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The Community Bookstore
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
212 Court StBrooklyn, NY 11231
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
(718) 834-9494
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (F, G)
Borough Hall (4, 5)
Carroll St (F, G)
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
18 reviews for The Community Bookstore
18 reviews in English
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Review from Sharon C.
12/11/2011
Community Bookstore is like a book-hoarder's storage unit. It's a cramped, disorganized, poorly-lit, unheated space. On a 40-degree fall evening, with the door kept open to the street, it was so cold indoors that I really needed my gloves but in order to turn the pages of books I had to take them off and freeze. The cold seeped through the soles of my shoes from the frigid floor. Still, I spent over an hour in there satisfying my curiosity, not wanting to leave before I'd seen everything.
There's barely room for one person (fuggedabout two!) to move through the aisles without knocking over something. Hand-written signs tacked haphazardly suggest what topic might (or might not) be found there. You can't go into this store with any other expectation than to browse. On the surface of the piles there are multiple copies of insanely popular recent hits such as the Twilight series or the Da Vinci Code. You must excavate. Books are shelved in double rows: pull out the front to see what's behind. The eccentric owner has no mysterious encyclopedic knowledge of his inventory, or any database to refer to. He's aloof but willing to try to answer questions. He hangs out and smokes between customer check-outs. He seems to be without any clear guideline on pricing except that "new" books are all 20% off retail.
If you're the kind of person who enjoys the time spent on the hunt, you will love Community Bookstore. Here are my finds:
* A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
* The Pearl Diver by Jeff Talarigo
* How the Other Half Lives (Including the Author's Photographs) by Jacob Riis
* Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan
* Brooklyn Botanic Garden Auxiliary Cookbook -
Review from Lili K.
7/12/2011
Pretty solid bookstore. My friend got "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" for $1, and I got another chick lit book for $2. I also saw Emily Giffin's (author of "Something Borrowed") book here in pretty brand new condition, and he said it's just 50% off. Better than ordering from anywhere else!
This place is a bit of a mess, but I did see a ton of popular bestsellers, etc. It's sort of disorganized with books all over the place, but I didn't find it too hard to find books.
Surprisingly, they do take credit card here. I wouldn't have expected that, but they do. Word. -
Review from Astrid V.
Brooklyn, NY
11/23/2010
Whenever I walk by this place, I feel compelled to look through the boxes of $1 books. It's a ritual of mine.
I've only been inside one time. It was a charming, dusty mess. I prefer browsing outside.
Also, this store has the oddest business hours: 3 pm to 11 pm last time I checked. -
Review from Martha V.
New York, NY
12/21/2007 ROTD 12/7/2008
AS THE YELP TURNS, Episode 6:
I am such a creature of habit. And today was no exception.
My walk home from CVS usually includes most of the following stops:
1. Pass by Lemongrass Grill and feel disdain for those seen eating there.
2. Read the headlines of all three major newspapers outside of the 24-hr deli (I don't like to watch the news and I'd hate to miss out on something important, like Osama Bin-Laden finally being captured or Britney shaving her head again).
3. Read the Flavors of the Day on the Tasti-D-Lite chalkboard parked on the sidewalk.
4. Look in the window at Teddy for a few minutes to ponder how much everything really costs wholesale and wonder if I can find it priced better online.
5. Stop in Staubitz Meat Market and buy some ground or sliced turkey while being ogled by the butchers.
6. Visit The Community Bookstore.
Some habits are born out of circumstances and some are born out of your family's mode de vie. My father used to always take to me to bookstores with him as a kid, and I've been drawn to them ever since. The Community Bookstore is special though. You half expect to find a doorway to Narnia behind some decrepit shelf in this place. An A-type personality's nightmare, this store is one huge, organized-disorderedly shrine to all types of written word. I love it here.
Most books are used, though some are new. Whenever I feel lost and lacking direction in some way, I have always had luck with the right book finding me here. There is no place to sit, so it's hard to stay long. A quick 5-10 minute perusal will do. And there's nothing like the possibility of a long, lonely night ahead of you to make you think about sitting at home with a good book ("Either that or having a nice bottle of wine!," said the L.V. "You are not helping," I told her).
The owner was there, trying to stay in the background, not making much conversation, as usual. Smoking a cigarette outside from time to time. He is older, but not yet old. And I seem to recall hearing that his wife is from France. Also, that she is confined to a wheelchair. ("How romantic," said the Little Voice,"he sticks by her throughout the years. Maybe we'll find someone like that for us one day, you know?", "Not at this rate, baby." I answer, and I grimly look at all of the Alice Walker titles on one of the top shelves.) I couldn't reach those if I tried. Heck, I couldn't even get a guy to text message me back today to make plans, so much for Prince Charming-dreams and Han Solo-aspirations.
("You're no fun," said the L.V., "I'm sorry," I replied, "Maybe this Deepak Chopra book will help me figure things out later," I said, as I flipped through the pages. "Oh brother," said the L.V., "Check your phone again, maybe there's a message."
"Yeah right," I say, "I would have felt it vibrate in my pocket if that was the case.") But regardless, I pull out my phone to see if I'm wrong. The little envelope that's all lit up and staring back at me is telling me that I am.Listed in: My Neighborhood, AS THE YELP TURNS
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Review from Sienna K.
Philadelphia, PA
12/19/2007 2 photos
You know those stories of people finding the original manuscript of some 19th century writer for dirt cheap? Yeah, if someone told me that it happened at the Community Bookstore, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
It's pure foraging madness in the store. There's some semblence of classification, but it's really more of a dive-in chaos. And that's what's so awful and so charming about the place. If you're looking for a specific title, do yourself a HUGE favor and stay away from this place. If you're looking for something, but you just don't know what, come on in (with a hard hat on).
I went inside because I'm a sucker for independent bookstores. It was a little intimidating at first (OK, a lot). And some of the books look like they carry ebola, but once you get over thtat it's really fun just going through.
I got a comic book that I didn't need, but now adore and a cheap copy of Nabokov for under $10. I'm not quite sure, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if the owner makes up the price at the register. The comic book had a price scribbled on it, but for the paperback, he just haphazardly punched in something. Kinda scary, and kinda charming.
Lastly, I'm glad to hear that the owner is back. I went two days before he left, and we had a conversation about France. I don't recall much, but I remember him being very sweet.Listed in: Independent Bookstores (and…
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Review from JK L.
Manhattan, NY
6/22/2011
Wonderful place, reminiscent of old book stores from the 80s. I miss the days when used books were nickel or a dime, sometimes a quarter. I remember getting the complete unabridged works of Shakespeare for $25. In a hard cover.
While the prices are modern, 3-5 dollars a book, there selection is quite good. This means that they seem to have just about everything, from dry academic type books to buffy the vampire slayer. Just make sure you are not in a hurry to get anywhere, because this store requires browsing, wading through stacks, and a healthy dose of bug spray. We were enjoying a lazy Sunday, and spent a couple of hours perusing the stacks.
I like that they have old books but also the latest fiction as well. Give it a try. And if you have old books on your shelf that you never read, donate, and get store credit. I wish they had a place like this in Manhattan too. -
Review from Katie B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/27/2008
Walking in this store is like walking inside John Malkovich's mind.
It must be the same as the inside of the owner's head: dusty, confusing, quirky, dark, organized with a schizophrenic's logic, et c. This man has crazy Einstein hair and was walking around muttering to himself under his breath. Sang a song, too, called "I don't want to work today." Granted, it was the day after Christmas. Maybe Santa dosed him with LSD? I liked it especially when he started smoking a cigarette inside the doorway of the store. This guy is hardcore and awesome. He does not give a fuck.
That said, the store itself:
There are bins with books of unrelated subject matter thrown together (the sign says All Books - $1. This may or may not be true when you go to pay the man). Their new books are almost the same price as at Barnes and Noble, but they aren't peddled to you by corporate devils, so it's cool.
Overall, It's fun if you've got time to dig and like the treasure-hunt vibe - I found some cool old-timey hardcover books (Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates!) and they've got some sweet old postcards and pamphlets if you're into that, which I am. I would not be surprised to learn that David Bowie lives somewhere behind the wall (in a 'pull a book off the shelf and the wall slides away to reveal his labyrinthine palace' type maneuver)
Go here, get books, lose your mind, fight the power.Listed in: Ballin' on a Budget
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Review from Heath R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2006
The shop's been closed while the owner's away been on vacation for the last month or so, so I've been unable to check out this ramshackle used store until today. The free box on the front stoop is always worth peeking into, and when I saw that it was open today, I just had to go in.
This bookstore is a labyrinth of books, a maze, and a rat's nest, all rolled into one. The smell of mildew is quite strong, and bookshelves canter at odd angles as piles of books teeter and totter on top -- as well as on the floor and almost every other available surface.
I didn't have a lot of time to browse -- C. was waiting outside, and we were on a schedule -- but I did see that they had a couple of paperback Jimmy Breslin books (one his mob novel and one his book about Nixon's impeachment) -- and I think I need to return.
This store, while cluttered and disorganized, is probably a treasure chest of titles. Who know what you might find?
Here's what Aaron had to say in Cometbus #50: "The place went from cluttered to catastrophic as the piles climbed and people like me came to climb on them. Chaos reigned supreme, which was kind of cool. Strange sections formed of their own accord. Community man stood in the doorway for hours on end with an empty, far-away look in his eyes, then disappeared for months at a time with no prior warning, reportedly to France."
Well, he's back, regardless of whether he went to France. And that means that people like us can now return. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Washington, DC
5/11/2010
First, some analogies:
-- DC folk, this is Capitol Books.
-- Boston folk, this is those old dusty secondhand bookstores we had in Harvard Square before Harvard Square became the ATM capital of the universe.
Now, for the rest of the review:
The other reviewers capture it well -- enter the dusty labyrinth and you will find a tremendous selection at very low prices (you want a Colum McCann? He's got it. John Banville? Yup. Chang-Rae Lee? Yup. He's got it all, which isn't surprising since there's a few tons of dusty piled-high books in this place). Dig, dig, dig, and you will find something good as long as you don't knock over a sky-high pile of books.
Truth be told -- and I've said this in other reviews of used bookstores -- I tend to like used bookstores that are organized, and that buy (or acquire) only good stuff. I'm fine at a used bookstore that has only quality fiction or good academic stuff (think Raven in Harvard Square). And I'm definitely someone who is sensitive to clutter -- when I walked into this place, I declared "this feels a bit like insanity to me." And since I loved used book stores, my theory has always been that to ensure their survival, they need to be charming, organized, clean, and mission-driven (i.e. quality fiction only). But even with all those caveats, I still poked around for a few minutes, and I was happy that this totally quirky, totally jam-packed place is still going strong on Court St. -
Review from Hasan M.
Brooklyn, NY
6/4/2011
Awesomeness! You can always find books you wanted to read but never got around to at a reasonable price :)
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Review from J B.
New York, NY
6/26/2009
Me: "So how long have you been here?"
The owner: "Probably longer than you've been alive."
Well, not quite true, but close. A neighborhood institution, this used bookstore is literally stuffed to the gills with books. Piles and piles of books teeter on shelves, and "aisles" are just gaps in the book chaos, with barely enough for one person to pass another.
I loved it. There is some method to the madness: hand-written signs point you to different sections in the book maze. I enjoyed rooting through the boxes: I found a book that I couldn't find at other used book stores in the area.
If you like organized chaos and love cheap books, you will love this store. -
Review from Naomi A.
Durham, NC
6/17/2011
Sadly, I waited till 3:45 in the rain today (which is a Friday) for this place to open, but no one ever showed. The sign on the door said "Open 3-11pm (or midnight) every day". Maybe it was because of the rain? I wish he had some sign on the door that said "Closed when raining". I'll give it another shot on a sunny day, as I was really looking forward to digging in this place for awhile!
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Review from Alma Z.
11/16/2008
One of my favorite used bookstores. It's totally disorganized and cramped but I think that's just part of the stores charm. I like nothing better than to dig around looking for great deals. The last time I was there I found a bunch of great computer design books for $3-$5 bucks a piece and an autographed book by Doreen Virtue from the 80's, before she became the Angel Whisperer. Fair warning: no such thing as walking in the store. More like hobbling around and inching around the piles of book that always looks one strong breeze away from toppling down on your head.
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Review from Auto D.
New York, NY
11/11/2010
found "The Community Bookstore" in cobble hill, stacked with books vertically and horizontally, densely packed in a feat of geometry that enevitably spills to the streets. of course they had the used copy of Ulysses I couldn't find anywhere else. price negotiable, he suggested $4, I gave him $5. He reads Delillo.
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Review from Maxx C.
Washington, DC
11/23/2009
Ultra cheap. Piled with dusty books. A relic. Very fun, if you're clear about what type of store it is. It's slightly hard to believe that a place like this is still hanging around its gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood (community?).
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Review from James V.
Montclair, NJ
11/24/2009
I used to buy books here before the Bookcourt open and before I developed an allergy to dust. I found some real gems in this store and made my biggest blunder by not buying a used copy of Rainer Marie Rilke's Letters to a Wartime Friend. I have been searching for this book the past twenty years without any luck. If you can withstand the dust and disarray than this place is a real find.
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Review from Mencken H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2009
Fun place to shop if you have time to dig through piles of dusty books. You might be surprised at what you find, or what finds you! It's always an adventure!
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Review from margs k.
Manhattan, NY
4/25/2010
The owner of The Community Bookstore admits the place is a total mess but he likes it that way and thinks there should be places like it. So do I. I love digging through all of the books - it's like hunting for buried treasure. I only wish I had more room in my apartment for a bigger library. This place is awesome!
