I've been coming to this bookstore since I was in middle school and it's still my favorite. All the books are discounted, which helps a lot since you'll end up spending more money than you intended while browsing. The good: Incredible assortment of books. Discounted prices. Great customer service. You can search their website to see if a book is in stock. They'll order almost any book you need. The bad: The store isn't very organized. They got rid of the cafe they used to have in the store. Parking is incredibly difficult. read more

I lived in Montclair for about 6 years, and this small shop has been one of the best things about this town. Montclair is quickly becoming ritzy, upscale and hoity-toity. Buisnesses are coming and going like so many Dixie cups beside the water cooler of life. But I hope if anything survives this typhoon of tycoonery, it will be this store. Keep it just like it is. read more

Awesome place. You can pretty much find any book you're looking for at a reasonable price. I spent a couple hours there the other day just digging through anything and everything I could find, and ended up leaving there with several new (and used) books. The guy at the counter is awesome (kinda looks like a hippie santa claus), and the staff is just generally friendly and helpful. Love it here. read more

Great selection of used books, I love the fact that they have a large section of vintage sci-fi books since I collect them. Very friendly and helpful staff! Will be shopping here again! read more

I went to check out this book store one day after work, my coworker highly recommended this place, she told me I would love it and she wasn't lying!! This bookstore is very deceiving, at first glance it doesn't look that big but once you enter you'll see it's huge and STACKED with books from ceiling to floor. I spent two hours in here looking through every section because I just could not make a choice on what I wanted. They have a nice record selection upstairs and downstairs in the basement. I was super excited when I seen all the old school r&b cds, the only reason why I didn't go ham and buy out the store was because I do not have space for all the books I wanted lol but as soon as I make more room I'll visit here again. The pricing isn't bad either, you can find a ton of books for well under $10. read more

I agree with others who come here for vinyl. They use to be reasonably priced but nowadays prices are high at MBC. SERIOUSLY HIGH PRICES for used records. The usual 4-5 dollars records are 8-12. Who can mark up 100 percent for used records. I'm not planning on coming again until MBC adjust their price to reasonable levels. DON'T BUY USED RECORDS HERE. Come here for books and other reading materials, they are reasonably priced for that. read more

Love this place!!! Huge shelves pack from top to bottom with used and new books. Great place to find out of print books. You can also get store credit by bringing in your used books (if they need what you bring in). Large sci-fi /fantasy section and comic book room. I'll never be a nook reader , come here to get old fashioned ink and paper!! read more

Came here on a whim with some friends just to look around. Don't let the entrance fool you, this place is huge!! So many different genres of books including a lot about the history of Montclair that was very intriguing to me. Also has a whole other section and basement filled with old vinyls, CD's, tapes, etc to browse around. Didn't end up buying anything that time but really want to go back for some great coffee-table books. read more

I've been going here ever since I got my driver's license. Awesome selection of used books (and some new) at mostly affordable prices. It's really fun to explore. You can also order online, and their e-mail communication is quick and professional. They have helped me over the phone a few times as well, and are generally friendly and prompt. Especially considering that most used book stores in the area are in Manhattan, it's nice to have a good one here in good ol' Jersey. read more

This is an awesome book shop. I miss living here so I could go to this bookshop. I was teaching at a school that didn't have a lot of resources and was able to get some really cheap Romeo and Juliet's to supplement the collection. There is a huge selection, and no one is harassing you, or trying to sell you something. Great collection, a great place! read more

A true bookstore in every sense. The latest bestsellers, acres of everything else, perfect recommendations and aisles upon aisles somehow tucked into a tiny storefront. It's a gem. read more

Very helpful and accommodating - looking for an Italian children's book so I can read to my granddaughter and help her learn Italian -they didnt have that book, but as a member of UNICO I'm going to find some and I bed they can get them. There is a large selection of Children's books= and everything else. Wonderful read more

The owner Mayranne is very rude; I stopped in and she gave me snotty answers to my questions. Also, they are very overpriced for their used materials, which can be found for sale in most libraries for $1-2 read more

What a lovely place to lose a few hours! Very nice owner & staff & a large space crammed to the rafters with books, books, books...you can find treasures there that you won't come across in the chain bookshops. They also trade books or give credit if you have books that need to be let go. I highly recommend a visit! read more

Reviewing strictly the Record store section of the store. Pros: -Only used record store in Montclair -Two floors of used records Cons: -Overpriced on almost all records (occasionally can find a good deal) -Large quantity, but lousy selection. I would say 75% of what they have is $1 bin quality records, yet nothing is priced less than $4.99. -The best records are locked up in a glass case with ranges in price from $25-50 -General unfriendly service and attitude -The whole bag policy is also strange. You cannot enter the store with any kind of bag, backpack or purse and you must leave it at the front counter. They assume you're a shoplifter. Final thoughts: This place is a large disorganized used book store that just so happens to have a side business of used records. Vinyl collectors should go with no expectations. You could score something decent for an average price, but I wouldn't count on it. Montclair needs a real record store, but until then this will have to suffice. read more

I've actually applied for a job here just for the cool factor of working in this store. Better than Barnes and Nobles could ever be. I was biking here on my way from work up in Cobble Hill back down to Irvington. This was an oasis in between a long ride. Before the renovations it was piles on books of the most interesting variety. The most memorable discovery being a book on the history of presidential infidelity. Most recently I was in Montclair for a wedding. I had to stop in for a bit, just to get a feel for the place again. Some bookstores get under your skin like a cherished tattoo. read more

Best bookstore ever! Could spend hours just roaming around, just packed with every type of book imaginable.

Love love love this place! Have been going here for over 13 years. Great selection of books! The staff is always friendly, kind, and welcoming. Not once have I gone in where no one was smiling and in good spirits. There are chairs scattered throughout so you can sit down and just start reading. It's a really great local place, worth checking out and supporting! read more

Just exactly what I've looked for all over the NYC metro area. Large, dense, diverse, musty old bookstore...I would live in this place if I could. Prices are not the lowest I could imagine, but everybody has rent to pay. This is worth the hour or so it takes to get here from the Bronx, and I will return, hopefully many times. read more

I love the smell of books, and this store makes me want to stay for hours. Mostly used books, I don't think I would come here looking for something specific but would be happy to explore for hours. I found myself sitting on the floor to thumb through things I didn't know I was looking for. Prices are reasonable, comparable to Strand Books in NYC .Come with an open mind and an adventurous spirit - the shelving can be a bit haphazard, But there are treasures around every corner. read more

loved this place, parking was easy to find. such a wide variety of books thats it was a bit overwhelming but in a good way. everything is labeled & if you have time check it out, super worth it & ill be sure to return! read more

Montclair Book Center - my friend loving her time at montclair book center - Bookstores Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Store is unorganized and overpriced by at least 40%. Its the type of place you can't go in there looking for something specific, odds are they won't have it. No Agatha Christie or classics like treasure island? They need to price to sell. The used CD's are about double the price they should be also. read more

Love this gem! Always walk out with two or three great finds. Stumbled in one day before a concert down the street and now I visit the bookstore every time I come to town. read more

Takes trade-ins, accepting nearly all paperbacks. They have tons of books, but their prices really are a bit steep for a used bookstore.

Haven't been to Montclair Book Center in a long time but it is truly a gem, so glad to see it is still there

One of my favorite bookstores, going back at least 30 years. I try to stop there whenever I'm in Montclair. The prices aren't garage-sale cheap, but they seem fair overall... and they actually can FIND stuff for you... none of that "if we have it, it's over there somewhere" stuff. read more

My favorite independent book seller in Jersey.Good selection of used and new books at fair prices.

I can stay there for hours and this is the place if you love books. It is very relaxing and you need to take your time. You will find the Gems. read more

Excellent stock, great place to browse, lots of out-of-print and hard-to-find books, lots of half price books, including new ones, DVDs, LPs, and best of all, an educated, dedicated staff that goes the extra mile to help you find them. read more

This place has magical power. There's so much to explore in all areas of the bookstore, and the vinyl is not to be missed!!!

I used to go to this book store when I was a teenager on a regular basis... it was a few blocks from my house. I moved out of the state15 years ago, I went back for the first time this weekend. The first stop was the book store! I have to say that nothing has changed. The collection of books is amazing and the guy that I assume owns the store is awesome!!!! Very helpful.... I scored as always. Oh... for those of you into vinyl they have a great collection in the basement. I have to say that this was the best part of my weekend. I'm so glad that this independent book store has survived. The prices are higher, but what isn't.... go... enjoy and buy! read more

I love this store, we went out to dinner in Montclair and I looked across the street and saw the store. I loved it, it reminded me of the movie, " You got Mail. The old town book store feel. It has a great atmosphere to be in. With all the new technoligies, it is great to have a little of the past still around! Love it! No changes needed like it just the way it is. read more

Such a great selection, and prices. I can't walk out of there without buying a few books; I've tried...just can't do it.

One of my favorite best book store. It is very relaxing and I love book center. Good selection of used and new books at fair prices.

Manager = NOT nice. Based on that experience alone, wouldn't return. Hopefully they learn to treat customers with more respect!

I have purchased and sold books here for over a decade. I recently tried to schedule an appointment and was treated so rudely I will never return. read more

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. read more

Staff is always friendly and willing to help or even order a book if needed. Love this place!

The vinyl record section downstairs was nice at first, but after a while they seemed to stop stocking it with new (and quality) items. There is a 45 section but the same records have been there since they started. Nothing new, no surprises. I was checking out the new stock once a week for a while, now I go in once every couple of months. read more

Im been visiting this cozy book shop for years now. It is a pleasant little place, chock full of lots of old books, some used and maybe some new too. I usually park around the corner where parking is free. The workers are helpful and pleasant. If youre a book lover, you will enjoy this place but even if youre not, youre sure to find something. read more