191 Bank Street, Burlington, VT
Phoenix Books is located one block from Burlington’s Church Street, a bustling downtown commercial center with the feel of an outdoor mall except filled with a mix of indie shops and major retailers. Among the many lively, unique shops is Phoenix, a spectacular bookstore filled with bestsellers, bargain books, art supplies, and something creative and literary for any browser.
295 Hamilton St, Albany, NY
A couple years back I wrote that Dove & Hudson, one of my favorite bookshops, was the only used bookshop in the city of Albany. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and it’s a shame I overlooked Urban Aftermath because this shop packs a mighty wallop and is one of the most interesting and unique bookshops in all of upstate New York.
29 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY
Woodstock might seem like it’s a quiet rural community, but in the summer and fall months it becomes a touristy hot-spot, especially in the Hudson Valley’s beautiful leaf-peeping season. And tucked away in the middle of busy cafes, music shops, antiquarians, and souvenir stores you’ll find a small literary oasis called the Golden Notebook. It may not have the size of other bookstores, but it has heart and an excellent selection of topical nonfiction, new releases, and counter-culture necessities.
607 Main Street, Hobart, NY
Every bookshop has a unique angle that sets it apart. Some focus on the regional or local aspects of their town, some are housed in rustic barns, others highlight dramatic playwrights and the theater. Creative Corner Books in Hobart has two such unique angles: one I was able to explore during my visit, and one I will be eager to investigate once their sister shop next door is open and ready for book hunters.
49 Exchange St, Portland, ME
Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookshop in Portland is one of a chain of bookstores located in towns and cities throughout the region, and this particular location is in the heart of the city’s Old Port neighborhood, surrounded by coffee shops, amazing restaurants, and trendy boutiques. I already visited other Sherman’s Bookshops and I hoped this one would stand up to the excellent reputation it earned elsewhere. Answer: yes, yes it does, as I discovered on a cool summer morning with a coffee in hand and a mask on my face.
115 W Green Street Lower, Ithaca, NY
It was a bright Saturday morning in downtown Ithaca when I opened my phone and typed what I usually do when I pass through any given town or city: “Bookstores Near Me” Ithaca, being a bright, vibrant college town, they had numerous options. The one I chose for this trip is a tucked away shop that not only surprised but delighted. Odyssey Bookstore may be on the small side but it makes up for it with gorgeous displays and back-lit bookshelves full of new and dynamic offerings.
698 Main Street, Hobart, NY
Hobart has taken on almost mythical qualities in the bookshop hunting and bookworm circles I know. I have heard tales of the little village tucked away in the western Catskills for years now, stories of streets full of bookshops, and the shop listings I found online seem to vary depending on the source. Are there only four or five shops? Seven or more? Even after my trip I can’t quite tell, but I can say this: there are a surprising number of bookshops in Hobart, and the shops cover a wide range of literary needs. Each one has something special and unique to set it apart, and Blenheim Hill Books was one of my favorites, probably because it reminded me of a couple other shops I love.
2710 Route 9, Hudson, NY (according to Google, but it’s really in Livingston, NY)
Finding this shop was as much of an adventure as exploring it, but once you’re there you’ll find shacks and barns and outbuildings full of books, art, and music, with plenty of rare and one-of-a-kind gems tucked into the eclectic mix. Keep an eye out for the signs though, as I passed it by twice in my search. But as soon as I parked on the grass I thought, “Goldmine!”
61 Route 296 & South Street, Windham, NY
Up in the Catskill Mountains tucked in among the ski resorts, hiking trails, and panoramic overlooks you’ll find Briars & Brambles Books in a small unassuming plaza in Windham. It may seem tucked away, but inside there’s plenty of personality, not to mention enough bestselling titles, new releases, and games to satisfy any bookworm or ski bum needing a break from the slopes.
48 Broadway, Tivoli, NY
I found this shop tucked away in the quiet village of Tivoli, maybe a twenty minute drive south of Hudson, NY, and when I say this shop was a pleasure to browse, I truly mean it. Half Moon has a sister shop over in Saugerties, and while that one is bustling and busy, this one has an art gallery vibe to it, the kind of bookshop equally suited to hosting an exhibition as often as a reading. But the most important aspects, the books and diversity, are still great draws no matter the space.
5 East Market Street, Red Hook, NY
Just a few doors down from the main intersection in Red Hook, a village near Bard College, you’ll find a small yet jam-packed bookshop that has much more depth and diversity than you may expect from a casual glance through the window. And within moments of walking in and browsing I began finding items I wanted to bring home.
6422 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck, NY
Located just a block or so north of Rhinebeck’s vibrant little downtown strip is a red brick building that is home to a much larger bookshop than I expected at first glance. Not only does Oblong have an impressive selection of new books, but they hit a lot of the key traits that I think makes up a perfect bookshop.
574 W Main Street, Cobleskill, NY
I love a secondhand bookshop that gets clever and playful with their organization methods, even if “organization” is a loose term for the shopkeeper, and Catnap Books plays into that loose and delightful brand of messily-organized very well. Among the piles and stacks of books on the floor, tables, shelves, and displays, you’ll see signs for Occult and Sexuality one over the other, or “Beat/Off Beat Lit and Poetry…Overflow on Floor,” and every corner of the shop had a little something unique like that that made me smile and made me happy we trekked out in the cold of winter to find this shop.
589 Congress St., Portland, ME
While other nearby bookshops were closed on a blustery Tuesday afternoon, Yes Books was there for us when we trudged through the snow and sleet to push through the doors and enter a world or precarious stacks, narrow aisles, and floor-to-ceiling books that kept going and going, a literary pack-rat’s dream shop.
17 Backstreet Landing, Damariscotta, ME
As noted in my review of the other bookshop in Damariscotta, this little town is the picture you form in your mind when you think of coastal Maine quaintness, complete with piers bustling with boats and trawlers, oyster shacks, gift shops, ice cream vendors, pubs, a department store with a lunch counter and soda jerk, and lobsters advertised everywhere you look. And, of course, amazing bookshops. While Sherman’s is the “new” bookshop in town, Skidompha is the other side of the coin, selling used books at fantastic prices.
225 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY
I have wanted to visit this bookshop for a long time, long before I heard it mentioned by John Hodgman on his Judge John Hodgman podcast (which I highly recommend), but it was Hodgman who finally compelled me to go. You see, I was buying a certain special someone a signed copy of his latest book, Medallion Status, for her birthday and he frequently signed personalized copies for this shop, so it was a fantastic excuse to not only order a couple of signed books, but to travel to NYC to finally visit the shop itself. In both cases, I was not disappointed.
145 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY
Out among the rolling hills and farms of eastern Rensselaer County is the small town of Hoosick Falls, and tucked behind a house on Main Street a few blocks from the brick storefronts of downtown you’ll find Red Well Books. You’ll know you’ve found it by the little red well on the front lawn, painted bright to catch your eye. It’s a relatively new shop, just a few years old as of late 2019, but there’s a nice enough selection inside to make you think it’s always been here and you just overlooked it, as I had until just this October.
874 Route 43, Stephentown, NY
Formerly known as Down in Denver Books, this revived and redesigned shop in Stephentown, NY is as lively as a used bookshop can be. Owner Louise and Orson the bookshop cat do their best to ensure booklovers have a good time browsing, whether they leave with an armload of books or just a great experience and a story to tell. If you’re heading out to find the shop, look for the bright red building on the side of the road way out on Route 43. It’ll be hard to miss, and you’ll be glad you stopped.
158 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME
This bookshop is located on the quaint-yet-bustling commercial strip alongside ice cream shops, a movie house, an oyster shack, a department store with a real soda-jerk counter, and assorted gift emporiums, not to mention one that specializes in ye olde candy and Moxie paraphernalia. But despite the many places one can wander through in town, this bookshop is a robust nexus of culture and commerce in Damariscotta, which is pronounced dama-riscotta, not damara-scotta; a handy pro tip given to me by many a local during my first visit many years ago. And as such a nexus, I cannot recommend it enough.
