Second hand bookshop recommendations in NYC

Hi all,

I'll be on a trip to New York next week and I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on nice secondhand bookshops where I could find some FS books (and maybe Suntup and others). Or just some great bookshops to visit.

It may not be the best, but you must visit the Strand as it is the biggest and usually has lots of Folio Society books. Rare books are on the top floor (from meory) if you want something more exotic.

>2 wcarter: thanks for the recommendation. I see that there is "The Strand" in upper west side and "Strand Book Store" close to Union park. Which one do you refer to?

>3 David_Mauduit:
828 Broadway at 12th Street

Assuming you are looking for places in Manhattan. A couple of thoughts/suggestions:

In the Greenwich Village/East Village Area:

1. Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway, New York, NY
(Broadway and East 12th St.)
If you are visiting just one used bookstore, this is the one. I believe it is the largest bookstore in NYC. Almost went out of business during Covid but NY’ers lined up to buy books to save it. Folio can be anywhere but are grouped on the first floor towards the back.

2. Mercer Street Books & Records
206 Mercer Street, New York, NY
An easy walk from the Strand (a little bit more than ½ mile or 1km south of the Strand). Much smaller but worth poking around in if you are in the neighborhood.

If you want to have a true NY experience, consider a few detours. Just a bit southeast of the Strand is McSorley’s Old Ale House. A true dive bar, they serve only their own ale, “light” or “dark.” Be prepared – if you order one beer they will give you two mugs (but each only holds ½ pint). If “NY Pizza” is your thing, consider John’s of Bleeker Street (just a few blocks west of Mercer Street Books). One of the few pizza places in NYC with a coal burning oven. The basic pizza is a little bland but good. If you want to kick it up, order some sausage (which is very good IMO) or consider the Piccante Pie.

On The Upper West Side:

3. Westsider Rare & Used Books
2246 Broadway (between 80th & 81st Streets)
Close to the Museum of Natural History if you are so inclined.

Midtown East, Upscale Rare and Antiquarian Bookstores:

4. Argosy Book Store
116 E 59th St, New York, NY (between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue)
Featured in the 2019 documentary “The Booksellers,” the Argosy is an old-school place for first edition and antiquarian book hunters. Not a place to find a bargain.

5. Bauman Rare Books
535 Madison Avenue (between 54th and 55th Streets)
Another old school, upscale store, about ½ mile from Argosy

>5 Redshirt: thanks for the recommendations and the great tips. I will definitely try to pass by those places if I'm in the neighborhood.

>6 David_Mauduit:

If you want a literary connection to McSorleys, the writing in this book paints a beautiful portrait of the Ale House (and many other things).

https://www.amazon.com/McSorleys-Wonderful-Saloon-Joseph-Mitchell/dp/0375421025

>5 Redshirt: That's my favorite bar in NYC. Never had a bad time there and occasionally will meet some friendly characters when sharing a table. I love their saltine, onion, cheese and spicy mustard which goes down lovely with their beer. One of my favorite places in New England.

The Strand indeed ... 828 Broadway

I go there once a year when i visit the city at christmas. Great store ... bring your big wallet if you go to the third floor. But expect fun things for sure! And yes ... lots of FS and EP to choose from.

On a sidenote to respond/add to >5 Redshirt: ...

Same area ... 93 MacDougal St (Village) ... best pizza ... Denino's pizza. The traditional margherita pie is fantastic ... their sauce is brilliant ... not too sweet, not too tart. And their meatballs are rather stunning too.

The surprise that I would have never ordered but only because of someones recommendation ... order the clam pie. Sounds ... ehhhh ... but is honestly something you will return to every time you are in the city. They are kinda know for it. And Joe and the son Joe are super nice guys.

And if you want traditional coal oven pizza ... head to brooklyn and grab some Grimaldi's pizza. They used to be my favorite spot until i found Denino's.

Back to topic ... enjoy the Strand ... lol

Pete's Tavern is also walking distance from Strand's, which is where O.Henry wrote Gift of the Magi in the early 1900's. Good food and drink as well.

>5 Redshirt: If you go to the Argosy look as tweedy and well-monied as you can, else they will look straight through you as if you’re not even there no matter how much money is in your pocket.

I was there the first week of September, when that place was a hot inferno. I passed by Strand Bookstore. Those high and narrow raws of bookshelves are quite impressive and overwhelming. There was a few FS but nothing very interesting except for a Cyrano de Bergerac at $30 but it makes no sense for me to buy a French book in English. The 3rd floor with rare books was unfortunately closed.
I did not leave the US empty handed though. I bought a hardback copy of Parable of the Sower published by Seven Stories Press. The design is nice, with sewn binding, and from a NY publisher so that makes a nice souvenir. I bought it at McNally Jackson Books at Rockefeller Center, a great shop.

>7 dtholloway28: McSorley's! I haven't been there in ages, as I don't get to that neighborhood often. But I remember going there in 1978 or '79 (the legal drinking age was 18 then) with some college friends. I think they invited me just because McSorley's had only begun allowing women less than a decade earlier. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McSorley%27s_Old_Ale_House#Opened_to_women)