Watchung Booksellers

Very nice bookstore with a great selection and cozy atmosphere!

Walking into this bookstore is like getting a warm hug. Items are thoughtfully placed enticing the shopper to delve into each section - Peaking interest at each bookshelf. Prominently placed are authors that will be coming to the store, which is extremely thoughtful for the writer as well as the reader. An eclectic mix of interesting products, exclusive of the books. Well placed, well laid out, great parking, good food in the area, friendly staff.

I love a very well kept bookstore. This one did not disappoint. The checkout young lady that helped me was so courteous and nice. They offer a varied selection of books and little reading knickknacks. At the far end of the store there’s a cute children’s section. There’s also a joined restaurant which looked amazing and smelled great. Will definitely return to this spot.

This local book store is such a cute place... right by the train station and ‘local’ coffee shop it’s a recipe for a nice morning or afternoon. I also recently attended a wonderful outdoor book signing by Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) with my son and it was wonderful. The staff was so well organized and the whole experience was warm and nicely socially distanced. Clap off to Jeff and the staff of Watchung Booksellers for putting all that together ♥️

Beautiful space and great books and customer service. Love that they have events with authors and their new releases!

A lovely community bookstore with a great selection, a cute and cozy feel, and a great selection of puzzles and gifts!

I'd give this bookstore 5 stars on their charming shop and great selection alone, but what really makes them shine is their staff. Professional, friendly, extremely helpful, and always willing to go the extra mile. When you have the choice, give your business to Watchung Booksellers.

Very helpful staff. They have a nice variety of books, cards and related items. There is a children's store as well 2 shops down.

For those of us who are old enough to remember the movie You Got Mail . This gem of a book store is " The Shop Around the Corner " . The staff was young so they admittedly didn't get my reference LOL .Has the quaint & cozy vibe . The selection is expansive , albeit they may have one copy of a book on the shelf , understandingly given space . The Kids section is 4 doors down . Also great selection . Awesome space . No Big Box store feel here . Just note , for those parents who do take oversight to what their child is exposed to , know there is lots of material & books SOME parents might not find unsuitable for your OWN child to be exposed to . Literally there is a " Banned book " selection for young as toddlers .

Watchung Booksellers is conveniently located across from the Watchung train station and is very well maintained. The store has a very helpful staff and offers free gift wrapping. I enjoyed the various seating areas, at the rear of the store, a large selection, and I could tell that the store is very popular, with the amount of visitors I saw during the time we visited. Don't hesitate to stop into Watchung Booksellers and enjoy the perusing.

I'm not normally one to give a one-star review but I wouldn't come back here for the customer service alone. As an avid reader, the thought of visiting Da Pepo next door (restaurant inside the bookstore) was a dream! Da Pepo recently announced they were closing so I tried to go for dinner - they don't take reservations so just had to go and wait. Well upon getting there, there was a big crowd waiting to be seated and my not knowing where to go, I went to the young girl at the counter. I was simply asking a question and she was completely rude. Needless to say, I didn't get to enjoy dinner in the bookstore and I won't be back to buy a book here either. There are plenty of other local bookstores in the area to visit.

They cancelled a children's book event by a Palestinian-American author and I was looking forward to attending with my children. Isn't Watchung an Indigenous word? I'd expect more.

A really cool bookstore in a bustling area of Montclair. They have a wide selection of books and even have seating available for food and drinks( I didn't get any) . I came here a few days ago to order a book the woman at the front desk told me it would take a few days since it was out of stock at the store . She was very pleasant and took my number down and texted me a few days later . I came here to pick my book up everyone was very warm and welcoming . I'm definitely going to be coming back. Whether you want to buy or browse books ( and they have a huge selection !) or just enjoy a drink and food and catch up on some work it's a very laid back atmosphere and cutely decorated .

The selection of books leaves a lot to be desired. There are better bookstores in the Montclair area that deserve the business of people who believe that authors should not have their book appearances cancelled simply because they are Palestinian and that opposing Israel's campaign to kill innocent Palestinians in Gaza is in no way antisemitic.

Can't go wrong with a quaint bookstore in an area that has delicious food and coffee nearby! I love the selection of books, but when I visit, I usually ask the bookseller for a recommendation. I didn't realize that the kids area was now it's own store a couple of stores down and it was amazing! We came right during story time and my daughter had a blast. Very clean and very welcoming!

Very cute bookstore in a quaint neighborhood. I would definitely return to shop here but I have some "pro tips" for them for future book signings. Elin Hilderbrand of course brings a crowd and a sold out signing, Sparta books I feel handled their elin event last year a bit more gracefully. There a plenty of shops in the upper Montclair area to go to for a coffee or such while waiting, so handing out numbered wrist bands to keep an order instead of standing on top of each other in line sweating for an hour would have been great. Having someone from the store greeting and directing early patrons would have been nice too, as I got a little bit of a snooty air from the staff in this essence where as Sparta was more welcoming and excited to have the fans in the store.

I love this bookstore. It's so perfect, so well laid out. Kind, engaging staff. Shelves of books and things book lovers love. I only get my books from there now. Fave!!!

Cutest bookstore connected to a fab panini joint! Also selection of teas and coffees!

My daughter is a big fan of Phillipa Soo. When the Watchung PTA announced that we can secure a signed copy of Soo's new book through Watchung Booksellers, we purchased it immediately. There was no instructions on how to pick up the book. My daughter and her babysitter went for the book signing this afternoon. She had her autograph book with her. They stood in line for a long time. When they got to the front of the line, they were told by an employee of Watchung bookseller that she had to step aside and let the people who are buying a book go first. It was extremely rude and disappointing. I have, in the past, opted to support this neighborhood store instead of buying from Amazon. I will never spend another penny here. These people turned a little girl away in the name of profit.

Never have a dealt with such rude service at a bookstore. Usually booksellers are really friendly and knowledgable but at watchung they were shockingly rude and dismissive. It almost makes me want to order from Amazon but I'll at least try B&N next.

Cute, cozy bookstore, with a great selection. The checkout area is in an awkward place though, so it gets crowded (especially when several staff are standing behind the check out). Unfortunately, I was unable to purchase the book I picked up as the check out area was disorganised and you couldn't tell who was next in line (and the staff seemed confused as well) I left the book behind.

Give it up for your local bookstore. Great kids' section. Knowledgeable staff. Well stocked. If they don't have it, they'll order it.

This is the best local bookstore. Such a cute little space with a cafe next door and no shortage of incredible fiction & nonfiction titles to choose from. I especially love how accepting and diverse the people and the books are that populate this store. You can find children's books about the story of Harvey Milk, zany Obama/Biden mystery books about the history of Jewish theatre by local Montclair writers, or books about socioeconomic and racial inequality. This is a book store for all people, and that's what makes it great! I will never be ordering books off Amazon anymore, it's Watchung or nothing for me! I encourage you to do the same. You will not regret it, who doesn't love to shop small?

I recently visited Watchung Booksellers for a signing. I was very happy to see that this shop's web site photos accurately represented the reality of the shop. Located next door to a cafe, the two businesses are connected with the bookstore on the right and the cafe on the left. The book store is basically one long shop front front to back but not particularly wide. On the shelves you will find best sellers towards the front and other categories such as fiction and mystery towards the middle of the shop. The back section is where the children's books are located. Spread throughout the shop are all sorts of fun little items. For instance on one shelf I found a little book that was based on Sherlock Holmes, complete with a guide on "self defense" and quotes from the detective. In the kid's section cute plush animals lined the shelves. Near the cashier were cute characters on magnets to stick to your fridge. These items added to the texture of the store and made the visit more fun. For the signing, furniture was shifted around in the back (where the children's books were located) and the seating was able to accommodate about 20+ attendees. It was a nice talk and signing and I really enjoyed it. The smaller space felt a bit more intimate and helped foster discussion (as did our host). If you are in the area and appreciate books, you should definitely visit Watchung Booksellers. It is charming and has been in business for 25 years. I would love to see it continue for another 25!

My absolute favorite bookstore. I have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. They have an amazing selection of books both fiction and non-fiction. They also have a large children's section in the back of the store. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. If they don't have the book you want in the store, they will order it for you and it usually comes in just a few days. They gift wrap items if you request it for no charge. They also have a great Instagram account with recommendations and staff picks. I can't say enough good things about this place. Order your books from here and support local business, you won't be disappointed!

Great local bookshop with all the books you'd need to stay cozy with, plus a kid's section with some toys and puzzles for adults! It's also attached to a restaurant and I'm prettty sure you can grab a coffee. They provide sanitizer and only allow 5 guests in at a time. Safe and kind staff!! You can also order ahead and do curbside pickup.

Recd a gift card from a co-worker for here, and was very pleasantly surprised by the selection! Great little shoppe in The Plaza, even better it's walking distance from my home. We will be regulars here. And yes, they have INVENTORY!!!

Super cute bookstore with an amazing selection of books featuring diverse characters and cultures for kids. Will definitely return.

Just picked up a bag full of Holiday gifts I ordered -- all beautifully wrapped. This is the best bookstore on the planet. Staff is knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Cannot recommend them enough!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! I am so happy this bookstore is still around, been coming here for years. They get amazing authors for book signings. They have events for all ages; Harry Potter release parties, new upcoming authors. The selection is fantastic. I can spend hours poring over their books. I can't tell you how many books I have bought there purely by recommendation from fellow customers and the staff, and am so happy I did. If you don't see it, ask, they can get it. I know I could get almost any book on Amazon, but prefer to support Watchung Booksellers. Even better, after you buy your book, step next door to Tiny Elephant, have a snack and start reading!

Very very pricey, but the service and variety makes up for it. The free gift wrapping is literally so convenient and the cute little knick knacks they sell make adorable presents. Always coming back here.

A great true community bookstore. I just moved to NJ from LA and I was looking for a place that was comparable to Skylight in LA. This is a professional and community minded book shop. You find many community co-op bookshops, but they tend to be messy. This bookstore is neat, tidy and works with established and emerging writers. There are a variety of genres. The owner Margot will go out if her way to assist you. It is perfect for your next literary reading.

My favorite store! The selection, the staff and ambience - I love everything about it. If they don't have smth in stock, they will order it and have it available in no time. Needles to say I buy books only here, no BN or amazon for me. We need to keep great stores like this one in the community.

As a booklover, the thing I miss the most during this pandemic is browsing through a bookstore. There is something about a bookstore that you just can't experience even with next day delivery from Amazon. While it isn't the same thing, I really enjoy that Watchung Booksellers allows a limited number of customers to browse inside (although I haven't yet tried) and that you can order and pick up books from the back of the bookstore. When I order books from Amazon, it just reminds me that we are still stuck in our homes. Making a trip to Watchung Booksellers to pick up a book and treating myself to a local coffee or pastry makes me feel a little bit more like the "old normal".

I was excited to finally get to this bookstore yesterday since I found myself with some time on my hands (sans kids) and wanted to get a book for an upcoming trip. Unfortunately I wasn't able to enjoy this experience as both employees in the shop were so engrossed in their conversation about Employee #1's headache ... I hung around the front, browsing for several minutes, hoping they would take a minute to greet me and help me find what I was looking for. Employee #2 even made eye contact with me a few times as I kept glancing over, hoping they could table their conversation for just a few seconds, and offer a "Hi, can I help you". Then Employee #1s girlfriend showed up with an iced coffee and tylenol and the conversation about this headache that's been plaguing her for 2 days went on and on. For a second, I thought of interrupting and asking for some suggestions, but I was so insulted by the experience, I left. I haven't experienced that kind of rudeness and poor service in quite a while. It was surprising and disappointing- I guess I didn't look Montclair enough for them to bother. The teenagers that work at Barnes & Noble do a better job of being friendly - and at least trying to be helpful - than this set!

This quaint and cozy bookstore is not your Barnes and Noble with a coffee bar. Good customer service and knowledge of books. For a small indie book store they have quite a few local and non-local authors doing readings and in-store events. Impressive! As a children's librarian I love the quaint layout of the back children's room with paintings and inspirational quotes of authors stenciled on the walls and bright windows lighting the kids' space. They don't have the biggest selection of adult books, but they will place orders for you. The Watchung Plaza shopping area where they are located has a nice little village feel and public metered parking. I will definitely be back here for special events. They also have a nice Facebook page and email newletter for regular customers.

This is the cutest a bookstore I've ever been to. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I came in looking for a few new books to add to my collection but wasn't too sure what I wanted. I told a staff member the type of books I liked and have read and they steered me in the right direction. All the shelves are stocked and you can be put on a waiting list of something is not there. Also attached is a little coffee shop to enjoy your new book if it's a nice day!

Bob loves book stores -- and this one is my favorite because while it is small -- the customer service is phenomenal and it is well organized. One great asset is that the staff reads -- and can give thoughtful suggestions for you and for gifts for others.

I frequently go to many bookstore in this area of NJ, but there's no question who is #1. Watchung is a fantastically knowledge loving bookstore with a robust selection across the board, inviting atmosphere, stellar staff picks, and a truly beneficial weekly email. This is my bibliophile paradise in NJ!

Ive spent many hours here just browsing. I love small bookstores. They carry a little of everything, but not so much you are overwhelmed. I have ordered books here as well which has been easy. They don't know me as I'm here only sporadically, but they know some of my friends well and its always great to see them get recognized when we come in. Such a great feel to this place. Support the small bookstores.

This cozy Montclair treasure is conveniently located by local coffee shops and the train station. With a warm environment and friendly staff, I frequently visit to check out new reads and recommendations. With a large library it's hard to make a purchase, especially because books tend to be on the more expensive side limiting my purchases significantly.

I strongly support this wonderful bookstore. It is small and cozy but packed with the best and most current books on the market. What they don't have they will quickly order for you. Staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable and helpful. You can find a wide variety of author's talks, book discussion groups and more. The owner is generous in the community supports social justice causes. There is a special child friendly area in the back and games, clothing, puzzles, cards and more allow for gift giving for any age or interest. It is a local treasure!

I like how this bookstore is set up. They have the most popular novels displayed on every shelf. They have many different trinkets for book lovers, like mugs, notebooks, games, etc. Their selection isn't large, but they have the newest releases. It's difficult to buy a book here because they sell them for cover price. You can easily get the same book online for several dollars less.

Good selection of books. I have supported them many times over the years with book purchases. But lately I have come to realize given the opportunity you will be 'nickel and dime'd' by them. I don't think they appreciate that the same books are available for less elsewhere.

This is a wonderful bookstore. Get to know the staff as they make great recommendations. The selection is terrific, books in all categories. If you support local, support this store. Community business is not only worthwhile, but necessary to the economic health of the community! Also, reading is good! Put down the phone!

One of the BEST bookstores! Great vibe, super helpful staff with wonderful recommendations, and they do special orders if you need it!

Independent Book stores are THE BEST !!!!! Each unique and offering something different which makes them special. Watchung Booksellers is uniquely that!! Knowledgeable friendly staff that does not pressure, but helps you discover that perfect read. They offer an adorable children's section that any child would love to spend hours in. The wood interior with high ceilings makes Watchung a homey warm store. The Tiny Elephant is a quaint coffee shop that shares the ajacent space offering specialty coffees and delicious food. Don't skip this gem of a book store next time you're in town.

Visited Watchung Booksellers for the first time this weekend to tuck into the back corner for an author reading. I enjoyed a coffee from next door while sitting back to listen. This is a charming little shop with everything you'd find at, say, an airport bookstore. Natural light to read by, easygoing vibe and friendly staff.

Great independent bookstore! They are friendly and knowledgeable about everything that they keep in the store. They are also extremely low pressure, so you never feel obligated to buy anything but you are free to browse. Love it!

I nice independent bookseller. Helpful staff. I frequent this place mostly because they regularly have poetry readings and readings by local (and beyond) authors. If I'm at a reading, I try to make a purchase too. Support local booksellers. Support books! Support poetry!

What a phenomenal little bookstore! I miss it terribly, not living in the area anymore. They have a great selection, with wonderful recommendations, and are just adorable. It is a great place and as someone else said, they are low pressure, not pressing sales on you. They are friendly and welcoming, which is the way a book store should be! Overall, a great place!

I've gone here a number of times. The bookstore is cute and they have an interesting selection, however the employees are not particularly friendly or helpful. I pretty much always buy local and don't mind paying more for items to support small businesses but I do expect more personalized service. I paid seven dollars more for a book (compared to Amazon), after standing at the counter for several minutes being ignored while they stocked books. Won't do it again.

Cutest little bookstore! It seems very family friendly, and apparently during the summer they're having a "Where's Waldo" game where kids go around all the different shops at Watchung Plaza and if you find Waldo you get prices. The shop clerks were all super friendly and helpful. I kinda wish they had more chairs/tables though.

I was looking for a very specific book for a very specific audience, and needed it next day. I had spent the morning calling around without success. These guys stepped up and I am picking it up tomorrow - I am so impressed!

I love this little gem! It reminds me of the Little Shop Around The Corner, from the movie You've Got Mail. I have a Kindle and a Kindle Fire but still enjoy regular visits to this shop. There's something so completely soothing to me to browse for the perfect book. The children's 'corner' is adorable. Discount for being on their email list.

Cute little independent bookstore. Very friendly, very helpful staff. Not a huge selection, as it is a small store, but it is a good selection Great for local shopping and browsing, and of course avoiding the big chains.

My favorite bookstore. It's relatively small, but has a wonderful selection of fiction. The children's section is wonderful, and it's well-appointed for those who have young children - a cute seating area, very well merchandised, and visually appealing. This was great for me when my kids were young - now my kids are older, so I can just hang out up front and get my book fix on. I'd rather come here than drive out to Livingston to give more money to B&N. BUY LOCAL!!!