A quirky little spot in Rochester! I love when coffee shops and bookstores are in conjunction with…read moreeach other. A variety of pastries, food, and beverages, as well as local Vermont merchandise. Lots of fun little things to look at inside. Good service, good coffee. Nice place! Check it out if you're passing through.

Charm: 6 stars. Comestibles: 3 stars…read more We took the "back way" home from VT this winter break, a strategy that avoided interstate traffic, but also occasionally situated us behind slow-moving tractors and trucks on one-lane country roads. Overall, we enjoyed the way's meandering charm, especially when we stumbled upon places like Sandy's Books and Bakery in Rochester, VT (which made me immediately think of you, Mercedes). Per the headline, Sandy's is a used bookstore with original, classic, 1960's and 70's era finds from Agatha Chrystie, Isaac Asimov, etc... newer books about foraging, mysticism, and other fun things; locally made candles, soaps, walking sticks, crocheted hats; and locally made food products in / adjoining the cafe. There are numerous rooms on two floors where you can take your time to slow down and enjoy a book. (Fiction, science fiction, horror and mystery are upstairs!) Cafe tables are set up in many of these semi-private reading rooms so you can enjoy a coffee or pastry alongside a good read. Places like this make me swoon and had we not been on the clock, I would've loved to browse for hours and hours. The setup certainly invites that, as do the friendly local patrons. Sadly, we had to peel our children away from smelling each and every homemade soap and candle, and from trying to fence with the beautiful, polished, natural wood walking sticks (pickaxes, our 8 year old called them), and get our food order to go so we could make our an appointment (for race ski sharpening ) in time. What we tried: - Broccoli and potato quiche, made with a gluten free tortilla crust -- delicious and homemade, with tender, custardy egg -- but undersalted by our standards and made with very little cheese. The eggs had an interesting and unexpected faint whiff of vanilla. - Roasted carrot and lentil soup -- soup made with small green lentils was conceptually great, but overly sweet and served with what could've been a wonderful bread roll, but one that was microwaved and inedibly rubbery as a result. We would've enjoyed diced carrots that had been cut smaller than these 2" slices, but that's a preference. - Apple cider donuts -- I'm sure these would've been amazing fresh out of the fryer, but sadly, these spheroids (not rings) of fried dough were dense, oily, and well past peak freshness (two or three days old?) on our Friday morning visit. - Morning glory muffin -- moist, not overly sweet, very good - Cafe au lait -- you're told to fill a mug with pre-made coffee from the dispenser and to come to the counter for the steamed / frothed milk, which was unexpected for me. The coffee on our visit was watery. Baked goods (including cookies of all sorts), looked so lavish and amazing that I'd come again to try other items, but really, it's the overall experience that charms. Food and drink may not be the winning components, but perhaps I don't mind when a bookstore is so darn welcoming and charming. Bookmarking for a return visit.

Eclectic selection, (or, is that selectic ecletion?)- just kidding..All sorts of literary…read moretreasures-I love the smell of old books! Harry Saul, the proprietor of Pleasant Street Books is a font of knowledge, very qualified to help you and just a heck of a nice guy. He is also a fine Jazz pianist and augments the book shop experience with regular concerts! A cool stop on your happy journey- Happy Trails, Woody C. RI

One of the best used bookstores in New England. I popped in last week and was overwhelmed with the…read morequality of the books, fair prices, as well as the owner's knowledge. Both friendly and highly intelligent, Sonny (proprietor) was welcoming from the moment I walked in and answered any questions I had. There are not many bookshops like Pleasant Street Books left in New England. If you love books and /or the spirit of supporting a local business, stop in the store if you are the area. For bibliophiles, Pleasant Street Books is a must see.

The staff was excellent. They were extremely busy for Black Friday. I only visit about once a…read moreyear, but I am never disappointed. They have a pretty wide range of selections. My only desire would be for a little more comprehensive history section. I know they already have a Vermont section, but a bit more robust choices in the two would really set them apart. Saying all that, I've never left empty handed. Prices are about standard for the market

Hey hey Adventurers! I found this on one of my excursions into the surrounding towns and I'm so…read moreglad I did. The staff were friendly, everything was very organized and had a pretty good selection of books. If you want a non-chain bookstore I'd recommend this place. It also sits in the middle of a bunch of different food places within walking distance.

Lovely bookstore with a diverse selection, and the workers there are so nice- highly recommend!read more

Small but mighty bookstore! Great Vermont authors section! The staff was so friendly, and the store…read morehas a literary quote of the day, and if you can guess the book and author, you get 10% off your highest price item! It was very exciting to immediately recognize the quote (it was from a Jane Austen novel). This is a must visit if you are in Ludlow, VT!

This bookstore is the quintessential quaint little New England book shop. From the moment when you…read morewalk in, you feel nestled in the arms of a trillion glorious volumes...on shelves, in stacks, and in bins...from the floor to the ceiling. The aroma of old print seduces you to the back of the store, where you are greeted by well-worn chairs surrounded by stacks of volumes just begging you to peer inside. So complete is the enchantment of this shop that you are removed from time and space until all that is left is you, the sacred words and bindings, and a feeling of comfort and contentment. Moreover, the woman and her young son who run it are delightful, cheerful, and helpful. Her son and my young daughter wandered the stacks together, engrossed in conversations about their pacifiers, dolls, and other things that those who do not speak their toddler language cannot hope to understand. For anyone who loves books, new or old, on any topic, and who loves the quiet peace that haunts every nook and cranny of Vermont, this bookstore is a must-visit. Wander in, run your hands down the rows of worn bindings, sit and dive into the pages, and purchase a few unforgettable editions for your home library. You won't be disappointed! I, for one, will be returning often to enjoy the ambiance and to explore the multitudinous titles.

This bookstore is a hidden gem that everyone should frequent. I first wandered in, bored on a…read moreSaturday and ended up spending three and a half hours inside browsing. It has an insane collection of modern, out-of-print, and rare books. I bought 7 books on my first time through spending less than $30. I've been back time and time again. ADDITIONALLY, if you need help finding a rare or out-of-print book, the owner was amazing in contacting the Vermont Antiquarian bookseller network and tracking down the book I needed extremely quickly. This shop is one of my favorite parts of Middlebury.

Excellent prices and selection. Not as many science and math, but plenty in other areas of…read moreinterest. Knowledgeable and helpful staff pointed us in the right direction.

I drove by here early in the day. I was heading North and knew Id be passing back by on my way…read moreback South. When I passed by in the morning it wasn't open, but even then there were books outside just calling out to be perused. So upon my return, some 7 hours later, I stopped in. Easy parking out front. It's huge. Books for days. These are used books, and many are in great shape, and priced accordingly. This isn't the cheapest used bookstore I've come across, but I think it's the most extensive. I wasn't looking for anything specific so didn't ask for anything. But I spent time in the cookbook and travel book sections. Huge. So many to choose from. Many decades of choices, including recent, especially important in the travel book section. I found the pricing a little higher than I expected, but I picked up some books anyway. Used bookstores keep books relevant and out of landfills both. Gotta love that.

Cute lil book store on Main Street! They had a great selection of different genres! I picked up a…read morefew thrillers that I had been looking for and some puzzle game books that I hadn't ever seen before. The service was fine. The ladies running the counter are nice and leave you to look on your own, but they're there if you need them. They claim to be a new and used bookstore. I didn't see any used books mixed into where I was looking, which meant all prices were normal for a new bookstore. Overall a wonderful visit and a great local bookstore!

when i first added this store to my itinerary, i was expecting a typical new and used bookstore…read morelike i would find locally. what i found was much more- zines, stickers, and other gifts were found amongst interesting titles i hadn't seen before. my friend found a book that he couldn't find anywhere else in print, and i picked up a couple zines that spoke to me. i would surely come here again if i'm in the area!

Northshire Bookstore is a bookworm's paradise! There's…read moresomething for everyone - fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, romance, biography, cooking, banned books - you name it, they've got it! They have a section of used books for a lower price along with a cafe. They even sell records. There's a full section of greeting cards, stationary, planners, notebooks etc. Plus a small section with Vermont touristy/souvenirs. What's not to love?! I left buying 4 books for myself and one as a gift.

This is the best bookstore I have ever visited! You are literally immersed inside a world of books…read more There are multiple floors fully stocked with every book you can imagine. They also have a cafe. I did not get a chance to visit it since I was happily overwhelmed by all the books. The third floor has the children's section which has colorful decorations, as well as cards, trinkets, journals, and vinyls for sale. Northshire has friendly employees who were very helpful. I am pleased to report they have a large used book section on the second floor. I will definitely be visiting this charming place more often!

An absolutely fabulous store. I came for my second ukelele (bought the first one here and was very…read morehappy with the quality and choices). The owner is very knowledgeable and helpful, the instrument selection is first-rate. So many other things of interest here -- books, games, puzzles, musical instruments, art supplies, toys. A "museum of cool things you just have to have!"

Lots of pleasant surprises here, in both contents and prices - too much to pore over in one visit…read more Will definitely be back, though it's a little off one of my beaten paths.