Offering an incredible opportunity to donate good books to a quality shop. a quirky used bookstore in New York City's Lower East Side that lets customers trade books for its own brand of pickles, paying homage to the neighborhood's history as a pickle capital. You can swap books for pickles on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but check their Instagram for current guidelines on which genres they're accepting. We god the sweet dill pickles and they're quickly our new favorites read more

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Yes their selection of books and items are unique along with the pickles, but when i picked up two items out of a "$1 bin magazine" bin, i was charged nearly $15 for the purchase. When i tried explaining to the cashier that the big magazine was in the bin by the door, she just said "mhm" in a sarcastic tone. The second bin was right next to the register stating $1, that she saw me dig through!!!! so i don't know how she mistaken that. This experience was really unprofessional and rude. If the magazines were misplaced in the wrong bins maybe you should've told me that before forcing the card tap reader to my hand OR make sure your store is organized. read more

5 stars largely for the business model! What a treat to be able to trade books for pickles! A real Manhattan treat. As far as the bookstore goes, I wish there was more space and curation. I struggle with used bookstores because it's hard for me to know what is to my tastes. Decades of covers are hard to decode and get signals for what I'm attracted towards. I'd love a little more help from the booksellers to figure out what book works for me. But maybe that's what people like about used bookstores? The chaos of searching through books across time to find what's good? read more

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! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Outside views - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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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 read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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Totally a true story... I work part time at a library in Northern VA... A patron just came in wearing a Sweet Pickle Books hat. *Gasp!,* I gasped. "I was just there over the weekend!" She said, "ohh what fun merch did you buy?" I proudly showed off my sticker I had just affixed to my water bottle this morning. And then we just talked about how fun a pickle bookstore is. Unfortunately I didn't have time to peruse enough to buy a book, so I just took home some stickers and pickles as my souvenirs. read more

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! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Dilled Pickles - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

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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! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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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! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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). read more

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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. read more

Sweet Pickle Books - A fake sheep. (An excerpt of their sometimes quirky decor) - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

Sweet Pickle Books is a sweet find in LES! I came here on a raining morning and honestly, it was such a vibe. The store is small but every inch is crammed full of books, merch, and of course-- the infamous pickles. The cashier was nice and quirky. I loved their shirts and the designs on their merch. I also checked out their theatre books/scripts section. They had some cool looking technique books. I had my eye on a few but truly none of their books were priced in this section. I didn't look much further, so i'm not sure if the lack of prices was due to being in the corner of the store/less popular genre or if the entire store was like this-- kind of disappointing. I will say, I didn't leave disappointed. I got a cute shirt, the cashier gave me a free bookmark, and the vibes of the store were immaculate. This is such an eclectic place! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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Two of my favorite things - books and pickles! This store was right up my alley. As others have mentioned, the books are a bit pricier, and the space itself is very narrow - a little hard to navigate/browse, especially as more people started to file in. Didn't end up making a purchase, but I enjoyed looking around and wish I bought one of those mugs/crew necks before I left. read more

book selection is really bad. seems like they will buy anything and aren't selective at all. it's just a gimmicky tourist spot, i've have been here so many times and never found anything to buy read more

I was so excited to try this store, to donate or buy books. The selection and store was a cute little hole in the wall. Unfortunately the staff wasn't kind. They denied my books prior to me even putting them on the table and barely offered any help. I'd go back again for the ambiance but not the service. read more

The most fun vibe for a book store. Its small so the selection isn't huge but they have lots of older books no longer in print and discounted sections that are pay what you want. Also they have cool merch and actually sell pickles read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

Came to donate some books today and what do you know? I got some free pickles! Apparently with a donation of five bucks you get a free jar of pickles so I tried the spicy ones. Definitely decent with a bit of a sour taste, but not overly so. Little bit spicy, but not too crazy... I would've actually preferred spicier! Lots of books to choose from as well! read more

A very vast selection of books in all categories that is also very well organized. But I found the prices to be pretty high for used books! $10 for hardback fiction and $8 for soft seemed to be the trend I saw. Plus no discount for the more you buy. read more

Iconic idea for a bookstore. Pickles and books!! A cool stop to visit one time but if you're actually looking to buy books, there are more affordable places with larger selections. Lots of pricey books here and not as much selection, which makes sense given their store is half pickle focused as well. read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

The cutest used bookstore on the LES! You can donate four books for a 2 lbs. jar of pickles on Tuesday and Wednesday (usually $12) - either sweet, dill, or spicy! They also have lot of pickle merchandise for sale. Books are sorted by category, with all the fiction alphabetical by author. I could spend hours just browsing titles across the shelves! read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

I gave them some books and the gave me a jar of some of the best pickles I've ever had!!! Also fun to browse through the books and find a good read. I shall be back for both read more

What my version of heaven looks like pickles and great books. The shopkeeper gave us an amazing rundown of the grade, pickles, gradebook, and history of the neighborhood. This is a staple of New York. read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

Idk man this place kinda blows. There are so many rules with their exchange program and half of them arent even listed on their website and if you do one thing wrong the lady working there will look at you like you're the dumbest person alive which youre not you're actually really smart. Sorry, Harry! read more

The cutest little bookstore with interesting decor and a wide selection of used books. It is very small like one aisle. Yes they do sell pickles read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing cute little bookstore! Love the concept and vibes here, the worker was also super friendly and helpful! Will definitely be coming back :) read more

I originally heard of this place on TikTok and my interest was piqued as a pickle lover. Being able to trade books for pickles is genius! I gathered up 8 old books from my campus, enough to trade for 2 jars of pickles, or so I thought. I walked in and asked about the pickle exchange program, to my dismay, you can only exchange books for pickles on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I had checked the website on my phone beforehand and did not see anything about that on the main page, which you think it would, especially since going viral on TikTok. After being rudely ignored, I checked the website again and you have to go to the about page before seeing anything about this rule. In addition, the only information about the pickle exchange program in the entire store was a handwritten sign on computer paper in the front window. Seeing as I had just carried 8 books in my bag in the city all day in the rain and my back was aching, I begged the cashier to make an exception. She did not even look up from her book to talk to me. You would think a place that runs on donations would have a little better customer service. Aside from my rejection from the pickle exchange, the place itself was small and crowded. Many of the books were falling apart and none of them had prices listed on them. Even as I was looking at the shelves, I think there were only 4 books that I had heard of before. There seemed to be little organization on the shelves. The pickles are ridiculously expensive. I refused to buy them. You will not catch me spending over 9 dollars for a small jar of pickles that don't even look that good. All in all, save yourself the time and buy your used books at Goodwill and get your pickles from the grocery store. read more

Amazing i would recommend this for everyone free books for giving away old books i dont read anymore read more

Sweet Pickle Books - Free pickles for giving away old books is an amazing deal 100% recommend - Used Bookstore Near Me - New York, New York

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

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

The pickle gimmick is fun and they have great merch. If you're actually looking to buy books, this isn't the place. They charged me $15 for a used, water damaged copy of Camera Lucida, a paperback that costs $9 new online. MSRP is $13. read more

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I absolutely love Sweet Pickle Books. The owner was so chill, and gave us great recs and convo while casually munching on pickles. I got a great selection of books, too. Will absolutely be venturing back often. read more

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

Cute little thrift store concept. More of an Instagram businesses than an actual used bookstore. Forget about Rare, Vintage or Collectible. The stock seems to have been almost perfectly reverse curated. There is nothing of value here. You'll do better at your local goodwill but they don't sell pickles. read more

i'm writing this review because i can't stop thinking about the disappointing way i was scammed at this store. here's how it went: i found a very interesting book i hadn't seen before and took it to the front to see how much it cost. in the conversation i had with the staff member, he told me that this book was actually extremely rare with only several copies floating around, and that the specific decorative piece attached to this copy was one of a kind! i'm an old/rare books nerd and this sucked me right in. the book cost ~$130, way more than i had expected, but after listening to the staff, i felt like i was getting a truly unique and special book for a very reasonable price. imagine my surprise as i left the store and looked up the book- just to find out that it's not only on its 5th edition printing, you can get a new copy for half the price. the decorative piece was just... part of the book's design. the copy i got wasn't in great condition either. it was extremely sun-faded and the book jacket had tears. in hindsight i should have marched right back inside and asked for a return and refund, final sale be damned. maybe the store staff didn't intend to lie to me. but they should be damn sure they know what they're talking about before trying to sell a book to someone with false information, especially one that costs that much. i'm a low-income student, and i wanted to treat myself with an impulse purchase :( lessons were learned that day. before this transaction, sweet pickle was one of my favorite bookstores in the city (not necessarily for the book selection but the decor and vibe of the shop). i'm so shocked and disappointed by how i was scammed by the staff that i don't plan to return, and i'll be telling my friends who come here to be very wary. (crossposting this review months later because I'm still salty about this.) read more