Babbo’s Books

Yay! Babbo’s has reopened as Terrace Books, in the same location. See their website:

Stopped in here one day to look around. It’s really small inside and very messy. You can barely get around the place since there are just boxes and books on the ground. The cashier was nice and friendly. Also the books outside were really cheap, one was just 25 cents. I didn’t end up buying anything but its definitely a good place to peruse but not to sit down and read (there’s no room!!).

I love books, local businesses, and nice staff. This place has all three. It is also completely disorganized (partly a function of the tiny space) and regularly not open when it says it will be.
They buy books (on Sundays only – when they are open, that is) and give you a credit, which is great although be aware that the credit is only good towards other used books, not new ones. And I sell more there than I buy, so I have quite a credit but only occasionally see something I want to purchase.
This place overall makes me itch to shelve some books. They need it.

I drove over from Crown Heights today and traded in some books for a small store credit. I’m thinning out the bookshelf in hopes of adding picture books and story books to my 2.5 year old’s bookshelf. I was unaware they buy books on Sundays, but the girl behind the counter was nice enough to go through my short stack while we perused the children’s section. Score– a Richard Scarry book illustrated with names of things in German, English and French. I wanted to find a Richard Scarry book and couldn’t have left happier. We also left with a couple of paperback picture books and a book with wheels in the shape of a bulldozer. It’s a toy; it’s a book. I spent under $ 10 and got 5 books. Lovely used bookstore. I can’t wait to go back and see what treasures we walk away with.

As a kid, my dad didn’t take me to ballgames or to play catch in the park. He was a scientist with a crazy brain and loved spending Saturdays at the local public library and took me there in tow. As a hyperactive, fort-​building, outdoors kid, I hated being cooped up in a building full of books where quietness was valued. But somewhere in the process, I was broken and developed a love of reading.
As an adult, I’m still mostly a guy who is hyperactive, fort-​building and adverse to quiet places. But I also love the written word. And even though my knowledge level of literature is Taco Bell-​like in sophistication and diversity, this place is still very cool. You don’t need to be a big place if the small items you sell are filled with the limitless potential of imagination.
There’s a cart out front that’s almost free. The inside racks are a mix of cheap and normal retail. If you have something in mind, the owner offers to buy/​ship it. In other words, anything you want is here, even though it might not be there at the moment.
If you are a dad, drag your kids here. They might hate it, but a big brain lasts for 80 years while a professional athlete lasts for 25. Girls and moms will last even longer.

I’m pretty against owning books. There. I said it.
I’ve moved quite a few times in the past few years, and every time I pick up a book and think about buying it, I think about how much it sucks to be carrying yet another box of books up the stairs in a 3^rd floor walk up. Needless to say, I usually put the book down after that and think twice about buying any.
All that aside, I stumbled in here the other day, and was immediately impressed by the amazing collection of books they have here for incredibly reasonable prices. Their education section in particularly well stocked with really fantastic books. I got two books that have been on my Amazon wishlist for a couple years now for under $ 10 total, and they’re in great shape.
New deliveries every Sunday! This may become my new Sunday ritual. Babbo’s, watch out. I am not planning on moving again anytime soon.

I liked it, I love reading and books are great, one minor con and it has nothing to do with the book store, its really me. I found the place to be a little too tight, and I’m clausterphobic, and I wish it was a bit more spacious. But they do have a large selection of books and a friendly staff and a nice cat. And will buy more used books there!

I have a lot of books to get rid of, so I’m comparing the buyback prices and policies of different bookstores.
I haven’t physically gone into the store yet, so this review is just for their buyback policy, which i got over the phone just now. The woman who answered (the owner, I’m assuming) said that they don’t give cash for buyback, but issue credit for 25% of what Babbos would sell the books for. Eg. A paperback goes for $ 8, so you would get a $ 2 credit to be used towards the used books in the store.
She also said that sometimes they can’t issue credit for certain books (I guess because of the condition they’re in), so you can leave them with her to sell for $ 1 (in which case you get no credit, which seems kind of a crappy deal to me), or you can take them back.
Right now, they only buy books (up to 20 at a time) on Sundays, and are especially looking for paperback sci-​fi and fantasy. They’re pretty much open to all genres except hardcover mysteries.
i wish they had the option of say, 15% cash or 25% credit, but ah well. Maybe the next one will be better.

Babbo’s is a nice, small, local bookstore that sells used and new books. Now before I got on realize that this is a dying breed and appreciate those facts all put together. There are not a lot of the above sort of stores anymore in New York, let alone in Brooklyn and they are to be appreciated. Leonora, the owner and her cat Holly are great. She is always (Leonora, not the cat) willing to look up books if she doesn’t have it on stock. As it’s a small book store it’s more for browsing and poking around and seeing what you can find. And there are definitely some great finds to be had. Seeing as the area now has dirth of used bookstores, or books stores at all as the nearest is now, what 15, 20 blocks away? Babbo’s is much appreciated. Leonora also buys books on Sundays only and offers a help her shelve and get credit for books (I forget how much), which is great for anyone with a tight book budget. The front is unassuming but I never judge a bookstore by it’s storefront. On the right just as you walk in are books that are suggested readings I guess that’s what they are called, and I often see a book or two that I’ve either read or would like to read and also a bunch of stuff that looks interesting but that I haven’t heard of.
Having said that, it seems that Babbo’s is frequently making improvements. While improvements are good sometimes it’s chaotic so be prepared. And it’s small so they don’t have everything right on the shelves but of course books can be ordered as well.
II think that Babbo’s is a great destination for those that live nearby and a great place to stop by frequently to check out the stacks.

I was wandering through the Prospect Park area one very chilly day and by a happy accident I found a used book store. My all-​time favourite thing is used book stores! I went in and asked where I could find the plays. That’s mostly why I go to used book stores, but often I’ll look for children’s books or sci-​fi novels or something else. Lately it’s just plays. The lady there was very nice. So was Holly, the meow-​meow.
They had a lot I already had but it was a nice selection of plays. I found two I wanted. One of which I’d actually been looking for. And the woman told me one of them was so good. She’d actually read it! I love when the employees know the books; that they are actually readers. It’s a nice thing especially having recently visited the Strand & been treated horribly. And the woman and I started talking theatre & it was so nice to meet someone who has a similar interest and is so friendly.
Babbo’s is great! They had a lot of sections in such a small store, and the prices are just right! It was pretty well organised and it’s in such a cute part of Brooklyn, and not far from my house. I will be back there looking for more plays very soon.

Aside from the fiction section and children’s sections which are fine, this bookstore is really not well organized right now and is very hard to browse.
More uncommon books seem to be kept in a back room for sale on the internet, which is good insofar as it keeps the store in business, but not very customer-​friendly.
If the store gets in better shape it may be worth a trip, but until then it’s strictly for neighborhood types.

Babbo’s books is a godsend (sp?) in this world — a USED book store where you can get GREAT lit for like 2 dollars! For the price of one new book at Barnes and Nobles, you can get like 4 or 5. This is how literature exchange should be — painless and greedy.

Ignore the puzzling name (who is Babbo? why not, at least, Babbo’s Books, instead of just Babbo Books? Is Babbo a kind of book?) and the unassuming storefront. The books chosen for the window display might throw you off, too. On the inside, this is a straightforward new/​used shop of the kind you might find in an affluent small town, complete with cat and rocking chair in the back. You won’t necessarily find what you’re looking for, but you’ll certainly find something decent or better.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more appreciated neighborhood bookstore. Leonora, the owner, is friendly and intelligent, and there’s an open mic series, several readings, and even a cat named Holly Golightly. (The events usually have acoustic music, quirky poetry, and short stories from talented young readers.) Go! I’m always amazed by what I can find, and at a fabulous price. (Far less than evil, anti-​union Amazon.) And be sure to check out the dollar bin – I found all kinds of great stuff in there.

Windsor Terrace just keeps getting better! This new bookstore just opened a couple of weeks ago and is already a welcome addition to the community. A mixture of new and used, the owner will also order any book that you want. I was just in today and the place was packed. Apparently coffee and wireless may be coming soon!