Whenever I go to NYC I ALWAYS stop at The Strand. They say they have 18 miles of books. They do have one of the larger selections of books at any bookstore I have been to in the United States. They have 2.5 used and new books. This is a a cool destination for a trip. You can spend an entire day in this bookstore and there are tons of places to each within walking distance and lots of other stuff to do. The instant my wife starts planning a trip to NYC city I start planning how all of the others things we have to do can fit around my day at The Strand.
Their main store is located at the corner of 12th Street and Broadway. They have a kiosk at Central Park located at 60th Street and 5th Avenue directly across from the Pierre Hotel.
In addition to an incredible collection of books at great prices they also have a full slate of author/speakers at their store.
Here is their story in their own words.
Where it all began: Bound by a Family
The Strand was born in 1927 over on Fourth Avenue on what was then called ”Book Row”. Book Row covered six city blocks and housed forty-eight bookstores. Ben Bass, the father, was all of twenty-five years old when he began his modest used bookstore. An entrepreneur at heart, a reader by nature, this erudite man began with $300 dollars of his own and $300 dollars that he borrowed from a friend. Ben sought to create a place where books would be loved, and book lovers could congregate. He named his bookstore after the London street where avant-garde writers like Thackeray, Dickens and Mill once gathered and interesting book publishers thrived. The Strand quickly became a Greenwich Village institution where writers went to converse, sell their books and find a hidden treasure to buy. Today, the Strand is the sole survivor of Book Row’s colorful past.
Ben’s son, Fred, by the age of thirteen was learning the family business. He too a lover of books took quickly to the book trade. After Fred completed a tour of duty in the Armed Forces, he came home to New York where he worked side-by-side with his father. By 1957, Fred moved the store just around the corner, to our current space at 12th Street and Broadway. Fred came to spend most of his time at the buying desk, cultivating relationships with regulars and scoping out the next great find…
The next in the Bass family to take to the business was Fred’s daughter, Nancy. After college and a short stint in Louisiana, she came back to her roots and joined the Strand team at the age of 25. Today, she co-manages the store with her father. The jury’s still out on whether one, two or all three of Nancy’s kids will be next in line to join the Strand team.
Where we stand today: Guided by the Customer
Today, the Strand carries over 2.5 million used, new and rare books, covering topics as far-ranging as occult to philosophy to finance. The store also offers an ever-changing array of literary gifts and goods from Moleskines to coffee mugs, and everything in-between. Really, we mean everything in-between from a Shakespeare insult mug to the wildly popular Strand onesie.
Our employees are not only knowledgeable about books; they’re also passionate about them. Not only can they help you find a book, they can also recommend something you might love if you give them a quick description of your literary tastes. With our famous dollar carts outside you can always find a gem, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a hidden treasure inside the store — like a beautiful Rabelais for $15. Strand continues to house old treasures for reasonable prices while providing one of the largest, most diverse selections of books in the country.
Our in-store events feature some of today’s most interesting and provocative personalities from James Franco to Patti Smith to dialogues between such greats as Junot Diaz and Hilton Als to Robert Caro and Frank Rich. If you are looking for a relaxed, intimate evening where you’ll both be engaged and entertained, we have the programming for you.
Where we’re going: Driven by You
In all seriousness, at the Strand, you, our booklovers, are our number one priority. As we change and grow with the times, we will never lose sight of our roots – we are a community bookstore first and foremost. We are forever invested in you and want to make your shopping experience with us a memorable, enjoyable and easy one. The Strand is a place where books are loved and book lovers of all kind are always welcome—
Darrell Griffin 