I stopped into PowerHouse Arena a few weeks ago on my trip to NY looking for a children's book for my niece here at the recommendation of a friend and there were 2 men at the bar openly yelling obscenities at each other with multiple little kids in the store the whole time I was there. I couldn't stand to stay for more than 10 minutes because of how disturbing and inappropriate this was and even though I found a good book for her I ended up buying it elsewhere because I could not in good conscience give them my money after seeing that. However the staff were very nice and seemed apologetic for this behavior...would not recommend visiting or supporting such an unprofessional and aggressive company!! read more

PROS: very nicely laid out and the place is clean. The workers are friendly and the variety of genres was plentiful CONS: the cafe is permanently closed according to the salesperson and now it's just for show. Also no parking so you have to walk to the store OVERALL: if you love reading and you're in the area I do recommend this store. Just don't expect to get a snack while there read more

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The only thing that's impressive about this bookstore is their name. When I hear "Powerhouse" + "Arena", my immediate thinking is whooaaa, they must be an outstanding bookstore that stands above the rest. Unfortunately, they were not. I came here for their signing event and immediately when I saw the set up, I could tell their store was not equipped to host such events because it's almost impossible to see the author that was talking unless you're literally sitting up front or lucky enough to sit on the few seats that were on the side. As for their customer service, it was horrible. The girl that rang me up for my book was not friendly at all. In fact she looked miserable and when I inquired about the book and how the back tab was coming out, her immediate response was that all books are like that so take it or leave it. During the actual signing, it was chaotic. The staff had no control of the line and so people were all trying to skip. Lucky enough I was at the front of the line but just witnessing the remaining chaos was unnecessary. I felt the author was rushing and make it personable because everyone was shoving their book in his face. My suggestion to this place is to please be more customer friendly, give a little more eye contact, and organize better. read more

Super cute bookstore on the small side but has recent and new books that came out . The customer service is a bit meh . They don't greet you or look up to say hello but it's a nice location so I got a book to take with me to a picnic which was lovely . It's convenient if you're down that way but I prefer a bookstore where the people are warmer read more

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I wandered into this bookstore recently with a friend and really enjoyed our visit. It is surprising to see such negative reviews from someone people...what is not to like about a brick and mortar bookstore? The front of the shop featured some curated staff picks. The back includes a children's section, so I took home a gift for my nephew as well as a novel to read myself. read more

A pretty cool bookstore in DUMBO. They have an eclectic selection of books. Worth a visit.

I stopped in yesterday. There's only one person working, sitting behind a desk. At one point while I was browsing I felt my sock slipping down into my sneaker, so I reached down to adjust it and she looked up at me suspiciously. Wow, what a greeting! Can't wait to come back in here again! The selection is smallish but depending on what you're looking for you might find it. They also have some Staff Picks on display near the front. read more

A wonderful bookstore! Cool book selection...not your run of the mill bestsellers. Wonderful cards, too.

If I were to decide, Powerhouse over Strand any day! (If only they had more books). Free wi-fi, sofas, exhibitions, cool merchandise, edgy books; what's there to not love? You'd think this is a big venue, given the name but it really is a hip bookstore with exhibits. This place defines what Brooklyn is - edgy, free, cultural, hip and contemporary. If you like the $1 books at Strand, you wil like the sale section here. The books here are new and more current, yet interesting (not recommended for kids under 18). They also sell Urban Outfitters and MoMA-type merchandise, expensive but very unique. Powerhouse is 2 blocks straight down the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, a pretty sweet spot. My friend is fascinated by how open they are by making it a glass building and how the floor with mini offices is so opened to the public. Hipness rules! read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My first time here was for a "Humans of New York" book signing: http://www.humansofnewyork.com/ It's a great space for a talk. There's amphitheater seating and the sound system is good. And it's not as impossible to get to via public transit as you'd think. The first/last stop of the B25 is about a block away. What they could have done better was organizing the line prior to everyone stampeding to get their book signed. It was as if it was their first time dealing with such a crowd. Maybe it was. And they need a better cash/wrap situation. It may be sufficient on an average day, but it can't handle a crowd. Way too much keyboard typing. Take my advice as a former cashier. I've seen more efficient setups with iPads and SKU scanners elsewhere. It can be done. Aside from those two flaws, it really is a great space. If I were having a book signing, I would prefer to do it there than at some Barnes & Nobles. It's a hip space in a hip neighborhood, with a cool, friendly staff. read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Humans of New York Book Signing - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I love this bookstore. It has hand selected collection of books. I especially enjoy the array of cookbooks. There's also usually art shows hanging up. I still remember the "afro" photography exhibit displayed. Recently I was here with my sister and her kids for the "Holiday Tasting & Book Signing with Brooklyn's Best Bakers and Treat Makers". How could I resist an afternoon filled with book readings about treats, samples of baked goods and even a signature blood orange cocktail offering. Some of Brooklyn's cutest and tastiest bakeries were at the event. I had met the lovely ladies of Greenpoint's Ovenly, Erin Patinkin and Agatha Kulaga at the"Baked" event earlier in the week. They are such sweet hearts. They were set up at a table along with other bakers/treat makers. They remembered me and introduced me to the super nice, sister duo pie masters from "Four and Twenty Blackbirds", Melissa and Emily Elsen. I have been to their Gowanus pie shop a fair amount and the pies speak for themselves. I of course had to get their new pie baking book. There was also 3 book readings from authors Teddy Wayne, Emma Straub, and Diana Spechler. Emma Straub was a definite fave! I loved her going into the details of raw egg awareness while pregnant and how it resulted in the hunt for the perfect treat. You stepped into's Emma's shoes and felt the sadness of not diving into a bowl of cookie dough before tossing them into the oven. It made me want to read her novel "the Vacationers". This lovely afternoon made me appreciate this bookstore, for supporting local bakers and writers. We Brooklynites are very lucky to have this amazing bookstore on our side of the bridge. I should also mention that there has been a ton of events just like this offered all the time from new cookbooks to fashion faves who have books. So keep your eye out and follow their facebook page for future events. read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Treats from the "Holiday Tasting" event - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've been a supporter of the "Power" brand, starting by frequenting the Powerhouse Arena when it first opened in 2006. Dumbo in 2006 felt far more open and possible (meaning less like a shopping mall on steroids as it does now), with numerous unoccupied spaces, indoors and out, that might pop up into temporary cultural moments, like art galleries or music festivals. A few years prior to that, in the late 80s and 90s, it felt like a straight up dystopia. Last night I learned that the original Powerhouse bookstore had closed sometime in early 2016. I learned this at the "new" Powerhouse--a lovely spot--if much smaller. Still, I was there for a reading and it was executed brilliantly, with great warmth, free booze, and a fun raffle because why not make the appreciation of reading a facetted, comprehensive cultural event? As I sat, drank my suav blanc and listened, I missed the old coliseum seating--but by sitting on some lovely iron steps the new space, I felt at home. At it's core this spot is exactly the same as it's predecessor (which had enough square footage to make it feel like a museum, albeit a deeply friendly one). This is more than just a place where books and bookish things can be bought. It is one of the last cultural vestiges of Dumbo--the neighborhood and community--remaining. It is staffed and visited by kind like-minded nerds. And it has kick-ass events on offer, all year long. My plan is to support this iteration of "power," indefinitely. If you bump into me, please say *hi*--we can be New York Book Neighbors :) read more

I love this bookstore. I am in love. I am infatuated. I am head over heels for you ;-) I really like the space, and it also has many rotating exhibitions, including pics and visual art forms. It is very spacious, and there is a mezzanine, which also houses some wonderful photographs. I came here this past Saturday for the Asian American Literary Festival, and it was great to be part of something that makes a difference. The only complaint is that the seminar on the Ground level seemed to overpower the acoustics in the Mezzanine. It was hard to follow the seminar with all the verberations from the bottom. Next time, it might be better to have some sort of barrier in place. But really, absolutely heart this bookstore, they also have some amazing authors that speak here, including Paul Auster and also Jhumpa Lahiri, etc... A great place to spend an afternoon ;-) read more

Very large selection of books laid out in an industrial space. Can't really tell if it was poor customer service, lack of staff, of that they have a more laissez-faire approach to customer service. I'm sure that you could find almost any book that you are looking for here. I attended for a Talkback so I wasn't here to make an actually purchase. No complaints just not really sure I will feel a burning desire to return. The experience didn't trump the convenience of ordering books from Amazon. read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Book discussion on Gilles Peress's The Rockaways. - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Purchased a copy of Jerry Spinelli's StarGirl from Jordan on 26 JULY 2013 at 7:59pm after a visit to Michael July's Afros book signing. The cashier allowed me to keep the book with him behind the register until I was able to take it with me. A friend had done some assistant photography for the author, and I was astounded by the space, the selection, and location. I enjoy this area of New York because you really feel like you're on the edge of something great. The address on the receipt I have is 37 Main Street Brooklyn NY. read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! All the staff are very helpful, kind and courteous. I've been here multiple times already to buy some books. They have a great section for children and young adults. I also found a few gems in here to read! The little Knick knacks they have here are awesome! read more

I came here for an author reading last week and was very impressed by the space. Many people showed up, but almost everyone was able to sit. The staff was very warm and friendly when I arrived, and one of the employees engaged me in a conversation about one of the books the author had written. Even though the Arena hosted the event for free, there was no pressure to buy books (of course, many people did anyway). My only wish is that they had carried a wider selection of books from the author that was speaking, because I already had the ones they offered, and ended up buying a second copy of a book I already had just so the author would be able to sign it. I signed up for the mailing list before leaving the store, because I would absolutely return for another event here. Actually, it's such a warm, enveloping atmosphere with a correspondingly friendly and warm staff, that I left feeling jealous of the employees who work there! read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Spacious and well organized bookstore with a very fun vibe that permits DJ dance party book release parties! read more

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This place is pretty massive for an independent bookstore. Huge open space with really tall ceilings. The name made me think that this is where gladiators come to battle. Nope, it's a place for intellectuals. Sure, things may be pricier here than at Amazon, but I can't browse a bunch of books and chat up other intellectuals at home. This store has a bit more soul and edginess than your average Borders (RIP) and Barnes. read more

Cool lookin' spot, with free wifi. Came here for a poetry reading, and it is a good spot to host small-medium-sized events. You can perch yourself up on the huge stairs, marvel at the artistic graffiti on the walls, and peruse through their books. Then afterwards, you can go eat at Grimaldi's/walk the Brooklyn Bridge. read more

I love bookstores. I'm a librarian and I love supporting literacy in anyway shape or form. Powerhouse really got under my skin when i looked at their sale section and saw they were selling galleys and arcs. These are not supposed to be sold. Powerhouse receives these for FREE and should not be selling them by any means. I feel deeply about this and am annoyed that they would fool their customers into thinking they were buying published works. Do not buy arcs or galleys or anything that reads "published on (enter date here)" on the spine. read more

I went to an event here last summer that was really interesting and they had a cool selection of books. It seem like a great place and I love that they're always having authors come in for talks and different events. read more

So PowerHouse screws up twice and ruins the night for me. Then over a year later when an employee finds this review, again instead of offering a real apology, Daniel P. adds an indignant comment to this review suggesting I'm the one to blame and refuses to accept responsibility. Such an amazing display of class from this venue. A lot of people seem to like this place but from my experience its run by "intellectually and visually curious" snobby pricks that scoff at the suggestion they're anything but perfect. The original text of the comment incase they edit it later: Comment from Daniel P. of The PowerHouse ARENA 3/22/2013 " Hide Mistakes sometimes happen. But the successful in life roll with it. It's better to be ambitious (schedule many events, different types of events, create programs that appeal to a wide variety of the intellectually and visually curious), than to sit back and do little, in order to be safe and not make mistakes. Sorry your date was a disaster, but it's hardly the happening of an event (of lack thereof) that is the cause of that. read more

I went here last night for the LVHRD series to see Tiny Masters of Today play (so cute!) and I was really impressed with the space. Giant, open, 5,000 foot ceilings as one finds only in DUMBO. Yay post-industrial dystopia! I can't live in DUMBO because the deserted streets give me the heebs at night but I love to visit this nexus of art and overhead passing trains. powerHouse Arena is guaranteed to give you one of those terrific "ah this is why New York" moments. The art on the walls, the photography books (so.many.books.want.to.buy.) the pews for seating (!), the awesome performance art series' and so on and so forth. And if anyone ever serves you pink lemonade here, just know the vodka content is far greater than the tongue detects. read more

I absolutely love, love, love entering Powerhouse Arena. It always smells like BOOKS, knowledge and fun in here...I know that may sound weird, but the smell of this place brings me back to my childhood where I spent more hours in my local Chelsea library than any child should. But I loved books...correction, I still LOVE books. You guys can shove your kindles up your piehole. I like the way books feel - I like to turn my pages and turn them down on the side so that I know where I left off. I like the way paperbacks and hardcovers feel, I like discovering new things in a book jacket, I like picking up a book to study its cover art and then being pleasantly reminded to not judge a book by its covers. Books are awesome and they're also aplenty at Powerhouse Arena. This is hands down my favorite book store in Brooklyn and really only second to the Strands in Manhattan. Besides carrying lots of fascinating books for adults, children and coffeetable book enthusiasts, they always have awesome events and really foster an awesome sense of community here in Dumbo. They support independent culture and sometimes partner up with larger (cool) companies like Paul Frank and The Creator's Project - they showcase the occasional film, support art, comedy, host book launches/signings and their staff is super knowledgeable, friendly and just plain awesome. Special shout-out to Justin for being fantastic last time I was here which was for Greg Sestero's NYC book release event for his book "The Disaster Artist" which was also co-authored by Tom Bissell. Oh hai, you haven't seen "The Room"? Do it. Haven't been to Powerhouse Arena yet? Go do that too . read more

If you could find a bookstore that carefully curated their book selection based on intelligence, arts quotient, cool factor, spatial construction, the city in which you live, kid aptitude and enjoyment and personal recommendations, would you like that? If you could walk into a bookstore which was an exercise in dichotomy, would you? Oh that makes no sense if you have not been there? Sorry, the space is giant - industrial, but extremely welcoming - and much of the space goes unused for the books. Steps lead up to an area for events and while you are perusing the collection of books, you constantly wonder how cool events must be when held in this cavernous arena. Powerhouse Arena is a bookstore that values quality over quantity. The kids section is fantastic and is set up so you can go with your kids and look together and enjoy yourself. I find almost all of the books on display interesting, whether I want to buy them or not and I find the entirety of the space to be one of the most interesting in DUMBO. If you like spending four hours leafing through books in varying sections while sitting on a carpet then Powerhouse is probably not the spot for you. Really, stay away. If you want all the work of finding the coolest books done for you then you can go. read more

Oh man, I felt so damn cool just walking in the door. (this helped mitigate the uncool feeling I had after dragging several friends to DUMBO for brunch at Superfine, on a saturday, when technically... actually... unfortunately... it's not open for brunch.) there was a bitchin' photography show of New Yorkers in the 70s. one photograph showed two rockers in front of CBGB's, with "Dictators" stitched into the backs of their satin jackets. now THAT would make a great addition to my satin jacket collection. it also has neat magazines, cards, and designy stuff. I could have stayed for hours. read more

Very unwelcoming. Over priced. Their books are not of substance. It's a tourist place, not for real New Yorkers, that's for sure.

When it's two weeks before Christmas and you haven't even thought of what to get your photographer boyfriend, then coming across Powerhouse Arena is basically like finding an oasis in the barren wasteland of your mind's uninspired gift-giving desert. The huge windows that allow you to look in were beckoning us from across the street, and we thought we'd only spend a little while browsing around. We had a couple of hours to kill before dinner, and Powerhouse Arena turned out to be a very worthy accomplice. I tried to finish my bf's cup of Jacques Torres hot chocolate in vain (after successfuly finishing mine) while I allowed him to browse around on his own. I'd check up on him every so often so he could drop some pretty big hints on which books he liked. We also saw that he knew some of the photographers whose photos were up on the walls. He was completely in his element. Lucky for me, I was going to be seeing a show at St. Ann's Warehouse the following week, which is when I bought one of the photo books. Even luckier was that it was on the sale table for $25. We were both really impressed with the space - it's a bookstore, gallery and publishing house all in one. It turns out that one of my bf's friends just had an Obama photo book published by Powerhouse (_Yes We Can_), but we were disappointed to find out the book signing was being held elsewhere. We don't really spend any time in DUMBO, but a place like Powerhouse Arena will bring us back to check out their events. I'm also happy to have found a default place to go whenever the gift inspiration runs dry again. Oh, and my bf loved the book I gave him - even if he wasn't the least bit surprised about it. read more

Modest, selective selection of photography books housed in a huge, white-walled space. Tons of space to navigate around, quite an odd experience if you're used to St. Mark's bookstore. Book offerings are pretty diverse....children, urban, architecture, landscape, eclectic. Pricing might be out of reach for the everyday, but look for their sales. Tables of books were priced from $15, $25, etc. read more

This is, to be sure, a fine bookstore; and it looks to have specific strengths in arts. But it doesn't feel like a bookstore to me, at least not of the kind I enjoy. Lofty, not cozy, trendy, not comforting. On the other hand, it is *very* close to Almondine and Jacques Torres. So there is that. read more

I Love this sophisticated space. COOL books and HOT pictures hanging on the wall might stimulate your sense of creation. Perfect with Jacques Torres wicked HOT chocolate you can get near here! read more

Wonderful bookstore/art space in the heart of DUMBO. Powerhouse Arena specializes in art books, and hosts several art exhibitions, particularly photography. When I happen to be in DUMBO I always make an effort to come here and spend half an hour browsing through the wonderful books on display. On a most recent visit my gf and I attended the Asian American Literary Festival*. I also like the space very much: it's a very spacious loft that also includes a mezzanine; plenty of room and flooded with light. there is also a section that specializes in children books. ---------------------------------------------------------------- * VH and I attended the "Movietelling" session on benshi, a literary art for where a narrator or interpreter reads along with a silent movie. The session was very interesting (I particularly liked Paolo Javier's work), but unfortunately the person in charge of the computer projection didn't seem to have a clue on how to operate the computer. This was embarrassingly bad and disrespectful, not just for the audience but particularly for the artists: it certainly ruined part of their live performance. Considering we paid a ticket to attend the festival, I think the organizers should have known how to operate their own projection system. At a minimum. read more

I am a sucker for large bookstores with a huge selection of art, design, photography and even cooking books :) After a December trip to NY and briefly walking through DUMBO to scout out the views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the bf and I accidentally walked by this place and our visit was written in the stars! Sometimes it's better to discover a place in a new city without having any preconceived notions. I wasn't seeking this place out but was immediately drawn to it's presence. For real. What's more to love than good books and art displayed on the walls? If only I lived closer! ;( read more

It is a bookstore. It is a dance party. It is an art space. It is a bar. It's POWERHOUSE! What a great space. I heart books and this is a very special bookstore, it actually makes me feel hip in my endless search for more books. Worth the trip. read more

I went tonight to see Bitchy Waiter aka Darron Cardosa sign books. First off it took me fucking forever to find this place. My GPS and my phone both decided to shit the bed and it took me over 2.5 hours to get here. I kept making the wrong turns. I finally got to the parking garage and it cost me 20$ to park for one fucking hour. Ridiculous. No one would help me find the place either. It was getting dark and i finally found it. Everyone there was very nice and sweet and it was great to meet him in person as well. I hate every pic i took so i won't post them but i will never set foot in disgusting Brooklyn again. It was an awful nightmare to get there and get home. I just returned home now at 11pm having left there at 830pm. Horrible. read more

The Powerhouse Arena - Bitchy waiter - Bookstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This is a great space. Came here on a weekend when walking around DUMBO. I love the curated selection of books. They've got a fantastic selection of NY-related books and the children books selection is wonderful. When I went in, it was just a nice place to chill and rest for a bit since they have a bathroom and some chairs for you to sit on. Prices for books are standard for indie stores. read more

If you can find it, it's amazing. The store is laid out perfectly for an event like the one I attended, which was a book signing/talk. I loved it, once I found the place. read more

It's like taking a first bite into saltwater taffy -- what the hell; is it gum, is it candy? And after you swallow, you think, oh, okay, it's good! Powerhouse Arena is a new favorite of mine because there is a little kid in me with ADD who gets bored really easily, but I'll distract her by walking into this cavernous kill-several-birds-with-one-stone coliseum. It's incredibly spacious with a loft/museum/catering hall architecture replete with minimal copies of the latest contemporary literature, children's books, fashionable pews to sit and gawk at the photo exhibits, et al. A great hideout for a rainy day or Sunday evening. read more

There are bookstores, and then there are great bookstores (no bad bookstores, obviously!). Powerhouse is one of the great ones. It's an amazing space, with tons of well curated books to browse though, including your typical bestsellers and off-beat design books you wont find anywhere else. I also love coming to book events here, the stadium seating is unique and the free wine never hurts. read more