Emily HollowayTable of Contents
I’ve made it no secret that a favorite hobby of mine is unearthing new bookstores every time I travel. Bookstores, especially independently owned bookstores, are the backbones of communities, and I find that they’re a great way to get to know the city you’re visiting from a local’s perspective. Bookstores, especially New York City bookstores, have a way of quieting the noise our days our filled with; they force us to slow down, reflect, and often gather as a collective.
Throughout my travels, I’ve come to find bookstores specifically in New York some of the most fascinating to visit. You walk through a creaky, wooden door, a bell jingles overhead as if to signal to the universe that it’s time to transport you to another world, and all the hustle of the city evaporates. It’s a balancing act of solitude: you’re left alone with the smell of glue binding the spines of your next abstract adventure, yet you’re blessed with the company of a helpful shopkeeper or possibly a feline employee of the month many years running.
I’ve been blessed to frequent New York over the years, both personally and professionally. Whether you’re planning a trip of your own or simply want to escape via the words on this screen, here are some of my favorite New York City bookstores. These are all the locations I’ve visited multiple times and can personally vouch for. There are so many other great locations, please do not let this list stop you from exploring on your own! Who knows what you’ll stumble upon?
And if you’re not into hopping between New York City bookstores, check out my write up on the New York Public Library for an easier to navigate but just as bookish idea.
“I can’t pass a bookstore without slipping inside, looking for the next book that will burn my hand when I touch its jacket, or hand me over a promissory note of such immense power that it contains the formula that will change everything about me.”
– Pat Coroy
Strand Book Store
The Industry Staple
I can’t mention independent New York City bookstores without mentioning Strand. Founded in 1927 when Fourth Avenue was still considered “Book Row” – in 6 city blocks were 48 individual book stores. It’s an institution for the Greenwich Village, proudly boasting that it houses over 2.5 million new, used, and rare books, approximately 18 miles in length when stacked against one another. And this is true: there is no way you won’t find what you’re looking for in Strand. There are multiple floors with just about every genre present and accounted for.
I thoroughly enjoy visiting Strand for two main reasons – the staff and the events. One could imagine that in a multi-story building with 2.5 million books, it could be challenging to locate the book you’re after. Every time I visit, the staff is more than welcoming and helpful, ensuring I find whatever it is I’m looking for or offering recommendations for similar reads. They’re never pushy, judgmental, or overbearing – they are deeply passionate about reading, and it’s evident in their work.
Because it’s such an institution in New York’s independent bookstore community, Strand is consistently hosting events for readers. Major name authors frequent Strand when promoting their latest release. There are book clubs for readers of all interests and levels. They are constantly finding new ways to connect with seasoned readers and inspire new ones.
McNally Jackson Booksellers: SoHo
Dripping in Luxury
The next time you find yourself shopping in SoHo, NYC, I need you to pay McNally Jackson Books on Prince Street a visit. You won’t have to wander too far from your favorite shops, as it’s located in the middle of the action in SoHo. It’s one of my favorite bookstores in the city – it’s welcoming and highly curated for a variety of literary appetites. Every time I visit, they always showcase the most unique display of books; this time their primary display was themed after The Breakfast Club. All the selected books were recommended based on what high school clique you gravitated toward – there were books for jocks, goths, preps, athletes. It was a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, memoir, self-help, you name it.
I also love visiting when I need to update my writing supplies. McNally Jackson locations are infamous for offering the best writing products from around the world. You can find pens from Korea, Japan, the entirety of Europe, pieces that would be difficult to obtain on your own, and they’re offered at such an affordable price point. Plus, there’s tons of colors, so you can pick and choose different writing vibes for different moods. Book annotators, I’m speaking directly at you!
McNally Jackson has multiple locations throughout Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Check them out in SoHo at: 52 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012.
Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers
Brooklyn Beatnik Energy
If you ever find yourself in Williamsburg and want to feel like you’re in the misunderstood artist haven that Brooklyn has been so frequently stereotyped as, check out Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers. Located in the heart of Bedford Ave, S&S features such a wide variety of titles for a smaller space. They feature new bestsellers, but also obscure titles that I’ve only consistently seen at their store. They also have a wall of gently used copies which spans multiple genres, all at an affordable price point.
Every time I visit, I wish I packed more room in my suitcase to bring home a coffee table or accent book. I cannot emphasize how many intriguing titles they offer, many of them focused on artists, musicians, and travel. I am a sucker for custom stationery and bookmarks. Tell me why I bought a hotdog bookmark on my most recent trip? So much fun.
Quimby’s Books
An LGBTQ+ Community Safe Haven
Let’s highlight another unique bookstore in Williamsburg. Quimby’s is the loudest (in messaging) and most interesting alternative bookseller I’ve ever visited. Their collection is curated to feature “the unusual, the aberrant, the saucy and the lowbrow”, including self-published zines, comics, and small press books by local authors. This collection expands into thought-provoking counterculture topics, like political and cultural resistance, feminism, anarchy, and LGBTQ+ allyship. They are a safe haven for underrepresented and repressed minority communities, as everyone should have access to diverse reading materials.
Beyond their collection of radical literature, you can find new and used classics, as well as non-fiction spanning a variety of topics: sexual wellness, recreational drug use, religious and spiritual awakening. You can purchase artwork and prints from local and international artists, uncommon jewelry, records, and more. This really is a shop for the larger community, not just book lovers.
Quimby’s is located at 536 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211. This is their second location – the first being in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. So if you find yourself in the Midwest, know that you might have a closer option you can more easily visit!
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Emily Holloway
