W Somers Bookseller

A used bookstore with prices that were commensurate with used books. Mr. Somers was very helpful, along with his compendium knowledge of authors and writings.

This Is the best bookstore I've ever been to, and I have such a fond memory of it. I live in Texas, my son goes to Union College and I was visiting him and we found this place by walking around. Everything about it is perfect, the old building it's in, the books everywhere, the smell of books and every kind of book from antiques to new releases. One day my son was in class and I went to this bookstore alone and it started to rain, a downpour like magic. I spent the next couple hours relaxing in a chair, listening to it rain while flipping through books. The owner was there and he is perfect fit for building, the relaxing rain, the books. He is an older man and wore a sweater, the type you would imagine an intellect would ware, I bet he has read every book there! He himself is a library of knowledge. I talked to him, asked him if he had anything by Edward Young, author or "Night Thoughts" and we began a lovely conversation. He showed me his photo box he made for selling books online, I believe Abe books. I could of talked to him all day. He is the kind of person that if you do not meet or get to know, you doing yourself a disservice I bought some books that day for my son's 19th birthday. My son is always reading and the ones I picked out he soaked up. I have not been back to New York since then, (October 2021)but I need to. I talk to my son daily and i often bring up how that bookstore is an antidepressant. I hope it never closes, I hope the owner never dies. If you have a chance to go there, bring a flashlight for the rows are perfectly narrow and there are books everywhere, you will find at least one that will call to you

This place was interesting. They didn't have any maths books, but I picked up a history on William the Conqueror. But German section and New York section. They'd do well to organize things more cohesively and make it easier to walk around. It does have a certain charm the way it is though. You have the feeling that there are hidden treasures throughout.

This is a pretty comprehensive selection. I liked seeing a lot of books on antiques, building, art and collecting. There is also a very vast selection of nautical books and a wonderful selection of books on history. You can find books on the history of almost anything here. There are many rare books as well. It’s a place that’s great to browse in and to go in there for ten minutes just wouldn’t be enough time.

Selection is great, but owner is rather crabby old gentleman. He wouldn't haggle, but prices are rather fair, so it's OK. I was looking for local history books and left with a handful. Mostly niche stuff published locally that most people would probably throw away, not available on Amazon or eBay, but fascinating to me! Hard to say what is the overall theme of the store is, there seems to be a little bit of everything. Overall, 3 stars for customer service and 5 stats for selection and price. Well, with only 2 booksellers left in Schenectady (the other being Whitney Corner 0.5 mi down the road at 600 Union St in Schenectady), I'm not going to complain.