698 Main Street, Hobart, NY

Hobart has taken on almost mythical qualities in the bookshop hunting and bookworm circles I know. I have heard tales of the little village tucked away in the western Catskills for years now, stories of streets full of bookshops, and the shop listings I found online seem to vary depending on the source. Are there only four or five shops? Seven or more? Even after my trip I can’t quite tell, but I can say this: there are a surprising number of bookshops in Hobart, and the shops cover a wide range of literary needs. Each one has something special and unique to set it apart, and Blenheim Hill Books was one of my favorites, probably because it reminded me of a couple other shops I love.

Upon walking in the front door, it struck me how similar this shop is in layout and presentation to Catnap Books in Cobleskill, which isn’t too far away, just a half hour or so. The front desk just to the right is surrounded by notable staff picks and collectors editions and sets of older books. To the left of the front door I found a section for children’s books, with a fair amount of picture and board books, YA, and educational titles beside sections for cooking, gardening, biographies, and a cozy chair perfect for sitting and paging through a possible purchase.

There’s a wall of fiction leading into the back and this had a very nice array of new and old, both paperback and hardcover. This led into a rear room where the fiction wrapped around with sections for mystery and crime. I took my time in this section, surrounded by red, wide-slatted walls and a slightly creaking floor that makes a bookshop feel cozy. There were classics and brand new bestsellers all mixed in together, and the prices were fair. The books I checked were anywhere from a third to half off the sticker price.

The following rooms wrapping around contained everything from religion, history, fishing, travel, language, and essays, which is where I found a great collection by Sam Shepherd I bought. The hall leading back up to the front has little nooks off on each side that contained a large poetry section with lots of chapbooks and lit journals, a section for women’s studies, sexuality, African American studies, and more.

The staff were very friendly and took all precautions to make the transaction safe. If I didn’t have numerous more bookshops to look into I would have spent much more time here. Hobart can count its stars to have so many bookshops in walking distance, but any town would be lucky to have a single shop like Blenheim Hill Books.

Atmosphere — A cozy used bookshop with homey, welcoming feel. The shop is quiet and relaxed but the offerings are diverse enough to make any bookworm excited.

Quality — The books are used, though some looked rather new and recent, with some paperbacks and hardcovers that were only just on the bestsellers list. Though in general the editions are a variety of late 20th century to current.

Quantity — They have a good deal of books here, a few rooms full with floor to ceiling shelves in most sections.

Diversity — This shop hits most of the major categories, with a heavier focus on fiction, bio, classics, and a healthy dose of women’s studies and sexuality.

Affordability — New books are discounted, some more than others. I saw a few newer paperbacks in the $5 to $10 range and some newer hardcovers in the $10 to $20 range.

Amenities — There are some chairs but you’re mostly there to browse.

Location — This was the first shop I saw driving into town, right in the center of the strip of stores. There’s street parking right out front.

Customer Service — The woman running the desk was very friendly and helpful.

Overall — This shop is the kind any village would want, with a variety of genres and topics that have new and older editions to scour through for gems and must-have editions. It’s a relaxing, all-purpose used bookstore that I would be happy to explore again.