It's been nearly three years since we were last in Mystic, and on this trip we discovered one of our favorite independent bookstores is gone! Well, gone from downtown, anyway. Nearly two years ago, we discovered, Bank Square Books closed up and moved to 80 Stonington Road, about a mile and a half from its previous location. We were surprised but very happy it is still around and, we hope, flourishing. The new location offers more interior space and better, easier parking. The result is more room for customer browsing, and, we suppose, more room for more books and stuff like cards, games etc. It's fun to stroll around the store but gosh, it sure feels different from what we expected. We wish the store well, of course; we'll keep coming back. read more

Bank Square Books is beautiful bookstore in downtown Mystic. It is independently owned, by the current owners since 2006. It has been a bookstore in this very location for 35 years. When I first walked inside I was under the impression that this is a tiny bookstore, the further I walked the more books I would discover. This isn't a tiny bookstore, it is moderately sized. I loved the variety of books available. There's fiction, history, brand new releases, kids, and specific interests such as birds. In addition to the books, they also have some giftable items. There's wrapping paper and cards here also. They also have comfy chairs and couches so you can get comfy while reading. This is such a beautiful bookstore that I'm glad to support in downtown Mystic. read more

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Service is always special, warm, welcoming. If you can't find a book, they will order for you. Their new store is FABULOUS because of the space and layout. As a local, You are not trying to shoulder past many tourists just coming in out of the cold with their kids to get warm in winter... or to stay cool in summer. When you go into the store you are with people who desire to be there and have intention to support our local bookstore. read more

I did not find the staff very welcoming or friendly, but the selection of books here is really good. I loved the wall of books with hand written, detailed staff recommendations. I will always support an independent bookstore and really enjoyed browsing here. read more

Bank Square Books - Rainbow wall of staff reccomendations - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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Great store! Perfect place to be on a hot summer day with a great selection of books and plenty of air conditioning. Just find your book and a good spot to read! read more

Bank Square Books - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

i LOVED it here! i appreciated the organization of the entire place, the kind staff, the cleanliness. this is a must-visit if you ever find yourself down in Mystic, you won't regret it! i can't wait to come back! read more

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Such a cute book shop! I love how it's organized with staff picks and new releases as soon as you walk in. Staff are nice. They had a blind date with a book for a donation which I thought was cute! Relatively small book shop so they were out of stock for one of the books I came here to buy. read more

Support local bookstores!!! The staff is friendly and there is something for everyone. Yes you pay list prices but it's refreshing to see books in a freestanding store and not a chain. read more

Nice little bookstore in Mystic. There's a pretty good selection of books, games, etc. The staff is very friendly.

Bank Square Books new location on Rte 1 across from Big Y has been a big improvement. The store is spacious and welcoming. Their offerings go beyond a large selection of books to include games, gifts and cards. There is plenty of parking. read more

Bank Square Books is located in a street corner in Mystic, down the street from Mystic Pizza. There is a paid parking lot in back if you're lucky enough to get a spot. The book store itself has a great selection of local books right in front, and an adorable childrens/teen display in the second room. If you need a gift, even for someone who isn't a reader, they have an adorable selection of gifts. Rectangle candles? Where else would you see those? read more

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This bookstore is incredible. The organization is top tier and the staff recommendations are wonderful!!! Hands down my new favorite bookstore on the east coast. read more

Honestly didnt seem like much of a bookstore... Bookstores should cozy, and be about getting lost in a good story. Before i receive hate or get canceled im a pretty neutral person and not really political...i just wanted to find a good summer read but this place felt overwhelmingly and overtly political at every. single. corner. I get it if you want to place a few things here and there but bookstores are often about the experience just as much as the purchase. People read books to escape the real world. This took away from the experience. Staff also ignored customers which i found rude. Went to a different place in town and found what I needed rather easily. read more

Now sadly closed. Edit: it definitely is not closed... it just moved. It is an incredible bookstore.

What a lovely book store in the heart of Mystic! This is truly a wonderland of books for people of all ages, and is incredibly user friendly to navigate around, depending on the type of genre you're looking for. The atmosphere is bright and inspiring, with the shelves littered with suggestions of what your next summer read should be at the beach or pool side. I always love when the store's staff recommends hot new reads, because they always get me to pick up the book and read a little. Books, stationary, notebooks, inspirational quotes, calendars, postcards, and much, much more are what this store has for you. I can easily spend three hours here roaming the aisles, and you will more than likely too. Support local - get off your phone - read a book while in Mystic! read more

Awesome bookstore right in the heart of downtown Mystic. Nothing beats the smell of new, physical books! A fun place to browse and take things slowly for a bit. Everyone who worked there was lovely and seemed genuinely happy to be there. Very helpful when we were looking for books as well. Highly recommend stopping here. Shop local! read more

loved this store! i bought a bunch of greeting card packs. 12 cards for 5 dollars :). i also bought 2 stickers. very friendly staff. i loved how big the store was. i was sad to hear they were moving soon. :( i hope to visit their new location soon :) read more

Visit Date: July 6, 2019 Hubby and I popped in here with our son when we were visiting Mystic. We had a great time. Hubby kept my son entertained while I browsed and I actually found a gift for him to celebrate our dating anniversary with. The lady at the counter was so friendly and helpful and offered to wrap the present in space wrapping paper which matched the theme of the gift. I loved my experience here, secretly shopping for my husband's gift while he watched our son praying he wouldn't see the purchase. My son loved the children's section of the bookstore as well. read more

Wonderful place with a large variety of books. Surprisingly larger than it looks and staff was fantastic and very cautious during these times. read more

Bank Square Books - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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I came here during the pandemic in August 2020, with a friend. We were greeted at the door but a very nice woman who told my friend and I that we would need to carry a ticket (to keep count of how many customers were in the store) the whole time we shopped. I loved this as I am still concerned about the pandemic and want to maintain a safe social distance from other people. Bank Square Books has a wide array of books from a diverse group of authors. I could spend hours browsing the shelves. They also have a lot of stationary, children's books and date books/calendars. A great way to spend some time while on Main Street in Mystic. read more

If you're looking for helpful, welcoming or polite service, look elsewhere. Perhaps the rudest proprietor I've encountered, and even if it has an okay selection of materials, it's hard to recommend Bank Square Books because of that. read more

Love the staff recommendation notes and creative ways they showcase the books. Large store with lots of character as well as cute gift items. Support independent booksellers!! read more

Bank Square Books - Great independent book store - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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Wonderful staff, great selections, cute stationary, and coin purses. Definitely would come back

Is there anything better than a bookstore? (Answer: no) Bank Square is located on the perfect corner in Mystic, right near some other shops and an art gallery, with the water only steps away and the picturesque bridge in the background. It's a quintessential New England painting, really. Stepping inside, you can be transported to just about anywhere within your imagination. They have books from every category. I spent most of my recent visit in the children's section where I kept finding more and more books for my niece and friends children. The staff is supremely helpful and very knowledgeable, guiding you to make the right decisions each time. read more

With there being fewer and fewer brick and mortar book stores out there I'm always pleased to find a new one. Clean, bright well organized this place is just downright inviting. The people who work there seem to not only like books but want you to feel comfortable with them too. I mean what can you say against a place that has nice padded easy chairs to sit in as you look at potential purchases? I found this place while my wife and I were in Mystic for a holiday and I had to show a lot of self discipline or I'd have blown the budget on just this one stop. read more

I've never seen a bookstore with so many beautiful books! I love bookstores and I generally take quite a bit of time to pore over the shelves and find a book that looks good to me. I pick it up, see if it feels good in my hands, read a few lines, see if it draws me in, and only then do I consider buying it. Usually 98% of the books in a store don't even make it past the first test, but in this amazing amazing bookstore, every book was so beautiful, I wanted to pick them all up and discover what was inside. Also, this bookstore is much bigger than you would think from the outside. Once you wind through the fiction section, there are plenty of fabulous secrets hidden around the corner. I spent the most time looking at the travel and cooking sections (no surprise) and almost bought a beautiful (but expensive) cookbook that was recommended to me but I haven't seen anywhere else! The rack of journals near the window was delightful because I love journals. I had to tear myself away. I didn't even dive into the several sections of beautiful greeting cards because I could have spent another hour or two looking at those which would have certainly annoyed my boyfriend (or anyone). One last thing- they have book signings. When we wandered in, there were about 5 different authors sitting behind a table full of their children's books; A pleasant surprise. So basically, a beautiful array of things I love: books, journals, and cards in an independently owned store on a charming street. read more

Bank Square Books - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

The book store is beautiful. I've been coming here for years but unfortunately during the pandemic I stopped going anywhere. I went Monday evening with my kids and was met with the most unwelcoming experience. We were watched the moment we walked in. I had money to spend but unfortunately I didn't spend it there because of that. We won't be coming back sadly. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. Dishonest store workers/managers offered me an opportunity to purchase a one of a kind rare signed book only to sell it out from under me before waiting the few hours that they AGREED UPON. I responded immediately by calling them after I received their personal invitation to purchase email. Wasted my time traveling 30 minutes to transfer a large sum of money (thousands) for this purchase. Both greed and incompetence seems to have played a major role here. Maggie agreed to hold the book until mid afternoon while the money was being transferred to my bank. I wrote to Sophia (who sent me the invitation) to confirm this confirmation ten minutes after the phone call and never received a response. At the very least, they should have written back. Only when I called to pay, the Management gave the "sorry" routine. Promised to wait, but greed took over and they pulled the rug out from under me. Don't buy from them, they are dishonest ! read more

Who doesn't love a brick and mortar book store? This "fiercely independent" shop has been going strong for 25 years. An expansion into the store next door enabled them to increase their inventory to include an abundant selection of best sellers, classics and kids books, plus charming journals, unique greeting cards, wrapping paper, even socks! The staff is friendly and engaging. I could have easily curled up on one of the big, leather couches with a good book and camped all day! read more

Bank Square Books - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Mystic, Connecticut

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Definitely a great independent book store! It's deceptively large & they have a great selection. Bank Square is neatly organized & has lots of local flavor books. I take my 3 year old here to check out their children's selection & haven't been disappointed. Plus they seem to always have some good books on sale. Staff are helpful & it's great to know your purchase is helping the local economy instead of a large chain. read more

I'm sure it is a lovely store. However, do not purchase tickets to a book signing. My friend bought tickets for last weeks author book signing. We drove an hour, wore the appointed colors, waited in line with lovely people and lovely staff.However, the lovely staff quickly changed. When we went to show our printout, they said, 'I'm sorry..this is not for the book signing. Its just for a signed book to be sent to you. You will need to step out of line." It turns out that my friend bought the wrong ticket. She did, however, spend $85 on 2 books. My friend was about to cry. They did not care. We were told that we had to step out of line, and no, we could not have a macaron or lemonade(she wanted that not me). We then found the manager, who said, yes, we are sorry, but you cant meet her. What we can do, is you can go to the back of the line and maybe if there is time, you can meet her(I understand timing and how much time she was spending there). We were mortified. Everyone saw and heard what was going on. It was like being in elementary school and we talked in line. They said if there is time we can call you. And they did, but we had such an awful taste in our mouths. There was no accounting that if someone had bought the wrong ticket, what would we do? Oh, send them to the back of the line and embarass them. We were in line with another friend, who was in front of us, and who's ticket they scanned before ours. She was also told to get out of line so they could check her ticket to make sure she had the correct one. What a way to make your customers feel welcome. I will happily support the other independant book stores who try to help their customers, not make feel so small in front of 250 people. NEVER AGAIN. read more

Adorable. Charming. Well stocked. Friendly service. Free gift wrapping. Accepts credit cards. What's not to love? We strolled in here and stayed for about 1.5 hours. They have a plethora of books and gift items, and the easy pace of no crowds, and relaxed attendants, truly make for a peaceful browsing experience. It's a medium-sized bookstore in the heart of Mystic, and it's just a great place to visit whether you're a tourist or a local. read more

I am always so happy when I visit a new place and see independent book stores. This one is fantastic. Huge assortment of arty postcards, calendars, and books. Lots and lots of books. I love the presentation of the different displays. I actually discovered a Camelot themed book by Steinbeck that shocked me as I'd read all of his work (or so I thought) and then stumbled upon this book! Mind blown. Purchase made! The staff picks are really interesting too. You can easily spend an hour just browsing and enjoying the store's offerings. It's a must visit if you're walking around downtown Mystic. read more

This is an amazing bookstore in the lovely village center of Mystic. The selection is phenomenal. I love coming in with the kids because they have an incredible children's section that includes cute beanbag chairs and seating for parents. We cuddle and read books always picking out one to take home. I also like their local selection of adult reading that features maritime history and other relevant topics to the area. I only knock a star off because they don't offer a restroom for guests and instead advise you to walk up the street to the public restroom. This is most inconvenient with young children, especially a toddler who has to go right away when she has to go. I also wish the employees walked the store more to see if you need help or recommendations. I've been in the store many, many times and have never been approached by an employee. read more

Nice little book store. A good variety of products and everything was clearly labeled. very nice journals. Good addition to the downtown area read more

Love love love this store.. I've been visiting since I was a child and still love wandering around the store.. so many books and gifts to choose from. Every time I visit Mystic I'm so happy to see the store is still there, there's so few independent bookstores now and this one will always be a favorite. Friendly and welcoming staff too! read more

I love this bookstore. They have all of the popular books you are looking for as well as independent small authors you've never heard of. Their cookbook section is great and I love the layout of this place. Staff is helpful and if they don't have a book in stock they order it for you! I also love the free gift wrapping - so convenient. The blind date with a book is so cute. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Keep it up Bank Square Books you rock. read more

Amazing. Beautiful little bookstore in the hub of Mystic. Always awesome & friendly staff and a great selection of books. My favorite part? They're dog friendly! I can always spot a cute pup here while I'm shopping and I love it. read more

I really enjoy visiting independent bookstores - and this store is one of the reasons why. The area's of the store are logically ordered, the displays are enticing, signed editions are readily available, and there are random chairs in nooks for proofing out a potential purchase. The employee's are helpful and are present without being pushy. I enjoyed stopping by and perusing the store. read more

A great little bookshop has become a rarity these days. But luckily, Bank Square has managed to hold on. There is nothing like loosing yourself in the aisles of a bookstore (just not the same as clicking through Amazon). The shelves are well curated with a broad range of books, and the staff does a stellar job at getting books in front of your face that you may otherwise miss. The kids section is especially well stocked with all kinds of quirky titles. We drive an hour just so we can poke around in the shop a couple times a month. So show this independent bookstore some love and money! We need them to stick around. read more