Boulevard Books & Cafe

I wouldn’t consider this a must go book shop. It’s tiny so you probably won’t find anything specific here. Your best bet is if you’re looking to buy a kids book and you may have some luck in teen fiction. There’s an art studio in the back if you want to do some painting. I simply can not recommend this minuscule store.

I love this place :-) Warm and inviting, it’s a great place to browse and pass some time. Also, the booksellers are so nice!

I found Boulevard Book & Café a few weeks ago and I was really excited that there was a bookstore so close to home. I was also glad that it wasn’t a chain store; I like to support local businesses as often as I can. I headed over there on a Friday afternoon, not having a specific book in mind.
Positives:
When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was the amazing smell. I noticed they sell candles, so I assume that’s what I was smelling (and, in retrospect, I need to find out the next time I go there… because I will definitely buy a few for my apartment). The store is pretty small but has a very organized and open layout; from the entrance, you can see all the way to the back of the store. Two women (one was the owner, I think) were at the register and politely welcomed me and then gave me room to look on the shelves. When I went to the back of the store, the employee came back and asked if I needed any help, which was nice. Also, the books are arranged in a way where you can easily see different titles without having to sort through; they have one copy of each book on the shelves, so it sits on the shelf with the cover showing, rather than arranged like a typical shelf where all you see is the binding. I assume that when they sell a copy, they just replace it with another.
I chose three books and, when I went to the register, the owner was very friendly and talked to me, asking if I was a new customer and telling me about the different events and stuff they have (they have a book club once a month, which I definitely want to check out!). I could tell she was genuinely into books and also genuinely friendly and interested in making conversation with me. It was nice to feel so welcomed because otherwise I might be apprehensive about checking out things like the book club meeting.
Negatives:
I honestly hate to even list «negatives,» because I really loved this store; but, I also like to be realistic and objective. Because this is a local business, they don’t have nearly as much selection as a store like Barnes and Noble would. If you are going for a specific book in mind, it would probably be smart to call beforehand to see if they have it. I think I saw another reviewer mention that they can order a book for you, so that’s an option that I can see myself doing sometimes, but other times I am the person that NEEDS IT NOW. But, since I went with no particular book in mind, the selection didn’t bother me; I was still able to find several books that caught my eye (I stopped myself at three but could have easily bought a dozen).
The café wasn’t open, so I can’t comment on the coffee or anything. It would be nice if it was always open during store hours (especially because I came straight from work, a coffee would have been great), but it wasn’t the end of the world. I’ll edit my review when I do get to check the café section out.
Overall, fantastic place with wonderful people. I’ll definitely be a regular!

I’m not much of a book purchaser. I live in an apartment and I usually don’t read books more than once, so I’d rather just borrow from the library. That being said, I’m thrilled that Dyker Heights has a genuine book shoppe! (Yes, I spelled it the old-​timey way. This place deserves that dangling E as much as anyone.) It has a lovely ambiance with a spacious interior and lots of dark wood, and a cute little caffe station in the back.
The staff doesn’t get in your way, but if you have any questions or can’t find a book, I’m pretty sure they could order it for you. In addition, they seem to have some kiddie events as well as the occasional book-​signing. All in all, this place is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Read on, Dyker Heights!

Love this place ! As a lover of books, I have to be a lover of the place selling the books too! Boulevard was a great experience. The two ladies — one including the owner Tatiana was so extremely sweet. The store has cute odds and ends for gifts too for coworkers or teachers etc. The kids section is located in the front along with some «book club» recommended books for adults. Towards the back is adult books and they are categorized and neat. It is a cute place to come and hang and read an be at peace. They have chairs and lounges for that. It’s like a little café it looks like. I can’t wait to come back. I love supporting small books stores such as this. Oh and check in and get your 10% off ! I did. Also, give them an email address they will email you events and coupons too.

Tacky, rude and classless treatment of what would have been a new customer to be had in the neighborhood.
I unknowingly arrived during book club even though I was specifically told Tuesday night is the late night and I should come by to pick up my book order. I stood up front waiting to be acknowledged, but after after a person in the group alerted the shop owner that I was up front, no effort was made to even remotely acknowledge me. She actually said «I don’t care» in response to me being there.
A simple statement explaining that book club was in session would have sufficed or even just taking the 2 minutes to hand me the book without being so obviously bothered by it would have been nice.

Friendly staff! Tatiana always suggests the best books to buy that are different and unique. Great selection of books and many different activities for kids of all ages. It’s wonderful to have a book shop in the neighborhood run by neighborhood people!

Very friendly cozy family like book store. My kids and I love to stop in and pick up seem new books or even just to say hi to the welcoming workers. Great addition to the avenue.

Cute bookstore! I went here for Joe Manganiello’s book signing tonight. I will definitely return. It warmed my little librarian heart!

What a cute little book store!!! I didn’t even know it existed but now that I know I will make sure to visit this place for all my book needs. :-) I went there yesterday for the first time for Clinton Kelly book signing that my friend told me about. The staff was so very friendly and the book store had a great atmosphere. You can tell that this owner and staff care and know people in the neighborhood which makes the store that much special. I will definitely be coming back there!

YAY for the little guy (or gal in this case)
In this age where chain booksellers are closing this little gem is SHINING and THRIVING!!!
Sweet and cozy with a good selection :)

I remember the day Boulevard first opened, I was a satisfied customer on day one and I still am today. Tatiana and her staff really understand the meaning of customer service, they always go above and beyond. Don’t let the size of the store fool you, they have a huge selection. If they don’t have what you want, they can order it and you’ll have it in a few days. I could spend hours there browsing. The store is absolutely beautiful, always decorated for all occasions, and a truly a wonderful place to be.
The owner Tatiana is a doll. She honestly knows every customer and their families by name. She hosts so many events, but my favorite by far would have to be the regular story time on Tuesdays and Saturdays. My kids love Tatiana, her stories, her songs. Other events she has hosted in the past has included author signings (including several celebrities), ladies night, cooking, holiday parties, kids crafts, open mic, book clubs and so much more. Stop by and pick up a copy of the monthly calender there is so much to choose from! She’s recently added delicious food from Tatsty Bites to her café and delicious coffee.
Boulevard is more than just a store, it’s an experience and a wonderful addition to the Dyker Heights community.

Love this book store — They’ve got a decent selection, but most importantly they can get you anything you want quickly. The Science and SciFi selections are pretty good on their own, and I know the events here are very popular in the neighborhood, but I haven’t gone to one myself. And actually if you’re a parent, they’ve got a really great kids section and a ton of events and stuff for kids.
Basically, lots of extras that make it special but they’ve got a solid foundation of good books on the shelves and can order anything under the sky if it’s not there. With the café and comfortable atmosphere, Boulevard Books & Café is a wonderful place to just browse and have a good cup of joe.

I was passing by the area with my best friend one late evening and saw this place glimmering ahead, so I decided to check out this bookstore. Marvelous place! Beautiful interior décor, lovely service, and a decent selection of books for a relatively small place. This is a great bookstore.

I am over the moon to have Boulevard Books in my neighborhood!!! When it opened up a year and half ago, I thought it looked super cute but never had a chance to stop in. Over the last few months, I have spent a lot of time at Boulevard and as Tatiana the owner gets to know you, you become not only a loyal customer but a friend.
Her events are awesome and something that Dyker needs. Working in Manhattan sometimes I’m just too tired to stay around in the city for a book signing or cooking class — Boulevard offers regular events such as this and it’s only a couple of blocks away from our apartment. Poetry readings, psychic readings, meet and greets — I was so surprised to see such great monthly events when I first stopped in and each event is interesting and fun. The ones that have a cost attached to them are minimal fees and even though I don’t have kids, I noticed Boulevard has a ton of kids book events and arts and crafts.
They know you by name, track all of your purchases and have a loyalty program where you get a $ 5 coupon occasionally with your purchases. I joined the book club and the other customers in the store get to know each other and look forward to seeing each other at different events. I’ve also found some totally random kitschy books here for gifts that people have loved.
As for the book selection, even if it’s not as big as a chain bookstore, Boulevard has a great variety of books. Best sellers, secret finds, popular series — they have them and in almost every genre including a big kids and teen section.
Boulevard feels homey and warm when you come in and like I said, Dyker really needed a place like this. I’d rather give Tatiana and her awesome staff my money than Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Considering how much I spend there, I may be asking them for a second job soon!

Great to have a local shop run by neighborhood folks. The store is beautiful with a great selection of books and many activities. Owner and staff are super friendly. They even have a coupon when you checkin on Unilocal and special member discounts too. Stop in to buy a book or just browse!

5 stars if the café was opened when my daughter and I went there the 1^st time. It was a quiet Sat afternoon. It should be the reason why the café bar wasn’t opened. My daughter and I were so excited to find out this book store in our neighborhood. The décor is really cute. I would say their target mostly is kid’s business. Nonetheless, you would still find interesting books from their selection. I also met the owner, Tatiana. She is extremely friendly. I am sure everyone would love to go back once they make the first visit. Overall, I am glad to discover it as now I don’t have to make a whole trip to Manhattan. It would be perfect if the café is open in the store or there is a decent coffee shop next to it.

As a long-​time resident of Dyker Heights, I was overjoyed by the arrival of a book store in my neighborhood, heretofore an oasis of indifference to literature in the desert of books that is New York City. Unfortunately, I was in the process of moving, so I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this wonderful new addition as much as I would have liked. That said, I’ve still spent well over a hundred dollars on books in my infrequent visits to Boulevard.
If you have children who are interested in reading, they will absolutely adore this place. There are also lots of fun events and speaking engagements, in addition to a solid book selection. The owner is incredibly helpful and the staff is friendly. If you live in Southwest Brooklyn, drop by for a spell. You won’t regret it.

This place reminds me of that little book shop from the movie «you got mail» and surprisingly its the only book store in the neighborhood.
Decent number of books considering it’s not a big space but is absolutely beautiful inside.

I had the pleasure of visiting Boulevard Books & Café less than a week after they opened in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. I’d met the proprietor, Tatiana Nicoli, at a workshop for prospective booksellers in Florida months prior and had been following her store’s progress via her business Facebook page. Despite knowing how well prepared she was for this opening, I was stunned upon walking into the store.
From the front entrance, you know this place will be markedly different from the other businesses on the block. The owner and the bookseller on duty both greeted us the moment we walked in, though we were a bit dazed, wanting to take everything in. Classy, dark brown shelves line the walls. Pretty fixtures and tables run along the middle of the store, providing charming displays for books and items they’re featuring that week. The kids’ section is in the middle of the store: there’s a bench for reading, and the shiny wood floor is home to some huge stuffed animals that fold out into cushiony seats for little ones. As you venture farther back into the space, the room brightens – what a surprise to find the light is coming from the large back window and cleverly spaced skylights along the ceiling! There’s a small coffee bar in back and a little patio outside where you can relax and enjoy your coffee and book.
Though the look and feel of the store were immediately arresting, I was mostly impressed with how well Tatiana dealt with customers. She was only a week into her new business, but she never once appeared frazzled or out of her element. She greeted friends and strangers in the same friendly manner, and during our visit we witnessed several people coming in who boasted of having visited more than once before.
Tatiana has really created a warm, friendly, open spot for her neighborhood to get together. I love this place and have been thinking about it a lot since I left. Kudos!