On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: East VillageAstor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Loading...
This is a great book store with an inviting vibe, a knowledgeable staff and a great selection of magazine, literary journals, fiction and art. I like looking at the staff picks and the other book ideas up in the front.
However, I really would like it if this place had a little area in which readers could kind of chill, relax, spread out, sit, READ... you know, all those things you feel inspired to do at a book store.
I know the place is small so they really only have space for those tiny little squat stools close to the ground but it would just be nicer if there were chairs and stuff.
All in all, great book store, and you can find the book you want and then get out of there and probably sit in one of the many tea/coffee/cafe/bars in the neighborhood and read there.
I really like this bookstore, but it might be because I bought my first copy of Neuromancer here.
Its a classic example of what a tiny alt-book store can be as long as they don't get crushed by Amazon/Borders/Barnes and Nobles.
They also do a really awesome thing, where if you self publish, you can bring your stuff here and they sell for a small fee.
I popped in here first waiting for a friend to go into Angel's Share. I walked in expecting--from the name and signage--a upper east side-like bookstore or tourist trap. No such thing and I've been back many times since.
This is a thinking (wo)man's bookstore. It has an amazing travel section, a real selection of literary journals, wide variety of fiction, and amazed me with the Bordiou book where the cashier junk-pile (i.e. the "Big Book of Dad's" and "Oprah's Quotes") would normally be.
Open late with a chill vibe, it's in a terrific location on the corner of 3rd and Stuyvesant with books priced as good or better than the megastores.
I will never go back here again.
Transcript of my most recent experience with the customer service:
me: "Hi, can I speak with a manager please?"
manager: "Who are you?" (Apparently, at St Marks Bookshop, this is code for "Hi, I'm a manager, how can I help you?")
me: "I came in here a while ago and asked an employee for a
recommendation. I said I recently read a book by James Crumley that I liked, so he recommended Charles Willeford. I bought three of his books, started one of them, and realized that actually, it wasn't for me".
(This was an understatement. In fact, Charles Willeford was so actively unreadable that I had to conclude that anyone who recommends him could only be doing so out of sheer and abject spite.)
me: "So here are the books I was recommended, as well as the original receipt, and I was wondering if I could get store credit for at least the two books I didn't even open, which are still in perfect condition."
manager: "We only accept exchanges within 30 days of purchase."
me: "Oh shoot, I missed the 30-day window because I was in the middle of moving, and only just unpacked the box these were in. Could you make an exception, seeing as how I still have the receipt, and they're in perfect condition? You could easily turn around and sell them again. Not to mention I bought these books based on a recommendation of one of your employees, and am utterly puzzled as to what led him to believe I would enjoy them."
(Crumley is to Willeford as Bookers is to Bud Light.)
manager: "We really can't do that. Our policy is strict, otherwise we get customers trying to take advantage of us and return things after they read them."
me: "But just because 30 days have passed doesn't mean a book has been read. For instance, these two are clearly in the same condition as the books sitting on your shelves. In this case it seems your policy is allowing the store to take advantage of the customer, not the other way around."
manager: "Listen, it's not my fault you bought crap [sic!]. Take them to a used bookstore or something."
End transcript.
Aren't situations like this what's supposed to set local bookshops apart from the likes of Borders and Amazon?
I have an idea, why don't you assume your customers want to *support* your business, and treat them accordingly? It's called a feedback loop. Treat your customers well and they'll like you. Treat them with distrust and they'll shop somewhere else.
Which is exactly what I'm going to do.
This shop does have some nice books on culture/film/music, but the staff do leave something to be desired. They are somewhat supercilious and condescending and most noticeably racist. All of these states of mind don't tally well with the books they sell, it seems they would be better off working as police or some other government job where these 'attributes' would be put to 'use'.
As mentioned the books are a nice selection, so buyer beware of whom you give your money to.
This is a cool little corner bookstore that feels more soulful and poetic than cute and quaint. Books climb high on every wall, and the relatively small space is partitioned well enough for you to hide away and browse for hours. There isn't really anywhere to sit, unless you score one of the stepping stools and don't mind looking like a bit of a bum/asshole perching on it not that I ever do that because that would make me a bum/asshole and I'm not even if I occasionally perch on stepping stools with books I don't plan to buy. Staff isn't particularly friendly - they have beards and look like they'd be into angsty political non-fiction bestsellers - but they aren't mean and generally stay out of the way.
My big complaint about this place is that there's no kind of rewards or membership program, so you end up paying full retail where you could easily get discounts at Barnes or Borders. Thankfully, browsing is free entertainment.
I adore this place. It's my favorite bookstore to browse (the Strand is a bit unmanageable in this respect), and no one yells at you for perching on one of the stepping stools. Granted, there're no comfy couches, but this isn't Borders, which is all the better.
The featured books are often a mix of pop bestsellers and quirky selections. There's a large selection of magazines, indie publications, design books, and graphic novels (the literary kind, not the comic-book kind), and the table just inside the door has the perfect arrangement of all these to be perused when you walk inside.
Tip: They often manage to have copies of books autographed by the authors for sale, which is a great touch for an independent bookstore.
Yes please. This is a Boston quality bookstore-- while they don't have tons of books, everything is quality including an amazing selection of literary journals (and unlike most bookstores which have really old lit mags, these are all current), an extensive fiction collection, and some very interesting and edgy academic books. Also appreciate their late hours, their pleasant staff (unlike, say, The Strand), and the relaxed vibe.
A well-located spot to meet friends in the East Village (especially if one of them is running late, because you'll never get bored with all this reading material).
Their displays include a few best-sellers (like Yates's Revolutionary Road and Obama's books). But most of the displays showcase "indie" literature, books about music and musicians (from classical to punk bios), and nonfiction about political and social issues. They stock signed copies of many books about New York and by New York authors.
Their magazine racks are unabashedly leftist, with titles like the International Socialist Review and Internationalist Perspective (a Marxist journal). There's also a small collection of punk-ish postcards and local zines in the back.
It's open till midnight.
I always wonder how such a small bookstore can provide me with some inspiration. Whenever I go inside, I just feel uplifted and want to jump into something exotic. Last time with was a book about Buddhaism. I also love their collection of independent authors that they place at the front of the store. Each one has a very unique story to them and are very well written. Also they tend to have the local feel to it since a lot of those books deal with urban issues.
If you are looking for something specific, you might not find it here because it is a small place. But if you are just unsure of what you want to read, then this place will help you decide your next move.
This is a great place to visit and is open late. They also have a great selection of art books.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT STORES BEFORE THE CORPORATIONS TAKE OVER EVERYTHING.
I like the location, they have more outlandish books. I sometimes go here and see homeless people sleeping in here. It could use a bathroom like Barnes and Noble, but I understand why they don't (homeless abuse).
I love you. I love book stores but I particularly love you. Mostly because it had all the books for Dennis Cooper's George Miles Cycle that Shakespeare & Co. didn't have. Who is Dennis Cooper, you may ask? Exactly. Any indie or less-known or cult author works you could probably find here. As well as more main stream stuff, Nabokov and Capote among some of the other writers whose books I have purchased here. They always have really fun selections of big photo books in the front, and I can just kill so much time here.
The staff is laid back too, and the books are pretty well organized. I've never had a problem finding something.
Hands-down, my favorite independently owned bookstore. No, It doesn't have cafe treats or big, overstuffed couches, but they have an awesome selection. Every time I've gone there looking for something that would be "available for online purchase only" at B&N, they've had it. Great art books, a pretty extensive poetry section considering the size of the store, well chosen fiction and non-fiction, and a great little display of literary magazines and the like. Super cool staff too, they're really friendly and helpful. Even if you don't feel like buying anything, it's definitely worth popping into St. Mark's just to browse.
Though St. Mark's Bookshop doesn't appear as formidable from the outside as other NYC bookstores I might name, once you begin browsing the shelves, you can easily lose a great deal of time.
You can go to Barnes & Noble for convenience (if you must), to Strand to wow out-of-towners and pick up bargains, but St. Mark's has gems the others do not. Granted, not everyone will be interested in literary journals or post-colonial themed posters, but I know there's always a new and enticing find there every time I visit.
St. Mark's employees are knowledgeable (unlike many B&N booksellers) without being smug (sorry, Strand). St. Mark's also gets points for its expansive cultural criticism section.
If you expect bookstores to offer a recliner and mini-cafe, there are other stores that will better suit you. If you want to peruse books that will make you feel cultured and intelligent, this is the bookstore for you.
We came to the neighborhood looking for a takoyaki place and passed by this bookstore.
It was a pleasure to browse through their amazing selection of books.
Unlike generic Borders and B&N, St Marks carries a wide variety, lots of art books and specialty magazines.
Yay for books!
I remember one of the first times I came to NY, I was terribly scared and lost with a dead cell phone and no money to speak of since I lost my ATM card. That sucked...a lot. But as I wandered the streets trying to figure out a plan, I happened upon this bookstore and decided to go in. In it I found a little hope. The smell of the books, seeing people reading and throwing a small smile my way and it dawned on me that ya know what, I will be okay here. Look at how many other writers in these bound pages were probably just as scared or clueless about what their next step would be and they still got through it.
And so I toughened up, found some quick friends and got myself back in order. Of course this all happened over the course of 48 hours, but for a chick from the LA Valley, that is some scurry stuff!! Anyhoo, I came in here yesterday just to see if it still had the same charm and open arms and sure enough, it totally did and it definitely put a smile on my face again.
It's a great indie bookstore and you should most certainly support it!
You will find gems of books, priced accordingly.
I love browsing here, though I feel a little bit dumber as I realize how many things I have not yet read. They have a good selection of academicky books here, really interesting periodicals, and fun postcards, etc. To top it off the place is clean, organized, and friendly.
One day I will work up the gumption to buy one of those books that I will very obviously read at a hipster coffeeshop and the librarian-chic hottie with the too-red lipstick will fall in love with me. Because I will appear erudite. On the day that I must stoop so low for love, I will give back the star that I docked for the prices and slightly pretentious crowd.
I usually prefer mildew-infused used bookstores, but St. Marks has become a delightful exception. This place exudes good taste. Too many books to survey in a single visit; few enough to feel effectual. Those with leftist intellectual sensibilities should consider St. Marks as a site for pilgrimage.
I was drawn to the six(?) shelves of cultural theory, and there I remained for about two hours. What a selection! The substantial architecture and art collections were intriguing, but I couldn't tear myself away from cultural theory.
After enduring 18 miles of books at the nearby strand, my bf and I discovered this little spot after dinner. We cursed our selves for wasting our money at strand - st marks bookshop might be 50X smaller, but it's a thousand times more charming!
Most of the books we got at the other place we found here anyway. The books are all good, and some really unique finds. They have all the books you go in looking for. No need to weed through 15 miles of crap. And the person working there was friendly, and helpful! I will definitely come back here!
St. Marks is a very accessible and edgy bookstore. its great place to browse through a few things. The Strand is bigger but has a wider range of appeal in terms of books. St. Marks is for people hungry on the the topics like religion and philosophy. If your guy is a bit nerdy but cool, he probably has already been here. Yes, there are a lot of men shopping here, this might be a great place to buy a guy something. For me it is another bookstore to spend my time in and get entertained and informed. I can't wait to go back sometime soon. Everything is well organized and ready for you. The staff is not bad.
I love indie booksellers, and this and the Strand (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) top the list. While the Strand is great for exploration or hanging out to read or for a wider selection of rare books, St. Marks Bookshop is when you're itching for something good but not looking for anything in particular. The edited selection makes it easier to hone in on subject area and provides a greater likelihood of finding something (because sometimes, it really is a numbers game).
It's a cozy shop. They have a great selection of literature, philosophy, theory, and pop culture books (in addition to many others). It doesn't have the biggest selection for 'practical' and boring books (i.e. tax strategies, business, coding, careers, the latest warren buffet, etc). The staff is knowledgeable. Despite the space, I occasionally find myself perched on a stool reading more pages than I intend in a book I find.
Great place for fun books!
i don't go to NYU. this little fact alone should have made me wary of St Marks bookshop....since the surrounding area is infested with NYU freshman wandering about in their hipster hats and converse high tops. However, upon entering the store i was immersed in ceiling-high rows of eclectic art books and cultural reads. I forgot where i was and spent an hour wandering and half-reading everything i could.
This is one of the things I love about the city--a little independent store like this could never make do in the suburban jungle of B&N and Borders. Go buy something to support it--I guarantee you'll like what you get.
PS - no judgment towards the hipsters or NYU students. I can't pull it off, and quite frankly I'm jealous i'm not in college any more :)
I really should be giving St. Mark's 5 stars in terms of their selection of books. What do I love selection-wise:
Their vast and varied poetry selection...if you can't find it here, chances are that you won't find it most anywhere else in NY.
Their high end literary fiction: only the best fiction is gonna make it onto their shelves.
An endlessly fascinating art section...I bought a terrific Walker Evans book here after it had been sold out everywhere else, including Amazon.
So, why the 4 stars...it's stupid, but I can't stand the lighting and the fixtures...I always feel a little industrial there and I am a traditionalist in regards to bookstore atmospheres.
I've discovered a few design / art-related mags here for the first time -- that's reason enough for a review. Nice atmosphere that reminds me of the Brookline Booksmith for any of those out there familiar with Boston / Brookline area.
This place is nice and has lots of books.. the price of course varies per book ... Went there with a friend he was able to find the book that he was looking for as for me i just browsed around and had a good time doing that, the store is nice and relaxing there is no pressure to buy and no one is jumping down your throat....Over all if you are in the area stop buy and see what they have for you....
When I can't find what I'm looking for at the Strand (which is rare, but hey, it happens) I usually head a few blocks over to the St. Marks Bookshop. It's small, but they have a nice selection of books at fair prices. The employees are cool and helpful; you can tell they are book nerds, which (being one of them) I can appreciate. It's fun to browse here too, everything is artsy and classic at the same time.
Just absolute heaven. There's a great table in the back with good hardcovers for around $10. Excellent selection of magazines, good poetry section, decent amount of literary magazines (harder and harder to find since the magazine stand on 6th Ave shut their doors)...great art and photography books. It's a selective store, has a cool p.o.v.- you will always find great things in there. And then you can eat at the upstairs Japanese place that rocks. What a great day.
I love this place. It's just large enough to find great things, especially cult favorites. Blame it on this place for my vast and eclectic collection of old books in my apartment... ones that I've hardly read.
Walking by, I always thought this place was going to be a cavernous, multi-tiered affair. It is not. It is, however, my new favorite place when I'm looking for a specific book and The Strand doesn't have a copy. That's been happening a lot lately. Strand, what's going on?
I have to give St. Mark's a constellation of stars for always having the book I need, but the full prices you pay here definitely knock it down one. Even at the Strand they give significant discounts off the cover price for some new books--wish they did that here too. But hey, as long as they keep stocking books I want and need, and my old Strandby can't supply, I'll be at St. Mark's forking over my hard-earned bills.
Such a great bookshop! I love this place and I could spend hours upon hours browsing the shelves. The "sale" section in the back of the store has such great deals on some obscure stuff. We walked out of here spending less then $20 on some sale items.
After being sorely disappointed by The Strand (I come from the land of Green Apple and Powell's), I was resigned to perusing the tinier and picked over bookstores of New York. Until I wandered into St. Marks, where I could have spent days. The layout is intriguing, the selection is just incredible and thoughtfully curated. We're talking books that are difficult to find on even (gulp) Amazon. I can't wait to return and hole up in here for hours.
I love books! I usually hit Sunrise Mart next door for my snack fixes so when St. Marks Bookstore caught my eye, I thought Astor Place would be my new heaven.
I stepped in and not more than five seconds in the door, I realized I didn't belong. The bulk of my library is manga so that's usually the first but not last thing I look for. As I scanned the shelves, I realized that maybe this is a used bookstore or maybe a academic bookstore.
I'm a very casual person who likes books I can mull through easily although. My reading level is high so occassionally I'll pick up a psychology or medical textbook just for my reading pleasure.
I couldn't find anything that I knew I could sit and skim through, I might give this place a chance next time I visit but for now? I'll drag my casual butt over to Borders or Book-Off for my book cravings.
Despite the seemingly suburban exterior (fabricated brick facade, entrance set back from the street), St Marks Bookshop does a good job of reflecting the local character and providing a place to spend a couple of hours browsing. The strong points in their collection (of the things that I read) are the arts, literature and periodicals, with the common thread being local/independent publishers. Even in categories where they do not have many books such as philosophy and science, the titles they do carry are fairly representative of what most people would want to read, in addition to more scholarly works.
The in-store music is above average (power pop to noise to hard bop), and the store is clean to the point of seeming almost Barnes and Noblesque. Open until midnight most (maybe all) nights, so you can presumably peruse Kierkegaard after having visited the "3 shots of anything for $7" bar next door.
One of the better bookstores around.
Honestly the only thing that brings it past 'good' and into "Heck Yes!" territory is their amazing selection, especially in the area of theory, politics, and academic stuff. Basically if you're looking for something you can't find at other ordinary bookstores because it's just too obscure and intellectual, it's probably here.
We're talking about a whole section on "Critical Theory". That's how serious this place is.
Because they stock so much academic inventory, their prices tend to be high. However, this is just sort of the way it is with small university and academic presses. If you know you'll only sell 2000 copies of "Class, Power, and the State in Capitalist Society", you kind of have to price accordingly, innit? What it boils down to is that it's not St. Marks' fault they sell expensive books.
When I fall asleep and I dream of angels and gorilla babies and being a writer who isn't a hack, I also dream that I live in this bookstore and get everything for free.
I'm a bookstore snob. I've always shopped at B&N and always will. But sometimes, I cheat on B&N with St. Marks Bookshop. Shhh... Don't tell Barnesie ok??
St. Mark's has the best in non-mainstream. I found a very rare book by my favorite Japanese author at this bookshop. I almost screamed with excitement.
I just wish this place was bigger but nonetheless, it's a fantastic book store for all you worms out there. :P
I love spending an hour or two at this shop whenever I'm in this neighborhood. The selection is quite wide even though this is NOT a megastore but rather a specialty bookshop, the neighborhood is fun, and you're left alone to wander and browse without being hassled. Clean, attractive displays, helpful staff, great selection, what is there not to love?
If you're a booklover, this is a must-stop.
I love this amazing amazing bookstore.. They have the most interesting and eclectic inventory that I've seen in one spot ever.
The art book section alone would make this place a destination, but they bring the win by being masters of all available universes.. Sociology? Yep!, Architecture? Got it covered!, Fiction? Hellz yes!, Film? Check!, Design? Ditto!, Porn? Not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had some primo stuff behind the counter.
The magazine section is nothing to sneeze at either, with a wide variety of US and Foreign magazines covering, Fashion, Art, Literature, and other subjects.. I've seen scholarly journals and Italian Vogue.
I say check it out, and good luck not buying loads..
Extra points given for being close to several great Japanese pubs that make excellent places to sit down and look at the books you just bought..
Love this place for great collection of art books + running into friends!
http://www.jeeyunlee.com
I am a proud anarchist. I am also a writer and an obsessive reader. Considering these two things, I could live in St. Mark's Bookstore!
Either because of the people who own it and work in it, or because of its location and target market (or both), St. Mark's Bookstore is the best in town when it comes to books about politics, socio-economics, critical studies of religion, feminism, anarchism and other radical subjects. Most of the time I can go in there with no idea of what book I want to buy, and walk out with a bag full of amazing books.
The staff is great too, very helpful and knowledgeable about the books they carry. A lot of times when I check out, the clerk tells me what he or she thought of the book I'm buying, or gives me suggestions as to what else I might like.
Biggest Ever Online sale
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
15% off
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights
Category: Bookstores
So, all these years of laboratory-maze TV diners…
I love NYC. I especially love these places in…
You will be bamboozled by strangers in these…
Who can afford a therapist, anyway? (Items on this…
I have a weakness for books. Libraries,…
Here's where I hang out when I'm not at work. Oh,…
