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    Sweet Pickle Books

    3.9 (48 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Michelle L.

    I have been following Sweet Pickle Books on instagram since the beginning. I was already visiting another store on Orchard St today so I made sure to stop while I was nearby. Cute little store! Pickles and books! Lots of cute merch too. I'll be back!

    Amy W.

    Narrow, tight book store but super whimsical concept, combining used books and pickles for sale. I like that there's a section / bookcase outside for free books to peruse and take home as well. The actual selection and curation of books was a bit sparser and a bit hard to sift through. I plan to pick up a jar of pickles next time I'm there, though!

    Fancypants X.

    Quirky bookstore in the Lower East Side that pays homage to the neighborhood's history of making pickles! On Tuesdays & Wednesdays, they take book donations (minimum of five) in exchange for a 2-lb. jar of pickles. Do check which genres they're accepting before coming in, as it changes based on their inventory. Eclectic selection of used books & fun merch. Nothing is dirt cheap, but there are sometimes a sparse sprinkling of free books on the carts outside to sift through. Lots of awesome gems in Sweet Pickle Books. Love the hanging disco ball & lower Manhattan vibes.

    Outside views
    Sara S.

    Just a cute little book shop that sells pickles and pickle related merch. I loved just looking around. I didn't find something on my TBR list, but it was so fun to look around. The shop is small but it give it an authentic book store feel. Workers were kind and helpful. The prices seemed reasonable for a used book store. I loved stopping by here

    Casey S.

    We were killing time and wandered into Sweet Pickle Books. I was immediately in love. I love a weird quirky hole in the wall. The store is deep and narrow with thousands of second hand books stored floor to ceiling. We learned that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays if you bring in at least 5 books to donate you get a jar of pickles. Alas, we were flying with carry-ons so I did not get a jar of pickles, but maybe next time. I did purchase "The Pickle Bookstore" sweatshirt in dark green and love it.

    Jessica Z.

    This spot has frequently appeared on my s'more page, and I've viewed numerous TikTok clips about it. SPB, situated on Orchard Street, is a second-hand bookstore offering an array of books covering diverse topics and genres. Besides books, they vend pickles, tote bags, and various branded merchandise. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, they arrange a book/pickle swap. The current minimum requirement is 5 books. Once you bring the required amount of books, you can get a complimentary 2 lb jar of pickles (valued at $12). I traded my books for dill pickles. Do note that the book swap happens only twice weekly, from 11AM-7PM. They're accepting only certain genres, so please check with the business first. 47 Orchard Street

    Ana B.

    Lovely pickle themed used bookstore. It's narrow but has a light airy feeling with lots of natural light. They sell jarred pickles and pickle sweatshirts which my friend ended up buying. They also had a lot of VHS, felt like a blast from the past. I think because of the pickle theme, it was harder to find books and the books were in poorer condition than other used bookstores, and not as cheap. I think my little torn book was $10 but listen, I love bookstores and will support them no matter what. We didn't really interact with the staff a whole lot but I'm sure they would be happy to help you find something. We had to stop in while on the lower east side because of the pickle theme but left with books and merch, no pickles!

    Dilled Pickles
    Ava W.

    I have now donated twice to this adorable bookshop, and each experience was personable and lovely! Please note the times that they accept donations, as of currently: Tuesdays and Wednesdays! The pickles are delicious as reviews have said. There are three different ones to try: dilled, sweet and sour. My favorite by far are the Bread & Butter Pickles (say "Sweet" when you ask for them after donation)! It's a very generous jar of them too! The selection of books they have are quite interesting too! I haven't purchased any books yet, but I'm sure I will eventually! I picked up some cute merch though! I hope this little spot gets more notoriety! What an incredibly cute concept!

    Becky C.

    Cool spot to buy books with lots of pickles. Kinda silly, lots of fun. You have to commit some time to finding the right book but it's a cute store.

    Kassidy K.

    Small little shop. Lots of book options ! Of all genres and ages! The pickles taste so yummy and the workers are very sweet! They help with finding books and giving book recommendations. The books are fairly Inexpensive as well. All used copies as well!

    Alexis B.

    This narrow used bookstore that also sells jars of pickles is cute as a button. I love a bookstore, and it's always fun to see what you can find at a used bookstore. Sweet Pickle had a great selection, especially given its size. I also picked up a sweatshirt since their merchandise is just too cute. Love books? Love pickles. Stop by when you're next in the Lower East Side!

    A Hidden Gem for Book Lovers (and Pickle Fans!) What an absolute gem of a bookstore! I came by to donate 5 books and was gifted a jar of spicy pickles in return. Their selection of gently used books is fantastic, with great prices and an impressive variety. I was surprised to find many of the titles were practically new. I walked in with 5 books and walked out with 4 new ones I can't wait to dive into! They also have "pay what you want" books and free books outside, which speaks volumes about the welcoming, community vibe here. The quirky pickle-themed decor and merch add so much personality, and I loved browsing through all the random little treasures scattered throughout the store. I'll absolutely be back--and probably bringing more books (and leaving with more, too).

    A fake sheep. (An excerpt of their sometimes quirky decor)

    The book curation is good and the pickles are cute! But the prices are strangely set. Much of the time, the (clearly used) books cost $10+ more than what you could get online, and other times, they're about the same. Anyone who thinks their books are actually reasonably priced should either check other used book stores in the city to compare, or check their own privilege. The higher prices seem ridiculous especially given they're based in the *Lower East Side*, and along with its social media reputation, the store seems to attract customers that don't exactly dispel the huge issue of gentrification that, for the last half-century, has afflicted the very neighborhood the store's in. So much for any truly community-based entrepreneurship! Another thing. The person at the counter seemed to mumble some comeback under their breath after they tried to price-up one of my items without my knowing while on checkout and I called it out. They were referring to prices on Amazon, when other sites, with shipping, had it for much cheaper. I buy from independent book stores because they need our support more than ever. But I just feel like, past the Instagrammable glamour, you'll have better options elsewhere for used books and/or pleasant company--sorry.

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    11 months ago

    super cute book store, the cashier was really sweet and wrote us handwritten receipts.

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    2 years ago

    Grate place we only got pickles but the people were so nice and the place had such a good vibe and they have a free book cart out front

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    2 years ago

    Lovely local used bookstore! Traded a few volumes for a jar of pickles. Looking forward to returning as a donor and/or customer.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Sweet Pickle Books

    Review Highlights - Sweet Pickle Books

    We learned that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays if you bring in at least 5 books to donate you get a jar of pickles.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I never realized this Barnes and Nobles was here. It's right on the corner and it's pretty big…read more Three floors of books and toys! The cashier is on the main floor with escalators taking you to the basement or the 2nd floor. It's set up like most B & N's where everything is broken up into sections with very clear signage. I still love having copies of physical books once in a while.

    I went there yesterday to look at many books, and all of the employees were as wonderful as…read morepreviously; incredibly friendly and helpful. However; the reason why I'm writing this update is because there are some changes at the store. Firstly; the large "Information Desk" at the rear of the first floor is no longer there. Instead, there's a small one on the right side of that floor (and it's almost hidden). Secondly; the huge first floor display of beautiful photo books of NYC and environs is now much smaller (although it seemed like there were more of them on the lower level than previously). There's also another change; the restrooms are now only accessible with a code, and a code can only be obtained via a receipt - so if you don't buy anything, you can't use the restroom (I ordered some books online later, since I didn't want to lug them home from the store). Further; employees don't have access to a bathroom code (obviously they have some other way to access the restrooms). I was there for a few hours - and if it wasn't for the fact that I had a dental appointment nearby afterwards, it would have been problematic. Having said that, I do realize that the restroom situation is an issue; at the Union Square store in particular, there used to be a big problem with homeless people and undoubtedly a corporate decision was made. I'm still keeping a five-star rating because of the employees and because the store has a great selection.

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    Bookoff - New York

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    Buying and Selling at Book Off What a cool store. So much to…read moresee. Unfortunately, it is lousy to sell at and expensive to buy at. First, Selling. I brought in three statue items unopened in the original packaging. I checked on ebay for what the items sold for (not asking price but sold price) and it added up to about $600, I lugged the items over there and had to leave them there because they wouldn't get to them right away. The people/kids working there were very nice. I went to have lunch and got the text to return, and they are offering $150. So I picked up the items and turned down the offer. Again, they were very nice, it's just I wasn't willing to accept 25% of the value. I figured at worst it would be 50%. But I am better off getting closer to the actual price on ebay. Now, Buying. Lots of very expensive and exiting things to get, and I didn't have time to price check things so much, but my son is into the Nintendo switch and i spotted a used Marvel VS Capcom game he might like. It was $34.95. But just in case, I pulled up Amazon and looked the game up. A brand new one costs $21.79. So it would have been a terrible idea for me to buy it there. I guess if you are leaving work and need a quick gift, you might stop in and pay too much for an item. If you are in real trouble and don't have time to wait for an Ebay sale, you might consider selling your collectables for 25% the value, this place might come in handy.

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    Kinokuniya Bookstore

    Kinokuniya Bookstore

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    I seriously need to stop coming here but I just can't. I love a good bookstore, and this one has…read morealways been special to me. Located right across from Bryant Park, it's almost impossible to walk by without going in. It's usually crowded, but that's part of its charm. The store has three levels, each worth exploring. The main floor features an impressive selection of books, including bestsellers and new releases right as you walk in. The lower level is where you'll find collectibles, specialty pens, beautiful notebooks and stationery, unique gifts, even more books, and plenty of cute items that will tempt you to spend more than you planned. The book selection is excellent, although I have to admit the prices can be a bit on the higher side. The staff are always friendly, and checkout is surprisingly quick, so don't let the long lines discourage you. One thing to note: drinks aren't allowed inside, so you'll need to leave them with security before entering. If you're visiting the area or spending time around Bryant Park, I highly recommend stopping by. Whether you're a book lover or just enjoy browsing, this bookstore is absolutely worth a visit.

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    McNally Jackson

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    Koryo Bookstore

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    Koryo Books is a Korean bookstore and K pop merchandise shop in Koreatown on 32nd Street, and it…read moreoccupies a small footprint that gets crowded quickly once a few people are inside at the same time. I walked into a store that is essentially one large room, and the density of product on display meant navigating it during a busy period required some patience, but the selection within that compact space was broader than the size suggested. The Korean literature section covers both Korean language and English language editions across a range of genres, which makes it genuinely useful for anyone studying the language or looking for titles that are difficult to find at general bookstores in the city. I saw children's books in Korean, well stocked. The K pop side of the store covers albums, photocards, posters, keychains, stickers, and merchandise across a wide range of artists, with BTS having a particularly strong presence historically alongside newer groups. Pricing runs higher than what I would pay ordering online or finding the same items at a larger retailer, which is the standard trade off for a specialty shop in Manhattan. Album prices in particular can be steep, though sale events bring them down to more competitive territory. Individual accessory items like stickers and bookmarks are priced at a premium relative to their size, so going in with a sense of what I am willing to spend helps avoid sticker shock at the register. The store is a reliable stop for anyone looking for Korean books or K pop merchandise in a physical retail setting in New York, with the caveat that the pricing and the crowd level are both factors worth knowing about before I go.

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    Sweet Pickle Books - usedbooks - Updated July 2026

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