Bookstores are {sadly} not as common as they used to be, so when you find a diamond in the rough — you support it. WORD is a local, independently-owned bookstore in Jersey City that opened in December 2013, with a sister-store in Brooklyn that has been open since 2007. WORD has two unique locations in our neck of the woods {Jersey City brick-and-mortar is across from the Grove Street PATH station at 123 Newark Avenue and the OG location is in north Brooklyn at 126 Franklin Street}. Their immense eclectic collection of books and trinkets are cozy and a literary oasis — to find that perfect new book. Take a look inside our recent visit to the Jersey City WORD bookstore location:
The Space
The standard oak bookshelves paired with the open loft space makes the ambiance at WORD simple and understated. The books are really the center of the show, and their well-organized and colorful collections really speak volumes {encyclopedia joke, anyone?}.
Nestled at the back of the space is a full-service café serving Stumptown coffee drinks and an array of salads, sandwiches, and pastries to be enjoyed at the tables and benches nearby — unlike many other ‘no food or drink allowed’ bookshops.
The Finds
WORD is a combination of spunky meets vintage. The variety of goods, from mugs and coloring books to full-on non-fictional reads, allows visitors to indulge in whatever piques their interest — and there is no short supply of brain stimulants.
Local authors {and custom favorites} are highlighted in-store {because #shoplocal} but some of the major brands sold include colorful Poppin office supplies and Little People, Big Dreams children’s book collection — TBH, the Coco Chanel bio for kids is a personal favorite.
Some more awesome finds:
^^ Adorbz + funky cosmetic bags
^^ These pins can make any denim jacket or bookbag extra fun
See More: Gifts in Hoboken: Noellery on Washington Street
^^ But can you even deal with these pillows?!
^^ Enough said.
Events
You can become a WORD member or join one of their book groups to stay on top of the in-store happenings {think: book launches, readings, and panels} across all genres. It’s hard to believe that 200 guests can fit in the Jersey City event space, and previous guests have included Michael Ian Black, Jesse Eisenberg, Sherman Alexie, Sophia Amoruso, Amy Schumer, and Elizabeth Gilbert.
WORD partners with venues across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Jersey to host events that won’t fit in their intimate space — because yes, their loyal local following demands even more space. If curious, some of their featured authors have included Stephen King, Nick Offerman, Chuck Klosterman, Cheryl Strayed, and Sebastian Junger.
WORD also hosts children’s birthday parties {for kids 3+} that includes storytime, games, arts and crafts, and wrapped book favors — a pretty neat way to make the space fit for all ages.
Be sure to check out all of the upcoming events at WORD online here!
The Details
They also have a walk-up window for coffee. Not a bad addition.
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Both locations are open until 9:00PM daily, but the Jersey City location opens at 8:00AM {2 hours ahead of the Brooklyn hub} for optimal hours pre-commute so you can grab that book before you start your hectic day via public transport. If you’re interested in any local Jersey City happenings, check out their JC homepage here.
PS: The WORD bookstore Twitter is quite active {if you want to ask any questions directly} or sign up for emails, otherwise, WORD can be found on Instagram.
Have you been to WORD Bookstore? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
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