We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the…read moreMediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books!

This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old…read morehouse in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut.

What an enchanting place of fun and whimsy, perfect for getting a small gift to show up to an…read moreevent, plus maybe one or two things for me

Strolling through sold Wethersfield, taking at look at the Scarecrows On Main we decided to stop in…read moreto check out the recently opened gift shop! Super cute as soon as you walk in! Very Whimsical! They had jewelry, crystals, soaps, cooking oils! They even had a nice little section for children! Everything is so well Put and the store is very inviting! Items had prices on them so there was no guessing. Thought prices were fair! And staff was very sweet! I think it's a great addition to Old Wethersfield! Hope they do well!

Adorable little kids store! Great service! My kids are older now but I just wanted to visit and see…read morewhat they offer. We ended up getting some temporary tattoos and the value was very good for the quality. Highly recommended for families with young kids. High quality selection of kids toys and books!

If you ever want to find super unique toys, games, and gifts for anyone (including yourself),…read moreBirdie's is it. I'm a big game dude who's been to toy & game conventions and I truly appreciate both the selection of cool things here and also the warm cozy vibes you get as soon as you walk in. The thing I like most about Birdie's is that the toys here are things you're not gonna find at Target, Walmart, or Amazon. You're getting to see really cool gems that have been sourced and curated and hand-chosen from a variety of less-known, special out-of-the-box places. The store is cozy, it's personal, and every corner has something that feels like you're finding a little secret thing you would never have known about otherwise!!

I had books to sell and it was very convenient to do business with her at her new location in…read moreCollinsville. She is very pleasant and paid more than I expected. A great experience!

Small location, almost like a large living ro to an old house stuffed with book. Call ahead for…read morehours since they aren't posted. A lot of older harder to find items. Not the place if you want lame romance paperbacks or 100's of Harry Potter novels. Looked like they had some earlier or 1st edition novels, and books for people who want to research or read more thoughtful subjects. Worth a look if you're in the area, but again, it's not strands in NYC with aisles and aisles of books. It's a small, intimate, dead quite place with the true book lover in mind.

This is a great new bookstore in the area! First time in was a success. There is a decent variety…read moreof genres, so something for everyone. Really neat finds that you don't see in big chain bookstores too. The owner was very welcoming and offered beverages as we browsed. My daughter and I loved the cozy children's section. I enjoy a good trip to the bookstore on a day off and certainly plan to return. Stop in and support this small business.

Great place. It's a dangerous place for a grandparent to go if you are the spoiling type like me…read moreand grandma. The selection is massive. The store looks small on the outside but is sectioned off so well, you will discover that this store has actually thought about what it offers. The prices are reasonable and the service was excellent. Nice people Well run Well stocked Locally owned. GO! You won't be disappointed

Necker's has been around forever it seems! It was here when I was little (I'm in my mid-50s now!),…read moreand is still every bit as magical a place as it was then! The curbside view is deceiving because this store is so much larger inside than you'd think & definitely worthy of becoming your Go-to toy and hobby store! There are approximately 11 areas for you to explore.. toys for all different age groups, for out and indoors. There are books, puzzle and craft areas. Leggo kits, bikes and scooters, bubbles, even toy guns and cowboy hats. They carry some Girl Scout supplies, like patches and books and charms. This is really one stop shopping for children gifts. The owners and staff are always super friendly and helpful. They even offer to wrap your purchases, making gift giving even easier.

Explored this place as a random Yelp find. It certainly takes a minute or two to find being in the…read moreart space multi building parking lot, and figuring out how to get buzzed in by calling, however, there's some really good book hunting here in the decent sized space, particularly if you're a fan of old books. The owner was very friendly and chatty to me and I had a pleasant experience, found a few old reads, and would return. Thanks!

Weird little place in a weird little space. The whole store is under lock and key--one must buzz-in…read moreby telephone request unless one has made a prior appointment to access what could be a browser's paradise. The owner (as he announced himself) is, on every third Thursday of each alternate month, a nice-enough-fellow full of the love of books. But every other day at the store, he cements his love of books at the cost of a passing indifference for his customers that borders on hostility. While the book selection is as comprehensive as it is well-organized, something about the place seems... well... 'off.' It's as though one is being watched--or rather scrutinized--by unseen eyes, suspicious you may be replacing a book in the wrong place, disturbing the piles of rarities without regard to how the newly imbalanced feng-shui will impact the owner as he lingers scowling from the sequestered bowls of the shop. The books are, nevertheless, excellent and priced clearly in the "almost-too-expensive-but-still-just-affordable" range. Comparatively, the prices here are fair to good. You will not be finding any shocking bargains or hidden but neglected treasures here. The books are carefully selected, after all, and intended to turn a profit for the owner. After all, buying low and selling high is the name of the game--and yet, listening in on the owner's bargaining with one collector attempting to sell her books, I'd say there are fairer prices to be had from other buyers. But after exhaustive talks ranging from condition to author popularity (when has it been hard to sell Orwell?), she settled on a price with our peculiar host all the same. It was, in a word, creepy. Upon leaving with my new acquisitions, I was reminded of John Locke's description of this weird trade which combines refined erudition with predatory avarice: "Printers, binders, sellers, and others that make a trade and gain out of them have universally so odd a turn and corruption of mind, that they have a way of dealing peculiar to themselves, and not conformed to the good of society, and that general fairness that cements mankind." True enough of this odd little place, I thought. And then I went home, placed the books on my desk, and retired to take a nice long shower.

Updated** Came back for my crystals and all things related!…read more I was stuck on a purple kick, something about my stress and needing a calming presence in my life! I was drawn to literally every purple item, dint even look in other directions. It like it spoke to me Variety of things to choose from. Tarot cards, books, loose crystals, geodes, cut rocks, jewelry you name it!! I love all of the variety and you definitely can get lost. We spent almost 1.5 hours here. Two sides of the store depending on what you are looking for

Mondazzi is definitely a hidden gem! I've been traveling here for years. The mineral and specimen…read moreselections are insane. They have a large selection of natural bead strands, jewelry, books, etc. Anything you're looking for, you'll most likely be able to find it there. The employees are so helpful and are very knowledgeable. I will always return to Mondazzi for anything crystal related!