Talking Leaves Books

I haven’t been to the location on Main; however, this satellite location fits in very nicely with the Elmwood aesthetic. I could sit inside Talking Leaves (or Café Aroma, which is connected) to read and browse for hours. The store caters to bookworms, and offers neat editions of classics, cute gift options that extend beyond the Moleskine notebooks traditionally found in chain bookshops, and plenty of other excellent products.
The store is fairly small and often seems cramped if there are more than a few people browsing for titles. Shelving labels can be confusing or easy to miss. Unlike other reviewers, I have never really had issues with the staff, but I have noticed that they are often not extremely personable. The concept behind the bookstore is nice — I much prefer shopping at independent stores, rather than chains à la Barnes & Noble — however, there are many small details that the store neglects to address that detract from a shopping experience.

A lot of the sentiments that Alex K expressed in his review are things that I completely agree with. Without going so much into his review while deterring the experience of my own, there are some things that made this less of a great experience for me.
After a filling dinner at Pano’s, my friend and I both expressed we wanted to go to the bookstore that was nearby. I get giggly and super excited every time I enter a bookstore but I made sure to set aside the way books make me feel to talk about the actual bookstore itself.
I’m not too thrilled with the layout. It’s not very open, there’s nowhere to really sit (except outdoors, which is an okay arrangement), and all the shelving creates an almost claustrophobic feeling. It’s not very welcoming; it’s just a place trying desperately to sell books and compete against Amazon and used bookstores to do so.
In my opinion, Talking Leaves is lacking something crucial in their store: personality. I feel like what personality TL does have is overshadowed by a desperation to sell books and make a profit for their store. They lost me in all of the shelves though. I had no idea where to wander to, so I picked a place and started and somehow got to the fiction books which was my original intention. There is a cute little sign that says fiction but other than that, I wouldn’t have been able to know where that was.
Also, some of the titles I was looking for weren’t stocked. Which is okay, of course. I could just order through the store, but I’m likely to take my business elsewhere to find what I’m looking for. I noticed a desk that had boxes (I’m assuming books) so I figured the store must be going through a renovation or something. It was almost closing time, so maybe they were putting books out or something? I don’t know.
I feel bad, of course, that sales go to Amazon instead of an Independent Bookstore that needs it. I’m a book lover, so I’m definitely aware of these things. The three rating comes from the fact that TL needs to create a more grabbing personality for itself. TL is still a store that has the ability to create fans. Unfortunately, the fact that you’re an independent bookstore doesn’t say as much anymore because financially, people look elsewhere.
But if I or someone else was lured in to the personality of TL, there’s no way I couldn’t help but buy a book from there. Try a couch or a more effective way of stocking the books so it creates a relaxing (very important for the common book-​loving introvert) and inviting environment. There are so many ways to do this!
I’ll be back again in the future to check in on that progress. Good luck, Talking Leaves!

I want to love this place so badly. Unfortunately I don’t. The service is usually hostile (I am almost always accosted for merely entering with a bag) and the entire place is run in an angry/​jealous fashion because Amazon is eating into their market share. I get sick of being preached to about it (and in not in there all that frequently). Plus, their «support» for local artists leaves a fair amount to be desired.

Cool bookstore in the heart of the Elmwood Village. Has a good variety of different books for all types of readers. They also have a book club you can pay into and get discounts on books. I will definitely stop by this place again if I need something. Great local business.

This Elmwood location is smaller than what I’m used to with a bookstore. I’d rather go to Rustbelt or West Side, even though they’re used book stores their inventory is more vast than Talking Leaves.

Talking Leaves stocks books. It sells books. It’s sold books in Buffalo for a while. Its Buffalo locations have been Buffalo staples far longer than I can remember, and I’m getting up there. Should you need a copy of the latest Ludlum, a classic Austen, or something a bit more interesting, Talking Leaves will more than likely fill your need in but a minute.
The characteristic of merely possessing enough books to satisfy most immediate needs satisfies the three star, A-​okay, «just fine» definition of any bookstore. But as the fates of Walden Books and Barnes and Nobles and the successes of Greenlight Books (
) of Brooklyn, college bookstores like Broad Street Books of Middletown Connecticut, for example, demonstrate, bookstores must do much more than simply stock books, sell books. Talking Leaves needs to evolve. The rest of my review details possible avenues they could take.
ATMOSPHERE:
Atmosphere in bookstores is critical, and there are different ways to accomplish it.
Many patrons of Manhattan’s Strand or even Buffalo’s Old Editions rave about over the wonder of losing oneself in row after row of stacks, to rapturously lose one’s bearings like Macauley Culkin in «The Pagemaster.» Talking Leaves isn’t quite big enough to truly lose oneself, but the rather low height of its shelves relative to its ceiling also preclude this. No luck here.
A way to artificially instigate the wonder of discovery is through careful cultivation of display. Spoonbill and Sugartown (
) of Williamsburg, Brooklyn is a wonderful example of this. On entering the store (through either entrance), curated books are arranged face up on long tables, their arrangement silently challenging potential readers. «Have you read me?» «What about me?» «What about me?» «Buy me!» «No, me!» Here I must note that Barnes and Nobles all through the country do this less well. This type of display, however, does limit available space in-​store, perhaps a reason Talking Leaves hasn’t done it…
But they could instead perhaps adopt a method of discovery instigation utilized masterfully by Word (
) of Brooklyn and only slightly less adroitly by Greenlight Books. On normal shelving, staff hand-​write blurbs about their favorite books, recent highlights, and so forth on index cards and sticky them to the shelving near the books described. Any bibliophile appreciates a good recommendation, and even these small favors easily draw attention. It adds color. It fosters discovery. It boosts business. Why isn’t Talking Leaves doing this?
Or you can go for the luxurious reading space route as Buffalo’s own Dog Ears Bookstore does so wonderfully. Sure, Talking Leaves could increase their quotient of not-​buying-​yet readers. But the wonderful thing about people in a store is that the presence of people in a bookstore tends to attract others, tends to make them more comfortable idling, translating to less searching, less finding, and much more wandering, wondering, perusing, and discovering. Couches and armchairs would be great, but even a few carefully placed ottomans in extant aisles could make a world of difference. But Talking Leaves doesn’t do this.
PROGRAMMING:
Where bookstores like Word and Greenlight Books really stand out is through their non-​stop programming efforts. We’re talking not bi-​monthly, not monthly, but bi-​weekly or lectures, signings, and so forth. We’re talking three or four times a week book groups for different constituencies. Talking Leaves does some programming, but it isn’t nearly comphrehensive enough. Buffalonians should be wondering, «Hey, I wonder what’s going on at Talking Leaves this week!!» We don’t.
Worse, Talking Leaves’ social media presence is negligible compared to even many local restaurants, shops, and cultural institutions, much less peers in larger markets. I might at this point highlight Campus Wheelworks and BreadHive as two great local employers of social media. They use it to promote products and programming and to dispatch business news but also to cross-​promote and to engage with the end of community creation.
But the possibilities here are endless. Stores across NYC boast «Help you learn Spanish or Japanese,» and etc. sections. They rotate in specialty non-​book products from local businesses, international stationery providers, and so forth. Word in Brooklyn boasts a much lauded personals board. (And the entries are often endearingly earnest.)
EN FIN:
So Talking Leaves stocks books. It sells books. But it’s frankly about as much fun to shop there as it is to click «order» on an Amazon order screen. And there’s the rub. Given the ease of doing so, I’d rather do that. Talking Leaves, I’m waiting for you to impress me. Adapt! Improve! Lure me in! Give me whimsy! Delight me in discovery! Do… something!

Talking Leaves is a cute locally owned bookstore. There’s two locations throughout the city. If you want to support your local shops, I suggest buying your textbooks here and giving them a call before you call Barnes & Nobles or some of the other giants in the area.
This particular one is connected to a coffee shop (Café Aroma) and there’s a lot of books loaded into a pretty small space, but it’s still quite pleasant to browse around. It’s nice to go on your own and get lost in the world of books or come with an SO to laugh at certain kinds of books.
The store also has a variety of local gifts and postcards. For instance, you’ll often find the works of artist Brian from his Faces of Buffalo mosaics or his «Buffalo» photography, along with City Dining Cards and other nifty gift items. Prices are sometimes a bit higher than what you’d find at the West Side used bookstore equivalent, but that’s because these books are new.
All in all, it’s a cute little shop that deserves your business. It’s nice to come, buy a book and then read it at Café Aroma next door (just don’t go while there’s a popular World Cup game going on unless you like a lot of noise!).

This has been my go-​to bookstore for many, many years. While its Elmwood location is now slightly smaller than in years gone by, they still offer a solid selection of new books on just about every imaginable subject. The forte is definitely newer literary fiction, but there are also ample sections of memoir, poetry, art, politics, and health.
Everything is nicely organized and the staff really knows their stuff, so don’t be shy about asking for help to find something. On a related note, be sure to check out the staff-​picks display; you’ll find some great new titles you might not have known about.
I also recommend checking out the store’s selection of periodicals – you’re almost guaranteed to find some new loves lurking in this section with smaller-​press offerings covering every subject imaginable.
When you’ve made your purchase, the store’s patio seating area (shared with the adjacent coffee shop) is the perfect place to sit with a latte or sandwich and watch the world go by as you turn the pages!

Bingo! This is everything I want.
The Elmwood location is smaller, but has all the charm and excitement of the main location. I find that I often need books that are in the Main St. store, so the employees here make a call and have it delivered. It’s usually a day only — meaning I don’t have to go to Main St. if I don’t want/​if I can’t get there. It’s awesome!
You can come in here and get all sorts of stuff. Gah, I mean, it’s a book store. Spend some time in one and you’ll realize why I’m gushing. This location, in particular, has a great translated literature section, women’s studies, and displays of more recent books that will catch your eye.
Excellence!

For a small little book store they have a great selection! I think I saw about ten different books I wanted within 5 minutes of stepping in the store. It’s a nice place to browse and find something unexpected yet interesting. I’ll be back!

Talking leaves is such a great place to get lost in a book. It’s nice to pick one up and read on their front patio with a cup of coffee from Caffe Aroma. I’ve spent many summer afternoons there. It’s also greta because they are a ‘cellphone free zone’ I always put mine away and get lost in a book.

Their mag rack features a total ban on opinions to the right of The Economist. This is probably a plus for most of their patrons.

This is a terrific bookstore, as is its sister store on Main Street.
They have such a wide selection of books, are able to order things if needed, the staff are very polite and they know ALOT, which is great too. Every time I go to either location I wind up having a great experience. They can give ideas, offer opinions and generally make the overall purchasing process a pleasant one.
I do wish they had a comfortable place to sit and read a book if that’s what you are into. On occasion, we go to B&N because they have such nice seating areas and chairs throughout. I am sure there are good reasons not to have them, but I’d be inclined to go there and browse more (likely buying more as a result) if we could sit comfortably.
My other downside to this location is the parking, which can be very hit or miss.

They nail it. Staff, selection, layout– you name it. I have been a member for years.
I have gone in repeatedly and described someone so that a staff member could suggest a book to give. Every one of them listens, thinks and has a great suggestion. You can go in and describe a book review you read or heard two years ago and the staff will ask each other until they find it.
Amazon can eat my toe-​cheese.
This is the bookstore to go to.

I love this bookstore. Everyone is so helpful & knowledgeable. If I want to get a book for someone, they can help me choose just the right one.
If they don’t have a book in stock, they will order it.
If I don’t remember the title of the book I want, I can sometimes just describe it and they know what I’m talking about.

This is a wonderful little bookstore. It is always a pleasure to go into Talking Leaves, and I have been going for a long time now (Elmwood & Main). I love walking around and looking at books in fun bookstores for like HOURS, and then finally to make that special purchase. I am a book lover, and this place has a sincere place in my heart. Great staff, great selections. I have found some really cool graphic novels too!

Nice little bookstore with friendly staff and a surprisingly good selection. I was looking for a very specific type of calendar (in June — not typical calendar buying time) and the guy behind the counter realized that they had just received a shipment that might fit the bill. He dug through some boxes and instantly found me exactly what I was looking for.
My only small complaint — I wish he had told me about becoming a member before I bought my book. I would have joined. $ 10 a year for 10% off all purchases.
Love supporting the local bookstores and so glad that there is a bookstore on Elmwood.

A great satellite location for Bflo’s best bookstore! It’s in the perfect spot near the corner of Elmwood & Bidwell, close to some great cafes. Don’t miss a chance to shop there. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS.