It may be an independent store of some kind, or part of a conglomerate
Nothing is trickier these days than running a book store I would imagine.
Even before Kindle etc. there was that famous joke, " You know how to make a small fortune from a book store? Well, first you start with a large fortune.."
But let's just see--Ha! If Yelper's are to believed, this may really be a "find" for this kind of place..
Only caveat: These reviews are so OLD. I have a feeling this store has already felt the cold brush of being ignored in the new electronic age....
Posman Books
9 Grand Central Terminal
New York, NY 10017
(212) 983-1111
New York, NY 10017
(212) 983-1111
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 8 am - 9 pmSat 10 am - 7 pmSun 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
- $$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Posman Books
Review Highlights What's this?
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"...little place with such a great selection of merchandise amidst the..." In 6 reviews
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"...poetry section were shelves lining the walls with literary fiction." In 5 reviews
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"This independent bookstore located in the thick of Grand Central..." In 5 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
26 reviews in English
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Review from Shawn A.
Astoria, NYFor such a small space, Posman does a surprisingly good job of stocking a great selection to either aid you on your commute, or provide you with a browsing distraction if you have to wait in Grand Central for a while.
It doesn't feel cluttered, and is a friendly and relaxing oasis in the midst of the Grand Central insanity. -
Review from Angela K.
I love browsing through here when I have down time before the next train.
This is not a large store, but they do have a great selection for the size. The staff is friendly and atmosphere is relaxed, which is a welcome break during the craziness of GC during the rush hours. -
Review from Maria M.
I have loved Posman for a long time. If it were a man, he would be slightly older than me, cultured and worldly, whip-smart, cool as hell, intellectual, a wine connoisseur, a first-class chef with an affinity for Latin American art and a long and varied iPod playlist. Kind of like Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but good. And faithful. And we'd be married by now with 10,000,000 babies! Since he doesn't bother to turn up the AC, I can tell he is hot for me too.
Every time I go to a new city, I must have a Lonely Planet. Where will I get it? Posman. A new Garrison Keillor book came out recently! Where will I get it? Posman. I need a really cute and snazzy 2008 calendar, Pete Hamill's "Downtown", which is out in paperback (see, Daddy? I waited!), I want to geek out and read the revised version of Thomas Friedman's new book, and I want to learn how to make Japchae. Where oh where can I go? POSMAN.
I love to hang out there, both during my lunch hour and after work, whenever I have a good, long time to chill out. I go there for one thing and I walk out with at least 3 books. Today, I went there for Junot Diaz's new novel. I came out with that book, an updated Lonely Planet guidebook for Buenos Aires, a Vietnamese cookbook and a Yoga for Dummies.
Oh my God, I am such a geek. But it IS quite endearing. And that's why Posman loves me right back. -
Review from Sooj O.
New York, NYThere's always two Posman Books running about in my memory, chasing each other in time.
The old original Posman Books used to be on University Place, right by NYU. The interior was dark with nice lighting interspersed to help you find your books. They had possibly the best poetry selection in town, yes, even better than St. Mark's. Near the poetry section were shelves lining the walls with literary fiction. One naturally flowed back and forth between the poetry and the literature.
Then, further back, they had the critical books: anthropology, sociology, critical theory, philosophy, history....It was a place to get lost in, to step out of the rain or snow and just spend the afternoon contentedly browsing.
The new Posman in Grand Central is a different beast. Rather than a bookstore serving an academic audience, it's a general bookstore catering to the commuter spending the commuting hours reading. Therefore, it has a good general selection of fiction, a small poetry section, all the current events books, history books, some good design books, business books, and NY interest books. They also have a decent selection of interesting gift items and cute cards; great place to shop for coworker gifts around Christmas time.
The staff at Posman has always been noteworthy for being very knowledgeable about their stock. That, thankfully, has not changed.
Take note of their table displays. They are judicious in deciding what will land on their tables, and it's always good books.
Go to Posmans rather than the new Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue, even if you aren't waiting for a train. I used to work right by Grand Central and spent many lunch hours here.
By the way, keep an eye out on their display window. They go out of their way to work with book industry people to put up a fun window. -
Review from Micaela L.
New York, NYPosman Books is a Midtown oasis! I always find myself stopping here at lunch or on the way home from work. Their stock is pretty comprehensive for a small bookstore located in the middle of Grand Central.
I really enjoy their selection of blank journals, and they carry a wide range of Moleskine products -- always a plus! -
Review from Tina C.
I like Posman Books as it's clean and organized. This location sits inside Grand Central Terminal's Concourse shops. They have a small selection of gifts and journals, however, do not under estimate their selection of books due to the size of their retail space. Personally, I enjoy their selection of journals and the reputable Moleskine products.
Due to the location, it's convenient for every New Yorker who is on the go. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Manhattan, NYSince Coliseum has closed I now come to Posman for my reading needs. They carry all of the best sellers and a good selection of everything else.
I particularly love this place because as I get off the Shuttle to head into work I pass by here and if its a co-workers b-day I pick up a $25 giftcard and its so great because I know that no matter where the person lives, they have to go through Grand Central anyway so its not a total waste! (unless of course you drive to work, but no one i work with intimately is that "well off") -
Review from Heath R.
Los Angeles, CAThis independent bookstore located in the thick of Grand Central Terminal is a great place to kill time before or after a train ride. I often stop off on my way home if I don't have time to make the short walk to nearby Coliseum Books on 42nd Street across from Bryant Park to pick up titles that piqued my interest during the work day.
The store has a well-selected new fiction and nonfiction display, as well as a relatively well-stocked New York section. Their fiction leaves a little to be desired, but they shelve Hard Case Crime in the mystery section, have a decent current events stack, and have many notable poetry texts you might be interested in.
If they don't have what you're looking for, you may need to go elsewhere unless you commute via GCT daily, but for a spontaneous browse, they can't be beat.
They have a frequent customer card, but I'm not sure the discount is worth the participation fee. It's also not a bad place for last-minute gift selection because they feature postcards, gift books, and other similar items.
Worth exploring!
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