10 Broad Street Kinderhook, NY
On my way to a day of bookshop hunting in Dutchess County in New York’s Hudson Valley, I detoured into the heart of historic Kinderhook village. Overlooking the quaint crossroads downtown I found Kinderhook Books. Small tables with brief but intriguing menus waited out front, my first hint that this bookstore is much more than a mere shop to pick up the latest bestseller.
But let’s start with the books. The offerings may not be as plentiful as a larger store, but the books here are carefully curated and cover a vast array of literary fiction, with lots of indie press offerings and translated works and poetry, stories, essays, and novels from around the world. There were very few books that I’d say fell into the “they have this one everywhere” category. It’s nice to walk into a shop and find rooms of titles I’ve never heard of before, with beautifully designed and colorful covers.
The front room is equally divided between fiction and non-fiction, with displays featuring notable new releases in both, plus cards, notebooks, unique pencils and pen sets, stationary, a rotating poetry shelf, and plenty of bright light from the two large front windows. The next room on the ground floor features children’s book and other ephemera for younger readers, as well as the main desk for checking out. Just through here is another nook with a couple book displays, including one with featured titles all 10% off. From here you can go outside to the back garden, or upstairs to find two more rooms of books.
The first space at the top of the stairs has a few shelves of YA and sci-fi/fantasy, and the other is a bright and welcoming front-facing room with chairs and displays loaded with unique world literature and essays. I lingered here for a while, seeing so much new to me that I wanted to be sure I left with at least a couple fresh titles for my shelves at home. The room also overlooks the center of the village and seems like the perfect spot to read, write, or relax. A gorgeous space.
All the rooms were beautifully decorated in what one might call modern cottage minimalism, all clean and organized with beautiful touches here and there, a gold-framed mirror, pewter bowls, candlesticks, lamps and globes, nothing cluttered and everything bright and intentionally placed. It’s a very beautiful, comfortable space to browse.
And as I noted, there are tables out front and out back in the garden area, where you can get drinks and snacks. I can easily imagine meeting a friend for tea or lemonade in the garden and flipping through some newly purchased books while catching up. I hope this shop succeeds because every village in the Hudson Valley deserves a place this beautiful to browse.
If you’re looking to expand your literary boundaries with a new translation and relax in a small, historic village, this is well worth the short drive from Albany or Hudson.
Atmosphere — A cottage decorated with a modern aesthetic, complete with back garden and front dining area for guests looking for a bite and drink with their browsing experience.
Quality — The books are all new with a great emphasis on unexpected gems from around the world.
Quantity — With a couple rooms on each floor, there’s enough space to browse for a bit but it’s not a huge space. They make the most of it though.
Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced for new books and they had some lightly discounted titles in one area.
Amenities — A couple chairs upstairs and a garden area and front dining space for lounging, eating, drinking.
Location — Right in downtown Kinderhook near the village square (or triangle, if you will).
Customer Service — The woman we spoke to working that day was incredibly polite and helpful!
Overall — A gorgeously curated bookshop in a historic village in Columbia County, where you can find great new reads and relax in a garden in good weather. With other interesting spots nearby, this is a great afternoon experience if you’re driving in from Albany or Hudson. Or beyond!
