Still a really cool bookstore, with a lot of books that need to be reached by ladder. I wish I…read morecould see some of those books that are hard to reach. They specialize in antique books as well, their NY sections are well stocked as one might imagine, and the fiction and psychology sections are full of good reads. The spaces and aisles are small and narrow, so be ready to bump elbows and navigate carefully during busy times on weekends.

Small hidden gem! Excellent selection of books from floor to ceiling! Such a cool little book store…read morewith a cool vibe to it! Good prices and friendly service. Anyone looking for a good read I recommend stopping in and seeing the book selection!

I can't believe I've never reviewed the Strand. I guess I haven't visited in years?! Well, I…read morecorrected that oversight last Sunday, and I still love it as much as I did when I was in college. I love bookstores, and NYC has lots of great ones. But the Strand Bookstore might be the best? It's a classic. It's the largest independent bookstore in the city, carrying 2.5 million used, new, and rare books (their tag line - "18 Miles of Books" refers to the fact that the shelf space in the store supposedly stretches over 18 miles)! Plenty of people just shop front their discount racks outside the sidewalk (where all books are $3-7) and then pop in just to pay. But the inside is incredible. More books than almost any bookstore I've ever been to. Still family-owned, over 100 years old, and with an emphasis on bookseller recommendations, it's just an excellent bookstore. When I stopped by on Sunday, I made it past about four tables and end displays - new fiction, signed books, and employee recommendations - about 50 feet into the store. I already had six books in my hands and decided I better leave quickly before I had a problem! Despite the size of the store and the number of shoppers, the line to check out was short and quick. With friendly customer service to boot. It's simply one of the best bookstores in the city. Maybe in the country, too?! Definitely check it out.

I was so surprised to see I have not written a review for Strand even though I have visited several…read moretimes. Strand Book Store is a landmark family owned bookstore famous for its "18 miles of books" and a massive inventory of over 2.5 million new, used, and rare titles. There are four floors - the first floor which is usually very busy and chaotic features a vast collection of new releases and best-sellers, and a wide variety of Strand themed merchandise The lower level is mainly non-fiction and music and travel section. The second floor has art, photography, architecture and children's books. The third floor is rare books. The store is packed with books and if you cannot find a book here it may not exist. It is easy to spend hours browsing through the aisles.

The Book Cellar has helped me and continues to help me grow my home library with wonderful…read moretreasures and adventures to escape to through books. I have also donated/donate books as well. I love how well organized the book cellar is and most of the books are in pristine condition at fantastic prices. The staff is always helpful, knowledgeable, pleasant and very welcoming. You couldn't ask for a better bookstore! Thank you!

What a treasure trove of incredible books, all at great prices!…read more Friends of Library groups are such an incredible force and I'm so inspired by the Friends of Webster Library for running this wonderful store, the proceeds of which benefit the Webster library and other east side branches. I stopped by one afternoon and could have spent all afternoon browsing! I was lucky enough to snag a few copies of Demon Slayer, a few Julia Turshen cookbooks, a Christmas movie, and more! The prices were great - I don't think anything was more than a few dollars. The staff was really friendly and pointed out a second Julia Turshen book when they saw one in my pile. I'll definitely be visiting the Book Cellar again! To enter the Book Cellar, enter the library branch and walk straight ahead. You'll see a sign that will guide you down the stairs to the book shop. Happy browsing!

Really cool bookstore to hang out around. Tons of figurines, video games, toys, pokemon cards, and…read moreof course books. Great $1 book section. Tons of big name authors there!

Buying and Selling at Book Off What a cool store. So much to…read moresee. Unfortunately, it is lousy to sell at and expensive to buy at. First, Selling. I brought in three statue items unopened in the original packaging. I checked on ebay for what the items sold for (not asking price but sold price) and it added up to about $600, I lugged the items over there and had to leave them there because they wouldn't get to them right away. The people/kids working there were very nice. I went to have lunch and got the text to return, and they are offering $150. So I picked up the items and turned down the offer. Again, they were very nice, it's just I wasn't willing to accept 25% of the value. I figured at worst it would be 50%. But I am better off getting closer to the actual price on ebay. Now, Buying. Lots of very expensive and exiting things to get, and I didn't have time to price check things so much, but my son is into the Nintendo switch and i spotted a used Marvel VS Capcom game he might like. It was $34.95. But just in case, I pulled up Amazon and looked the game up. A brand new one costs $21.79. So it would have been a terrible idea for me to buy it there. I guess if you are leaving work and need a quick gift, you might stop in and pay too much for an item. If you are in real trouble and don't have time to wait for an Ebay sale, you might consider selling your collectables for 25% the value, this place might come in handy.

A great book store with a rich selection of books at great prices. I will be sure to return when…read moreI'm in town.

Excellent collection of used books on most every subject matter. History, mysteries, fiction,…read morenon-fiction, belle letters, art, poetry, etc. The store is a classic.

Beautifully curated shop. This place is for the connoisseur or collector, they even had a nice…read morefirst edition Mishima. Highly recommend, but keep in mind it is a serious collector's environment.

this was a very nice book store. i didn't buy anything but i really liked the vintage magazines!…read moreits more of a browsing place for me though.

Excellent bookstore. Delicious coffee and chai latte and a real cozy atmosphere. Just like the…read moremovies. Functional bathroom for customers. Nice 5 stars!

I cannot stop thinking, raving and chatting about the time I had in this place. Especially as…read moresomeone who deeply cares about those who are affected by HIV and AIDS. I was able to take my partner here during our romantic literary weekend!!! She was completely captivated by the selection of different books, the variety of poetry and overall ease of expression in here. The thrift shop was adorable and maintained well- they even had a selection of dishes. I really enjoyed the laid back coffee shop vibes, I enjoyed a chai latte and she a butterscotch latte.... They were both delectable. The croissants weren't amazing, they were run of the mill not exciting . But that wasn't the purpose of coming there anyway. The vibes are worth it and space is clean and inviting. I purchased probably the warmest sweater I'll ever own for only $20!!!! Overall I think it's a solid win!

Just had to jump in. So sorry people had a bad experience with a clerk. Maybe they were having a…read morebad day because I have to say of all the bookstores in the city I find TS to be one of the MOST helpful and genuine curious and kind staff. Please, please, give them another chance.

These people are surly and anal, as Amy G. helpfully points out ('moody, rude staff members'). It…read moreis extremely triggering. Just because you're in a collective doesn't mean you get to be rude as hell. Bad behavior -- sadly not surprising from the same folks who named their predecessor location 'Book Thug Nation' (now thankfully defunct). Super cringe. Unnameable Books is under 10 mins walk away -- they won't be snarky and sassy to you there. NOT RECOMMENDED.

It was fun to peruse their bargain section - not many stores left are doing $1 deals for used books…read morethese days! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the east village.

As yesterday was coming to a close, my heart sank as I realized I had yet to hit my 10,000 steps…read more You think I'm going to break my New Years Resolution 7 days in? I quickly gobbled up the 2nd half of my Pastrami on Rye Sandwich from Katz Deli and set off to wander through the city and MOG this step count. I love aimlessly walking through the city, as you truly never know what you will stumble upon...Damn I miss "stumbleupon.com" those were the peak internet days for me.... As I was vibing to J.Coles "hidden" verse on Logic's AfricAryaN, I damn near walked into this "East Village Books" sign on the sidewalk. I had been meaning to get a good non-fiction book since I finished "Ask the Dust," so I was like damn maybe this is the universe telling me to pop in. Can't stop the spirits when they need you I guess. I pushed open the creaking door and it was immediately clear I had just time traveled to 1990. The smell of old books is distinct and beautiful. It's one of those smells you don't remember even exists until you smell it. It makes you want to read. It's is an ode to the prolific writers who were the influencers of their day, when influencing meant building a completely new world from the creative space in your head and telling a full story with character development, drawing on things from your past that may have hurt you but that you can now bundle and trauma dump into a beautiful story of passion, pain, and demon slaying... I'm writing this like I'm not about to tag my socials below ahahahaha. I wonder if F. Scott Fitzgerald would be a little slut on tiktok now... Anyways, as I was taking my sweet sweet time and just enjoying the place, I heard the phone at the front start to ring. The employee let out an annoyed "Oh my God whaaaaaaaaaat" before he picked it up and said "East Village Books how may I help you" ahahahaa. I was like DAMN bro really doesn't wanna be here. But I feel him it was like 8:45pm on a Sunday and they close at 9:30. After feeling the pressure to leave, I saw J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" on the shelf. After initially shivering as I heard Mrs. Climaco's (my 8th Grade teacher) voice in my head, I realized I didn't remember the first thing about the book other than the protagonist's name. Probably because I just sparknoted it back then ahahaha. But I was like why not give it a shot, if it was required reading back then there probably is some merit to it. I also snagged F. Scott Fitzgerald's "This Side of Paradise" because I wanted to be at least a little edgy and not get The Great Gatsby. I paid $13 for both books, which is probably beating Lord Bezos pricing, so a win win! East Village Books has REFUSED to update themselves in almost a beautiful way. They handwrite the price of books on the inner cover in pencil, they are cash only, have terrible customer service, and they still use that little paper roll and calculator for receipts and bookkeeping. They are one of the few businesses that have all out rejected convenience culture, keeping the Soul of East Village alive. As for me, my dear reader, I blew past my 10,000 steps. But I lied to you earlier and it isn't sitting right with me. I only got 2,000 the day before so my New Year's Resolution is already broken. I'm sorry, it won't happen again, but I will let y'all know how the Catcher in the Rye is! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__