Montclair Book Center

Really quite an amazing bookstore with a million nooks and crannies. Great selection. Prices are OK.

Best used book store in New Jersey, bar none. Largest shelf space, most eclectic mix sorted by interest. Rare and collectibles are impressive. New hardcover book stacks are decent broad selection. This is one of only two book stores in the entire state that are actually worth traveling to see. Only the Strand in NYC has a wider selection, and it's much pricier. Nothing like this in Westchester, Nassau, Greenwich, Rockland, Brooklyn or Queens. Add to that its location on the best street for reviewed Restaurants in New Jersey. Parking is easy in the Muni lot across the street. Go be welcomed and inspired. If you can't find something here that you need but never knew existed, you're illiterate.

Pro:
-Great selection of books, easy to get lost in

Con:
-Unpredictable attitudes of staff (one day they are nice and helpful, another they are rude, pompus, and don't pay attention when they are making change) This mostly applies to the older gentlemen with the long white hair.

Neutral:
-Some prices are reasonable, some are a little outrageous, depends what you are looking for.

----I have come to this store a few times, and usually had a good experience. You have a large selection of books to choose from, some of the prices are alright if you want it then and now, and some just seem really off. You can easily just get lost in looking through all they have.
----Although, sometime I just want to see if they have a few books in stock instead of spending a large amount of time of sorting through all the different sections trying to find it, this is where the staff, especially the gentleman with the long white hair, can get unpredictable. Some days they are fully willing to help you find the book by checking in the computer to see if its in stock, and even go to the section with you to help find it, and some days they just don't seem to want to help you with anything, and even get rude, like recently i had a list of 3 or 4 books I wanted to see if they had, since I wanted to get in and out of the place, and the man with the long white hair got a little rude with me after the 2nd book i listed off and said "why don't you go check the section yourself."
----Also, on this same day, when I was paying for 3 books I had wanted, the total came to 11.25, I gave him 21.25 so I could get a 10$ bill back. He was not paying attention and gave me 2 cents, I told him I gave him 20 and a 1, he then took the change back and gave me $8, and I told him again he gave me the wrong change, but he raised his voice a little and said he did give me the right change. I persisted for about a minute and explained what I gave him and he kept saying he was right, even though he was already wrong, but I just said fine and grabbed my purchases and left. I wasn't mad that I was out 3 dollars, i was mad at the fact that he goes from treating customers with respect one day, and treats them like crap another out of nowhere, and then the customer pays for their incompetence.
----This place is nice just to get lost in and find some good old books you may not find in a large chain store, and sometimes for a reasonable price. Although, I say be a little wary of the staff, as their attitudes can be unpredictable, and make sure they pay attention the amount you are giving them so you do not get robbed like I did.

This bookstore has great prices for the savvy shopper. The selections of books range from classics to a various range of subjects. The prices are better than B&N and very easy to get there. The staff are knowledgable and there's always a sale when you pre-order a book. It may not be a chain-mega book store but this little wonder has much to offer in price and variety.

Tired of your local ersatz Barnes/Noble and/or Boredom, I mean Borders? Where the stock is based on precalculated demographs and the used books are nothing you want to read? Then make the trip to this place. Great stock, rarities, good prices, personality. Condusive to browsing and even hanging out. Like the old Gotham Bookmart, chances are something may be revealed to you. Frequently rotating stock as well. ++