Between the covers: Independent bookstores grow on Long Island

Colleen Kinneary has always been a "buy the book" person in her career. Before opening her bookstore, The Neverending Story in Babylon, Kinneary had worked at museum stores where much of her job involved purchasing books.

Now she's selling them as the owner of her independent bookstore, which opened in January 2024, and where she also offers a well-curated blend of vintage housewares, events and the kind of personalized attention you can't find shopping online or at a national chain. 

"If I get a book that I know someone has been looking for or that I think they will like, I’ll pull it and call them and let them know and that makes them pretty happy," she says.

In the last four years, a number of other independent bookstores have opened on Long Island, including Theodore's Books in Oyster Bay, A Book Place in Riverhead and The Next Chapter in Huntington. Two more launches are expected this year — Published in Huntington, which will feature a bar, and Book RePort in Port Washington, which hopes to fill the neighborhood void left by the closing of Dolphin Bookshop in 2022.

"The Dolphin was a respite from the craziness of the world and a place to find community and meaningful conversation," says Mara Silverstein, co-owner of Book RePort with Kat Schechter. "That's something I was missing."

While relaxing for customers, it's not always easy on the owners running bookstores. "We had an amazing holiday period, but the last few weeks, with the snow and cold temperatures, that’s just been brutal to our foot traffic," says Steve Israel, the former Congressman who opened Theodore's in 2021. 

Still, he adds, the escape offered by bookstores outweighs the challenges: "There’s something safe and relaxing about a bookstore. Nobody’s screaming, nobody's yelling, it’s just an inviting place for people to explore their curiosities and their interests."

These shops certainly meet those needs.

A BOOK PLACE

489 E. Main St., Riverhead

Since opening in 2022, owner Jocelyn Maningo Kaleita's top priority for the store has been "a very Long Island focus" by featuring events with local artists and artisans, such as classes with a candlemaker and a painter of denim jackets. "I want you to walk in and feel like you’re at a home or somewhere comfortable where everybody’s welcome," she says.

• UPCOMING EVENTS In addition to author events, like the book launch for Lucy Score's "Mistakes Were Made" on March 10, the shops hosts a Queer Book Club as well as a Silent Book Club where patrons can bring in a book and read for a quiet hour with other customers. The Wine Around the North Fork Book Club event on March 15 at Pellegrini Vineyards in Cutchogue will feature a talk with "Arcanum" series author Kelly O'Hearn and Hampton Tarot founder Veronica Thiers. Tickets are $65 and include a book, wine, snacks, a tarot reading and more.
• HOURS 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• MORE INFO 631-405-7902, abookplace.com

THE NEVERENDING STORY

9 W. Main St., Babylon

While the shop features books of all genres, classic literature is The Neverending Story's sweet spot. "That’s what sells and what folks are excited by," Kinneary says.

But the store has succeeded by doing more than just stocking the shelves with the likes of "Wuthering Heights." Customers can find vintage glassware, bookends, albums and more.

• UPCOMING EVENTS Kinneary has found an audience with a recent scary movie pop-up event, a monthly book club, children's story times and open mic nights. "Even if you’re not a reader," she says, "you can check out what’s inside and find something really exciting."
• HOURS 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
• MORE INFO 631-526-9620, neverendingbookstore.com

THE NEXT CHAPTER

204 New York Ave., Huntington

Since opening in 2022, The Next Chapter has taken its place as Huntington's successor to Book Revue, which closed in 2021. "We want to create another place that’s nice to go to that’s not work or home," says owner Mallory Braun, whose shop is stocked with an array of new and used books and albums.

• UPCOMING EVENTS Michael Albergo talks about his novel "Native Species" on March 19 ($19.99 tickets includes the book) and "Sopranos" actor Steve Schirripa discusses his picture book, "WillieBoy Eats the World," with comic Joey Kola on April 21 ($16.95). Music nights, typically Fridays and Saturdays, are also popular, as well as book clubs, Vinyl Sharing Night (March 9), writing workshops and more.
• HOURS 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
• MORE INFO 631-482-5008, thenextchapterli.com

THEODORE'S BOOKS

17 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay

With a mix ranging from bestsellers to self-help books, Israel says science fiction, fantasy, romance and especially classic novels are the ones that typically fly off the shelves. "That's the most gratifying part of owning a bookstore, which is watching people, particularly, young people gravitate to literary classics," he says.

• UPCOMING EVENTS On March 11, Allison Pataki will talk about her novel "It Girl," inspired by the Stanford White-Evelyn Nesbit scandal of the early 1900s (free or $32.59 with book) at Gold Coast Forum on nearby South Street. Theodore's also hosts nearly a half dozen book club catering to different genres and the Gold Coast Book Fair, which will occur May 15-17.
• HOURS 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• MORE INFO 516-636-5550, theodoresbooks.com