St Marks Bookshop

This business is due to PERMANENTLY CLOSE on February 28, 2016. Sources:
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I frequented the old location, which had an impressive book collection. When it’s original location closed, I was very sad. Recently, I visited the new location and was disappointed. The book selection isn’t varied and actually, not many books to choose from. I hope they change things around.

As someone who loved their former life, I was grossly disappointed by their reincarnation here in this isolated location. I still would be adamant to support them only if the store were more into it. Apparently they weren’t. Now their function seems to be way reduced into a neighborhood amenity in the hip area rather than a leading bookseller in lower Manhattan and the cultural staple as it used to be. I surely was devastated by their disappearance from the original location but somehow counted on their make-​over. Now the store turned out something rather like a little stretch of a kiosk stand for the remnant of what they once had and lots of zines, which was fine with me but this made me wonder if they had gone non-​profit.
The clerks were amateurish and engaging in their private talk than making the most of their opportunities to operate the actual store here in the new site. The selection of titles they carry seemed random and not necessarily up-​to-​date. This might be a result of their ordering being very limited and random. I had to go back to the chain store to grab a copy of a new and well circulated title. By then, I could no longer remember what I had trekked to here for.

I have been going to the St. Marks Bookshop for a very looooooooong time. I remember their location on St. Marks Place and their newest location on East 3^rd Street now hosts readings by authors.
I attended a reading by Arthur Nersesian, author of «Gladyss of the Hunt» last year, which was a great experience.
The bookshop is also known for its eclectic zines and limited edition artist books.

This is my absolute favorite bookstore in New York City! They have a great selection and I am committed to shopping at the independent bookstores in this city as they are a dying breed. I have special ordered books on a few occasions and they were in the store within a week. The staff is very knowledgable and helpful at making suggestions. I highly recommend St Mark’s!

I love having another bookstore in the neighborhood. It’s not as big as the old St. Marks, and frankly I hope it’s going to make it in this location. A bit hidden and not many people there when I pass by or stop in. So… go and buy something and support brick and mortar bookstores!!!

St. Marks is a small bookshop that is organized in a very peculiar way. The place is cute and has a cool modern design. However, it isn’t easy to find what you are looking for and the staff doesn’t seem very willing to help with suggestions. I doubt I’ll make the journey out to the east village for this bookshop again.

It was easier to put up with the snobby staff when this was one of the city’s best bookstores. Now, not so easy. When I went, the place was deserted and the staff were too busy gossiping about someone’s drinking problem to even say a word to me as I was making my purchase.
At the old store, I would have forgiven this, but now in its new, reduced space, with strange organization and a limited selection, a visit here is almost depressing. Its sad to see this giant fall.

Went in here for the first time a couple of days ago as I was ambling around lower Manhattan. I should probably preface this by stating that I didn’t visit St Mark’s at its old location, so people reading this review should bear that in mind. That being said, I was impressed by the new setup.
This bookstore has a thoroughly modern, sleek look to it, and provides a reasonably good selection considering its size. Speaking of that, the range is quite broad as well, covering everything from midlist to best-​sellers to more esoteric volumes. There’s also a large shelf devoted to philosophical and literary magazines, for you urban sophisticates out there.
Definitely worth visiting for any bibliophile living in or visiting the City.