The best book, hobby & craft shops in Waterloo

6 book, hobby & craft shops we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Hobbies, Books, & Crafts · 6 places · showing the latest additions first

The CORE Comics & Games

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

Whether you're hunting the latest DC and Marvel releases, picking up Magic The Gathering or Pokemon, or eyeing new Warhammer kits and…

1926 Valley Park Dr (Cedar Falls)

“Whether you're hunting the latest DC and Marvel releases, picking up Magic The Gathering or Pokemon, or eyeing new Warhammer kits and Gundam models, The CORE Comics & Games keeps your nerdy heart stocked with comics, board games, dice, indie comics, and manga.”

From the Cedar Falls newsletter, September 17, 2026

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The Nook

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

If your TBR stack somehow shrank overnight, The Nook has you covered with new novels, children’s picks, and a surprisingly tempting wall of…

216 Main St (Cedar Falls)

“If your TBR stack somehow shrank overnight, The Nook has you covered with new novels, children’s picks, and a surprisingly tempting wall of cookbooks. Grab a coffee, poke around for giftable goodies, and leave feeling smug about supporting a spot that actually feels like Cedar Falls.”

From the Cedar Falls newsletter, September 10, 2026

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Books on Main

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

Need a new-to-you mystery, a stack of quirky stickers, or a reason to clear your shelves, Books on Main is a cozy independent used…

205 Main St (Cedar Falls)

“fm that support the shop.”

From the Cedar Falls newsletter, September 2, 2026

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Tenor Madness

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

Tenor Madness is the local go-to for sax and clarinet players, building TM Custom tenors by hand in Iowa and performing meticulous TM Pro…

2855 Deere Rd

“Tenor Madness is the local go-to for sax and clarinet players, building TM Custom tenors by hand in Iowa and performing meticulous TM Pro overhauls and setups. Swing by for reeds, mouthpieces, and expert tweaks that make your horn respond faster and sound bigger this week.”

From the Waterloo newsletter, September 9, 2026

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Hobby Lobby

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

Chain carrying a variety of arts & crafts materials, plus party supplies, fabric & home-decor items.

2711 Crossroads Blvd

“Chain carrying a variety of arts & crafts materials, plus party supplies, fabric & home-decor items.”

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West Music Cedar Falls

Hobbies, Books, & Crafts

Guitars, drums, keyboards, and school band essentials are all in one spot at West Music Cedar Falls, plus lessons, rentals, and repairs to…

6322 University Ave (Cedar Falls)

“Guitars, drums, keyboards, and school band essentials are all in one spot at West Music Cedar Falls, plus lessons, rentals, and repairs to keep everything humming. If you’ve been meaning to level up your sound this week, their crew knows how to get you from idea to encore.”

From the Waterloo newsletter, August 27, 2026

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