I think you have to bear in mind that this is just the book outlet of a multi-location thrift shop. It's not a high-end publishing emporium. Since things are donated, condition is not always... More

I think you have to bear in mind that this is just the book outlet of a multi-location thrift shop. It's not a high-end publishing emporium. Since things are donated, condition is not always optimum--and I've passed on things I wanted because of the condtion--but you can always find a few cheap paperbacks to read on the subway. I've never gotten any attitude from staff, but goddess knows, everyone has their good and bad days.
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The word to describe the cafe bookstore would be cozy. The staff consiste of vounteers and actually paid workers. The volunteers might not know everything but they do try their hardest to help and... More

The word to describe the cafe bookstore would be cozy. The staff consiste of vounteers and actually paid workers. The volunteers might not know everything but they do try their hardest to help and the cafe in the back is a nice touch to the place. the things are rather cheap and the people their friendly. The prices for the books aren't bad too not to mention they have bookfairs once a year with insane prices. Pros: quiet, friendly Cons: can't bring your bags in (bag check in)
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I love this place's space more than its selection. It's really lovely, with a second floor balcony of books, a small cafe and comfortable spaces betweeen aisles and shelving. I never find much... More

I love this place's space more than its selection. It's really lovely, with a second floor balcony of books, a small cafe and comfortable spaces betweeen aisles and shelving. I never find much great stuff here, but when I'm in the area, it's a nice place to browse and take a break.
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I frequently pop into Housing Works on my way up to the Broadway-Lafayette stop when browsing Soho for a decent cup of coffee and a good book. There are serious bargains to be found here. On a... More

I frequently pop into Housing Works on my way up to the Broadway-Lafayette stop when browsing Soho for a decent cup of coffee and a good book. There are serious bargains to be found here. On a recent trip, I picked up 6 nearly new plays for under $30 (each had probably only been read once and they were big publishing house glossy cover editions, not the flimsy cover rehearsal editions). The cafe is staffed by volunteers, so be patient. You can't really go wrong with a coffee or a cafe au lait. The double chocolate brownie is DELICIOUS. Clean bathrooms. Large selection. Cheap carts. Events on many nights of each month. A book lovers heaven. And to top it all off, all proceeds go to a worthy cause.
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At Housing Works Book Cafe you can browse, read, have a light meal or dessert, attend a reading or music event - and all the money you spend there goes to support homeless people with AIDS. The... More

At Housing Works Book Cafe you can browse, read, have a light meal or dessert, attend a reading or music event - and all the money you spend there goes to support homeless people with AIDS. The store is super relaxed, run almost completely by volunteers, and a great place to hang out. There are thousands of books, organized in the usual categories, at great discount prices - half of the retail or less. Also LPs and CDs and tapes and comics. I love this place! Pros: Great Selection, Relaxed atmosphere, Low prices
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Despite consistently disappointing latte's, I love this place. Keep it a secret.. a reviewer of another local spot put it right when they said "...stay away if you are not from the neighborhood. We... More

Despite consistently disappointing latte's, I love this place. Keep it a secret.. a reviewer of another local spot put it right when they said "...stay away if you are not from the neighborhood. We don't want you here."
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I love Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. It is tucked away in a little cobblestone alley/street in New York, and has one of the best selections of... More

I love Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. It is tucked away in a little cobblestone alley/street in New York, and has one of the best selections of used books I have ever seen. It's not as big as the Strand of course, but has a great selection. They have fantastic dollar racks, where you can buy really good books for just $1. These aren't crappy books either! Most of them are current popular fiction, Oprah's Book Club selections, and more. The selection is constantly changing, so if you live or work nearby it is a good idea to stop in every couple of days. The cafe is also nice, though I mostly spend my money there on books. They have a good selection of snacks and great coffee. This review is making me miss NY!
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First of all they made me check my STROLLER. Umm, so I had no choice but to carry a 29 pound squirming toddler and I am quite OBVIOUSLY pregnant. Needless to say the visit was off to a bad start. ... More

First of all they made me check my STROLLER. Umm, so I had no choice but to carry a 29 pound squirming toddler and I am quite OBVIOUSLY pregnant. Needless to say the visit was off to a bad start. They also made me check my purse. I wasn't thrilled with that AT ALL. I had to take my credit cards and anything that was important with me while holding my ornery child. Not to mention the person in charge of checking the bags didn't look very trustworthy. I felt about as safe as a virgin in a brothel! The books were shabby. I know it's used but I didn't expect it to look chewed on and so abused. I know it's a good cause but I ended up leaving frustrated and not buying anything. My arms were aching from carrying my son. To top it off the sandwich that I bought had wilted slimy lettuce on it! I was SO grossed out! Never again! And the prices were NOT that great either!!!
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I think it's a great idea to donate the profits of this store to charitable causes but I do think they need a better platform to deliver on this. First and foremost, the store is hidden in Soho.... More

I think it's a great idea to donate the profits of this store to charitable causes but I do think they need a better platform to deliver on this. First and foremost, the store is hidden in Soho. You kind of have to get lost to find it. So, there obviously isn't good marketing (or word of mouth or both). Second, some of the people that work there obviously aren't happy with what they do because the attitude dished out is downright toxic at times. Yes, they have coffee and sandwiches but I don't think it's worth it to make the trip. I also don't like the fact that they make you check in your bag/purse regardless of the size. Unreal.
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What more could you ask for. The ultimate combo, boxes of cheap donated books, and I mean cheap. A nice coffee shop where you can grab a good cup of Joe and look through a stack of inexpensive... More

What more could you ask for. The ultimate combo, boxes of cheap donated books, and I mean cheap. A nice coffee shop where you can grab a good cup of Joe and look through a stack of inexpensive paperbacks. There are a lot of great deals here and all the money goes to a good cause. PROS: great deals CONS: none
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