Housing Works Bookstore Reviews Summary

Category: Book store New York

Address: 126 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012, USA

Phone: +12123343324

Rating: 4.7
based on 231 reviews.

Atmosphere and Design

Pros:

  • "Lovely, spacious yet cozy cafe area."
  • "The interior is wooden, the store has a perfect sized cafe to read your books while sipping coffee and muffin."
  • "It feels like a comfortably worn in library, with a rambly, staircasey, wood-paneled kind of space, like Mr. Rogers would be right at home."
  • "It has an old-school rich person's library vibe with the spiral staircase and mezzanine level."
  • "Such a sweet, hidden spot in NYC."
  • "First of all the layout is beautiful and makes you feel like your in beauty and the beast!"
  • "It feels like I am in a Harry Potter's Library."

Cons:

  • "The space was a bit dirty and had some weird people."
  • "The store surroundings is full of drug addicts etc."
  • "Too much propaganda for my personal taste, and less books than libraries nearby."
  • "The second floor is mighty cramped. I had some awkward encounters when I was trying to squiggle past people who were seriously reading their books or scribbling in their journals."

Book Selection and Events

Pros:

  • "They carry wall-to-wall of used books for hours of perusal."
  • "The selection is amazing."
  • "Everybody should visit this bookstore. They have every kind of used books."
  • "Huge diverse book collection."
  • "A fantastic selection of books. So many treasures."
  • "They have a great selection of used books in all different genres."
  • "The selection of books is always extensive."

Cons:

  • "What on earth has happened to this place? Scowling staff on entry, no more LGBT book section and no laptops allowed!"
  • "It's not the best or the biggest selection, but everything is for a good cause."
  • "However the book selection was terrible. It’s very limited in genres and I couldn’t find one book that I’d want to read."
  • "They get hundreds of books in donations a day but few copies make it to the store shelves."
  • "While the books are sorted by topic, they do not have an up-to-date catalogue so won't be able to tell you if something specific is in stock."

Cafe and Food

Pros:

  • "Warm and cozy with delicious coffee and matcha and home-baked goodies like brownies and oversized cookies!"
  • "Their hazelnut coffee is to die for!"
  • "Great coffee and sandwiches plus a great company of books."
  • "The cafe serves up some nice baked goods and fresh coffee and tea."
  • "Delicious drinks and snacks. Try the seasonal blackberry pie latte!"
  • "Coffee is great and staff is really nice."
  • "The cafe in the back makes drinks and nibbles and snacks."

Cons:

  • "The kitchen is under construction so they will have a limited menu while renovating."
  • "The food in the cafe could be improved."
  • "However, the cafe attached is not entirely as great. Here’s why: (1) there are no open plugs for you to charge your electronics, (2) the service is unfriendly, and (3) the maintenance of the sitting space lacks attention."
  • "It was very inconvenient that there were no outlets available to charge my electronics."
  • "The cafe is currently closed."

Community and Social Impact

Pros:

  • "They sell donated books to create a profit that they use to support low-income HIV patients with their treatment."
  • "I'm aware that the money that I spend there is used to help find a cure for AIDS and, house the homeless."
  • "Plus proceeds from the shop/cafe go to charity."
  • "All the proceeds go towards ending AIDS- and what a great book selection to boot."
  • "Proceeds of this treasure trove benefit Housing Works and their mission to fight AIDS."
  • "All the books are donated and all profits benefit those affected by AIDs. Completely volunteer-run too!"
  • "Proceeds go towards Housing Works' services that help low-income New Yorkers."

Cons:

  • "I'd rate it higher but having to buy something at the Cafe in order to sit down is incredibly unbecoming of a nonprofit business - they should remove that policy and honestly be ashamed of ever having it."
  • "It's good but definitely overpriced for donated items."
  • "They sell proofs which are clearly marked 'not for sale'."

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