1424 Route 9, Lake George, NY
The Lake George branch of this regional chain is located in the busy outlet mall just south of the village on Route 9. Tucked in amongst stores offering discounted designer jeans and sunglasses, this bookshop feels neither indie (it isn’t, really) not quaint (it’s pretty expansive inside) but it does offer a huge discount on what initially seems like remaindered extras, but the offerings were better than the castoffs I expected.
The store is one huge room with aisles and displays spaced out to allow for large crowds of book hunters. It was only moderately busy on the day we visited, which was nice considering the pandemic. The spacious rows of shelves allowed for a very casual browsing session without having to twist and weave around other shoppers.
The majority of the books were hardcovers, and most of those were relatively recent releases, or were newer editions of old classics. They had multiple copies of most titles, so there’s little chance on someone swiping that last copy of that new Harlan Coben thriller or the latest Stephen King collection. The fiction sections mostly focused on those big name, mass-market authors, as well as a bunch of “unknowns” (to me) who dovetail that James Patterson or Michael Connelly style. If that’s your game, be ready to stock up.
The nonfiction sections had a wider range of offerings, with a healthy selection of history, biographies, memoirs, health and fitness, technology, gaming, graphic novels, manga, cookbooks, sports, and more. There’s a huge chunk of the shop dedicated to children’s books, YA, picture books, and displays for Star Wars books, educational titles, etc. You’ll find most of those in the back.
I found some great hardcover collections of poetry and short stories too, including a massive collection by Mary Oliver that I hadn’t see before. It’s the kind of bulky hardcover collection that was probably at Barnes & Noble for $28 at one point, then $14, and then it came to the Book Warehouse where I grabbed it for around $5. That’s a steal, and this is where you’ll want to go for those kinds of discounts.
Seriously, there were bins of books marked down 80% throughout the shop. There were also tables with discounts like “$7.99 each or 3 for $20” for hardcovers and “$5.99 each or 4 for $20” for paperbacks. The deals are pretty stellar and I had a hard time keeping my purchases to one armload. What the shop lacks in indie credibility and quaintness, it makes up for in discounts, so if you come, be prepared with a bag or two. You might need them on your way out the door.
Atmosphere — A bright, spacious store with wide aisles and numerous bins and tables dedicated to deep discounts on recent bestsellers. The shop seemed to attract mostly outlet mall shoppers and those visiting the nearby Lake George village, a summertime hotspot
Quality — The books are all pretty much new, not quite remaindered but obviously overflow stock that didn’t sell elsewhere. But none looked “used” so that’s a plus.
Quantity — They have a huge selection of books. You’ll be browsing for a good long while.
Diversity — This shop hits most of the usual categories, with plenty of fiction, history, and a wide array of nonfiction.
Affordability — The discounts are why you come to a bookshop like this. You’re taking advantage of those books on the edge of remaindering, so grab them while you can.
Amenities — Not many. Since you’re there for the books, but there are lots of other shops nearby.
Location — You’re a short drive from Lake George village and the major highway in the area, I-87, so it’s not too far off the beaten path. I visited in the summer and it was pretty busy in the outlet mall area.
Customer Service — For a chain store, the staff were actually very personable and friendly, and they seemed to be having a good time greeting each customer as they checked out.
Overall — The name says it all: this cavernous warehouse of discounted books is where you want to go to stock up before a summer full of vacations, or a winter full of hibernating. With books as much as 80% off, your arms are sure to get a workout when you leave the store with a stack of books for just a few bucks.
