Butala is a great place to pick up Indian handicrafts, books on yoga and Hinduism, prayer items, utensils, etc. I frequented their Manhattan location for years but recently discovered they had closed down that store permanently. My guess is the sales did not offset the high rents. It is likely that this Queens location might come under a similar pressure. It is a large store, well-stocked and clean. The service is friendly but I find their knowledge of the inventory is lacking. Their collection of books, especially the Amar Chitra Katha comic books that I was raised on, is quite unique. Unlike with a grocery store, this is an episodic business and customers visit the store infrequently. But if I am in the market for Indian merchandise, I will be sure to check out Butala. An excellent resource for New Yorkers, although I realize the Manhattan location was too good to be sustainable. read more

This very nice place, the customer service was excellent, very helpful, amazing selection of religious artifacts, statues, accessories books, I am so happy found this store! read more

i deeply deeply appreciate this harmonious environment. I come in to check in with Dr. Kumar. I've been in health care for 50 years, and find his unique, kind, wise counsel astounding, comforting, extremely helpful. I've seen people come here from around the world. We are most fortunate. Thanku so much Butala and Dr. Kumar. blessings, gratitude, community of humanity, joy. read more

Great service good people Store is I good condition with lots of merchandise from India it is one of the best location to go to if you need to buy most of your statues and other things that maybe needed .THe statues and pictures are very nice they have lots of various different things such as incense and a lot of things that are needed for puja nice pictures to hang on your wall and they also have wide selection of books on deites if one is intetested in perchasing that. read more

Butala have an excellent range of items in one place which make it easy if shopping for a Hindu/Jain religious ceremony or wedding. The disadvantage is the prices are high compared to London or India so if it's possible to order it from overseas that is a calculation if shipping costs etc make it worthwile. Dr Kumar who I think is called a herbalist Dr is extremely polite, very helpful and knowledgeable and it was my American friends who introduced me to him. The staff member I approached with a question was also helpful and polite, on a trip to Jackson Heights its good to drop into Butala as an oasis of calm amongst the hustle and bustle. read more

This is the ultimate store for all Indian specialty items. The stuff here would make for great gifts for all occasions and can even be passable for souvenirs for things you might have forgotten to buy in India. They've got a lot of interesting stuff here, all of which are too numerous to mention. It's probably best to call ahead here or simply buy it from their website. Some of the things that I found interesting were (in no particular order): * Books on Indian Culture (Not just the Kama Sutra!): There were books on Indian etiquette, religion, travel, cooking, and languages. Aside from popular languages like Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil, they had instructional books on Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Mathili, all of which are unlikely to be found in the nearest Barnes & Noble. * Religious artifacts galore: Only at a temple gift shop will one find so many statues of Siddhartha, Shiva, and Ganesh. On top of that there are posters of the Dasavatara and greeting cards for Hindu holidays. * Smells so good: There is quite a variety of scented oils and incense here. The herbal body oils are probably my favorite, too bad they're also probably the most expensive. * Mainstream fun: Books aren't the only reading materials around here, there are also newspapers and magazines detailing the latest happenings out east. There is a small selection of music here as well, but the genres are going to be traditional stuff like meditation and temple hymns. There is more music variety across the street at the Bollywood stores. Some of the stuff here is going to be spendy, but that comes with the territory of selling fairly distinct gifts. I'm told their inventory fluctuates with different items often due to seasonal changes in demand. The staff is pretty helpful and is good at explaining / educating non-savy folks on customs and items. When in Jackson Heights, do stop by this interesting store. read more

Butala Emporium - Outside - Bookstores Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

The customer service was awesome and they were helpful and they were very nice and responsive

Terrible. They try to scam you and get you to pay for "healing" services. Total scam. Man downstairs wouldn't let my boyfriend leave until he gave them some kind of money. NEVER returning. read more

The Yelp description says "Bookstores," but that is not totally accurate. Yes, Butala Emporium sells books, but it is also much more. Is it a religious store? Yes, you can buy Indian religious items here. You can also get incense (the place smells wonderfully of incense), music CDs (they also play some wonderful Indian music), Indian crockery, cricket gear (a very popular sport in India), and I even saw some cosmetics. Going back to the subject of books, if you are looking for a book on Indian philosophy, and Hinduism in particular, you should definitely check Butala Emporium out. I believe I also saw some cookbooks for Indian cuisine, but the books predominately deal with religion and philosophy. They also sell some Indian magazines. I am tempted to call Butala Emporium an "Indian General Store," but even that is not completely accurate. However, if you are interested in Indian philosophy, religion and culture, Butala Emporium is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Love this place. 1) Come here often to buy bangles for gifts. 2) They have everything relating to Indian culture and history. 3) I love the smell of incense. 4) Get place, come and visit. read more

You get anything related to pooja(prayers) here. Idols, books, incense or Indian crockery, you'll get everything and more. Quality is good but prices are also slightly on higher side but you won't mind paying for quality. You even get some sports stuff but only that Indians are crazy for like carom board and cricket :) read more

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Such a great store for people looking for Indian kitchen supplies, souvenirs, and incense. They have a fantastic selection of imported incense and they seem to focus a lot on Hindu religious products. Books and other items pertaining to Hinduism can be found, along with tons of books and dictionaries in English, Hindi, and most notably Punjabi. Another perk of this establishment is a selection of Ayurvedic medicines in the back of the store. Several herbal supplements, herbal teas, and balms and things are available and this place tends to be more reliable than the several Indian pharmacies in the area. Great place! read more

If you're into spirituality, religious items or just curious about Indian culture, then you have to pop into Butala. Why? I happened to stumble upon it on my last visit to Jackson Heights to meet with a few friends for some snacks and chai tea...and since I was early, I browsed at the neat Ganesh statues and thought, let's have a talk... Wow, lots of interesting items from jewelry (the cheapies stuff, $5, $10, etc.), wooden OM pendants, Rudrakasha necklaces, DVDs on spirituality and Indian culture, to books on and from every Indian GURU to photo prints, statues of the various Hindu Gods and Saints to a private section in the back with Indian herbs. If you like to read, you will enjoy perusing their book section...I must have spent 30 minutes looking through the selection before settling on about the various Indian GURUs. Hey, it's good to learn. The prices are very reasonable, but the books are not cheap...and you won't find them online at Amazon...seems they are printed in India and imported to USA. Still, a great shop, and you have to check it out for yourself! read more

Amazing selection of Hindu/Indian books, handicrafts, religious artifacts, Ayurvedic items, CDs, religious items/statues/accessories, and more. I could spend hours in here, but... ...the service (or lack thereof) and complete and utter disinterest is a huge turnoff. A lot of folks were working today but no one was greeting new customers as they walked in, nor did anyone ask if I (or any of the other customers) needed any help. All you get is long stares and associates following you around. I was downstairs and accidentally walked into the "employee only" area - which I had no idea about since it looks just like the rest of the store and there's no sign. An employee jumped out of nowhere and snapped that I was not to be there. I really was annoyed at this point and quipped "well maybe there should be a sign so customers won't do it". Said employee quipped back "sorry" and walked off. It's frustrating because I wonder how much business is lost, especially to non-Indians, because no one helps them navigate through the amazing selection. Another Yelper said it the best: the service is 3rd world minded and it's Jackson Heigts, after all - so don't expect much in the way of interpersonal savvy. Advice to anyone reading this: the 28th Avenue location is smaller but the service is much better. read more

This is the best place to get incense that I know of. Buying whole boxes of stick bundles is easy on the wallet, and they have a huge selection. They sell plenty of incense holders, as well as incense cones if you're looking for something that burns a little more quickly. I also have bought a couple of banners from here to decorate my bedroom. I know what the reviewer is talking about who mentioned the feeling of being followed. I get that it doesn't feel great to be followed down into the basement, but it's not like everything down there is a giant statue; there are some smaller things you could put in a large bag, and I think the employees don't intend to be imposing even though it feels that way because you don't get a friendly vibe from them. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because it's such a cool store otherwise. It's the perfect shop to take a first-time Jackson Heights visitor who wants a taste of Indian culture after you polish off a meal at one of the restaurants nearby. read more

Zero stars. Awful customer service. Have been here a few times over the past year and this was my last visit. Extremely rude and zero customer service here. No greeting, thank you or offers to help while you're browsing ever. Even after you purchase something there is zero interaction, smile or thank you. I will not be visiting this place again. (Jewelry also tarnishes after a week--beware) Go anywhere else on the block for these goods and I guarantee service MUCH much better than here. Horrible! read more

I love this place. If you really don't want to travel to the Indian section of midtown Manhattan, or to Jersey City, this is the next best thing. Actually I really do prefer this place. Lots of curios, religious items, CDs, bags, jewelry, you name it. The incense they sell is cheap! Haven't gone downstairs to check out the furniture yet. Every time I enter this shop, I always discover something new. This is one of my all time favorite stops in Jackson Heights. read more

A lot under one roof. These people have done their homework and have imported so much from india, that almost anything religious you are looking for, you will find it here. Not cheap, but it's available. Many things that unless you get it from india, you won't find it in NYC. Try their assortment of incense sticks. They even sell carom boards. read more

I agree with Alex, this is a neat place that my Indian friend introduced me to. There is a little of everything for just about everyone. I loved their selection of books. Bought a real cute jewelry box from there with a hot pink interior. If you are in the Jackson Heights area you must definitely stop by. read more

It's been few years I have been going to that store..I loved the store so much..I moved to Texas..even after coming back to newyork for few days I went to that store to buy some stuffs and I always told my family and friends to go to that store for natural hair and face products...but this time I was really disappointed by the cashier (a woman). I was asking for her suggestion for a product, first she ignored me as if she didn't notice me..let me mention there were no customer that time except us. And also when I was paying she talked back to me very rudely when I was asking her about up selling. I wanted to call the owner and she told me "go ahead nobody is gonna listen to you, they don't care"(in Hindi). I was really upset by her behavior. I just bought my stuff and left. Never going back to that store only because of that women's behavior. read more

I'm no shopaholic, except for in Jackson Heights and anywhere that art, culture & religious books are found. That said, this and the Rahul clothing store are my favorite shops in Jackson Heights. Walking into Butala Emporium, the first thing you notice is the smell of incense, and often it's been sandalwood, MY FAVORITE. Yes, there is much more than books, but I have eyes only for them. An hour can easily pass while I peruse the shelves seeking new volumes on Ayurveda, folktales, Sufi saints, English translations of different holy books...and I usually leave with at least three. Prices are reasonable because knowledge is priceless. read more

The owner Killol Butala & his staff are very helpful to search the item we require. They ordered for me one Ayurvedic medicine & a Gujarati magazine. read more

Neat store, a lot of Indian religious items like statues and figures. They have a bunch of Indian books and magazines. The store smells good because of the incense. Definitely check this place out. read more

Great selection of incense and religious items. Great range of gifts from cosmetics to keychains. Must stop in to checknout the Indian imported items. Very reasonable prices compared to other neighborhood shops. read more

I don't know of another place like this in NYC for Indian and Hindu products at a reasonable price. They have a great selection. I found everything I was looking for for a fire prayer. The gentleman working there was kind and very helpful, yet never pushy. read more

A truly magnificent store. I always stop in when I visit JH. Everything is very reasonably priced and the store smells of pleasant incense!

This is one of those ultimate Indian / South Asian stores where you find lots of religious stuffs like incense, statues, garlands, variety of powdered colors etc. There are also lots of magazines from India which you won't find in any of the newsstands. I go to this place usually when there is some big Hindu festivals going around to buy stuffs as a gift to take it to my friends place when they call me for some get togethers. The "Ganesha" statue at displayed in the window is awesome. read more

Cool store with a lot of religious products and copies of rapidex english speaking course( fellow Indians, laugh out loud)! The basement has heavy statues, chairs etc that cannot be shoplifted but an employee follows you around nevertheless. I wanted to buy a safi-a herbal yucky tonic but the place coolly charges $5 for a product labeled Rs 100 I think it was(2 dollar equivalent). I gave that a miss- my desi side emerged! read more