6 Church Street, New Paltz, NY
As noted in a previous review, New Paltz has a unique “bookstore block,” in that both of the town’s indie bookshops are located directly across the street from each other right downtown. Directly across from Barner Books is Inquiring Minds, housed in a brick building and a bright red ground-floor exterior with $1 bookshelves built right into the wall. There were also display tables outside with large coffee table books on discount. Once inside, I realized the shop’s offerings were almost as expansive as the other location I reviewed up in Saugerties, NY.
To attempt to break the shop down into clearly defined genre shelves or categories is foolish, as the rows, aisles, pathways, and displays all twist and turn in and out of each other. There’s a delightful haphazard feel to the shop, though it is certainly not disorganized. It’s just enveloping. You can easily get pulled into one corner of the shop or another and double back to find your way to the next, or figure-eight around long shelf rows, tables, and stacks piled up toward the back. It was a fun shop to browse through, very busy on the Saturday I visited, and I found a lot I liked.
There’s plenty of new release fiction up front, dissuading anyone from thinking this is only a used bookshop. There are plenty of topical nonfiction titles as well, covering social and political issues of the day. And even though there are new titles, discounts on newish and older editions are everywhere. I saw many a $5 shelf, quality used books with slashed prices mixed in with newer titles in sections like Adventure, Award Winning Reads, Rock & Folk, Gardening, LGBT Studies, Philosophy, Native American Studies, Literary Memoirs, and plenty of others. They have a large graphic novels section, children’s and YA, cooking, history, on and on. The shop is voluminous in scope and quantity, and it feels eclectic in its style, with all kinds of mismatched rugs, chairs, cut-out art, signage, etc. There are many shelves styled in rainbow patterns using the spines of the books too. The shop has a very fun, welcoming vibe.
Yet the shop feels much more geared toward browsing than the Saugerties shop, which almost feels designed to encourage people come and have a coffee, sit at a table, play games, write and work, stay a while. This shop is more for browsing, a quick rest, and exploration. And there’s plenty to explore, with gifts and records mixed in to the books. There’s a lot happening here and I encourage you to visit for yourself, set aside time to explore, and take your time doing it. The gems are there, you just need to allow them to find you!
Atmosphere — A twisty maze of a bookshop that is stacked floor to ceiling and wall to wall with books of all kinds, a colorful, bustling bookshop that draws you in.
Quality — There are older editions here, but nothing worn out and unworthy of finding a space on your shelf. And with older versions come the unique discoveries of editions you didn’t know even existed. Plenty of new releases too.
Quantity — A veritable trove.
Diversity — This shop hits all the usual categories, with plenty of fiction, history, graphic novels, cooking, children’s, and more.
Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced, nothing crazy, and you might pay more for a vintage or rare edition, and of course new book prices for brand new books.
Amenities — There are some stools and chairs scattered throughout, some gifts and records, otherwise you’re there to browse.
Location — Just off the main strip downtown, down onto Church Street.
Customer Service — There were a few staffers on hand who seemed busy and helpful, but I didn’t buy anything this trip.
Overall — This shop is loaded with affordable deals. While their Saugerties location entices you to settle in and stay a while, this one sends you browsing through rows and loops of books stacks and shelved every which way imaginable, and it just draws you in. A fun shop to browse and there are plenty of gems mixed in, so stop by the next time you’re in New Paltz.
