A Review of Pickwick Bookshop
8 South Broadway, Nyack, NY
There are no two used bookstores alike. Some are in big, rambling barns. Some are a bit gloomy and dusty. Some are neat as a pin and narrow as a galley kitchen. And some are a delightful mound of books that seem to be tumbling from every shelf in a magical state of disarray. Pickwick Bookshop is the latter, and I mean that in the best way imaginable.
This welcoming (bordering on adorable) shop is right in the heart of downtown Nyack, a beautiful and walkable town just north of and across the river from New York City. Through the colorful doorway and past the book-styled signage over the door you’ll find a waterfall of books, long and tall bookshelves, stacks of books rising from the floor and piled in little half-hidden nooks. Now it’s not all chaos. There’s a method to the madness here, with most of the books settled into general areas of fiction, a wide variety of nonfiction categories, and children’s fare in the rear of the shop, but there’s an element of chance to the browsing experience too. You get the feeling that you entered the shop to see if a book will jump out at you rather than going in with a specific book in mind.
With that in mind, take your time, scan the many layers of books all around. And if you feel overwhelmed, the man behind the counter seemed friendly and had struck up a conversation with several patrons during my browsing session. Maybe it’s the kind of shop you go to for a chat or insight as much as for a book. I wouldn’t be surprised. The minds of booksellers are often as eclectic and wide-reaching as their shops.
I only had a short visit, but if this shop were in my town I’d be stopping in with regular frequency to see what jumped out from the shelves. There was such a wide variety that you’d have to be really determined to NOT buy a book to leave here emptyhanded. Stop by when you’re in town. I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere — The entire shop looks like the strata of a mountainside cross-section, showing the layers built up over time, the books stacked and slotted into every available space. It’s fantastic.
Quality — The books range from older editions with some wear to brand new (or at least newish) releases in tip top shape.
Quantity — There’s a lot here. It’s pretty much one big room, but it’s a LOT.
Diversity — The shop has, gosh, practically everything. It’s hard to categorize when so much of it seems to meld from one to the other but there’s a lot to sort through here.
Affordability — There are signs all over for discounted books. Some looked like they were listed at the standard price on the book jacket, and others marked down. It’s a mix and seemed fair.
Amenities — This is all about the books.
Location — In downtown Nyack, walkable to a bunch of cafes, tea and candy shops, bars, galleries, etc.
Customer Service — The fellow behind the big island up front was chatting with a few folks and seemed friendly.
Overall — This is a bookshop you explore at a casual pace to see what you discover. You could find anything here. A classic in an edition you haven’t seen before. A manual you’ve been looking for. A brand new release just sitting there like a gift from above. You never know! You’ll have to go to find out.
