Super happy I stopped on by when I was in town. A great and peaceful area for hobbyist! A fantastic place for readers and music lovers! Will stop on by in the future!

Cool book shop with a hallway decent vinyl section in the back and the basement worth checking out.I would give it more stars, but the vinyl prices are usually about 30% higher than actual average market price, and are often in +/- condition (G to VG-, both vinyl and sleeve; especially given the Montclair pricing). I buy items occasionally, but can almost always find things significantly cheaper and in better condition elsewhere.

Terrific place. Many good titles are on display.You can get lost there.

Nice place with a good selection of childrens books at reasonable prices. We will definitely be back

Great treasure in Montclair and if your not sure what smart smells like then step and and take a deep breath. Its a hit and miss on books and records but thats part of the fun however they do have some gems.

What can I really write to adequately sing the praises of Montclair Book Center? In college, I found myself there often on rainy days. As a graduate, I spend almost every birthday in this place for at least two or three hours. The staff is knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk to. The book selection is AWE INSPIRING. Seriously, just go there. Dont seek anything; let the books find you. Thats when the true magic of Montclair Book Center is activated. A great place to spend an afternoon. The only reason theyre getting 4 stars and not 5 is the prices, but honestly they need to make their Essex-County-Rent somehow. Go here, you wont regret it.

This is a microcosm of the Strand Bookstore experience, but in Montclair. They have everything from Antique to Old to New in an all-encompassing eclectic compilation of Genres, AND an excellent collection of Vinyl. Next time I visit I will budget LOTS of time and I will leave the budget at the door.💘 📖

SO. MANY. BOOKS. And if you need help, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find it. Great place to wander the stacks and find a great read. They even have a section for Blind Read where the book is wrapped in brown paper and just a quick description to tease you about it. Highly recommend!

For those book worms that love small quaint bookstore rather than the larger book stores this is a gem. Large selection of books and a friendly staff make this a great experience

They have a plethora of old books, CDs, postcards, and shirts at a reasonable price. They also have an abundance of books from every genre ranging from history and politics to ecology and astronomy in the upper floors. Their mystery and fiction collection is extensive as well. If you love books and music, this is a great place to be!

If you want to be surrounded by books, this is the place to be. The smell of it, the taste of it... Anyway, theres much to explore in this bookstore. Wear a mask, follow the arrows on the floor, and enjoy your browising.

Such a nice and beautiful place. The people that work there were also very nice and welcoming. I would highly recommend going there!

Great books at reasonable prices. We will definitely be back

This is by far the cutest bookstore ever, the vibe is so chill & the selection of books are amazing, the staff are attentive & give great book advice when asked!:) very friendly & over all welcoming place love it and will definitely be back soon.

I was recommended to go to this place by one of my clients. If you’re a book nerd, this is your place! If you like music, this is your place! If you are a breathing person this is your place because you’ve enjoyed at least one of the two!As soon as you walk in, it feels like your in a infinite space of neatly shelved books. Any criteria that you can think of it’s there. When you walk to the right side of the building, you’ll find a section with records and music merch. It has a vintage vibe with the TVs and record player to play any of the records that interest you. BUT WAIT....THERES MORE! If you head downstairs it’ll be more records that are available. There are also CDs, cassettes, and there are even posters available in the far back in the basement. Went in there thinking that 30 minutes was enough, but stayed almost an hour longer than expected because I was enjoying all of the nostalgia.Since my experience there, I have recommend this place to the rest of my clients that live in Montclair. If you’re looking to rent/buy/sell a home in the area, visit my website and reach out to close on the property you’re looking for!

It was cool u can get books, t shirts, albums. Etc

Had an absolute ton of books and vinyl. A lot of CDs as well. Its a bit overpriced though, and a lot of the different things are in disarray. There is a general sense of organization, but if youre browsing for something in particular, it isnt easy to find. The owners also have a bit of a dickish attitude about wearing masks, comparable to none other Ive seen before.

Lots of diversity of genres. Organization is somewhat okay, it shows they try! Fairly priced books, they take condition into consideration when pricing.

Really cool bookstore. Unique. I love it

I donated like 50 books and they were rude from the moment I walked in, to the moment I walked out: the owner and the employee. However, the real problem is the owner. Seems to walk around with some sort of mental hardship, which unfortunately reflects on his employees around him and the customers that walk in.I gave them free money....probably a couple hundred dollars worth of books.....the books in the store are sold at top dollar so probably more than that - should have taken them back. Lesson learned.Edit: Read the response below. I called the store and was told to come in whenever. Obviously, because its free books and money. In his response, he tries to change it around and make me the bad guy. Narcissistic if you ask me. Crazy.

This is a quaint little book store that no longer exists in most towns anymore. You need to go there with an open mind and let their treasures find you. There is also a nice selection of vinyl records. Everything is reasonable priced.

Really big with tons of books, good prices too!

Great bookstore, I got two Irish books I wanted. Massive selection of books!

Wow 😯 this place is a book lover’s dream! They had secondhand books which was nice and the books were discounted heavily from msrp. Very nice, would visit again

Was looking for $1 books for a project. They had plenty. Parking was impossible. Which is not their fault. But it took me 45 mins to find a spot.

One of the last true book stores, nothing else like it anywhere in the area.

Some very good rare finds here over the years

This place is magical. So many books and amazing prices!! I could spend hours here and I can’t wait to come back.

The biggest and best book store I have ever been to. The staff is so kind and really helpful, they have everything here!

Cool book store with lots of books. Helpful people. Prices are ok too.

If you dont like this place, you probably dont see your reflection in mirrors and should get that checked out!

This bookstore reminds me of a simpler time- less hustle, hurry and the idea that you can get lost in a good book! Known around town for selling used books and vintage records, they have a good selection (classics, niché, and some college texts) at a fair price point.

I am so glad I stopped. This place is a must for anyone who loves books or music. The staff was very kind. Wish I could have spent all day exploring.

Adorable little place!! The selection of books is huge and the energy of the whole store is just amazing. Two floors entirely filled with previously loved books. I could spend hours in there just browsing through all the titles. Lots of coffee shops nearby. Perf place for a coffee & book shopping date :)

One of our favorite ways to spend a weekend day. Doesnt matter if its sunny, raining, or windy, this place is always a good idea. They have an amazing selection of books and music. Cant beat the prices and the staff is very helpful. Thanks, MBC.

Love browsing at MBC. Excellent selection of used books 7 records.

Magical. Go to browse and enjoy. Not a place to zip in & out of looking for a particular title.

This is a beautiful little place full of treasures. I found some wonderful books I hadnt seen in a while. Really great first date venue!

Montclair book store love it, the staff are so kind and helpful, if you love books this is the store for you.

This is the exact type of bookshop youd expect. Like walking into a modern-day Narnia. Except its not modern at all and youre walking into the best book store in the North Jersey area. Three floors of ceiling-high bookshelves filled with stacks on stacks on stacks. Not to mention their phenomenal vinyl and CD collection in their extended section and basement area. If youre looking for a good book, youll find it here.

Huge independent bookstore with old and new books. Love roaming through it. A booklovers paradise.

Classic used book store. Amazing selection. You can spend all day exploring this. Lots of big hardcovers and photography books.

Greatest assortment of books Ive ever seen. I love how its all records downstairs

Great place to visit. Large selection. Pricey.

An amazing book store filled to the brim. They have everything from new titles to classics and can easily spend hours searching the stacks

Excellent staff! Excellent collection!

You can escape in this place in the best way. So easy to spend hours just seeing all they have. Every book you could imagine is here, and the vinyl section is one time be in awe of. Feels so warm and comfy in there. And the workers love to converse and help out any way they can. A gem of a store with a soul and lots of heart

Great book store! It has been awhile since I went inside this book store, but I call and they always have what I need to pickup. Cant wait until this pandemic is over so I can be able to go inside again .

Its a trip down memory lane whenever I get to go. They collectable as well as items with good prices. They have wide variety of book collections as well as a vinal record collection. Alas being down town its street parking or the little parking lot with meters.

Rudely informed of a 20 minute browsing limit with only one other person in the store. Not exactly a welcoming warm and fuzzy feeling. Ill spend my money elsewhere.

Wow, theyve got a lot here. My family stopped in over Thanksgiving weekend and we could have made an entire vacation out of just browsing the shelves. I thought I had found the hidden treasures on the upper floor until I realized there was an entire basement to look through as well.Theres something about the smell of the books and the neat little aisles that really draws you in and makes you want to hang out for a while. I found it particularly fun how the horror section was tucked away in a dimly-lit dead end with just enough room for a single wooden chair. Maybe you have to see it to appreciate it.

How can you be mad at a bookstore?

Miles of books, good mix of New and used, support small businesses!

One of my favorite book stores in NJ. You can find almost any type of books from almost any dates /era. I found one of my favorite books from here. The second floor happens to be my favorite section but what I love the most about the store is that they have little nooks and crannies to sit at at. Great place to visit.

Amazing collection. Would give them 5 stars but the back of the building was too cold to hang in and browse. Recommend going in mild weather.

The first day I came to Montclair I saw this shop. I love books. Started going. They have a fabulous valiety of used, new books. My favourite is spiritual books. Also vinyls, CDs, DVD s are there too. Basement like they have these. Its a totally new experience being here. The staff are friendly. Also out side the display used books for a dollar. I have spent lot of time looking at them. Never will forget this joint as next is a massage place. Rated five stars.

A gorgeous gem of a local book shop! If you were locked in here for the rest of your life, youd probably be just fine with it and die a lot smarter & more eclectic than you started out. If the vibe of a Barnes & Noble is likened to a beer buzz, the vibe of this place is like magic mushrooms. Sublimely beautiful. All book lovers must come here.

Best bookstore ever! Its beautiful and quaint inside with lots of variety and good discounts. I love stopping by here. A total gem

Been coming here for years! Lots of used books including some that are out of print! Great music section! They got vinyl records too! You can find things here that you might not find anyplace else!

I was in college the first time I went to the Montclair Book Center. Twenty plus years later, Im back in the area and what to my wondrous eyes should appear but the same bookstore! It survived Amazon! And its just like I remember. A small storefront that opens into a comically large bookstore full of amazing finds for cheap. Go now!

Bookstore the way they all should be: filled to the brim with great books at good prices. It looks and smells like a bookstore that isnt trying to be anything but what it is. I really enjoyed my time walking through the shelves and finding my next few reads.

Very helpful staff! I love a good bookstore 📖

Very helpful friendly staff that arent pushy. Great selection of books, new and used. Staff will help locate used books for you as well. I got two used books for good prices. One was like new quality. Will definitely frequent this book store.

Awesome place!!! ove it!!!

Best book store ever. I moved from Montclair to Florida 7yrs ago & I miss this store so much there’s none to compare.

If they dont have it they will get it for you, if they cant get it for you they will give you the names of multiple other sources of where you can look for it! Customer service really is a top priority here. It feels so nice to wander through the isles of books and just look at the unknown, the waiting to be discovered. They also have a whole room of vinyl to look through, in which I have found many of gems. Dont order that next book off of Amazon. Give your local shop a try, you will be pleasantly surprised.

I’ve been a long time fan of this book store. Always great to wander the long aisles and find something new and out of my typical wheelhouse. Also, knowledgeable staff that has always been helpful.

Love this place!

Such a LARGE selection of books. Great store. They also have vinyl records

Such a great place to get books. Its nice to actually hold a book before purchasing it rather than online ordering. I never know what I will find, its like an adventure. Great store.

You will for sure find what youre looking for here. There are three levels, basement, main and top floors filled with books and LPs. They are also super affordable! These can make great gifts. One must go to this place if around Montclair.

Hidden gem in Montclair, literally wall to wall books and music too! Much much bigger on the inside than what the outside would have you think. Definitely worth the look especially of youre a bookworm.

This is an absolute gem, especially if you are looking for old vinyls. The books are great as well. Parking is a bit difficult to find. The staff is absolutely fantastic and knowledgable as well. Will definately recommend this place to all.

One of my favorite bookstores in New Jersey. Like the town of Montclair, this bookstore is eclectic and its collection is skewed towards the artsy with a touch of the occult and esoteric. A great place to find rare reads. If you are into chaos magick and ancient wisdom traditions, be sure to have a gander at the books in the locked case next to the yoga section.

Its a fun used bookstore, they have a large selection. My only gripe is the prices, which are generally more than what you would pay for a book on Amazon or at Barnes and noble; or used books the prices should be lower.

This place is incredibly adorable! Everywhere you look there are shelves of books and more books. It doesnt take itself too seriously and its fun to walk around while discovering more nooks with more books. The downstairs area is full of music, like cassette and vinyls of many different genres. Love this place!

I love everything about this place. So many books and records! Its deceptively larger on the inside (much like the TARDIS) and naturally it smells like books (so, so inviting). Theres both old and new books, so you can get quite the deal on them. I love this store, but its dangerous for me to go there because ill want to buy everything!

Great selection, pleasant and nice atmosphere, friendly staff. The sheer mass of books is incredible. I love that they have staff picks. A treasure!

I absolutely love used bookstores, and this one is no exception. Montclair Book Center has a huge space, although it may not look like it from the outside. The store really has character - its not just one big room with shelves. As you walk around, youll find a bunch of little nooks and crannies filled with more books. They also have a good record selection, although I cant speak much on that as I spent most of my time checking out the books.The store basically has three floors. The main floor, a balcony around the back room upstairs, and a basement. You can spend hours and you wont see everything. The only reason Im giving 4 stars is the prices - they are a little bit higher than than other used bookstores that Ive visited. Overall, definitely worth checking out.

Cool little used book store, get discount prices and also have used vinyls as well

Great shop for books from academic to childrens to music to out of print and always a discount.

What a really cool place. Has so many different areas to explore with so much to offer. From music to books, this place is a must visit. You dont find places like this anymore. A hidden gem in the world of Bookstores.

Wow a rare treat to wander around a real old fashion bookstore, not a modern cookie cutter overpriced chain store! The smell of the vintage books fills the heart with what adventures those pages have in-store for the reader! Staff very helpful and friendly! Found maybe the only copy of a book I have been searching for over 2 years! My definite find time to go back to place!

Very cozy and pretty they sell records and many interesting books

We found original vinyls of Iron Maiden in great condition for a steal of a deal. Love this place

Love this book store, very cozy, nice atmosphere, great staff and also a great selection of new and used books at a good discount. I get lost in here for hours every time I stop in. Love this place

If you love books, you must go here. Used books, rare books, old books, new books, records... this seemingly small store goes on FOREVER inside. Seriously, you could spend an entire day in this store and still not see everything they offer. Bibliophiles, check it out.

Fabulous second hand book store, huge, with vinyl records and retro posters. This is the kind of bookstore that used to exist in every college town. Nice staff. A must visit if you are in the area.

Smell of old books, vast selections, good music. A pretty store in a picturesque town.

Theyre good. They ordered the wrong book. But they still had both books I wanted.

It is enormous. I accidentally spent 3 hours in here. Bookstores are disappearing, so glad to run into this spot. Their $1-3 sidewalk deals cannot be beat. If they found a way to get a little space for some tables/chairs and maybe a tea kettle, or a coffee pot, it would be a great place to spend an afternoon.

Cool local bookstore. Sells used and new books of all kinds, as well as records, old collector books and other merch.

Awesome place has rare books and records!! Very vintage place, huge place, can spend hours in there. Prices very reasonable.

Awesome place for used books. They have a great scifi/fantasy paperback section at somewhat reasonable prices. Nice place to get lost.

Very nice place. Many hard to find books to choose from . Ask if you need help. There are some great updated materials you can purchase immediately. They can order for you.

Excellent selection and helpful staff. Plan your time wisely. Youll want to spend an afternoon browsing.

A good old bookstore with collectable vinyl as well!

Wonderful store. Only wish there was an inspiring session area to peruse books before purchasing

Amazing choices and great environment to find engaging books for new readers.

Cozy place,you could buy any book you need,excellent customer service.