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
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. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
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.
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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 to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
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