An absolutely gorgeous local bookstore with great ambiance and character. Although they have an extensive inventory, Freebirds specializes in books related to NY history and culture. Stumbled into Freebirds during an afternoon walk and was mesmerized by the floor to ceiling stacks and overall communal energy. After a little research, I found out Freebirds was opened by Samantha Citrin and Rachel London in 2004 and later sold to local resident, Peter Miller. Peter was very pleasant and looked like a modern day Hagrid behind his stack of books and vintage cash register. Finally, in addition to the community orientated events this little bookstore hosts, it is also home to NYC Books Through Bars - a Volenteer collective which sends free, donated books to the incarcerated. Will definitely be returning. Shop local! Let's keep these gems open. read more

Fascinating and eclectic mix of used books in all conditions. Great place for a spare hour of weekend browsing. Maybe not the place to grab the latest best-seller or the latest book in a series- although they might have last year's best seller and a different book in your series. :) read more

Freebird is a quaint used bookstore with shelves stocked to the brim and more piles of books on the floor. It's the kind of place a book lover can easily spend hours combing through the stock to find the gems they might not even know they were looking for. I found Freebird when I was looking for places to donate books to and this bookstore collaborates with Books Through Bars, a non-profit that sends books to incarcerated people around the country. They have a specific list of the types of books they're looking for on their website, and I think it's a great way to unload some books that will serve a useful purpose to someone else. You can also volunteer with them to sort and mail books. read more

Such a great find. I'm glad my friend and I stumbled upon this bookstore. The selection is quality and has a very quaint feel to it. There is a long bench seat and an armchair if you want to sit around and check it out. Some of the sections are pretty witty- insowhich books are sectioned off by cool book jackets and unfortunate author bio photographs. Prices are very reasonable to the point that I am thinking about coming through to support this place rather than ordering online like I have been the past 12 years. Worth it. read more

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This is a quaint bookstore that's great for perusing. I stumbled upon it accidentally when I was stopped at a red light. Every time I've visited since, I've left with a few books. Although it's mostly used, the selection is in excellent shape and has a plethora of genres. I've even found hardcover copies of recent titles! And it's all priced fairly. The general aesthetic of the store is inviting and well-organized. If you're in the neighborhood grabbing drinks or on the bike path- veer off and stop by. read more

Great used bookstore with amazing vibes! So calm, has cool reading pews in the front and lots of variety. Really great prices too- $5 for popular titles that are fairly new. read more

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Stepping into Freebird Books feels like stepping into a friend's (a friend who is, of course, incredibly well-read and has a serious book fetish) apartment. This is what Brooklyn does best -- It gives you a small-town feel with big-city mentality. It's the kind of vibe that warms my heart, and it's the kind of vibe that Freebird has mastered. Comfortable stuffed chairs that belong in a grandmother's attic? Yep. Great used book selection and low prices? Check. Coffee? Tea? Beer? Wine? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Friendly owner who actually appears to care about both his books and the neighborhood? Mmmhmm. The store is a little out of the way (death to the BQE, that's all I'm saying), but it's not THAT out of the way. It's on the way, in fact, to many prime destinations (Pit Stop, Alma, Baked, and Fairway, to name a few), and it's definitely worth a trip. So stop by. Have a glass of wine, and settle in with a book (I recently found an old Gourmet cookbook from 1950 that sucked me in). Get comfortable. Stay a while. Buy something. We're all neighbors here. read more

I discovered Freebird books the day I looked at an apartment in the neighborhood. I can't help but admit that it's presence helped to win my heart. Since then, I've become a regular customer and a denizen of the Post Apocalyptic Book Group. I agree with the previous two reviewers about everything that they say and would also put forth that Peter, the owner, does his damndest to make things more interesting by creating a great events series. GO TO FREEBIRD BOOKS. Buy used books; or new books from small book stores. read more

This is my favorite bookstore in NYC hands down. Due to its location, it's rarely crowded, which makes book browsing so much more enjoyable. My favorite part is that they specialize in NYC history and have tons of interesting, old books. I could literally spend hours. read more

I visited this small (used) bookstore today and the selection was just fair, plus the young woman working there never acknowledged my presence (even though I was the only customer). Truthfully, I feel the store only deserves a two-star rating - but the owner has a great sense of humor (as evidenced by a few humorous signs) and therefore I'm giving three stars. read more

My favorite bookstore in the city. I don't live nearby anymore, but I always get something when I'm in the neighborhood to help support it. This place is small but has a pretty diverse selection. I always find something interesting. They have some new books from independent publishers, as well. read more

A small, cozy and cluttered bookshop with a well edited selection of books. Perfect for an escape of quiet browsing. Highlights include sections titled "unfortunate author photos", "terrible book titles", and the not to be missed "apocalypse book club" shelf. read more

Yay! I'm a fan! Freebird is on the stretch of Columbia Street between Kane and Degraw that has been under construction for years. It's across from one of the last working piers in Brooklyn. There's a mountain of salt on the other side of the street, literally. And, as a result of its location, Freebird has struggled. I think it changed owners last year, as I recall, but time sped up after my children were born, so maybe it was two years ago. It has odd hours, or no daytime hours. It may be the new owner's hobby. I'm not sure. I have always liked it and want it to succeed, but nearly half the time I walk over there, the gate is down. The construction is almost done, but Columbia Street is now a major thoroughfare that leads from the Atlantic Avenue exit of the BQE to Fairway and IKEA. There's a lot of truck traffic and since I live nearby we're often flagged down by people in cars who feel a little lost and are looking for directions--but not directions to Freebird. All this rambling for what? Well, here's the thing. Good coffee, if you happen by when it's open. Good books. It reminds me of a college bookstore that my parents took me to in the 1970s more than anything else. It's not so aspiring as Book Court, but neither is it a chaotic mess like the Community Book Store on Court Street. If you want to go, go soon. It's location is not ideal, so don't wait. There's no telling how long it will be there. read more

Great place, run by really nice folks. They've got a good selection of used books at fair prices. Browsing around, you almost get the feeling that you're hanging out in the living room of a book-loving friend who's happy to let you take home any of his books... for a small price. The post-apocalyptic book club is great, too... check it out here: www.meetup.com/bookclub-1212/ read more

Every time I go to Freebird, I am awed by the selection. The stock is mostly used, ranging from classic to recent, and while you have a pretty good chance of finding that novel you meant to read a few years ago when it came out but didn't, you also find incredible gems that you've never seen before and probably haven't been in print for decades. The staff has great taste and the place has a super friendly vibe. Next time you go to Pok Pok next door and they tell you there's a 45-minute wait, consider yourself lucky and kill that time at Freebird! read more

I love this store. Unfortunately, they seem to only be open on weekends right now. Great selection of eclectic books, somewhat akin to "ban-a-book" at Washington Square Park. Hopefully they can eventually stay open for more hours (ie week-days). read more

Cozy bookshop that will be out of the way for most folks in Brooklyn. Cobble Hill, you guys are so lucky to have easy access to this spot! I made the trek over here because I wanted to donate a couple of paperbacks. Housing Works is a more viable option for me since it's closer, but I kind of have beef with them right now. I also could've gone to Salvation Army, but I didn't feel like dealing with potentially rude store associates and walking into the (normally) dinge-y smelling place. So after doing some light google searching, Freebird came up on my radar. Although they are only open on weekends, this was perfect for me as I had a lazy Sunday in Brooklyn to take advantage of, and I needed to get these books outta my hands since I'll be moving out of the country soon. I walk in to see a nice nook on my right, and someone tucked away in the back, ready to assist. The man there was very grateful for my donation of 8 paperbacks. He was even so nice as to let me take one book (for free) as an appreciation for my donation! I did some browsing and I felt most of the books were in pretty good condition. It also looked like they had some rare books to offer. Not sure when I'll be able to stop by again, which bums me out. :( But I highly recommend checking it out and supporting this business if you're in the area. (Also, if you do want to donate books to a cause, Freebird has volunteers from Books Through Bars, a collective that provides paperbacks to prisoners behind bars. However, this is temporary. Check out their website for updated info: http://booksthroughbarsnyc.org/volunteer/) Unnecessary P.S.: love the old school Moxie ad in the front window. These people can seriously do no wrong in my book. read more

What's not to like about this wonderful down to earth place. Glad they are our neighbor so get out and support them. Buy books. I have some excuse cause i am a dad, run my own small biz, and generally i'm insane. I digress. Buy books. From them. Live better. read more

It's what every independent bookstore should strive for. Very laid back environment. Books, coffee, and moxie. What else do you want. It's great to just peruse the shelves of freebird before you grab a drink at Alma. read more

If you like books and enjoy reading you'll love Freebird.

Books and wine, two of my favorite things done in an unassuming fashion. If it wasn't so out of the way, I'd stop in more often. Nothing but love! read more

One of my good friends who lives in Brooklyn brought me to Freebird Books & Goods, and after only being there once, I can't wait to go back! I LOVE to read and hunt for great books--this spot is THE place to do it! Book lovers unite with good books, good drinks, comfy furniture and good vibes! read more

I have been buying books from Freebird since they opened -- several each month and am very pleased with the selection. Peter has done a fine job of maintaining the friendly feeling that the women founders created. I cannot recommend them too highly. Great store. read more

Get lost for hours in this sweet, little used bookstore on the Columbia waterfront in Red Hook.

I stumbled upon this place by coincidence today. They've got a great selection of mostly used books and a cozy atmosphere.

I so love this bookstore... our neighborhood couldn't be without it. I specially love the " bad titles" "nice jackets" and "truly weird titles" section. I hope Freebird thrives and continues flourishing forever!! read more

One of those places that makes me happy to live in this city. Buy books from Freebird!