Identifies as women-owned
Yes
Kew & Willow Books in Kew Gardens
Categories
Location on the map
Kew Gardens, Queens County, New York, US
From the business
Service options
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Health and safety
Mask required
Yes
Staff wear masks
Yes
Safety dividers at checkout
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Planning
Quick visit
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Phone: +1 718-441-0009
Site: http://www.kewandwillow.com/
Site: http://www.kewandwillow.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:11AM–7PM
- Wednesday:11AM–7PM
- Thursday:11AM–7PM
- Friday:11AM–7:30PM
- Saturday:11AM–7:30PM
- Sunday:11AM–4PM
Comments (95)
Cutest local bookshop! The sales associates are all friendly and well read and their selection spans a wide variety of genres, all stacked with contemporary and classic literature. If they dont have something specific in stock, they will happily order it for you. Another unique feature is that Kew & Willow pays homage to Queens with its own section, as well as a section featuring local authors. I also know that they hold many community building events and have their own book club and loyalty program. An overall wonderful addition to the neighborhood.
Its always lovely to visit a new bookstore, and this one is incredibly charming. They have a really well curated selection for such a small space, and an upper level for their kids section with a sweet working fireplace. Great staff as well.
Love the selection of books. If what you are looking for is not in store, they will place the order and tell you when you can pick it up or if you prefer book to be shipped. Also the women that runs the store are friendly, helpful and ready to answer any questions one might have. Been there many time never once was I disappointed.
The Events held here are magnificent. The staff is warm and helpful. Check out this childrens book that encourages kids to write!
Cute neighborhood book store with reasonable prices. The displays and selections were great and catered to various groups. The bookstore also runs community activities. Super friendly staff. Will definitely return.
A great neighborhood book store. They have a big selection and a nice kids section. Everyone was helpful.
Cute small business bookstore. It has a wide selection and the staff are willing to order anything they dont have. Theres a nice little area for children that my toddler nephew loved. Really nice staff.
Nice bookstore in Kew Gardens apparently there since 2017 although 2021 is first time Ive ever seen it ; nice lay out ; cool fixtures; & ofc Books of every flavour; saw 1 authored i knew immediately who had just done an interview on Fresh Air NPR anyway this book store is fine nice & sure they will sell you some books
A small book shop which is half latinx owned, welcomes three people at a time either with or without appointment. Their cozy place is full of wonders and knowledgeable staff. Their selection is small but in the time where you can order everything online, there is a true sense of discovery especially when you can happen upon a book that youve been setting out to read for quite sometime. Thats the wonderful thing about this bookshop. It opens up your horizons the same way a book does. It peaks your interest in a subject youve never really thought about before and helps you dive into them.Support local bookstores because their dream was to sell books, not become a multi-million dollar conglomerate. They just want people to access knowledge in a sort of happenstance way and this bookshop does exactly that.
Quaint and welcoming, its always clean and orderly and has an impressive selection of books with a friendly/helpful staff. If they dont have something youre searching for, they wont hesitate to order it - if its available. Great resource for the community!!
I am so thankful this bookstore exists. Although I have only been able to go once, I still try my best to shop virtually every now and then! Such a cute bookstore and the best staff. Everyone needs to check them out. One of my favorites. Best team ever!
I came back here after a 7 month hiatus (thanks covid) and I missed it so much! The book selection is vast and I always leave with what I came for + something I’d never heard of. The workers have always been so open and inviting and it makes for a pleasant visit. Honestly it’s just nice to know a small bookshop in the area exists. The prices are retail, but you get rewards for spending a certain amount, so there’s a loyalty program.P.S. they’ve taken covid precautions, not too many people allowed in at once. Wear your masks and stickers are designated to space out everyone.
Great neighbor hood place. Small but their selections, at least in the genres I follow, are best sellers or great writers (not always the same thing). Highly recommend. Call to make an appointment during the pandemic they are doing their best to keep their customers safe.
This place is so home-y and warm. Like a physical manifestation of the feeling of eating grandmas home-baked cookies. They also have great selections! Ranging from popular new books to all time classics. If they dont have the book on stock, they can order it without any additional fee. Though it may vary on how long the book arrives. Lovely store with lovely people
I like supporting local independent bookstores. It’s easy to do that at Kew & Willow. The owners are very friendly! They have a nice little kids section with a reading area, and a small but well-curated adult selection. I’ve been there three times so far, enjoyed every visit, and walked out with great books twice. They treat me like a friend and we have great conversations. They’re also really good with children. Amazon may have every book, but it can’t match the experience of visiting Kew & Willow.
A great little bookstore with sweet staff and ambience. Its a main highlight of the area now. :) They are also easy to buy & pick up new books from.
Great local bookstore that is very small but well stocked with the latest fiction and non fiction books. Limited but good selections and a wonderful spot to browse when in the neighborhood. They have a wonderful staff. Youll find something to read here or they can suggest something as they are quite well read. Worth the trip!.
What a pleasure to have a bookstore in walking distance of my house! Okay, its a bit of a long walk, but Kew and Willow Books is well worth it. The staff are friendly and approachable, special orders are not a problem at all, events are held regularly but not so often that you cant pop in and browse on a quiet night. Its a small space, so the selection is a little limited, but I’ve found quite a few books I’d been wanting to read on the shelves here.
Super cute, though small bookstore. I was expecting something larger where I could spend a little time with my young children. The dedicated childrens area is cute, but held their attention for about 5 minutes before I opted to purchase the first couple of titles they picked and leave. I love the story behind how this shop came to be and am grateful to have a brick and mortar bookstore in the neighborhood.
This is a great little bookstore, with a very friendly, knowledgeable staff. They have a good variety of books, and have a decent amount of events that includes things for kids and local authors. I have found some interesting surprises here that I wouldnt have been able to find somewhere like Amazon.
A quaint little book shop with friendly people ready to answer your literary questions. My first time there & I walked out with Three books. Stop by & say Hello.
Beautiful books, nice staff. they gave me a mask when I asked ( I didnt have one) and they do not pressure you to buy anything. Read books, shop locally!!!
This is, hands down, one of the best bookstores I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. They have fantastic events for the whole family and sell new as well as lovingly used books -- and thats awesome. (Full disclosure -- one of my books did sell here, quite well, and I am hoping to do an author event here in the near future.)
When a cute bookstore opens in your neighborhood bucking what seems to be the trend then one feels almost obliged to start reading books again.There is an attractive display of books and a an area behind the register for book reading type events (sorry Im guessing here). All in all its very welcoming and graced by wonderful and helpful staff.I will not step into a corporate bookstore again for as long as this one is around. I hope for a very long time.
Cozy, quiet, friendly progressive bookstore. I liked the local author display. They seemed to have a good kid/YA section too.
One of the last independent book stores in Queens. Its in a small but cozy shop. The employees are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the books. The shipkeepers are few are to talk to. Because Unlike big box store the KAWB employees read a lot of the books and can make personalized recommendations. The prices are comparable to other stores. They also hold events related to books. They had a Harry Potter day and movie screening to celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter.
An independent book shop owned and operated by women? Yes, please!Not only that, but this is genuinely a great book shop. The space is very small, but its inviting, charming, and quirky, full of character. The big, full-front plate glass of the shop lends a wonderful ambiance and feeling of space no matter what time if day or what kind of weather.There is no sales pressure of any kind. There is always someone available and accessible to confer with if one has questions, and these women are incredibly well versed in books and literature and how to stock and run a great book shop. They have a great deal of experience and education in exactly those fields.When you walk in, you get a cheery greeting from whoever is at the wheel and you can then browse to your hearts content. At first youre a little surprised by the seeming absence of books in the place. This is a rather cleverly arranged illusion. There are shallow shelves along the two walls and several boxy, freestanding bookcase style display units in the center that all hold a lot more books than you think they would just looking at them. Ive never left the place without making a purchase, and thats saying something because I have a lot of books.The selection of in-shop books is robust and really well thought out. Theres always something intriguing and theres a little of everything. I usually find myself forced to choose between several books in fantasy, history, classical literature, a biography, and something Ive never heard of but which sounds so interesting Ill die if I dont read it that very day. In a shop as small as this one, that level of curation isnt merely skill, its a superpower.Crucially, they are willing and able to order any book you desire for you without a murmur. And because they have so much experience at this, they can find just about anything. To be able to walk into a modern-day old-fashioned book shop and order something you didnt find on the shelves and have it done quickly and competently by seasoned pros is glorious.There is another level in the back of the store, about 4-5 steps up from the front section, and this is an open space with bookshelves on the walls. The space is for younger readers and theres a clearly custom-made chair they have back there that I love so hard I would try to buy it from them if I had a million bucks. Its charmingly and eye-catchingly decorated. I wish there was a little reading nook back there, but I suppose then they just might as well give up and become a cafe, because Im not the only one theyd never be able to get out of the place again.They regularly have events for both adults and kids and often have authors reading or talking/signing. Theyre usually local authors, which is pretty great.The only down side, apart from the small size of the space, is that because those center display blocks are not tall, you have to bend down to varying degrees to see the majority of the books in the store. This is awkward because you have to take up a lot more room having to double over to examine the titles in an already-cramped area, and after a couple minutes of leaning over and trying to read titles right down to the floor, it becomes uncomfortable.For people with mobility issues, its downright painful, as I found to my regret. It doesnt stop me from going, but I wish there was a graceful solution. Recovering from a chronic illness, Im physically incapable of having to assume yoga positions for any length of time in order to check out the shelves, but Im always willing to give it a go, because this is an awesome book shop run by awesome women and everyone should do what they can to support independent book shops as well as women/PoC-owned small business. Down with the oligarchy!One last thing: I wish so much that they sold stationery type merchandise - notebooks, journals, writing implements, letter paper, etc. That would be brilliant, but maybe Im the only one who still loves writing by hand.I love Kew & Willow.
This locally owned, indie book store in Kew Gardens is wonderful! I especially loved the mystery date book section. They were kind enough to order a t-shirt for me with one of the book bag designs! Ill be back when in NY!
Small and cozy neighborhood bookstore where the owners know your name and are happy to provide personalized service because they care. The local authors events, story time for kids and the monthly book club all contribute to its growth into a neighborhood hub. The childrens area in the back is a gem.
Great little shop! Got me a copy of Dune quickly and at the best price. Thanks !
Warm, inviting bookstore with cheerful, capable staff. I regularly attended two of the events for adults and teens. A monthly book discussion and Open Mic poetry reading. Always have a great time and meet new people.
Cute little shop - just bought a bunch of books for a trip and the woman (co-owner?) working there was very nice and made good suggestions. The point system will probably keep me walking back from Forest Hills.
A brick and mortar bookstore in NYC has to co-exist with the colossus that is Amazon and with the NYPL/Queens PL. I think K & W has figured out how to do that: be about people who love to read great books. Curate & manage the stock to maximize limited shelf space, while keeping the selection relevant, high quality and occasionally surprising. Be friendly and warm and listen when people want to talk about books, with no sales pressure. Be knowledgable enough to recommend a book and be wlling to ask questions to get the recommendation right. Have a clean, available restroom(the Loo). This is bookstore owned and operated by people who love books, and it shows. I was whelmed(not over, not under, just right).
The selection of books is very nice and I would stay there all day if I could. Very kind staff and good prices.😍
I recommend calling ahead if youre looking for a particular book but theyll hold it for you if they have. Very nice, support your local shop!
Wonderful shop! I love bringing my son here. We spend quality time together browsing through their wonderful books. The staff is lovely, knowledgeable and helpful.
Hidden gem in Queens! Friendly staff, cozy store, and great selection of books.
I love the store. Its a terrific place. Today I learned that it is unwise to purchase from the selection of books wrapped in brown paper with post it descriptions attached. I thought it would be exciting to purchase one of these and unwrap it at home (today is my birthday), but I was a little sad when I opened up a wrinkled, sticky (probably 2nd hand- or third or fourth hand) book that looked like it may have had water spilled on it at some point and was not worth the $10 I spent on it.I will stick to the regular selection of books from now on. Lesson learned.
Inspiring selection, incredible community. Loved the old space, and am super excited about the new one and the possibility for events, workshops, and so much more.
I wish Id known about this place earlier! Im so happy that there is an independent book store in this area of Queens.
I have fallen in love with this store! I feel likeI the owner I met, Holly, really made this such a pleasant experience. I hope to soon be a part of the monthly events that occur here!
Love this book store! They have a decent collection for a local bookstore.
This book has a whole Variety of different books love coming here with my daughter she loves it
Such a cute little bookstore to have in my neighborhood...much better than ordering from larger retailers online!
This gem of a book store is a treasure and a community resource. Theres an open mic the first Friday of every month! Its free, open to public and theres a book club too!
Love this small bookstore. They have now become successful enough to be open 6 days a week, and their selection is now broad and well selected.
I found this place by coincidence one day and was curious to learn more. Its a very, VERY small store, with a selection of childrens, young adult, adult, and some classics. I was also surprised that they had Spanish books and some cooking titles.
This is such a cute bookstore. They have a great selection, very friendly service, and you can order online. :)
Great place for book lovers. A wide variety of events and easy ordering of books make this a great visit for literary afficianados.
Its a small bookshop with a very friendly staff. They are knowledgeable and their selection is very well curated. Im sure they could order anything they dont have there.
Great small independent bookstore. Not the largest selection, but what there is is good, and the people are great.
Cozy, inviting atmosphere, small but robust collection of new fiction, children’s and modern works of interest, accommodating staff
This book store is small but offers lots of books. Very nice interior and a welcoming staff
Great local book store, friendly staff and inviting atmosphere. Support your local brick and mortar shops!
Very nice book and store for booking and listening to read, thank you yaes.
We are so happy to have a local bookstore. It is beautiful, and they are so helpful.
Support your neighborhood bookstore, because most neighborhoods dont have one.
The books are limited and unfortunately young teen books are a little dark (maybe because of Halloween)
Cute little space with a good selection of books and good customer service
Lovely small bookstore, good childrens selections.
Awesome bookstore and great service! Staff are so nice.
Staff very helpful and its fun to browse there.
An asset to Queens...that no longer has any book stores except this place.
Fun, friendly people who love books as much or more than you do!
Awesome bookstore! Great atmosphere, very helpful.
We need more independently owned businesses like this. The owners are so friendly, the store is cozy and theres a nice selection.
A small but welcoming space, with great staff and lots of local treasures!
Great neighborhood bookstore, friendly staff.
Great selection of books!
Great bookstore
Great little gem of a neighborhood bookstore!
Quaint independent book. Surprisingly large selection of well curated titles.
Nice selection, great prices, great interior. Looking forward to coming back
A beautiful bookstore in Queens owned by amazing people.
Good place has a variety of books
LOVE this bookstore! Vina is amazing.
Lovely local bookstore!
Beautiful store. Kids love it.
The absolutely best thing about Kew Gardens
Great selection, nice local vibe
Great selection with a cool staff.
Cozy spot, makes you feel at home!
Charming and unique!
A neighborhood favorite
Expensive!!
Total reviews rating 4.9
95 Reviews for Kew & Willow Books 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-09Great bookstore. The customer service was incredible. The attendant was super helpful, friendly and attentive. I found everything I was looking for here. The store was super clean and well kept. I enjoyed my time here. There are a lot of young adult books that could also be used as adults, super interesting. There’s a really cool section for children. I thought that was brilliant. Their little reading area is super cute.There’s metered parking available around the area. The Q10 bus stops very close to the store also.
Review №2
2021-08-13A beautiful small bookstore with a great aged feel in terms of the interior. I really like how the place looks, the skylight being one of the things that really stuck out to me.With the books there are generally not much considering this is a very small bookstore but that is expected, the workers there are very nice and generous as well
Review №3
2022-07-02We LOVE this small little book store. My kids and I got their quite often. It’s cute and delightful. Sells a great range of books. They have a points reward system. And a huge plus that they are dog friendly and they have dog treats for the 4 legged visitors. Staff are always very friendly.
Review №4
2022-04-29This spot is legit! I heard about it from a friend and popped in when I was in the area and Im glad I did. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff, really great selection for a small bookshop and if what you want is not in stock they can order it for you no problem. Def recommend supporting this locally and independently owned book store. Jeff Bezos can take a long walk out of a short airlock.
Review №5
2022-04-23The staff is lovely. I was looking for a book and they were able to order it to the store for me and call me to pick it up at my convenience. Very attentive and helpful! Highly recommend giving them a visit!
Review №6
2019-03-06Stumbled on this bookstore on my way to the Kew Gardens Cinemas. I was instantly impressed with the setting & ambience of this well put together bookstore. There is even a little space for kids to come & read. The owner Vina was very pleasant, professional & eager to help. This will now become my go to spot for a quiet read. Hope to see you there. Highly recommended.
Review №7
2021-05-15We stumbled upon this bookstore today during our walk! I didn’t expect it but they actually have a good selection. So glad to have found this only bookstore around the area. My husband and I just moved recently and this is definitely gonna be one of our go tos! :)
Review №8
2022-06-12Really nice quaint bookstore with friendly staff and fun concepts like free community books, blind books, and other fun reading.
Review №9
2022-06-17Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Always available to help find an author/book. Very clean, I frequently come to this location.
Review №10
2021-10-06I love book stores but this store is awesome. The owner is so knowledgeable and helpful. If she doesnt havethe book she will get it for you. Tell her authors or books you enjoy she will give a perfect suggestion. Buying a gift for a friend she asked what are their interests when they liked and came up with the perfect book. Its really works on being part of the community and customers are more then just a sale.