Spotlight: McNally Jackson Books | Brooklyn

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ weekly Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these stakeholders who help to advance local economic, social and environmental growth.

When it comes to local bookstores, most of us we have a favorite. Our own hidden gem, a well-curated oasis, a juggernaut with endless options. In the off chance you haven’t found what you are looking for in a bookstore or if you are open for a change, we recommend checking out McNally Jackson. What stared in 2004 as a singular location has since spread to a whopping four shops throughout the city, found across Manhattan and Brooklyn! McNally Jackson was created by Sarah McNally, with the goal of connecting readers both young and old, to the culture of writers and fellow book lovers alike, and she has succeeded. The shop offers signed copies of books, meet-and- greets with authors, and a plethora of other events all aimed at building a sense of community!

Hailing from Canada, McNally opened her first bookstore as a branch of McNally Robinson, a Canadian bookstore chain founded by her parents in 1981. In 2008, her original store, located on Prince Street, split from the parent chain, and was renamed McNally Jackson Books, and a new bookstore was born! Since then, McNally has become a key player in the city’s indie bookstore resurgence.

After years of perseverance, Sarah McNally opened a second bookstore in January 2018, in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Following the success of these two locations, in 2019 McNally opened another location on South Street Seaport, and then a fourth in Downtown Brooklyn in 2020! After more than a decade of dedication to her business, McNally’s bookstores are a well-known success, and a refuge for book lovers of all ages.

All McNally Jackson locations operate seven days per week so you can get lost in their wonderfully curated selection of books any day the urge for literature arises. For those who prefer perusing online, their website offers information about their full selection of books, as well as ‘coming soon’ options. You can also follow them on Instagram and Twitter to learn about new releases, upcoming events, and day-to-day happenings at each shop location. So, if you’re looking for a welcoming bookstore that has a little something for everyone, we encourage you to check out McNally Jackson. As always, tell them Broadway Stages sent you.