Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers

Really enjoyed browsing through their store! They have a good collection of both new and old books despite its smaller size compared to larger book stores. I was a big fan of their art section!

Good solid bookstore, particularly on the new-​book front. Used section isnt really the focus. But good arent book selection, overall well curated place.

Spoonbill is located along a well-​traveled stretch of Bedford Ave, and it will certainly be easy to find. When you enter from the street, there is a diverse magazine selection to your right — the offerings are worth a rifling-​through. As you move further into the store, the different genres of books are marked on the shelves. Despite these labels, the overall set-​up of these sections lacks organizational flow, and it might take a few rounds of the store before you get a good idea of where things are. Though the selection is not vast, Spoonbill carries interesting titles from well-​known authors and lesser-​known ones. It didn’t have the book I had in mind (a Calvino), but after some perusing I found one of interest. When I went to go purchase it, I was attended to immediately by a nice woman working the counter. Spoonbill accepts credit cards, making this bookstore more convenient than other independent establishments I have frequented.
If you are in the area, Spoonbill is worth a stop. However, if you’re in the city, I think you best stick with the Strand or other nearby bookstores.
Tips:
Take your time to rifle through new titles and authors
Head out the back exit/​entrance to check out some cool stores (thrift stores, ice cream, etc.)

The counter girl was crazy cute. Not that this is the reason to shop there, but. *shy wave* It didn’t hurt. I was just perusing the shelves, not committing myself. But the store is quirky enough to entice ya. A little Steampunk. Check. Some odd stationery. Check. Memoir. Check. Commuter Reading (Philosophy Books) Check.
This bookstore is a reason just to come on this side of town.

Had a $ 75 collectors edition of Wilhelm Reich’s The Mass Psychology of Fascism in the window. Didn’t want a $ 75 collector’s edition, wanted a «civilian» edition. I’m not that precious. Received heretofore the least helpful and quite frankly deliberately unhelpful and precious and hot house flower and unicorn precious snowflake answer from a book seller I’ve ever received in my entire life. My head is still spinning– you mean you actually don’t want to send out notifications to customers whenever you get the requested author in? «We aren’t that organized, we’re all over the place». You mean you don’t want me to give you money? How do you stay in business? (Curtly): «Have you tried The Strand? Reich isn’t that hard to find.» I’m stunned at the response, I just want the $%#ing book. ME: «It’s actually not that easy to find a decent copy– tons of editions that are falling apart, but a nice edition goes for even higher than the one in the window– You know he was persecuted heavily by the FBI and maybe they censored or prevented publishing houses from creating new editions of his work –» «Bookseller» cutting me off. clearly agitated: «YES, I KNOW THAT. We don’t have any other Reich.» Weirdest, curtest, most antithetical way to run a business I have ever seen. But it’s hipster Asperger’s Syndrome weird artist Williamsburg, Brooklyn where anti-​social behavior wins you brownie points (and possibly your own tv show), so there. Miserable experience. The guy working under the clearly senile owner looked absolutely miserable as well. He was very nice, but looked helpless to the tyranny that was his boss. I would too if I had to work with someone as rude and clearly insane as this guy. I did find a really good and interesting book on the cultural history of Budapest in 1900, but only because I literally stood around for ½ an hour waiting for the shop owner to stop chattering away with his background actors from the party scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So while he made a $ 9 sale on one book, he lost my business on what could have been at least one or two more– I would have bought ALOT more books if he hadn’t been so curt. I actually felt like he couldn’t wait to get me gone fast enough. I had harshed his mellow apparently. Perhaps he seems to think that nattering on about some obscure poet him and the Breakfast at Tiffany’s party goers only seem to know about makes them feel superior to all the unwashed plebes who have the audacity to frequent his establishment. The math does not compute whatsoever on the sales behavior of the owner– or whomever this guy was– and the rent in Williamsburg cannot for any reason account for why this place with its truly cruel– I mean Marquis de Sade gaslighting level of cruel and unusual service still stays in business. Normally I’d find it charming if I hadn’t felt like I’d literally just been verbally trampled by the owner. I guess mental instability and a true lack of awareness of common courtesy/​customer service has been the currency of Billyburg since I was priced out of living in the neighborhood in 2000. It’s not the old days, that’s for sure! Absolutely beautiful bookstore otherwise, surprisingly good collection of occult and esoteric material too. Too bad the petty tyrant behind the register is so unhelpful, cruel, and repellently weird.

I wanted to give this place more stars. They are a cute, quaint little bookstore in Williamsburg. I like that they keep the place small and personal. And they have a good selection for their size. Both new and used books so you can get some of both! The organization is good and they also have some fun NYC/​BK gift items that are great for the holidays or visitors.
My problem is the service. Every time I have been in they are not friendly, slow, and seem grumpy. Last time the guy was bickering on the phone the whole time he rang me up. He did apologize, but it wasn’t very sincere.
They do have a three legged cat there which makes me happy. Hopefully they can work on customer service so it matches the rest of the shop!

Great used book selection! Brooklyn can be iffy on used bookstores so it’s certainly nice to have a reliable store in the heart of Williamsburg. They have fiction and magazines as well as out of print monographs. Check out the glass case in the back for really special finds.

I’d read lots of the Unilocal reviews for this store — some of which were amusing and some of which «hit below the belt» — and they’re all over the map, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I finally got around to visiting the store yesterday and my overall impression was that it’s «o.k.» I didn’t end up buying anything and I didn’t need to ask any questions, therefore I can’t comment on the attitudes of the people who work there — although no one ever asked if they could help me/​etc. (admittedly the store was rather crowded).
The selection of books is quite eclectic and I give them credit for that. In terms of the hipster environment (which was mentioned in numerous reviews), I have mixed feelings; I’m not at all fond of hipsters (sorry if one of you is reading this) — but on the other hand, I like some aspects of how the neighborhood has evolved.
Anyway; this store is certainly worth visiting once, but I don’t feel really compelled to return.

The last bastion of cultural hope on Bedford Avenue. Best times to go are weekdays during the morning or the evenings after 8 pm, when you can really get lost in this incredibly curated selection of artist monographs, philosophical texts, countless small press publishers, and limited run magazines. The staff isn’t rude, AT ALL, and the reviews in this thread that mention and lament that do not take into account the sheer number of incredible assholes that now live in Williamsburg that moved here from their parents’ homeschooled McMansion upstate or from France or some shit that waltz inside here expecting a Barnes & fucking Noble. Stay strong Spoonbill. Please weather this storm, for the sake of all that is holy.

Is it Strand — absolutely not — not even in the same galaxy, but I’m writing the review because of the exceptional service the girl at the cashier gave myself and a friend after asking for Camus’ The Stranger — a work I teach and one my friend was interested in reading for the first time. Within a second of asking she knew where a copy was and showed my a quality Hardcover from the late 70’s that I eventually purchased for myself. Thank you! I always visit when in the old neighborhood.

Good book selection, gets super packed on weekends. They’re got some cute journals as well — typical moleskins, some unique ones as well (all girly looking).
Unfortunately, the guys aren’t the friendliest. When I ask questions, don’t sass at me as if my question was THAT outlandish. And if you don’t have what I’m looking for, perhaps adding an «I’m sorry» at the end may help out with better ratings.

I walked in looking for any used copies of Pynchon novels, which I was able to find.
They have an immense section on Murakami, stocking everything from his most popular work to his lesser known material. The store offers a wide selection of books ranging from philosophy to art/​music/​photography. Among it all is a plethora of interesting contemporary feminist novels. They have a nice selection of used novels (both in hardcover and paperback), all at a reasonable price.
People working there can be a bit cold, but they helped me in regards to any questions I had. A gorgeous store, if you’re in the neighborhood go ahead and drop in, you’ll surely find a book or two to keep you company.

Although Spoonbill & Sugartown has a good selection of art books and periodicals, it’s more or less on par with any other decent independent bookstore in Brooklyn (or downtown Manhattan even). It even has prerequisite resident cats that you can find snoozing on the stacks. Everything you need to create the perfect cozy nook for book lovers — except the people that work here aren’t very friendly at all. I don’t get it. I wish I could say that I drop by on the regular and the storekeepers recommend great books and it’s my favorite neighborhood spot, etc. I really want to love this place, but it hasn’t gotten any better/​worse over the years. BRB going on Amazon…

My four star rating is based solely on the fact that after searching for years (and I mean years) for the Codex Seraphinianus in the printed flesh to no avail, there it was… in all of it’s mystifying glory when I walked into Spoonbill & Sugartown for the first time, only two days after moving to Williamsburg.
If you are like me and are always on the look out for books of the unique and artistic variety, this is the place. However, if you want a welcoming environment to go along with it, you won’t find it here. It’s really quite a shame considering the intriguing collection of publications and books they carry. One would think the people working there would be a little less… I don’t know, prickish might be the word I’m looking for?
By the way, this is my first review on anything. So that’s gotta count for something.

I cannot believe what I heard at this bookstore the other night the older man who is probably the owner of the store, and I tried to forget but cannot hold back say something about this.
While I was at store on the past Sunday night, the guy started to talk about a girl who was in front of him about how asian woman like her fake their eye size by make up.
If he thought nobody could hear what he was talking, he must be having some problems with his year or something, I was 15 ft or more away from him who was seating behind the counter desk, and could clearly hear him, there is no way that she could not hear who was very close to the store counter.
I came in just to find a specific book that I thought they might carry, but the whole stereotypical and unnecessary conversation held in front of customers totally put my mood down.
Seriously I was so disappointed and disgusted for that the owner of the bookstore insult a lady in front of him so loudly, and seemed he did not realize at all he should have shut up.
It could be slightly better if he was just a man on street with no education, but hey he is an owner or worker of the book store, which seemed to be proud of what they have got there.

I swear I think the guy behind the counter tried to short change me last Friday. Gave him a 20 and got change for a 10. Pretty uncool. Otherwise it’s a nice combo of used, new, literature, art, and popular culture. My fav-​old mass market pulp fiction paperbacks too.

The woman working behind the counter should stick to working with books and not with people. The moment I walked in, I felt as though she was convinced I was going to steal something. When I explained I was looking for something by Baurdrillard, she corrected my pronunciation
I know how to speak French, bitch, but I’m not in France, I’m in Brooklyn: so cut me some slack. Not that she had any books by him in stock, anyway, so a simple «no» would have sufficed.
You wanna have a shade war? I can out shade you, Miss Havisham:
«How about books on cats. You look like the sort of woman who might know where I can find books about cats.»
Suffice to say things degenerated from there.
Despite the mothball stuffed biddy behind the counter, this bookstore had a really great selection of harder to find books: new, used, first editions, etc.

The guy working here was incredibly and unnecessarily rude to us. They have a nice selection of books, but we walked away on principle.
If I could give it zero I would, but one star for the cat.

These people are seriously rude. Or at least they were on the day I came in.
Either way, I won’t be back.

It’s as if this book store was made for my friends and I. Maybe it says something about the kind of people we are but this shop is filled with great books and journals that cover the likes of food cultivation, typography, philosophy, interior design and wine.
I could have spent hours here reading through and smelling the high quality paper of the journals and lusting after the moleskin diaries, letterpress greeting cards and debating if I need more quirky pens from Korea. Instead, I quickly selected a random assortment of food journals, notebooks and greeting cards and made a run for it before I maxed out my credit card entirely.