This shop, a five-minute walk from the Takoma Metro, has a simple rectangular layout. Books line two walls of the narrow space. A walk to the center of the store brings you to a haven of discounts, stacks of them on five large tables. If you are looking for classics, Chuck and Dave's stocks a few. On one recent visit, for example, there were four Margaret Atwood novels and only one Jane Austen on the shelves.
Fiction makes up about a third of the titles here.
Look for the several dozen staff-recommended books. Most have thoughtful write-ups underneath that can help you figure out if this book is for you. Some 35,000 titles are crammed into two rooms of this bookstore, located in the heart of Dupont Circle. There is also a restaurant with an extensive menu. More than any other bookstore in Washington, Kramerbooks is a social hot spot.