With Three Stories and Over 60,000 Unique Books, the Montclair Book Center Is a Must for New Jersey Book Lovers

I spent countless hours browsing used bookstores as a kid, and the Montclair Book Center — the best bookstore in New Jersey — took me right back to those days.

As a '90s kid, the New Jersey of my youth often looked very different from how it looks today. I have fond memories of the restaurants, businesses, and attractions that have passed into Garden State history, but there was likely none that I spent more time exploring than Pyramid Books, a chain of used bookstores that seemed to be everywhere back then. There were locations in nearby Metuchen, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Red Bank, and Princeton, and you'd better believe I combed over every inch of them! This is where I discovered my love for sci-fi and horror, picked up my first Garfield collection, and discovered some of the oddest and most unique books around. The chain is long gone, and bookstores in general aren't as common as they used to be, but I'm so happy to be able to relive the good times at the Montclair Book Center. This massive, three-story bookstore sells new and used books, and that's part of why it's the best bookstore in New Jersey. It's the kind of place every book lover can get lost in and walk away with a bag full of new worlds to discover.

I was blown away when I walked into the Montclair Book Center. It's tough to find a bookstore these days with a large used book section—the best place to discover used books is often your local library—but the selection at this sprawling bookstore is just like everything else here. It's huge! This bookstore has over 60,000 unique books under its roof, which sounds like a little slice of heaven to me.

It's so big, in fact, that it can't be contained on one floor. This two-floor bookstore features all the new arrivals, but it also has specialized sections on just about every topic, ranging from architecture to games, and an extensive selection of NJ-specific books. Love for books is in every corner of this place, including on the staircase.

As I know very well, a lifelong love of books comes when you start early, so I'm so excited that the children's books section here is so strong. Not only are there all the popular series, but kids will also get to browse for old picture books and series they might have never heard of, and possibly discover a new favorite.

There's always a good reason to come back to the Montclair Book Center throughout the year, especially around the holidays. They get really festive towards the end of the year, and the bookstore even hosted a scary attraction called the MBC Haunted Labyrinth before Halloween in 2023 and 2024. Their downstairs even has an arcade console, and the bookstore now hosts an event center where you can attend signings and readings.

Have you explored the shelves at the Montclair Book Center yet? If not, tell a friend and see what unique books you find in the best bookstore in New Jersey! You can find more details about upcoming events on the Montclair Book Center website and the Montclair Book Center Facebook page. You might just spend most of the day here, making it a perfect place to kill time before your dinner reservation at PastaRamen, the most original and acclaimed fusion restaurant in New Jersey.