On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Bookstores, Coffee & Tea, Community Service/Non-Profit [Edit]
Neighborhood: SoHoDowntown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6, B, D, F, V)
Prince St (R, W)
Bowery (J, M)
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
"This is one of my favorite bookstores in the world. With three floors, 10 foot-high stacks and a seemingly endless number of books, I could…" read more »
Loading...
Was glad to see how well organized the selection was. Very helpful staff and even enjoyed the tea as well.
Very interesting crowd there, met a few nice people.
Perhaps my expectations were too high when going to to Housing Works Bookstore Cafe HWBC), which resulted in it getting a 2 versus the popular 5-star rating that it seems to be getting.
One reason for this may have been my purpose for going to HWBC: not to buy books, but to get a cup of coffee and do work. My coffee was fine- no better or worse, cheaper or more expensive than any other place... but the thing I didn't like that much was (1) if you are seated near the books, people looking at the books have to practically get on top of you to see the books, (2) there weren't any outlets that I could find for my laptop, and (3) there was no wireless. Now, I feel bad taking star-points away from a place that is more of a book store than a cafe, but again, I also feel a place with such a large seating/cafe area (although it fills up fast!) should have some of the benefits of a "typical" cafe.
Let's see. Gently used books, a coffee shop, possibly surfing the Internet, donating used books for a good cause.
I call it heaven.
It could be little crowded, but I can see it becoming a semi regular hangout.
I always loved this place as a personal hide-out. It's tucked away, off-the-beaten-path in SoHo and got the essentials: coffee, sweets, books, and occasional live music performances. Its atmosphere is cozy, thought-provoking, and friendly. Definitely worth checking out.
Great store, much better than I expected having seen the thrift stores. Nice spacious "private library" feel, well-organized books and sections, prices aren't unreasonable. Rare books are well displayed, and they're very amenable to letting you behind the counter for a closer look.
Great place to come read or purchase a book. Used book store with lots of character, from the flooring to the books on the shelf. Reminds you of small-town libraries from movies.
Always has a sales rack right by the entrance stacked with dollar books.
This is such a unique bookstore and cafe. It feels like a large version of someone's personal library, with the second floor of books and the creaky floors. The staff is friendly, and folky/poppy music is playing in the background. There's a quiet murmur of customers talking with their friends - or maybe reading a book to themselves. The clientele is a wide variety of punky, hipster, and trendy, and the book selections reflect this variety. My only gripe was when I ordered a tea at the cafe, one of the people behind the register really smelled of bad b.o. Sorry, I had to say it. It kind of put a damper on the cafe experience. However, I wouldn't let that prevent me from going to the bookstore and cafe again.
Do you........
a. hear used bookstore and think : marked up stained pages, torn and tattered novels that should be disinfected before handling?
b. hear the term "it's for charity" as a justification for sub-par offerings?
"these cookies are stale"
--"it's for charity"
" this concert is awful"
--" it's for charity"
"Dude, I'm not sleeping with you"
-- "it's for charity"
(huh?.. what?)
Drop the cynicism and leave your disillusionment at the door,
Housing Works Bookstore DOES NOT fit above description.
As an admitted Amazon fiend who anxiously awaits digital books to become affordable, I completely love this place. This is now my first stop when book shopping.
The condition of most of the books I've purchased here has been excellent. I would have no qualms gifting these. The few I've found to be torn and frayed have mostly been in $1 or $.50 rack, at that price how can you complain? Maybe it's my deteriorating old age but I really appreciate all the available seating. Instead of kneeling or leaning against wall, I can actually sit and peruse my potential purchases in comfort. Even pick up a cup of coffee while I'm at it.
For a used book store it's fairly well organized, yes I've found Raymond Chandler in both the mystery and literature sections but it's not the complete dishevelment of other used books stores I've been to. Since books are donated you may not find everything you're looking for but odds are good you'll find something interesting. For instance I've heard good things about Yukio Mishima, I may have passed on it for $12 but for $3.50 what have I got to lose? Experimenting with new genres or authors is easy when prices range from .50 to $7.50 or so.
Throwing out food and books was a big no-no in my family. End result there were always more books than bookshelf space. Now I can donate them to Housing Works, content that they won't end up in the trash. Convenient for me, and the sale helps someone in need.
Instead having to: buy a larger pants size, destroy your liver or arrange bail, overindulgence here is all about good. All profits go to charity, combating HIV and homelessness , so go ahead and spend a little extra, stretch your limit this time the indulgence has rewards.
Things that make me happy:
beer
oversized baked goods
free wi-fi
intimate concerts that make you feel fuzzy and special
warm mugs of drip coffee
charming spiral staircases
cheap books
aged book smell
buying for a good cause
HW Bookstore Cafe has all this and more! I'm just baffled I did not know about this place until Friday. No matter; like the time I found a wad of cash in an old winter coat, I'm grateful for the delayed discovery. (Thanks L. Q.!)
I thought this place was awesome. The coffee was great and I loved the atmosphere. I was looking for a place to stop in, relax and do some reading and this was the perfect spot. Only complaint was that most of the tables were filled, but I suppose the aim of any business is to do just that. The fact that the place is volunteer run and proceeds go to people living with HIV/AIDS is a great concept that I willing support. They also had some pretty interesting books that I came across that were very reasonably priced.
Housing Works bookstore has been on my bookmarks for sooo long and I'm glad I finally got to check it out! I was here a few nights ago to check out the Live from Home concert, where I watched mesmerized as Vienna Teng's fingers danced on the piano, heard Colarie Clement with her cute french accent and was blown away by Diane Birch's power. Amazingness.
I came back today to spend some time at the bookstore. They have a pretty cool collection and the prices are so reasonable! I could spend hours here.
Drink a cup of coffee, eat a chocolate brownie. Buy a book, donate a book. Browse interesting coffee table books or the internet. If you have more time on your hands, volunteer. Be good, do good.
I'm coming here again and again because I want to support this cause. They also have some pretty cool events through the week - check this place out, I'm tellin' ya.
I come here whenever I need a new book, but don't have a specific one in mind. On my last visit, I bought What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn, Adventures In The Skin Trade by Dylan Thomas, and Shopgirl by Steve Martin all for $17! The low prices make it pretty difficult to leave with just one. There are great deals to be had, especially within the Classics (Eyre, Vonnegut, Huxley) section. Literary banter, cheap books, helpful salespeople, the smell of baked goods, and free condoms on your way out...I could spend all afternoon in here!
In the words of Erasmus: "If I have a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes." It's good to know that my similar appetite for the written word won't put me in the poorhouse...and that the money I do spend is going to a very worthy cause. 5 stars all around!
You know how Oxygen Network always plays a chick flick on Saturday nights--something like "First Wives Club"--and calls it "Big Night In"??
Well, last night MY Big Night In involved reading. Whatever. I'm freely admitting it, but if I find myself in the same fate next Saturday night, someone please take me out and let me drink until I'm brave enough to sing a Leslie Gore song while wearing all white.
The point is: I was just picking up my terrific book when out fell a Housing Works bookmark.
If there's one thing I miss about working in SoHo, it's definitely having Housing Works so close by. When the weather was nice, I loved picking up a great, cheap find, and then reading it while I ate lunch. I've found some amazing treasures in this place, especially poetry books.
The staff is made up of friendly volunteers who are also extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I had a good laugh with a girl last summer when I was purchasing Tim O'Brien's _The Things They Carried_. "A delightful, summer read," we joked.
And of course, as everyone has rightfully pointed out, all proceeds go toward funding HIV/AIDS programs. Pretty hard to give them any less than 5 stars.
Great bookstore. Homey feeling with a touch of must...
The prices are great!!!!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll in ONE SUPER-HOT little book, super old-school, smells like an old book should smell. And it cost me 50 freakin' cents!
The staff is super nice. The records are super cheap. The books are super awesome. The deals are un-paralleled in this city. Strand no more! Housing works for life.
And mad love to Housing Works cause everything they make goes to a good cause. I LOVE THAT.
This place fulfills my humanity.
And they have great coffee.
My favorite place to do anything. It's the most perfect place in the world.
On my estate list, I…
Read more »
i heart you.....
.-"""""-. .-"""""-.
/ \ \ \
| BE / / ST |
\ FRI / / ENDS /
\ FOR \ \ EVER/
\ / / /
\ / / /
\ / / /
\ /
I like my alone time, especially with a book that pulls you in. When i wanted a good book, you were there for me. When i wanted to enjoy my coffee & tea with a good book, you were there for me. When i wanted a cold beer with a good book, you were there for me. I wish i could wrap you up and take you to SF so that we could grow old together. Then again, im a selfish bastard so i will continue to appreciate you from afar. *loooooong hug*
Housing Works Bookstore is a wonderful gem. It is a non-profit organization that donates to multiple charities. F*ck Borders and B&N. THIS is what a winning bookstore looks like, boys and girls.
This is a GREAT place for cheap books and free events.
I've been to their Tuesdays Comedy show for the first 3 times and it was great. FREE comedy event with NO obligation to purchase anything at all AND it was funny. Best thing is that this is a non-profit organization that helps the community by offering services for the homeless and for AIDS.
Most of their books are half priced the regular bookstore prices. Even though most of the books are donated items, many of the books are in very very good conditions. Apparently Housing Works also gets donations from publishers hence the brand new books lying around the bookstore.
Love isn't a strong enough word.
I've been working with Elihu at Housing Works on a custom order. They are so helpful with insanely reasonable prices. A bonus is they are insanely close to my office which makes it very easy to pick up a new used book or work on my computer during lunch. It's worth checking out. Plus as nearly everyone has said it's for charity.
If my friend didn't drag me out of Housing Works to eat Starfruit, I probably would have stayed here and slept. What I appreciate about a spacious bookstore with ample seating and friendly to the point of overzealous volunteers is that the place is an extension of an amazing organization that contributes to empowering those with HIV with health, housing and legal problems. The bookstore is a huge two story space with bookshelves lining both floors and a cafe in the back. The cafe offers coffee on top of latte options; I ordered a good soy latte here. It may be important to note that public bathrooms are offered here.
All in all, it is a destination worth traversing.
There are a lot of books at an affordable price. They even have special book days where you can get a nice % discount on books (no limitations I think). Completely run by volunteers, so be nice.
They have a coffee/snack bar with the typical teas, coffees, domestic beer, and cheap wine. They also serve heavier, filling foods like lasagna.
There are lots of tables w/chairs to sit at, even a few on the "second"/raised floor. Outlets on the walls by the windows. Wireless is pretty fast- password protected.
There are a couple single-person bathrooms and they're pretty big.
I definitely want to come back on my next trip to NYC and browse some more books.
My new favorite cafe! Great bookstore ambiance, nice little cafe, plenty of seating, reasonably good coffee, and for a good cause. I love it.
I love old bookstores! This one is everything I would expect and then, add...
- Free Wi-Fi
- Great coffee (and some good looking limited food selections)
- A great cause
- Volunteers working at the store (more power to you guys!!!)
We came here so we could continue to work remotely while enjoying New York City. It was a rainy day and a typical miserable NY early spring day. A pleasant surprise was discovering how close this is to the Metro station (Green line Number 6 train @Bleecker St) - so we did not get really really wet!
We got there before the store opened so we just ate our bagels from Ess-A Bagel (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) while waiting for the store to open. They opened on time, at 10 AM and we were not even the first to get in - this is one popular place!!!
This is a very charming bookstore and is a place I will definitely go back to and spend some time looking over the books. But this trip was primarily to hook up to wireless and check in on work back home!
So we found a table near electrical outlets (Praise the Lord!!!) and settled in with our coffee and tea for the next few hours.
Wireless was great - got the code from the staff easily on request. Good signal strength, good speeds - recommended for business activity.
Coffee refills are only $1 so that kept me going for a while till it was time to go.
Clean restrooms, great staff, good coffee, fantastic atmosphere. I can't wait to get back here!
5 stars for a perfect experience! I wish you all success in your cause to help AIDS victims.
# 68
This place is wonderful.
Pros:
1. Free wi-fi (ask for the password)
2. dark wood filled bookshelves, making my work experience feel warm and cozy and cultured somehow - wood floors and nice rugs add atmosphere as well.
3. Coffee is good. YUM. Doesn't make my tummy hurt like many coffees do.
4. Simple syrup for iced coffee!
5. Lots of tables and chairs to work at, both upstairs and down.
6. Speaking of - cool old-library-like upstairs that adds to the ambiance.
7. Books! I love books. And they have used recent titles for sale for cheap - sometimes on super sale - like "all paperbacks $4."
8. All the proceeds go to charity! So when I buy my coffee, really it's like I'm trading a donation to charity for a cup of yummy goodness. Doesn't get much better than that.
My only complaint? No bagels. I like that they have the knishes and all - don't get me wrong - but in the AM sometimes I want bagels. Often, actually. If there were bagels, this would be the best cafe ever.
Marry me, Housing Works.
Hold me in your armchairs, sweep me off my feet!
I'd dwell in perpetual pleasure amongst your weathered shelves of unusual vintage volumes, and well-loved scholarly anthologies, and barely-thumbed best-sellers. I'd sip your sweet Italian sodas and hot, homey drip coffee whilst learning things on the internets till the end of time.
If you liked this. . .
Stay away - it's mine! The lesser-known, rather lovely Ost Cafe in EVil would probably suit your mood.
(http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Went here on a whim-LOVE the selection and the low prices. The cheap coffee pleased my wallet. I also enjoy the charitable aspect of the bookstore, the relaxed atmosphere, and the friendly staff/volunteers.
Love the bathrooms, though there were weirdos on the line with one guy saying that he was jumping like a pony and pointing to innappropriate spots. I think he wanted to skip me on the line.
Love this place and the chill vibe. First weekend of the month there is a 30% discount on the already cheap books.
Bought the 2008 Zagat's San Francisco for an upcoming trip next month for $5.29. Anyone with must do's for food in S.F. please hit me up.
To be so close to Broadway yet be so calm is a unique phenomenon I'm sure. The vibe here is most likely softened by the sea of books that are within your reach if you so desire.
Free WiFi, pretty good coffee and snacks, a great place to people watch - what's not to like?
yelped for a decent coffee place on my way to the new museum. yelp i can't believe you got this wrong...
these guys have a great selection of books for an awesome price. i snagged "kitchen confidential" for a bangin $6.99. decent!!!
their coffee however, was mediocre. the coffee had a hint of bitterness and the steamed milk was flat, tsk tsk. their homemade pastries looked tasty tho, each individual piece large and unique like true homecooking. i got the raspberry shortbread, authentic and not cakey. i gotta try making these at home...
my advice: grab the am/village voice or a decent discount book, skip the coffee and order a beer instead, and take a pastry home to-go.
side note: on my way out i noticed wichcraft was right next door but i was already 30 minutes too late for their happy hour. happy hour is from 3 to 6. plan accordingly.
I spent a few hours in here the other night with laptop in tow and large tea in hand. For every thousand Barnes and Nobles with a Starbucks in it, there is maybe one place like Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. It's 100% volunteer run and all proceeds go to social support services like housing and health care for homeless and low income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.
The entire space is super cozy. There's a good amount of seating and when it gets crowded, strangers with laptops just double up at tables. Free wifi with any cafe purchase. The tea they serve is Tazo brand. They have a small cafe menu with coffee drinks, baked goods, soups and sandwiches.
I love the spiral stairs on either side of the bookstore that take you up to the second floor. All books are used so the prices are right. There are random racks of $0.50, $1 and $3 books - you'll never know what deals you'll find.
I'm looking for a new organization to volunteer for and I think I may have found it at Housing Works.
Many of the things I love in life - books, records, coffee, philanthropy- all in one place & even across from Puck Fair.
I would like to spend more time here.
Comfortable and at ease. I feel like I can spend hours here.
I picked up Dickens' "American Notes and Pictures from Italy" on my first visit. I can't wait to see what I find next.
Imagine being surrounded by old books, friendly volunteers, and warmth from the snowy New York streets. The coffee is great, the wi-fi is free, and the atmosphere is as cozy as it gets.
My friend and I stayed there for literally almost 4 hours, working on our computers, reading the papers, and finding some treasures amongst the hundreds of cheap books there. What a great, cute, little place where people are nice and no one tries to kick you out!
Now every time I need a good cup of coffee, a brownie, and just some alone time, I'm coming HERE!
Great bookstore with space in the cafe to spread out and enjoy an afternoon of reading. Nice people, good prices, tasty coffee, well-organized, fun display ideas, good use of their extra space for community events. And the money I spend goes to a truly worthwhile cause.
Oh yeah, and the woman who works the cafe on Monday nights is a heartbreaker.
It doesn't get any better than Housing Works, and this place will be number one on my forthcoming, unfortunately short list of Places In New York Where You Can Buy Coffee, Sit Down In A Chair, And Read A Book. An added bonus is the wireless, which is free if you buy something from the cafe.
The volunteers are sweet, there are a lot of brand-new bestsellers on the shelves at discount prices, and it's such a beautiful space that I'm willing to overlook the few flaws, such as the inconsistent quality of the cafe food. There are also always a lot of cool events going on here - particularly the spelling bees and The Moth StorySlams. I love Housing Works so much I almost want to get engaged, just to have an excuse to get married here.
I volunteered here over the summer and I can't say anything bad about this place. The books sold here are, cheap, cheap, cheap!
I love the decor inside, which makes you feel like you stumbled into a wonderland of books.
The workers here are friendly and the people who come in are unobtrusive.
This place is easy to get to, considering I live near the B train.
HousingWorks bookstore book prices trump Strand. The atmosphere here is a lot less hectic as well, even though it's right around the corner from Broadway.
This place is wonderful. My parents were Housing Works volunteers long before the bookstore opened so I've been really familiar with the organization as a whole since I was a tyke, but as soon as the bookstore was developed I was all over that.
It's cozy.
It's ALL volunteer run and they do a damned good job of it. I've heard things about baristas being hit or miss, but I can understand that. And in all fairness even in other cafes there are some very hit or miss baristas, and they're being paid. I mean fuck, I was a barista in a restaurant and I was probably hit or miss. The coffee is pretty good here, though that's all I've had.
Book selection is all over the place, which is a good thing. I've found old astrology books, photography anthologies, poetry, travel guides, you name it. Prices are awesome.
I'm a huge supporter of their cause so I guess my affiliation with the nonprofit makes me extra biased, but I've taken people here who aren't even readers and they end up wanting to stay longer than I do.
Also, I met Ethan Hawke and Anderson Cooper here, truth.
i used to hang out and mooch off WI-FI here.
it's a great cause. they're an everything shop. bookstore, thrift shop, general safe sex awareness homeless helping joint, cafe, free WI-FI provider, NYC condoms distributor, occasional open air fair host, on and on. large dark bookcases that harken back to the old times with not-so-old hipstery figures pondering at their macbooks with pencils in their mouths.
good stuff. go!
This is a great [used] book store and coffee shop that I loved to go to during my lunch breaks. Nothing like kicking back with a good book and the fact that it all goes towards a good cause is the icing on the cake.
Side rave: I managed to pick up a good number of philosophy books here.
Very cool bookstore/cafe, and the proceeds go toward a good cause. Free wifi and plenty of seating. Good place to park with a book or laptop for a few hours.
WiFi and 10% Student Discount!
Neighborhood: East Village
15% off
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Neighborhood: Nolita
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
My list of favorite places that afford a soothing…
So, this list used to be called West Side Wi-Fi,…
Instructions: Lather yourself in these fabulous…
These are some of the places I went to during the…
People have been brewing coffee since the…
Free wifi is elusive in NYC, but when you find it…
Best places to go when you're on a tight financial…
Place to which I tend to gravitate. Yes, they're…
