120 Main Street, Nyack, NY

On a warm spring afternoon, on my birthday in fact, I discovered Big Red Books tucked into a string of cafes, bars, and restaurants in the heart of Nyack, NY, a charming and walkable town overlooking the Hudson River at what most people in the area still call the Tappan Zee Bridge. I had just wandered through a delightful landslide of a used bookstore (more on that in another review) and was very happy to see Nyack also had a bright, organized, and well-appointed new bookshop. We only had a few minutes to wander before the shop closed, but Big Red did not let us down.

The shop consists of a single room divided by displays, shelves, and a large red couch set halfway back in the room, serving as the store’s namesake. The good weather and inviting front window brought in quite a good number of book browsers, and the shop felt alive and brimming with activity, even at the end of the day. Tall bright bookshelves lined the wall to the left all the rear of the shop, full of new and popular fiction titles, as well as a tall shelf of poetry just past the couch.

Further in the rear of the shop I found all sorts of memoirs, art and music offerings, children’s books, local fare, gifts, YA, horror, sci-fit, fantasy, and much more. Just inside the shop to the right were the new selections of fiction and nonfiction, along with cards, pens, more gifts, tables with prize-winning books, shirts and pens, a nice mix of things you’d find in much larger chain bookstores and items that uniquely pertain to local interests.

The shop appears designed to hold events too, and one passing through should check their listings. With the big red couch as a backdrop and plenty of places to eat and drink nearby, I imagine it’s a stellar location to launch a book. But even if you’re just passing through looking for an extra summer read as I was, this shop is a perfect. Robust enough to offer you a wide variety of options, small enough to be in and out and back onto your downtown stroll. Well worth the visit if you’re in town.

Atmosphere — A clean, organized, bright shop that is aesthetically pleasing to wander and filled with new and bestselling titles that will satisfy almost any reader, not to mention a lovely couch in the heart of all things.

Quality — All new titles in high quality condition throughout.

Quantity — There’s an appropriate amount of books for a shop this size, all displayed with organization and care, nothing cluttered or in disarray.

Diversity — This shop hits most of the usual categories, with plenty of fiction, art, bestselling recent nonfiction, and children’s fare in the back.

Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced.

Amenities — You’ll find gifts, a place to sit, occasional events, and plenty of nearby eateries and shops.

Location — Right on Main Street in downtown Nyack. It’s a wonderfully walkable town and the shop is right across from an open plaza and a supermarket.

Customer Service — The man who rang me up noted that he recently read the Baldwin collection I bought and pointed out a key story or two for me. Very friendly and helpful.

Overall — This shop was a wonderful discovery in a town I already found charming, and it pairs well with the other nearby used bookshop to cover any bookworm’s needs. Stop in, grab some books and merch, and enjoy a stroll through town with beautiful views of the Hudson.