Sites Like Hastings Entertainment: 12 Multimedia & Used-Goods Retailers That Fill the Gap
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About Hastings Entertainment
Founded
1968
USA
Ships to
Defunct (closed 2016)
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Nothing replaced Hastings because nothing was ever quite like it — a books-music-movies-games hybrid that also sold used CDs, traded video games, and stocked a wall of magazines, board games, guitars, and vinyl in towns too small for a Barnes & Noble. That breadth was the whole point.
Hastings survived where mall retailers died by being the only game in town across the Plains and the Southwest. You went in for a paperback and left with a used Xbox game, a comic, an energy drink, and a movie from the $5 bargain bin. The trade-in counter meant your old stuff had value; the browse-anything sprawl meant a Saturday afternoon could disappear inside one store.
The bankruptcy didn't happen because people stopped reading or gaming. It happened because Amazon, Redbox, streaming, and digital game downloads each carved off one department at a time until the hybrid model had no defensible middle left.
The hard part now isn't finding books, or games, or used media. It's finding all of it under one roof at Hastings prices. So where does a former Hastings regular actually go to browse cheap used media the way they used to?
Hastings survived where mall retailers died by being the only game in town across the Plains and the Southwest. You went in for a paperback and left with a used Xbox game, a comic, an energy drink, and a movie from the $5 bargain bin. The trade-in counter meant your old stuff had value; the browse-anything sprawl meant a Saturday afternoon could disappear inside one store.
The bankruptcy didn't happen because people stopped reading or gaming. It happened because Amazon, Redbox, streaming, and digital game downloads each carved off one department at a time until the hybrid model had no defensible middle left.
The hard part now isn't finding books, or games, or used media. It's finding all of it under one roof at Hastings prices. So where does a former Hastings regular actually go to browse cheap used media the way they used to?
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Hastings Entertainment
1
Half Price Books
Est. 1972
Dallas, Texas
≈
similar
Browsers who want the physical treasure-hunt experience across every media type
The closest spiritual heir — a sprawling brick-and-mortar chain selling used and new books, music, movies, and games all in one store, with a buy-back counter that mirrors Hastings' trade-in culture.
Pros
- Sells used books, vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and games under one roof
- Buys your used media for cash or store credit
- Strong presence across Texas and the Midwest
Cons
- Store footprint doesn't cover the rural West like Hastings did
- Game and console selection is thinner than a dedicated shop
2
Books-A-Million
Est. 1917
Birmingham, Alabama
≈
similar
Small-town shoppers wanting a big-box media store nearby
A Southern superstore chain that pairs books with movies, music, toys, tech gadgets, and a café — the multi-department floor experience Hastings fans miss.
Pros
- Physical stores in many mid-size Southern towns
- Carries books, gifts, collectibles, and tech
- Millionaire's Club membership discounts
Cons
- Mostly new inventory — little used-media browsing
- No trade-in or buy-back program
3
Barnes & Noble
Est. 1886
New York, New York
$$$
pricier
Readers who want a physical bookstore that also stocks vinyl and games
The surviving national bookstore chain, now expanding again, with books, vinyl, board games, and pop-culture merch on a browsable floor.
Pros
- Reopening and expanding stores nationwide
- Growing vinyl and board-game sections
- Strong café and events programming
Cons
- New-price focus — pricier than Hastings' bargain bins
- No used media or trade-ins
4
GameStop
Est. 1984
Grapevine, Texas
≈
similar
Gamers who want to trade in and buy used titles in person
The trade-in counter Hastings gamers relied on, now the dominant used-games chain with pre-owned consoles, discs, and collectibles.
Pros
- Buys and sells used games and consoles
- Physical stores nearly everywhere
- Pre-order and collectible merch
Cons
- Trade-in values are notoriously low
- Only games and merch — no books or music
Visit GameStop
Full guide: Stores Like GameStop
5
FYE
Est. 1993
Albany, New York
≈
similar
Music and movie collectors who miss the media-store vibe
The last mall music-and-movie chain standing, now leaning into pop-culture merch, vinyl, and collectibles alongside CDs and DVDs.
Pros
- Deep vinyl, CD, and DVD selection
- Heavy pop-culture and fandom merch
- Backstage Pass rewards program
Cons
- Store count is shrinking every year
- No books or used-media trade-ins
6
2nd & Charles
Est. 2010
Birmingham, Alabama
$
cheaper
Bargain hunters who want to buy AND sell used media in one trip
Books-A-Million's used-media offshoot — a giant warehouse of secondhand books, games, vinyl, movies, and collectibles that buys and sells, exactly Hastings' model.
Pros
- Buys used books, games, vinyl, and movies for cash or credit
- Cavernous stores built for browsing
- Genuinely low used-media pricing
Cons
- Limited number of locations
- Inventory is unpredictable by nature
7
ThriftBooks
Est. 2003
Tukwila, Washington
$
cheaper
Readers chasing cheap used books online
The online used-book giant that recreates Hastings' cheap-paperback bin at scale, with rock-bottom prices and a loyalty program.
Pros
- Millions of used titles at very low prices
- Free shipping over a low threshold
- ReadingRewards loyalty credit
Cons
- Books only — no music, movies, or games
- No physical browsing
8
Discogs
Est. 2000
Portland, Oregon
≈
similar
Music collectors hunting specific pressings and rarities
The definitive marketplace for used and rare vinyl, CDs, and cassettes — the crate-digging Hastings' music section only hinted at.
Pros
- Deepest catalog of physical music anywhere
- Seller ratings and detailed pressing data
- Sell your own collection to buyers worldwide
Cons
- Music only — no books, movies, or games
- Shipping costs add up on cheap items
9
McKay Used Books & More
Est. 1978
Knoxville, Tennessee
$
cheaper
Deal seekers within driving distance who want a true trade-in warehouse
A Tennessee-based used-media megastore selling and trading books, movies, music, games, and instruments — arguably a more Hastings-like store than Hastings.
Pros
- Trades and sells every media type Hastings did
- Enormous inventory and daily fresh stock
- Generous store credit for trade-ins
Cons
- Only a handful of Southern locations
- Store-credit-heavy trade model
10
eBay
Est. 1995
San Jose, California
$
cheaper
Hunters who want the widest possible pool of secondhand media
The catch-all marketplace where used games, out-of-print books, rare vinyl, and old movies all live — the digital version of Hastings' used bins.
Pros
- Every media category and format imaginable
- Auctions and Buy It Now for any budget
- Buyer protection on purchases
Cons
- Quality varies wildly by seller
- Shipping and condition surprises are common
11
Powell's Books
Est. 1971
Portland, Oregon
≈
similar
Serious readers who want new and used side by side
Portland's legendary new-and-used bookstore that also handles buy-backs and stocks a wide media mix — the browsing sprawl Hastings fans crave, online and in person.
Pros
- New and used shelved together at every price
- Buys used books in-store and by mail
- Enormous, browsable independent inventory
Cons
- Only one metro area for physical shopping
- Books-focused — light on games and music
12
DeepDiscount
Est. 2005
Itasca, Illinois
$
cheaper
Physical-media loyalists chasing low prices on discs and box sets
An online retailer for cheap physical movies, music, and box sets — the bargain-bin DVD and CD wall of Hastings, shipped to your door.
Pros
- Low prices on new DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, and vinyl
- Frequent sales on box sets
- Free shipping on most orders
Cons
- New media only — no used or trade-ins
- Website feels dated
Best for the full Hastings trade-in experience
If what you miss most is hauling in a box of old games and DVDs for cash or credit, three stores rebuild that counter: 2nd & Charles and McKay both buy and sell every media type Hastings did, and GameStop handles console trade-ins. McKay in particular runs the closest thing to a Hastings-scale used-media warehouse still operating.
Cheapest used media online
For bargain-bin prices without leaving home, ThriftBooks owns cheap used books, eBay covers everything from out-of-print vinyl to old GameCube titles, and DeepDiscount undercuts on new DVDs and box sets. These three together recreate the $5 bin at internet scale.
Best for collectors and crate-diggers
Hastings' music and movie sections could only go so deep. Discogs is the definitive marketplace for rare pressings and out-of-print music, while Powell's and Half Price Books reward the treasure-hunt instinct with genuinely unpredictable used inventory.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
If you want one physical store that does what Hastings did, Half Price Books is your default and 2nd & Charles or McKay are worth a drive for the buy-and-sell model. If it's purely about cheap used books, ThriftBooks and Powell's have you covered. Gamers should split time between GameStop for trade-ins and eBay for anything rare or discontinued. Music and movie collectors will find more depth on Discogs and DeepDiscount than any single store ever offered. And if you just want a big-box media store nearby again, Books-A-Million or a reopened Barnes & Noble is the practical answer. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat store is most like Hastings Entertainment now that it's closed?
2nd & Charles and McKay are the closest matches — both are large stores that buy and sell used books, music, movies, games, and collectibles under one roof, the exact hybrid model Hastings ran. Half Price Books is the most widely available option that captures the same browse-and-trade experience.
QWhere can I trade in used games and movies like I did at Hastings?
GameStop still buys used games and consoles in person, though trade-in values are low. For a broader trade-in that covers books, movies, and music too, 2nd & Charles and McKay Used Books run cash-or-credit buy counters much like Hastings did.
QIs there a Hastings alternative in small towns and rural areas?
This is the hard part — Hastings thrived precisely where big chains didn't. Books-A-Million reaches many mid-size Southern towns, and Half Price Books covers Texas and the Midwest. For rural areas with no nearby store, online options like ThriftBooks, eBay, and DeepDiscount fill the gap.
QWhere can I buy cheap used books online after Hastings closed?
ThriftBooks offers millions of used titles at very low prices with free shipping over a small threshold. Powell's Books sells new and used together, and eBay is unbeatable for out-of-print or hard-to-find titles.
QWhere do I find the rare vinyl and out-of-print CDs Hastings sometimes carried?
Discogs is the specialist marketplace collectors use for specific vinyl pressings, rare CDs, and cassettes, with detailed condition and pressing data. For cheaper new physical music, DeepDiscount runs frequent sales, and Half Price Books is worth digging through for used finds.
Our Verdict
The Best Hastings Entertainment Alternative For You
If you want one physical store that does what Hastings did, Half Price Books is your default and 2nd & Charles or McKay are worth a drive for the buy-and-sell model. If it's purely about cheap used books, ThriftBooks and Powell's have you covered. Gamers should split time between GameStop for trade-ins and eBay for anything rare or discontinued. Music and movie collectors will find more depth on Discogs and DeepDiscount than any single store ever offered. And if you just want a big-box media store nearby again, Books-A-Million or a reopened Barnes & Noble is the practical answer.