This is another piece of my past that time has not changed. This was a monthly, if not bi-weekly,…read morestop for me with my kids, and we all walked out with armloads of books without breaking the bank. Zoom ahead twenty-five years... I took Writer Friend here since we are still in the process of expanding our libraries (it's an eternal work in progress!) She had never been here, and only knew of it when I had mentioned it in a conversation. We drove up and I parked, and she was wondering about the area, and if there was really a bookstore here. Yes, there was, and I lead her into one of the most eclectic book experiences hidden in an old factory ever. There's a bizarre method to the madness to how the books are shelved. Ron, the owner, has a very deep sense of humor that many people won't get or appreciate (for example, bibles are filed on the "Mystical" shelves, alongside books on ESP, demons, and UFOs). You may come across a book may be seemingly out of place on a shelf, but, with further reflection, it turns out to be the perfect place (a book on politics filed on the comedy shelf). Be aware, open-minded, and keep your sense of humor activated! It's really hard to describe the vibe from the place. Old bookshelves, milk crate and board shelving, tables, old boxes all contain books. They are in somewhat separated into categories, but keep the caveat above in mind. Step carefully, and don't ignore seemingly uninteresting piles of books--there are diamonds hidden within the chaff. So, in the main rooms, Writer Friend found the shelves she was most interested right inside the door--paranormal and erotica (her two genera). I headed right over to fiction, and, lo and behold! immediately found the third volume of a trilogy I started reading in the 1990's, but could never get the last book. That, in itself, made the trip worthwhile. I also found several other books in series that I had not read, and my pile of purchases started to grow. Her pile, added to mine, started to tower up, and we hadn't gone through a fraction of the store. While I was looking around, Ron mentioned casually he hadn't seen me for a while, and asked how my daughter was. Apparently, she frequents the place with her kids, and he remembered both of us--me after twenty years! Very unexpected, and quite nice. Anyway, Writer Friend asked about books on writing. Ron steered us to another room, and there was a large shelf with many tomes like we were looking for. Our pile grew bigger. This room also contained CDs, none of which had any interest for me. I left her in this room and went back into the main area and started to pour through the racks of vinyl records--most in very good condition. I would have dropped a lot of cash on albums if I still owned a turntable. I also made the acquaintance of one of the guys who worked there, who is an aspiring writer himself. We gave him some advice and had a nice little conversation about the theory of writing. He was a good student, and the interaction was a great diversion from the business of buying books. Ron also invited us to peruse a special collection of books, hidden in another room. Many books on esoteric subjects (which is what she was looking for), some rare collectables, and a few other books that one would not normally find in a used bookstore. Writer Friend found a few things she wanted, and now, our tower was ready to topple over. In the end, we got out in under two hours, for under $50, and needed a box to carry everything out to the car. This was one of the most enjoyable afternoons I had spent in a while, and while I want to go back, I may not do so immediately--I want to wait for a while for the stock to change. If you love books (and you need to if you even think about venturing into here), this is as close to the perfect bookstore as you can find.

Just a bunch of crap, seemingly totally uncurated. That is until you reach the front desk and find…read moreit is indeed curated as there is a wealth of Trump memorabilia. Pass. Edit: Also I will say we came to see a bookstore and what we found was just a few shelves of random books, a poor selection both in number of books as well as content. Drove 20 minutes to get here and was massively disappointed. So, to also see the aggressive Trump support was just the icing on the cake to know this place isn't worth your time. Skip it.

Weirdo Wonderland is a haven for all things nostalgic and spooky. My partner and I make sure to…read morevisit at least once a month to check out their stock. I would say my apartment is almost fully furnished by them (if only they sold furniture lol!) Truly one of my favorite shops to visit in the whole state. The staff is always very friendly and their items are reasonably priced. They also host pop-up events a few times a year which offers a great opportunity for local vendors and artists to get some exposure. Can't wait for my next visit!

One afternoon, my wife, son and I were taking a stroll through the center of Milford near the town…read moregreen. On a telephone pole, I saw what looked like an advertisement for a carnival, but it was for a new store called Weirdo Wonderland. It said it was a store dedicated to all things strange and unusual. I've been obsessed with horror and sci-fi films my whole life, so it sounded like it was right up my alley. I eventually popped in on a Saturday afternoon. I was stunned when I walked in. Lots and lots of horror and sci-fi collectibles. Tons of old movie posters and art prints. Various props, masks, old toys, plastic model kits, comics, and even old issues of "Famous Monsters of Filmland". The owner was very personable too. I'll definitely be popping in again to check out their collection of creepy chachkies.

I love Written Words…read more In addition to books, there's something for everyone there, including book, knitting, and puzzle clubs. (My fave is the Walk and Talk Book Club; we read a short story during the week and discuss it in Saturday morning while walking along the Housatonic River.) There are also movie nights and a group for foodies. If the owner doesn't have a title you want, she'll order it for you cheerfully and usually have it to you within the week. Bonus: The store adjoins a really neat independent coffee shop!

I love little local bookstores and this one is no different. I wandered in and was greeted by…read moreDorothy, who is very friendly and helpful! It's a small book store, but she has a great selection of new and used books. I loved that she had some best sellers but also some classics I had forgotten about or never got to read! The used books were cheap and I found a few for a steal. She also told me she does special orders for customers if there is a book that she does not have in the store. Can't wait to go back for more!!

What a fun store! It is PACKED with books, floor to ceiling. The staff person was friendly and…read morehelpful while being unobtrusive. Why pay full price when you can find your next read here for way less than retail‍?

Penny's Bookshelf is a book lover's dream. I brought in a few paperbacks I've had at home since…read morereading. While you look through the store, the owner determines your store credit and can place the determined credit towards your book purchases that day. My 3 books brought in $10 in credit and I paid $19 for the 4 books pictured. I can bring the books back for credit when I'm finished reading. It's a great value and continuously saves books for the next reader! Also, check their Facebook to place a hold on books!

Very cute little bookstore. Books are free - just donate something. It is not closed contrary to…read morewhat Yelp says.

Open mic Saturdays. Music improv last Monday of the month. Great intimate book store. Uncanny and…read morecommunal space. Kind creative people.

A very small bookshop in rural Woodbury, CT. Couldn't pass by w/o taking a look, but the Sci-Fi…read moreFantasy section was so minuscule, it only took a minute to see that there was nothing there that interested me. Honestly, I've found selections of used books in church basements. That's my report, "Hidden Gem" it is not.

I had a fantastic experience when I visited this store on a Saturday. The two people working there…read morewere incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The prices are very reasonable, and the selection is surprisingly extensive for a small secondhand bookstore. I highly recommend stopping by the Book Cellar in Woodbury, CT--you never know what treasures you'll find!

A charming little shop in my neighborhood that I just found the other day! It's a brand new store…read more(opened in December 2021) and I'm so happy Stratford finally has an independent bookstore! Great selection of new and used books, offering diverse titles and authors! Wonderful relaxed atmosphere with a super friendly owner! Definitely worth a visit!!!!

Such a huge fan of Gilmore Girls! So had to stop by the…read morebookstore that inspired the series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's "Stars Hollow Books"!! Loved the section dedicated to the Gilmore girls!

Based off the bookstore in StarsHallow. They have a designated small section to Gilmore girls and…read morewill give you a QR code you can scan or a paper copy of all the little places from the show to to look at

Better selection of books than music. Good prices though. And they had a 40% off sale going. Things…read moreare nicely arranged and easy to look through. Didn't buy anything so I didn't get a chance to experience the service.

Thanks to Yelp I found this little gem. When I travel, I've added local bookstores to my places to…read morevisit. I loved this little quaint store. Slightly disorganized, with books, DVDs, and CDs here and there, I absolutely loved it. And what amazing prices!!!! They had a little bit of everything, including both paperback and hardback. Many of the hardbacks were only $1!!!! Considering you're going to pay $20-$30 for a new one, that's a heck of a steal. I managed to get 7 books for $16. I would have bought more but had to buy a bag just to get all of these home as it was. Support local!

I walked in and I was immediately greeted by a dog. I told the owner, who was holding a book club…read moremeeting, that I was happy about that because I had seen a picture of the dog while researching the store and I figured that the dog wouldn't be there anymore because it was a three year old picture. They all laughed. After that, I took a cursory look at the fiction section. Then I wanted to look at the nonfiction section, which was next to the book club. I observed them for a minute out of curiosity. The novel they were discussing seemed interesting. I then spent a good five or ten minutes skimming through a book I found interesting and looking up information about it online when the owner walked up to me and asked me to go to the other side of the store because she thought I was eavesdropping and worried it might make the others uncomfortable. I apologized and sat down in a chair for about half an hour while I waited for the meeting to end so that I could browse that section again, but I eventually had to leave because I ran out of time and needed to be elsewhere. The book selection looked good from a distance. Wish I could have checked it out. At least I got to pet a dog, though.

Possible Futures is a bright, colorful, quirky bookstore in a little corner of edgewood. I came…read morehere for an album-release event hosted by my friends which Lauren, the owner, graciously supported. Walking around the store, I perused through all of the carefully curated book selection from culturally-savvy children's books to invigorating reads on advocacy and change-making. The store's environment is one of warmth which invites you in for a friendly cup of tea or one of their many events like a mahjong night I'm looking forward to attending. Once you make it, you'll want to stay and have a convo with the many regulars who swear by the magic of this store . Everything about this place embodies acceptance and welcome. Possible Futures is my new favorite bookstore in New Haven and I cannot recommend a place more. Bonus: Lookout for Sugar, the bookstore puppers!