2710 Route 9, Hudson, NY (according to Google, but it’s really in Livingston, NY)
Finding this shop was as much of an adventure as exploring it, but once you’re there you’ll find shacks and barns and outbuildings full of books, art, and music, with plenty of rare and one-of-a-kind gems tucked into the eclectic mix. Keep an eye out for the signs though, as I passed it by twice in my search. But as soon as I parked on the grass I thought, “Goldmine!”
The little red shack out front also has a year-round bookcase that you can browse without going inside, and you leave money in an envelope. But the shacks are all open in the summer so I went in and found the rooms empty of customers and full of AC on a hot 90 degree day during a pandemic: perfect. The first shack had loads and loads of nonfiction, from history and film to maps and poetry, with a little DVD section and boxes of old photos and prints. The books ranged from old editions you just won’t find elsewhere to newer titles, some even about Donald Trump, so you know they’re keeping up with recent releases. Just know the books do generally skew toward older and classic titles.
The next shack I found had three “rooms” with separate entrances for each. The mix in here is split 50/50 between nonfiction and fiction. One room had a lot of gardening, design, science, and animals, among other topics. The second room has classic literature with some collector’s editions and sets, though there are more nonfiction titles here too. The third room was the general and literary fiction, with brand new titles mixed in with old favorites. There’s some mystery and signed editions in here too.
In the back there’s another barn with an open-air children’s nook full of picture books, YA, middle readers, and educational titles. I even found two exact copies of books I had as a kid in excellent shape. The prices are so low that I could have done all of my Christmas shopping here for my many nieces and nephews for $10, no problem.
The next larger (and more organized) barn was mostly memoirs and biographies, just an absolute a ton of them in here covering all manner of literary and historical greats. In the back row there were also sci-fi and fantasy paperbacks, pulps, and magazines in pretty good shape considering how far they dated back.
The lasts section I explored was the music room in the bog main house. This was stuffed with old vinyl and CDs, mostly covering classical and orchestral music, though there was some folk, broadway, a tiny bit of jazz, and a smattering of more recent pop singers, with far more recent releases in the CD section. But if you’re looking for the great composers on vinyl, no one I’ve seen yet has more. And they were in decent shape too.
Overall, this was a fun time, and the casual, welcoming aura made for an excellent book browsing session. If you go, be good and pay on the honor system, and leave a little extra if you can. Gems like this deserve to stick around for as long as we can hold on to them!
Atmosphere — A series of tiny shacks, barns, and outbuildings chock full of books in a wonderfully haphazard (though sometimes very organized) manner.
Quality — The quality covers three general ranges from newer books in good shape, older books in well-kept “collector” shape, or older editions of books with moderate use. Some of the trade paperbacks and children’s books obviously have more wear and tear than the hardcovers.
Quantity — There are tons of books here, though some sections are smaller than others.
Diversity — You’ll find almost anything and everything in one of these shacks, but they do lean heavily toward nonfiction, memoir, and classical vinyl in the music room.
Affordability — New books are extremely affordable, with the kids section as low as six books for a buck. I bought six books for four dollars. I left a couple more bucks as a tip (it’s a honor payment system).
Amenities — The shacks have AC in the summer and there are stools and chairs in each, with a couple sitting areas outside, but you’re there to explore more than hang out.
Location — From Albany it took me about an hour driving south through Columbia and Dutchess Counties. It’s not too far south from Hudson, in a village called Livingston, and I missed it once so keep an eye out for the signs as you drive along Route 9.
Customer Service — I didn’t meet the owners as it was a honor system payment.
Overall — This shop is a real adventure, both finding it and exploring it. Moving room from room, shack to shack, there are enough books and hidden gems to keep you browsing for a long time. An absolute must for any bookworm looking for a unique experience.
