Spotlight | Astoria Bookshop

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to consider supporting these organizations to advance the local community. This week, we revisit a favorite stop in Queens — the Astoria Bookshop!

Broadway Stages is excited to revisit the independent Astoria Bookshop on 30th Street in Astoria, Queens, just in time for the holiday shopping season! This locally owned business has been mentioned as a favorite by Thrillist, Time Out, and Electric Lit.

Simon & Schuster alum Lexi Beach and wife Connie Rourke opened the Astoria Bookshop in 2013. As a proudly woman-owned bookshop, it offers a broad array of options, including a feminist book selection in nearly every genre. The shop also features a great lineup of female authors who visit for book discussions and a monthly feminist book club.

But it's so much more! "The inventory is a mix of my personal favorites -- and favorites of my slowly growing staff -- books that are highly recommended by friends… Some of my steadiest selling titles are books that customers recommended," said Beach.

Nearly every genre is represented in this little bookshop, from poetry to political science. Young readers will enjoy the children's section in the back. The bookshop features the latest best sellers, classics of every genre, and a Spanish section (staff recommendations are handwritten on oak tags). And the Astoria Bookshop is dedicated to supporting Queens-based writers. It has a special "Queens and NYC" section. So, you'll be able to read some of the best local literature when you visit.

The Astoria Bookshop hosts many other great events, including children's story time, adult and teen book clubs, book parties, and author talks. Keep an eye on their calendar for upcoming events, including participating in the Shop Small Astoria Retail Crawl this weekend. And while you are there, browse the website! From staff picks and audiobooks to greeting cards and more, the Astoria Bookshop is a definite online destination. 

They are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. If you have a question, drop them a line at info@astoriabookshop.com or call them at (718) 278-2665. And, of course, follow them on Instagram and Facebook for events and deals! Most of all, we encourage you to support this local bookseller who provides adventures and knowledge through the pages of books. The Astoria Bookshop also supports the local economy and the livelihood of our neighbors. So, why not take the afternoon off and treat yourself to a stroll along the aisles of stories waiting to be told at the Astoria Bookshop? And when you get there, be sure to tell them that Broadway Stages sent you. Happy reading!