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Discover NYC – Your Guide to Indie Businesses

Discover the local, independent businesses that are the heart and soul of NYC in Shoot New York City’s guide to the best of indie New York!

Discover the real NYC in Shoot New York City’s Discover Guide

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the businesses listed are temporarily or permanently closed. I do suggest that you verify if they are open before visiting them. With many of them, it is probably best to call them as they may not have had the opportunity to update the information on their website.

I love the independent businesses in New York, they are the heart and soul of the city! In this section you will find bookstores, cafés, restaurants, arts & crafts markets and more. This is an ongoing project to list the best of indie New York so visit often to discover the real New York City. Experience the hidden gems and places that New Yorkers frequent. For more information on many of NYC’s vibrant neighborhoods, have a read of my Neighborhood Guides. I am not compensated for writing these reviews and I'm only writing about the places that I like.

Sadly, far too many of these unique, independent businesses close every year. When I learn of one closing I will move it to the category Vanishing NYC. They may be gone but they’ll never be forgotten!

 

Mercer Street Books, Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Mercer Street Books has been in business for 25 years! It's a mostly used and rare bookstore though they do carry some new books as well. They carry books in just about every genre and apparently all the clerks are writers as well. So they know something about books! They buy and sell and they carry vinyl records as well. 

So it's a bit of chaotic mess. But most of the books are in sections that make sense. I have found books there they I don't see in other bookstores and their collection is impressive. They are located next to the NYU campus and just next to Soho. They are in an area that is going through much gentrification. I do hope that they will be there for another 25 years!

Mercer Street Books, 206 Mercer Street

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