever meet. He helped me figure out the bookcase sizes I needed (as a carpenter, he's great at math), and even delivered them right then and there to my nearby apartment! John is witty and laid-back but he knows his stuff. Even better is the quality and workmanship of the shelves. I opted for cases he'd already built but custom isn't any higher, really. You won't find better-constructed, real wood bookcases at his prices. Plus the guy's pretty smart, too, and loves dogs!  Be an adult and get real bookcases -- locally made.

Kathleen M. Austin, TX


Yesterday the Bookcase Store delivered my new stereo cabinet to my cottage in East Austin. This is the third piece of furniture I have had built by them, and it is so beautiful, I just sat in front of it for two hours and admired it!

I am a big fan of early Texas pine furniture, and the pieces I have had built give my cottage a wonderful golden glow ( I always have them use a light-colored stain).  I have worked in cabinet shops and new home construction, so I know what goes into building furniture like this, and I feel so lucky that I can pay someone else to build this beautiful furniture so I don't have to settle for Big Box stuff. In a hundred years, someone will still be using these sturdy hand-built pieces, and they will look even better than they do now, like a violin from the 1800s.

I've read the negative reviews, and I understand things don't always go as planned. I've worked in residential remodeling, and it is very painful when a craftsman cannot meet the expectations of the customer, but these things tend to happen in the world of small business. It is weird to see how people nitpick on small businesses on Yelp.  In the business world, or the construction industry, the unexpected is normal, and you learn to think like an adult, wrangle out a solution, and move on. Life is a short movie, folks.

Austin is so lucky to have artisan businesses like the Bookcase Store!

Gary T. Austin, TX


I have been a customer of The Bookcase Store for nearly a year and I cannot tell you enough how satisfied I am with the products that I have received. 

I've purchased two custom pieces from them, a bookcase and a coffee table. The customer service is exceptional. Jason is helpful, accomodating and has an eye for design.

The pieces I received will last a lifetime. It seems that the negative reviews focus on timelines, but the pieces are designed and built by a group of 5 people. If you're looking for instant gratification and a piece that lasts 6 months, maybe you're better off at ikea.

If you want a piece of quality furniture designed built by an actual person with care and attention to detail, a piece you'll have for decades to come, The Bookcase Store is for you.

Laura R. Austin, TX


A dozen years ago, I bought my first CD holder bookcase from this shop.  I promptly filled it up and went out and bought another. In the years since, they have held up extremely well and they were not high priced. I also like that they come unstained. You can stain it if you like or go naked like me.

This shop is as local as it gets. If you are trying to stay local and out of the big box stores, this is your place.

Mark L. Austin, TX


After seeing the Bookcase Store everyday from the bus on my way to work, I finally got around to poking my head in. Two humongous, friendly dogs greeted me, followed a man who introduced himself as the owner.

When I moved from Chicago, my old bookcase didn't make the cut. Meanwhile my morning routine involved knocking over at least one stack of books that cluttered my room for want of a shelf to organize them. Because I'd spent a hefty amount relocating and had just started my job, I'd all but resigned to settle for some particle board from IKEA.

When I came in, I was surprised to find beautifully crafted, inexpensive bookcases.

My specifications were all met: 7 shelves and the molding that I wanted, all within my price range. I opted not to stain the bookcase yet because I'm still unsure which coat will go best with my other furniture. John told me to bring it back any time, he'd do it for $50.

Reading some of these reviews, I'm perplexed by the negative reactions to the management. John helped load the bookcase in my car and tied it down securely for me (I bought a mattress once and it almost fell off halfway home, so his attention to detail here was especially comforting). Maybe people expect a customer-service robot instead of a personality? 

John was warm, helpful, and took the time to get to know me so that he got my order just right. Everything was on-time.

5 stars: I wouldn't go anywhere else for my wood furniture. When the timing is right, I'll be back for a custom-made desk. This is the kind of stuff I'll pass on to my kids someday as antiques.

Andrew M. Austin, TX


We bought a custom bookcase from The Bookcase Store this summer and are just getting around to writing a review. Well, it looks like we don't have to as Guy S. already wrote what we wanted to say.  We love our bookcase and will go back to this store every time we need a quality attractive bookcase. If you want to work with bland robots, go to a big box store. We really liked the custom experience of this locally-owned business.

Kelley D. Austin, TX


We have 6 bookcases and 2 end tables from The Bookcase Store and just bought 3 more bookcases. They are really well made and don't bend or shift like other bookcases under the weight of the books. We will continue to buy bookcases from John and his team.

Nissa P. Angleton, TX


Excellent quality bookshelf and great customer service!

T.S. Seminole, OK


I just returned from The Bookcase Store, finalizing the details on one of two pieces I'm having custom made by their builders. I already own two custom pieces and three stock pieces from the store, and I couldn't be more pleased with the quality or price of them. Also, Jason, the person you'll usually deal with at the store,  is a friendly, smart and creative individual, and a great listener. He has the flexibility to comprehend the variety of ways a bookcase can be used, and the intuitiveness to design what I felt like I was only marginally capable of describing. I feel respected when I deal with him and valued as a customer.

I read over the reviews here before I posted mine, and I can empathize with the folks who felt snapped at by John (I think that's his name ... not positive), the owner, and the frustration with communication on some occasions. My first experience with The Bookcase Store was in January-March of 2010, when I was having a shelf custom made (for a cheap bookcase that I really should have just replaced with one of their bookcases!) and the extreme weather we had did put the store way behind schedule. There was a glitch in communicating when my shelf would be ready and when I talked to John, I did think he was abrupt. If I'd written my review based on that one experience, it wouldn't have been a good one, but I've dealt with Jason every time since and the quality of this store's work is undeniable.

Some folks have a gift for customer service - Jason certainly does - and some are just better in other areas of operation. Jason is nearly always the person you'll deal with at this store. All said, The Bookcase Store is my favorite place to buy furniture (they will build drawers, desks, coffee tables, cupboards .... just ask them) and except for my first experience, I have been treated to five-star service and craftsmanship. As near as I know, you cannot do better in Austin. I'm confident I will treasure the many pieces of furniture I have from them for as many years as I have left to care.

p.s. I should have mentioned that every custom piece I've bought at The Bookcase Store was ready later than when they said it would be. (I think I have two stock pieces and seven custom pieces). Plan for that ahead of time. I think they must not want folks to be angry that it takes time to build custom furniture, so they promise an earlier date than what they can meet. Just go into the deal knowing you'll have to add two or three weeks to whatever they tell you.

Guy S. Austin, TX


Not really wanting to buy another particleboard bookcase from Ikea, I stopped by the Bookcase Store on Guadalupe. It's in a small house north of the UT campus. All they handle are bookcases (and cases to hold DVDs and CDs) - nothing fancy - but made here in Austin out of solid pine. They are raw wood so you gotta stain them yourself.

I picked up a small bookcase out of a line up of 20 or so wooden cases that were ready for sale. You can order a custom designed bookcase, too. Parking is on the street only (don't even TRY to park at the salon next door..). Great place.

Mark H. Austin, TX


I had them make a custom bookcase for me.  Excellent quality work, but a bit pricey.   He took my design and suggested a backboard for stability -- this piece will last forever.  I stained it myself (which they would do for a fee).

Topaz N. Austin, TX