139 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY
Tucked against Blackbird Bay at the southern end of Otsego Lake is the little town everyone this side of the International Date Line equates with baseball, Cooperstown, NY. And amongst all the little downtown shops and cafes replete with signage dedicated to America’s pastime and the hall of fame, there’s a used and antiquarian bookstore called Willis Monie Books, and for what it might lack in flash and pizazz, it more than makes up for in quantity and quality.
The shop itself may not be so obvious from the street. Through a couple sets of doors and down a hall (where you’ll find some deeply discounted books along one wall) is the shop itself, not exactly hidden but tucked back in the building. But once you find it, there’s no concealing the trove in store for book hunters. Of course the shop has plenty of books on baseball, its history and its more notable figures (or as I call them, “baseballers,” being a nerd who hasn’t paid attention to the sport since the tender age of nine), but it has much more than that. Piled high on tables, on counters, on the floor, and jammed into shelves every which way, the books both old and new (though skewing older in many sections) fill at least three, large, well-lit rooms.
There’s an order to the warren of aisles and nooks, but it is easy to weave from one section to the next and find yourself back in the first again. If you’re looking for a specific vintage or antique title, the staff will be able to help, but this feels more like the kind of shop where a good book finds you rather than the other way around. So be open minded, browse slowly, and get ready to sift and twist and reach and browse some more. They cover almost everything, from sports to religion, birding to gardening, science and theater, maritime to psychology, rarities and a fair number of more recent titles in the fiction and mystery sections.
The history section in one back room was robust, covering America’s wars, expansion west, presidents, and then venturing into Russia, Asia, European countries, Central America, and elsewhere. The mystery/thriller section is mostly hardcovers of the big names, your usual array of Patterson, Childs, Evanovich, Cussler, and others. There’s some sci-fi, poetry, and children’s books mixed in, plenty of mainstream literature with more recent editions, and then classics in American, British, French, and other literary entries from around the world.
I found a few books to take home and could have stayed longer, but that just means I’m leaving myself room for a return trip. Considering it was my first visit to Cooperstown since my sixth grade field trip with my grandpa, I’m due a few more visits. If you’re in the area, this will be a fun used bookshop to visit.
Atmosphere — A horde of books packed into a few windowless rooms, with books piled on every surface you see, including the floor.
Quality — There are older editions here, ranging from the well-read and careworn to high quality vintage. But there are newer editions as well. I found an early hardcover edition of Steinbeck in excellent shape, well worth the price.
Quantity — They have a load of books packed into just a few rooms. A veritable trove.
Diversity — This shop hits most of the usual categories, with plenty of fiction, history, and a wide array of nonfiction.
Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced (my hardcover Steinbeck was under $10), with an obvious increase for rarities.
Amenities — There are some stools scattered throughout, and some cafes nearby. Otherwise, you’re there to browse.
Location — Right on the main street downtown, right beside the Doubleday Field parking area.
Customer Service — There were three men at desks working away on piles of books, and they seemed very helpful.
Overall — This shop is loaded with treasures to explore in the middle of a cute town calling out to summertime visitors, just a short walk away from a very pretty lake. What more could one ask for in a day trip? Stop in and start browsing! They also have an online shop to check out!
