607 Main Street, Hobart, NY

Every bookshop has a unique angle that sets it apart. Some focus on the regional or local aspects of their town, some are housed in rustic barns, others highlight dramatic playwrights and the theater. Creative Corner Books in Hobart has two such unique angles: one I was able to explore during my visit, and one I will be eager to investigate once their sister shop next door is open and ready for book hunters.

The main shop is just one room, but this room is bright and cozy and feels like the kind of space you’d like to be in during a cool autumn day or a wintery snowstorm, reading and crafting through the afternoon. The room is filled from floor to ceiling with books that explore cooking, baking, deserts, drinks, and other culinary topics. I found a lot of classic titles (who can go wrong with a pristine edition of The Joy of Cooking?) but just as many bright, new hardcovers with fresh takes on everything from French cuisine to cookies to making your own sausage at home. There were cookbooks by famous chefs and newcomers alike, and for a small space it felt as if the shop covered a lot of ground in the culinary world.

But the shop was more than just food and cooking titles. There were just as many books about crafting, quilting, sewing, knitting, woodworking, home decoration, gardening, remodeling, basically anything that keeps your hands busy crafting and creating in your home, kitchen, or garden. The shop also has some gifts, clothing, bags, and stickers, and a few other gifty coffee table books. I bought one of those, a book about “book towns” around the world, places where bookshops outnumber cafes and gas stations, which of course includes Hobart. It was the perfect book for someone who loves traveling the country looking for towns just like Hobart, and I’m sure you’ll find something for yourself in this shop too.

But coming soon is the sister shop next door: New York Books and Ephemera. Now I didn’t get to explore this one yet, but the details sound intriguing. The shop plans to offer new, used, and vintage books relating to New York state, covering topics like NY architecture, sports, arts and culture, cities, nature, folklore, history, and of course fiction about NY and/or by New Yorkers. This sounds like a lot of fun and I can’t wait to take a look. In fact, the shop might be open by the time this post goes live, so if you go I’d love to know what you think!

Atmosphere — You know that one bookshelf in your mom’s kitchen filled with cookbooks and recipes? Imagine that one shelf was a full room stuffed with books!

Quality — The books all looked to be either new or in very good shape.

Quantity — They have a load of books packed into a single room, with a couple tables and carts too.

Diversity — This shop focuses on crafts and cooking, but the book I bought had nothing to do with either so you never know what you’ll find.

Affordability — New books were listed for very fair prices, and even the like-new book I bought was a bit cheaper than expected.

Amenities — They did offer tea, which I imagine would be lovely had it been a cool autumn day.

Location — Hobart is about a half hour south of Cobleskill and wasn’t too hard to find. I approached the town from the north and this shop was on the far end of town on the right.

Customer Service — The woman I spoke to was incredibly friendly and helpful!

Overall — This shop is bound to have something for someone in your life—maybe even for you! Between all the crafting and cooking books, this is the type of shop that will inspire you to run home and accomplish something, only after you finished reading your new purchases.