Beyond the books: Indie bookstores selling Long Island-made art, games and more
Osey Woiwode, 10, left, and his siblings, Ellie, 4, and Lieve, 7, of Sag Harbor, visit Burton's Bookstore in Greenport. Credit: Randee Daddona
Port Washington resident Janet Lipman frequently finds herself browsing the bookshelves at Dolphin Bookshop for new reads, gifts and — when she brings her nieces and nephews along — toys. Dolphin has been a staple in her neighborhood since 1946.
“Every town needs a bookstore,” says Lipman, 55, a retired antique dealer.
Life as of late has not been easy on independent book shops on Long Island. Bookstores across the country have closed in recent years due to the move away from physical books. The pandemic brought the cancellation of scheduled in-person events and sent regulars shopping for the latest author releases online, says Robin Appel, manager of Dolphin. Shy of two years into the pandemic, Huntington Village favorite Book Revue shuttered after struggling to pay rent.
But a slow and steady reopening is bringing light back onto their pages, local owners say.
“We have great foot traffic,” says Scott Raulsome, owner of Burton’s Bookstore, a mainstay of Greenport’s main drag since 1979. “We have a very vibrant downtown area,” which helps bring business.
Jesse Bartel, manager, of BookHampton in East Hampton, says bookstores aren't on their way out. “At this point now, people are realizing how important bookstores are and realizing it’s an experience you can’t get online,” says Bartel. After being stuck at home staring at computer screens, the experience of coming in and actually touching and seeing books and chatting with booksellers is yet more vital now than ever, adds Bartel.
“Offering an in-person conversation which is lost in a very digital world is a great experience,” he says. “Especially these days.”
Here are four indie bookstores to shop for local reads, gifts for book lovers and more.
Ella Standridge, 5, of Boynton Beach, Florida, browses with her family at Dolphin Book Store, an independent book store on Main Street in Port Washington. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Books, games and gifts
Dolphin Bookshop carries the latest bestsellers, classics, coffee table reads and seasonal books. There’s a also large selection of arts and crafts supplies, STEM toys, baby toys, puppets and gift baskets for babies filled with soft books, toys, teethers and plush animals.
The aim is to have engaging toys, board games and building toys to promote family time, says Holly Magelof, toy buyer for the store.
Dolphin also carries candles, lotions, puzzles, adult games and one-of-a-kind greeting cards.
“We try to have everything that’s a little bit unique to us,” says Appel.
INFO: Dolphin Bookshop, 299 Main St., Port Washington, 516-767-2650, thedolphinbookshop.com, Open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Local history
Pick a subject, any subject, and you’ll find a book about it at Burton’s Bookstore, which focuses on fiction, history, children’s, cooking, nautical, classic, young adult and local history books.
Anna Ingrilli, 23, of Cutchogue, visits Burton's Bookstore in Greenport. Credit: Randee Daddona
“We want a family of four on vacation out here to all find something,” says Raulsome, adding that you’ll also find plenty of beach reads.
Books by local authors and books about the North Fork are unique to them, as well as many new releases you might not find at other bookshops. Burton’s also highlights staff picks, clearly displayed along the endcaps of aisles.
Besides books, there’s a large assortment of notebooks, journals, greeting cards, card box sets, games, puzzles, art supplies — colored pencils, gel pens, crayons, acrylic paints, chalk crayons and adult coloring books.
INFO: Burton’s Bookstore, 43 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-1161, burtonsbooks.com. Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Collectors' editions
At East Hampton’s BookHampton, there are lots of signed copies on the shelves and weekly in-person events resume after Memorial Day, including with local authors and authors who have summer homes in the Hamptons.
You’ll also find stationery, cards, puzzles, journals, and traditional board games, like Monopoly and Clue, For kids, there are plush toys, flash cards, and kids’ puzzles. “It’s sort of an all-stop shopping situation for gifts,” says Bartel.
INFO: BookHampton, 41 Main St., 631-324-4939, bookhampton.com. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Long Island authors and artists
The Long Island Authors Group Bookstore only features books written by authors living on Long Island, says John Krahn, president of the author’s group.
“We are now 82 authors strong and growing every month,” says Krahn, adding that as a not-for-profit, the group sponsors workshops and presentations for the community, including monthly book talks by members.
Islip Arts Council runs exhibitions in the space, with all the work available for purchase. “Mother Nature,” the current exhibition running through June, is a multimedia show done by female artists.
The store has a full gift shop with artisan jewelry, photography books, greeting cards, giclee prints, paintings, pottery, glassware and upcycled clothing made from a variety of materials, including painted jackets and skirts. Everything is made by Long Island artists.
INFO: Islip Arts Council Gallery at Westfield Mall, 170 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore; 631-888-3525, longislandauthorsgroup.org. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
