Terrible place for a passport picture. The lady was very nice but not helpful at all. I walked in and told the clerk I need to get a passport photo. The clerk directed to me to stand in front of the white background and with no warning began taking my photo. My hair was down covering my ears at this point and I know you must show your ears in passport photos, and neck above. I stopped her so I can brush my hair back.The photo was taken chest up. When I saw the picture from the camera, I advice her that the picture needs to be neck or shoulder up because it would be too far back. She said"no problem, I can crop it and it will be fine," and since I liked the picture anyway, I went along with it. She printed the photo, saw the photo, did some trimming, and put it in an envelope for me. I should've check the photo on my end before I left but I was running to the passport agency. When I got there, I found out the picture was blurry and basically I was not able to use the photo for my passport. The rest of my experience, you can imagine. No moral and values from staff at CJ Magazine. If you're trying to make a quick buck, that is not the way. Consumers will be willing to spend money in desperate situations but that is not the time to take advantage and screw people over. Update: I did get a new photo from another nearby deli and was able to get my passport the same day. read more

How often do you pick up a magazine, then have to put it back when you realize it's the Spanish version, then have to put back the second magazine because it's the British version, before finally grabbing the US issue that you were looking for? Yeah, this is the kind of place where that happens all the time. What appears to be a basic convenience store is anything but. They have more magazines than any place I've ever been. It's nice to have around, for those random issues of random magazines that someone posted about on Facebook that you must buy. I have no doubt you'll find it here. read more

Very unprofessional staff. I will not return. Plus my package was delivered damaged. The rats ate through the box. Sad access point for people to receive UPS packages. Should have better logging system of packages received and delivered. read more

Has more magazines than Borders! No, seriously.... I was pretty overblown by their selection. They even have all the different Communication Arts competitions - Design, Interactive, Advertising, etc...Usually you only see the one that's out that month. Tons of magazines for the music scene, art, architecture, cars, porn...everything. So if you're looking for that one unique publication you saw once but can't remember the name...BJ probably has it. They also carry international mags....Also one of my stops to by lotto tickets. read more

This place has a great assortment of the harder-to-find titles. And they're really nice about fielding calls to advise on what they have in stock before you make the trip over. Of course it's also worth just popping in for a browse - all kinds of treasures you probably didn't know where even a "thing." read more

The man and woman who run this store are very bad people. They are INCREDIBLY rude, and they steal money from you and try to charge you for extra things without you noticing. I have been in here 4 times and had a negative experience every time. Take your business elsewhere - the people who run this store are awful. read more

Neat magazine shop with a big collection of magazines from everywhere. I feel like I've never seen it very full, so I have to wonder sometimes how this place stays open.I hope they do continue to stay open though. I mostly come for snacks but grab a magazine every now and then. read more

A million magazine options here. Very helpful staff. Many international options as well.

I walked into B.J. Magazines, on 200 Varick St, to buy a magazine. On my way to B.J. Magazines, I looked at my 20$ bill, and was upset that I had to break it, in order to buy this magazine. (don't you hate that sometimes) I went into the store and picked up the magazine. Still upset, I brought the magazine up to the cashier, who was the owner of the store. I placed the magazine on the counter, and then placed the 20$ bill on top of the magazine. This magazine was priced at $4.99. The owner, however, gave me back a crisp, new 1$ bill and some change. At first, when I looked at the crisp, brand new 1$ bill, I thought about how intimidated I was to even touch such a new bill. It looked like it was just printed. Then I recalled that I gave him a 20$ bill. I told the owner that I gave him a 20$ bill. He said, in anger, "You gave me a 5," without looking at me, as he angrily stepped away from where I was standing, as if I wasn't allowed to speak anymore. (I guess that's that. Because he told me what I gave him, the conversation is now over...) Trying to stand my ground, I told the owner again that I gave him a 20$ bill. Even with sunglasses on, I could see that he wasn't going to give me change for a 20, so I decided to 'start from the beginning.' I told him "How about this, let me return this magazine, and you can just give me my 20 back." "Let's start from there." I figured that if he gave me my 20 back, then I will ask him if he can count his drawer, just to be on the safe side. He just looked at me, in shock, and then told me that I gave him a 5. He even gestured to his cash register, to let me look at his drawer. I stood on my tiptoes, and looked at it. All of his bills were brand-spanking new! He then took out a brand new 5$ bill, to show me that this was the 5 I had given him! He held the 5$ bill so gingerly, along its edge, so as not to even crease it! I don't own any such bills! I never came into Manhattan with a 5$ bill. That's why I was so upset that I had to break my 20$ bill! I don't own any brand new bills. I don't even own a wallet. All of my bills are crushed and folded, when I put them into my little pocketbook. I calmly repeated, "That's not my five." "My twenty has creases and folds in it." "I fold all my bills, before I put them into my pocketbook." He shot back, "What twenty?" "I only have two twenties." (yes, and one of them is mine) He holds up the two 20$ bills. I said, "Yes, mine is creased and has folds in it." The two twenties he held up were both old bills, both were crumpled. You can tell that they came from outside customers. He held them, but he still insisted that I gave him a 5$ bill. So, I took out my phone and I said, calmly, "Let me call the cops, because it looks like you're not going to give me my money back." I felt so bad, but I didn't know how else to solve this situation. As he saw me starting to dial, he threw my 20 down on the counter and said, "Take your twenty!" Then he started yelling at me, and went on a tirade. Funny thing is though, he gave me back the exact same 20$ bill that I had given him, to begin with. How did he know which one was mine? I kept trying to explain to him, "See, this is my 20$ bill." "It has folds in it, and it's creased." He was yelling, "Take your twenty dollars!" "I don't know anything about your folds or your creases!" I kept showing him the bill. He just kept on yelling. "You got twenty dollars from me." "Enjoy the 20 dollars that I gave you!" "I don't care about your folds or your creases!" He wouldn't let me get a word in long enough to suggest that he could count his drawer, and I will wait there, as he does it. Every time I try to say something to him, he would just keep on yelling. "Take your twenty dollars!" "Don't come back here!" "Don't come back to my store anymore!" I said, "I don't need to come here." He started yelling at me again. A customer walked by me and stopped. I didn't even know there was anyone else in the store. Then, an employee walked over and looked shocked at what was going on. With the employee standing there, and the customer standing there, I felt like I had to explain myself all over again, so that way I can properly defend myself. So, I opened up my pocketbook, and proceeded to show all of its contents to the employee, and to anyone else that was looking. I repeated, "See, all of my bills are folded and creased." "That's how I put them into my pocketbook." He just kept on yelling at me. Finally, I said, "Do you have a mental illness, sir?" "You act like you have a mental illness." He just kept on yelling. "I don't care about your folds or your creases!" "I don't care if you want to call the cops!" "Don't come back here!" A little shell-shocked, I looked over at the employee in disbelief, scratched my head, and then turned around and walked out. read more