McNally Jackson now has a new location in Soho about 6 blocks west of the old store.

McNally Jackson is another fabulous independent bookstore in NYC. I love this bookstore! And the musician Beck loves it too! When I find 2 books that I want I immediately go to the cash and pay! Sometimes that only takes about 15 minutes. I need to restrain myself when I'm here. Their selection of poetry, literature, art books and nonfiction books is amazing. As well they sell books about New York City, chapbooks and much more. They also have a very busy café and the food and café lattes are really good. They are situated next to Soho and just above Little Italy. If you love books this store is highly recommended. And if you love to support local businesses like I do. . .

McNally Jackson - 134 Prince Street near West Broadway

Mercer Street Books has been in business for 25 years! It's a mostly used and rare bookstore though they do carry some new books as well. They carry books in just about every genre and apparently all the clerks are writers as well. So they know something about books! They buy and sell and they carry vinyl records as well. 

So it's a bit of chaotic mess. But most of the books are in sections that make sense. I have found books there they I don't see in other bookstores and their collection is impressive. They are located next to the NYU campus and just next to Soho. They are in an area that is going through much gentrification. I do hope that they will be there for another 25 years!

Mercer Street Books, 206 Mercer Street

Westsider Books is a real gem. This is the kind of bookstore that you enter to discover books that you didn’t know about or stumble upon a book that you forgot about and wanted to read,

It’s rather small, but the books line the walls from floor to ceiling and it has a kind of magical feel to any book lover who enters. I love to just let my mind wander across all the titles and authors. It’s a real one-of-a-kind and definitely worth the trip uptown.

They opened in 1980 and they sell rare & used books. Their website is a little wonky so I haven’t included it here. They also have a location at 233 West 72nd Street which I haven’t been to yet.

Westsider Books - 2246 Broadway, near 81st Street - 212 362 0706

Yes, I do love real books and good bookstores. McNally Jackson is perhaps my favorite bookstore in New York City. I typically go to the location in Soho. But if you happen to find yourself in Williamsburg it is definitely worth it. Every person who works at McNally Jackson knows books and they tend to specialize in different kinds of topics. The selection of books in the areas of poetry, literature, arts, general nonfiction to name a few areas always fascinates me.

McNally Jackson 76 N. 4th Street, Williamsburg

Yes, I do love bookstores and Spoonbill & Sugartown Bookseller certainly fits this category. Their location is small but their collection is highly curated. They also sell select magazines and paper goods as well as a few secondhand books.

I asked a salesperson about books on a particular topic and she was able to help me find what I was looking for. They are an indie business and they've been in business since 1999.

"If you happen to walk through the doors, you might find the book you’re looking for. But if your mind and eyes remain open you’ll be subject to the phenomenon of “bookshop serendipity”, where anything can happen. We offer second-hand, rare as well as new books on Contemporary Art, Literature, Philosophy and various Design fields – but we also hand-pick thousands of good books of all stripes every month to try and satisfy print-lovers from all over the world."

Spoonbill & Sugartown Bookseller, 218 Bedford Avenue near North 5th Street

East Village Books is an old style secondhand bookstore. They buy and sell and claim they pay the best price for used books. They've been in business since 1994 and that's saying a lot for a little bookstore in this city! There is a method to the madness if you look closely. Oh the things you can find when you take the time! If you're in the East Village do check it out!

East Village Books, 99 St. Mark's Place.

Update - At the moment, the bookstore/café is closed. It seems hopeful that they will reopen when the pandemic slows down.

I regularly visit the Housing Works Bookstore Café. They sell secondhand books which are donated by people who care! "Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts." So by shopping and donating to Housing Works you are also giving to those in need! I often find books to buy there and it certainly feels good doing so!

Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby Street.

Codex Books opened in January 2018 and they have a nice collection of literature and art books. They sell both new and gently used books and host book events. It is a very small bookstore and their inventory is highly curated. There is a cafe next door and there's an entrance to it through Codex. But they are two separate businesses. At the moment of this writing, directly across the street is the large street art mural of Debbie Harry and Blondie. They're open 7 days 10:00am-10:00pm.

Codex Books - 1 Bleecker Street near Bowery

192 Books is a small but fabulous bookstore in the Chelsea Gallery District. Their selection of books is curated with care. I always find a few books that I really want there. They have a great selection of art & photography books as well as literature in translation. They also have regular events with famous authors in discussion and exhibits as well. Do check them out!

192 Books - 192 10th Avenue near 21st Street.