The Strand

The Strand Review

Opened in 1927, and still run by the same family, this monstrous book emporium—home to 2 million volumes and "18 Miles of Books"—is a symbol of a bygone era, a mecca for serious bibliophiles, and a local institution. The store has survived the Great Depression, World War II, the competition of a giant Barnes & Noble bookstore a few blocks away, and the tremendous shift in how readers are consuming literature. The Strand has also survived the challenges of being an intellectual oasis as well as a profit-making machine. The stock includes both new and secondhand books, plus thousands of collector's items. A separate rare-book room is on the third floor and closes at 6:20 daily. Check out the basement, with discounted, barely touched reviewers' copies of new books, organized by author. If you're looking for souvenirs, visit the New York tables at The Strand; you'll find New York-centric literature, poetry, history, photography, and cookbooks, as well as T-shirts, gadgets, and totes.