Bookstores in New Jersey
Last change:
29 Sep 2020
============================================================================
------------------------------
NJ (New Jersey):
[Now arranged north-to-south. The "AAA" notes are map co-ordinates
that I find useful.]
Barnes & Noble (765 Route 17 South, Paramus 07652, 201-445-4589). Has a
used book section. "The used book section in the back is as large
as any independent book store I have seen. The SF section has room
for about 1,000 books." [04/19]
Little City Books (100 Bloomfield at 1st St, Hoboken). General
interest nnew books. 5,000 titles, along with stationery,
cards, journals, reading-related children's toys and
reading glasses. [05/15]
Montclair Book Center (215-221 Glenridge Ave, Montclair, 07042,
973-783-3630, http://www.montclairbookcenter.com).
Used literature, mysteries, SF, and local history. Open
Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM, Sun 12N-6PM. {AAA-O09}
Watchung Booksellers (Watchung Plaza Sq, 973-744-717,7 Montclair).
New books, cards, etc. Has "staff picks" and newsletters,
as well as a discount program. {AAA-O09} [01/10]
Brier Rose Books (450 Cedar Ln, Teaneck, 07666, 201-836-5500,
brierrose1@aol.com). Used Americana, military, New York City,
and general stock. Open Tue-Wed, Fri 12N-6PM, Thu 12N-8PM,
Sat-Sun 12N-5PM. {AAA-Q09}
Old Book Shop (4 John, Morristown, 07960, 973-538-1210). Used
books, specializing in Americana, New Jersey, scholarly, and
ephemera. Driving directions: from I-287 take Ridgedale Road
west, then turn right onto John St. Open Mon-Sat 10AM-5:30PM.
{AAA-M10} [06/16]
Chatham Bookseller (8 Green Village Rd, Madison, 07940, 973-822-1361,
FAX 973-822-9112, http://www.abebooks.com/home/chathambookseller/).
General quality used books. Some mass-market paperbacks,
mostly literature or mysteries, but primarily hardbacks and
trade paperbacks. Fairly small, but worth dropping into if
you're in the area. [The Chatham Playhouse is about three
miles down Route 124.) Driving directions: from Route 24 W
exit at the Chatham exit of 124 West, then about three miles
and left onto Green Village Road. Open Mon-Sat 9AM-5:30PM,
Sun 12N-5PM. {AAA-M10} [11/04]
Town Book Store (255 E Broad, Westfield, 908-233-3535). New books.
{AAA-N11} [01/10]
The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. (33 Terminal Ave, Clark, 07066,
732-382-1800 or 800-422-6686, http://www.lawbookexchange.com).
Used and reprint law and legal history. Open Mon-Fri
9AM-5PM. {AAA-N12}
Book Trader (494 Inman, Colonia, 732-381-2665). Used books, almost
entirely mass-market paperbacks. Some trade paperbacks and
hardbacks in classics, cookbooks, etc. I'm not sure how the
pricing works, and since they didn't have air conditioning
and it was 106 outside, I didn't stop to ask. Previously on
St. George's Ave in Rahway. Open Mon-Thu 10AM-5PM,
Fri 10AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 12N-5PM. {AAA-N12} [07/10]
O P Metuchen Books (465 Main, Metuchen). Used books. [07/16]
Act 2 Books (20 Turntable Jct, Flemington, 08822, 973-374-5649,
http://www.act2books.com). Used and rare books.
Specializes in history and has the largest selection in New
Jersey. Open Tue-Thu 11AM-7PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-8PM,
Sun 10AM-5PM. [07/16]
People of the Book (311 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, 732-745-7080).
Used Judaica. Open Sun 10:30AM-2PM; Mon, Wed 11:30AM-6PM;
Tue 11:30AM-3PM, Fri 11:30AM-2PM. {AAA-M13} [01/10]
Book Swap (514 Georges, North Brunswick, 732-828-0123). Used
paperbacks. Open Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 10AM-2PM.
{AAA-M13} [05/03]
Panoply Books, (48(?) N Union, 08530, 609-397-1145,
http://www.panoplybook.com). Used books, also art and
textiles. Smaller than Phoenix. Open Mon-Thu 11AM-5PM,
Fri-Sun 11AM-5:30PM. {AAA-J14} [05/12]
Dharma Bum (45 W Broad, Hopewell, 08525). Antiquarian and used; Beat
authors and first editions. Open Wed-Sat 11AM-7PM,
Sun 12N-6PM. {AAA-K14} [03/12)
On Military Matters (31 W Broad, Hopewell, 08525, 609-466-2329,
http://onnilitarymatters.com). Military history,
especially 16th through 19th centuries. Good selection for
the serious historian, but not a shop for bargain hunters.
It's down a driveway, not visible from the street. Also some
gaming materials. Open Thu-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 10AM-5PM, or by
appointment. (Hopewell Valley Inn, down the street, has good
Hungarian food.) {AAA-K14} [05/02]
River Road Bookstore (759 River Rd, Fair Haven, 732-747-9455).
"Great people but having a hard time struggling against
big book stores competition." {AAA-P14} [12/05]
Amazing Stories (55 White Road, Shrewsbury, 07702, 732-747-8686,
Comics, some manga, related articles. Open Mon-Tue 3PM-7PM,
Wed-Sat 11PM-7PM, Sun 12N-5PM. {AAA-P15} [11/04]
Old Book Shop (200 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, 08505, 609-324-9909,
http://www.oldbookshopofbordentown.com). Used and antiquarian
bookshop. Open Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 11AM-5PM, Fri 11AM-8PM.
{AAA-K17} [06/16]
Book Garden (868 Route 537, Cream Ridge, 08514, 609-758-7770, FAX
609-758-7528, bookg1@comcast.net). 50,000 used books. Strong
in children's books (especially older series) and older
fiction, but has something of everything. Alphabetization is
minimal, though (e.g. all the "A"s in fiction are together,
but within them everything is shelved randomly.) A few miles
west of Six Flags Amusement Park. Open Wed-Fri 9AM-5PM,
Sun 9AM-3PM. Closed the week before the Fourth of July.
{AAA-M17} [09/20]
Book Shop and Annex (704 Bridgeboro, Riverside, 08075, 856-461-3416).
Used hardbacks and paperbacks. Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
10AM-6PM; Sat 10AM-5PM. {AAA-I18}
Bookends (Ridgewood). New books. {AAA-O18} [01/10]
EarthSpirit (W Front near Broad, Red Bank). Wiccan and New Age books
and materials. Also has a selection of gay/lesbian/bisexual
books. {AAA-H19}
Rare and Used Classic Books (4 W Lafayette, Trenton 08608,
609-394-8400, http://www.classicsusedbooks.com). Used
books; also scrabble clubs, knitting clubs, open mic nights,
author book signings and more. [06/15]
Foley's Idle Hour (162 S Broadway, Pitman, 08071, 856-582-0510,
tpinkava@verizon.net). Used books. Open Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, 6PM-8PM,
Sat-Sun 12N-4PM. {AAA-H21}
BookTowne (171 Main, Manasquan, 732-722-7255, https://www.booktowne.com/).
New books. Open Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-4PM.
[06/20]
Book Store (7901 Long Beach Boulevard, Beach Haven Crest, Long Beach
Island, 609-494-1224). Used books. Mostly "beach reading"
though I have gotten such books as Bertrand Russell's
MYSTICISM AND LOGIC here. Books are 3/$4.75 (Harlequin
romances 3/$2.00) (as of 2002), inclusive of tax. Open June
to September only--I think they usually have a close-out sale
some time in September. {AAA-O22} [08/02]
Book Trader of Hamilton (2402 Nottingham Way, Route 33 east of I-295,
Hamilton, 08619, phone/FAX 609-890-1455, booktrader@att.net).
Paperback historic romances, SF, mysteries, and Westerns.
Open Sat 9AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-4PM. {AAA-K24}
Second Time Books (114 Creek Road, Mount Laurel, 08054, 856-234-9335,
http://SecondTimeBooksOnline.com). Used books.
A must-go-to store for fans of science fiction--there is an
entire room the size of a big living room filled with
shelves of science fiction and fantasy. A special feature
is the bundles of sets (e.g., all the books in the "Rama"
series tied together and sold as a set). Also has good
selections of history and other categories. Prices are
extremely reasonable and the books are in excellent
condition, with the hardbacks having plastic sleeves for
the dust jackets, etc. A worthy replacement for me for
the Cranbury Bookworm--I just wish it weren't so far from
me (over an hour's drive). Open Tue-Fri 10AM-6PM,
Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-4PM. [11/16]
Books-A-Million (Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill). Chain. {AAA-I19}
[05/10]
Sanctuary Fine Books & Music (22 N Haddon Ave, 856-383-0542)
A small bookstore, but tightly packed (more than four
customers at a time would be unmanageable!). Books
double-shelved, but are in excellent condition, Good
collections on cinema and the Civil War, though of
necessity relatively small. (Art and other areas are
also good, but we noticed these in particular.) Open
Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 12N-6PM, Fri 12N-9PM. [11/17]
Bogart's Book Exchange (210 N High, Millville, 08332, 856-327-3714).
Over 125,000 used paperbacks and hardbacks. Open Mon-Sat
10AM-5PM. {AAA-H25}
Princeton Antiques Bookshop (2917 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, 08401,
609-344-1943, FAX 609-344-1944, http://www.princetonantiques.com).
*Not* in Princeton! Over 200,000 used books, specializing in
military, sea, art, film, and children's books. Also has
thousands of photos of Atlantic City. Open Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM,
Sat 8AM-1PM, but call first. {AAA-N25} [01/07]
Cape Atlantic Books (421 Washington, Cape May). Mostly new books; a few
(mostly empty) shelves of used books.
Hooked on Books (3405 Pacific Ave, Wildwood, 08260, 609-729-1132,
http://www.hookedonbooks.info). Used books--lots of them.
Huge selection of paperback fiction (oddly sorted into "male authors" and
"female" authors, as well as "classics", "sci-fi", and the usual
categories). Also an excellent selection of philosophy (Aristotle,
not self-help books), history, and other more serious works.
They are a bit pricier than a lot of used bookstores (slightly above
half price for the books we bought), but this is the Jersey Shore,
where everything is overpriced--including parking. Given that the
meters are $2/hour and take only quarters (7.5 minutes each), you
have to hope you can get one of the two spaces right in front, which
will let you run out to feed the meter if necessary. Of course, if
you've parked somewhere for the day, you only have to walk there in
the heat, and then back, lugging your books with you... Open
June-August seven days 10AM-9PM; shorter hours May and September;
closed October through April. [06/16]
There are also several Barnes & Noble superstores.
New Hope (PA):
Farley's Bookstore (44 S Main, 215-862-2452, FAX 215-862-5568). "While
no competition for the big chains, packs lots of books in a
small space, and though one can often find interesting stuff
there, you have to enjoy digging. It's pretty disorganized."
Well, not really--the sections are clearly marked, though the
floor plan is anything but straightforward. The selection is
amazing for a store like this in a small--if popular--town.
===========================================================================
Evelyn C. Leeper (eleeper@optonline.net)
Go to my home page