The Strand Book Store
Best Bookstore in New York · NY
18 miles of books off Union Square since 1927.
The Strand has been New York's bookstore since 1927, when Benjamin Bass opened it on Fourth Avenue's old "Book Row." The last survivor of that row, it has been run by the Bass family for three generations and still advertises its legendary "18 Miles of Books" across four floors at Broadway and 12th Street.
New, used, rare and remaindered titles are stacked to the ceiling, staffed by famously opinionated booksellers and topped by a Rare Book Room. The red Strand tote has become a New York icon in its own right.
Nearly a century on, the Strand remains fiercely independent and family-owned — and the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Bookstore in New York.
What they're known for
- 18 miles of new, used & rare books
- Rare Book Room
- The Strand tote
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; The Strand Book Store met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in New York since 1927 — 99 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in New York.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: New York has kept The Strand Book Store busy for 99 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by New York regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best bookstore in New York for 2025 as the last survivor of Fourth Avenue's Book Row, still family-owned with 18 miles of new, used, and rare books.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- Legal / trading name
- The Strand Book Store
- Category
- Bookstore
- Founded
- 1927, New York, NY
- Founders
- Benjamin Bass
- Location
- 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
- Centurion Award
- Best Bookstore in New York — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
Frequently asked questions.
What is The Strand Book Store?
Independent bookstore founded in 1927, the last survivor of Book Row, run by the same family and famous for its 18 miles of books.
Is The Strand Book Store award-winning?
Yes — The Strand Book Store is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Bookstore in New York, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best bookstore in New York for 2025 as the last survivor of Fourth Avenue's Book Row, still family-owned with 18 miles of new, used, and rare books.
Where is The Strand Book Store?
The Strand Book Store is in New York, NY.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Bookstore in New York New York, NY · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit The Strand Book Store
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for The Strand Book Store (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.