8 Federal St, Greenfield, MA
I drove to Greenville on a sunny spring morning, delighted to find not one but at least three indie booksellers open. The first one I stepped into was the delightful Federal Street Books, easy to spot by its stylish exterior design and large pillar signage out front. I also found a cart of dollar books out front, always a good sign, and things got even better when I stepped inside.
Federal Street Books has a bountiful mix of brand-new releases, like-new used, and vintage classics, especially those cool nostalgic fantasy and sci-fi paperbacks. There are displays and tables up front with newer titles and recent bestsellers, including a bunch that focus on current events and major social movements, all mixed in with indie-crafted gifts, in-store-shopping bags, and merch to take home.
The walls of books run the length of the shop, with all manner of shelves and displays in the middle, and the shop went back much further than I expected. I found everything from new horror from Stephen King to a first edition hardcover novelization of Raiders of the Lost Ark from the ‘70s—what a steal! There’s a lot to sift through here, with a huge general fiction section, a bunch of vintage editions of sci-fi and fantasy, Star Wars and Bradbury books, horror and mystery, classic literature and vintage editions, plays and poetry, a nook in the rear with children’s books of all sorts (picture, chapter, Nancy Drew, etc.), and a robust YA section covering the spectrum of childhood experiences.
And of course there’s plenty of nonfiction, essays and memoirs, biography and history, but the bulk of the story (at least in my wide, eager eyes) was the huge selection of fiction, especially genre fiction. The store is bigger than expected and I could have browsed for twice as long, but I had other shops to get to that day, so I made my purchases and moved on. But this was a real fun visit, with free facemasks and a sense of welcome that really stood out. If you go, be sure to check out the gifts and merch, they had a lot of interesting swag to bring home!
Atmosphere — One large room that keeps going and going, all the wonderfully mismatched shelves filled with new and used books, vintage too, and yet the shop doesn’t feel dusty and musty. It feels full of possibility.
Quality — Great balance between new and old, and the older editions are still in good shape.
Quantity — Stack and stacks, shelves and shelves, with books piled inside every which way.
Diversity — This shop is fairly diverse, with a good mix of genre and mainstream fiction and many of the nonfiction categories you’d expect, plus a nice children’s nook and YA section.
Affordability — The books were well priced, with an obvious increase for rarities. I purchased three for under $20.
Amenities — There are some stools and benches scattered throughout, merch up front, and some cafes nearby. Otherwise, you’re there to browse.
Location — Right in downtown Greenfield, half a block from the Main Street and Federal intersection.
Customer Service — Very friendly and helped a few other customers find books as I browsed.
Overall — A delight to shop and explore, with good deals around every turn. A great balance between old school indie bookshop with fresh voices displayed throughout. I came to Greenfield knowing there were a few bookstores to visit, but I started the day right by coming here. Highly recommended.
