121 Market Street, Northampton, MA
How much more convenient can a bookstore be than three doors down from our Airbnb, which was also a two-minute walk from the heart of downtown? Yet the block and the shop itself felt pleasantly quiet, quaintly set back from the hustle and bustle, allowing for a leisurely browse through the narrow aisles stacked and jammed with books. The number of books they have piled about in this small shop is impressive, and I thoroughly enjoyed taking a look!
Gabriel Books is one of those classic used bookstores where there are gems around every turn, older editions and hard to find copies of books that may be out of print, or at least certainly not available in big box stores. But none of them felt tattered or thread-worn. The older books feel like well preserved gifts rather than cast-offs or flotsam. And there are plenty of newer titles as well. I picked up a pristine paperback copy of On Looking: A Walkers Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandria Horowitz for a mere few dollars, as just one example.
And as for what subjects, they cover all the classic categories. Beyond fiction and classic literature, there’s poetry, theater, history (American, European, and beyond), black studies, all manner of transportation, travel, sociology, war, art, education, architectural studies, you name it. Books are piled on the floor in each section, and there are sub-sub-categories in little nooks and endcaps. In the very back there’s a small half-off section for deeply discounted used books, which looked to be a solid mix of all offerings.
I had a quick and pleasant conversation up front as the shopkeep tallied up my purchases, and she mentioned they also do book appraisals and purchase quality used books if you are looking to unburden yourself, so keep that in mind if you’re local.
Overall, it’s just a great used bookshop, the kind with that perfect used book smell that isn’t musty but is filled with nostalgia, the books are shelved horizontally here and vertically there, stacked along the floor, not quite haphazard but the feeling that the shop has reached and surpassed a “standing room only” capacity. One of those small but mighty bookstores that adds a vital literary temperament to any town.
Atmosphere — A cozy and delightfully cluttered used bookshop with piles and stacks everywhere you look, floor to ceiling, but there’s a sense of comfort and coordination too.
Quality — There are older editions here, ranging from the well-read and lightly worn to high quality vintage, as well as newer paperbacks.
Quantity — They have a load of books packed into one room. A veritable trove.
Diversity — This shop hits the usual categories, with plenty of fiction, history, art, and more. Again, skews older but you’ll find newer copies of certain things throughout.
Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced for a used shop. I bought 3 books for under $20.
Amenities — They appraise and buy, but otherwise you’re there to browse.
Location — Market Street is minutes from downtown by foot. I’d even say it is still “downtown” as right around the corner is the heart of Northampton.
Customer Service — The shopkeep was very friendly and easygoing.
Overall — A quintessential used bookstore with as many hard-to-find gems as newer overlooked editions, not to mention an array of vintage items you may not see anywhere else. There’s one room to explore but an ocean of books inside, so be prepared for a fun and immersive browsing session.
