Rizzoli Bookstore

Such a beautiful bookstore with thousands and thousands of books displayed in the shelves. Very clean, none of the books have any dust. Each genre/section is clearly marked. Aside from books they have some stationary goods, puzzles, games and NYC souvenirs. Very friendly staff at the counter, willing to help out with any questions

Nice collection. Front staff women were not very helpful. They spent their time gossiping at the cashier and complaining about their job; was difficult to gain their attention and to get help navigating the store.

Uniquely decorated bookstore in the heart of the city. Book selections are also done very nicely. The categories are few but enough to satisfy most of the people. Highly recommend if you like bookshops and this one beautiful.

Perhaps ill-advisedly, I went here in search of a somewhat lesser-known children’s book translated from the Japanese. They didn’t have it in stock. But I did get to (very much belatedly) explore this iconic NYC bookstore in the bargain, and thoroughly enjoyed it! They have a fairly wide selection of books, but are known for stocking books in European languages. Interestingly, I also found they had the nicest greeting cards (see photos for the most amusing one I bought!). Loved the section featuring NYC-based books near the entrance, and the fantastic window display!

Loved, loved loved this place. It's so great to have a physical bookstore to walk into, smell the scent of freshly printed books and flip through the pages instead of scrolling the screen. Unique selection from something for a plane ride to an exquisite gift.

This is truly the most beautiful book store in NYC. Once stepping through the door, I was enveloped in an atmosphere of literary charm and warmth. They have a good selection of literature, art and foreign languages books besides of the bestsellers. Love this place so much.

I went to Rizzoli Bookstore because I was looking for an Italian title and found a lot of books. A whole section is dedicated to Italian authors. The bookstore is beautiful inside - very classic and it just gives great vibes. Their kid books sections is wide and offers plenty of Italian books from La Pimpa to Carlo Collodi. I loved this place!

I personally want to thank the people at this bookstore for letting me charge my phone after it died on me. I spent a lot of time in this store and they had an endless collection of books. There were books on almost everything. I remember reading a book on watches for half an hour and getting lost in it. It’s located at a very NY location and would definitely love to visit again.

Such a beautiful bookstore with thousands and thousands of books displayed in the shelves. Very clean, none of the books have any dust. Each genre/section is clearly marked. Aside from books they have some stationary goods, puzzles, games and NYC souvenirs. Very friendly staff at the counter, willing to help out with any questions

Nice collection. Front staff women were not very helpful. They spent their time gossiping at the cashier and complaining about their job; was difficult to gain their attention and to get help navigating the store.

Uniquely decorated bookstore in the heart of the city. Book selections are also done very nicely. The categories are few but enough to satisfy most of the people. Highly recommend if you like bookshops and this one beautiful.

Perhaps ill-advisedly, I went here in search of a somewhat lesser-known children’s book translated from the Japanese. They didn’t have it in stock. But I did get to (very much belatedly) explore this iconic NYC bookstore in the bargain, and thoroughly enjoyed it! They have a fairly wide selection of books, but are known for stocking books in European languages. Interestingly, I also found they had the nicest greeting cards (see photos for the most amusing one I bought!). Loved the section featuring NYC-based books near the entrance, and the fantastic window display!

Loved, loved loved this place. It's so great to have a physical bookstore to walk into, smell the scent of freshly printed books and flip through the pages instead of scrolling the screen. Unique selection from something for a plane ride to an exquisite gift.

This is truly the most beautiful book store in NYC. Once stepping through the door, I was enveloped in an atmosphere of literary charm and warmth. They have a good selection of literature, art and foreign languages books besides of the bestsellers. Love this place so much.

I went to Rizzoli Bookstore because I was looking for an Italian title and found a lot of books. A whole section is dedicated to Italian authors. The bookstore is beautiful inside - very classic and it just gives great vibes. Their kid books sections is wide and offers plenty of Italian books from La Pimpa to Carlo Collodi. I loved this place!

I personally want to thank the people at this bookstore for letting me charge my phone after it died on me. I spent a lot of time in this store and they had an endless collection of books. There were books on almost everything. I remember reading a book on watches for half an hour and getting lost in it. It’s located at a very NY location and would definitely love to visit again.

Always like a good bookstore!! It's the one place in a big city that you can guarantee will be quiet when you walk inside. They have a wide variety of books to hold your interest. Price is decent too. Didn't personally interact with anyone because I was just meandering through, but there were plenty of people to help if you needed it.

Rizzoli is a vintage, old school book store that is certainly worth a visit. The interior has high ceilings, wooden bookcases/shelves, old NY atmosphere and several section to peruse, including an Italian-language section of books. Other than that, the selection is very typical of an independent store, so you'll find some of the mass markets book, and then some speciality and unique choices. If you're a book lover that ventures beyond Amazon and Barnes & Noble, I'm sure you'll be glad you checked out Rizzoli.

Such a beautiful bookstore with thousands and thousands of books displayed in the shelves. Very clean, none of the books have any dust. Each genre/section is clearly marked. Aside from books they have some stationary goods, puzzles, games and NYC souvenirs. Very friendly staff at the counter, willing to help out with any questions.

Cute bookstore with lots of options. I'm always grateful it's not as busy as the other popular bookstore further downtown.

A large elegant and gorgeous bookstore. I was really impressed with their selection of books. I just came here on a whim because I had an appointment in the area. It truly was a fantastic find for me. This type of book store is a rare find. I wanted to just to spend time in here browsing all of their books but unfortunately I couldn't. I personally love holding a real book when I read. This will definitely be my go to when I am in the area again. It's so much nicer than just ordering books online. Here I can actually flip pages, plus find books that I didn't know I wanted to read.

Rizzoli is back in NYC again! This store is filled with new fiction, tabletop photo books and lots of postcards to send home on your next NYC visit. I love this place, wish they had book readings. Maybe they will in the future.Check it out, great for gifts.

Absolutely lived this bookstore. It's so warm and welcoming, I could not stop perusing the books and just enjoying the whole vibe of the place. I wish they had a few more chairs, but then no one would ever leave. It's simply nice to flip through pages of an actual beautiful book rather than read it on your laptop. The prices seemed reasonable, and the experience just wrapped a bow on the whole visit. Loved it.

I loved this bookstore chain in Europe and when I lived in New York. The store is still beautiful, but for a store that's supposed to carry books in English, French, and Italian, I was very disappointed when I visited today and saw the tiny selection of French books here. They occupy only two small shelves in the small Italian section. And they're on the top shelf, so physically out of reach for short, little me. I hope they expand their French selection here for the Francophiles and Francophones.

I love this unique bookstore that really takes me back to the days when they were the place to go to. I love perusing their array of art, music, cooking, language, photo, gardening and children's books in addition to their latest selection of fiction books. There's this huge wall of books about famous designers that's so cool! They also have beautiful journals and I wish I had 100 of them! If you're looking for gorgeous books to put on your coffee table as well this is the place. Staff are super nice and is one of my favorite stops in the area.

Lately, I've been spending hours browsing through this bookstore. This has got to be one of the most beautiful bookstores I've been to. The interior is GORGEOUS. The bookcases alone rival any architectural building and the murals evoke another time. The bookstore is located in the St James building and specializes in architecture, art, photography and literature. Inside the bookstore there are strategically placed comfy chairs and seats. Go all the way in the back and you'll find a small children's section. Downstairs is the used book area. This is such a cool place to go and relax. I love that we still have bookstores like this in the city. They are certainly a dying breed. Looking for a gift for someone (or yourself)? This place is worth checking out. It's a good thing I don't live or work in this neighborhood. Otherwise, I would be spending all my time, and money, here.

I try to be supportive of bookstores, and this is a great store to visit. Most times the staff is great, but sometimes, like today, I'm waiting on line while one staff member is texting, others chatting away. I literally had to ask is anyone working. Then it's attitude city. On days like this I wonder if having the book waiting for me when I get home isn't such a bad idea

It's a beautiful store, lots of great books. But for as long as I remember, every visit I've made to this store, it's had an awful odor. At times it's so bad I can't stay in the store. I wish they would fix it. It's been like that for at least over a year.

Have you ever seen "Falling in Love", the stuck-in-the-'80's, "Brief Encounter"-type romantic drama about adultery? Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro played Molly and Frank, married commuters but not to each other. They meet 'cute' after they check out of a fashionable bookstore and get their coffee table book purchases mixed up. I knew they had to be unhappily married because boy, I would be bummed to get a coffee table book for Christmas from my spouse. The bookstore was Rizzoli and I've been wanting to come here ever since. Little did I know their original Fifth Avenue location was long gone and so is the one that lasted longer on 57th Street. Rizzoli has been in this Flatiron location for only the past three years which explains why it didn't evoke many 'memories' of the movie for me. The classical 19th-century architecture and ornate chandeliers have been supplanted by more modern decorative touches. Some of the old Rizzoli can be seen in the tromp l'oeil walls and the wooden bookshelves. The most consistent aspect appears to be the inventory focus on illustrated subjects, which was what drew Molly and Frank into the store in the first place, as well as European literature. It's still a nice place to browse, but you'll probably have to find your adulterous partner elsewhere. RELATED - Looking for a good book? Here's a collection of stores I've checked out and reviewed: bit.ly/2KXQ0D6

New York still struggles but I was so glad to see that Rizzoli's was up and running. The bookstore has books sectioned by interests which is very helpful. There is an entire section dedicated to wine, for example. Inside the store also services as a respite from the usual chaos called Manhattan and even more so with Covid. While much of my work is digital there was something pleasant about flipping through paper if not comforting.

Love this quaint bookstore in the Flatiron district. Great selection of fashion and architecture books and overall excellent place to browse and buy.

this is my absolute favorite bookstore in the city. they have great recommendations and an extensive selection. i love how organized it is as well! i picked up 3 books from there recently and breezed through each of them. (all if them were recs too!) if youre in the area, definitely stop in!!

I was browsing around noon today in this lovely bookstore -- so spacious and elegantly library-like -- when I found myself constantly distracted by LOUD chatter toward the front of the store. I discovered that the chatter was coming from the employees themselves. Not one or two, but seemingly all of them: loud, gossipy, and completely unaware of their impact on their customers. I recommend some staff training ASAP.

*HEAVY SIGH* I typically wouldn't spend my time reviewing anything on Yelp, much less a bookstore I frequent, but this particularly hurts me because I am an avid reader, interior designer, and work directly across the street from Rizolli, where I've purchased at least 70 titles and attended many book signings hosted by some of my favorite designers. I go here AT LEAST once a week to purchase a new book, and usually buy here unless they don't have the book I want. Today, I went after work as usual looking for an extra hardcover copy of Hanya Yanagihara's "A Little Life" for my mom, who only reads hardcovers. I had my personal copy in my hand when I walked in. Rizolli only had the paperback, so I just strolled a bit to see if anything else caught my eye, but nothing was of interest so I left. Flash forward about 3 or 4 minutes and THREE BLOCKS LATER(!) a security guard interrupts my phone call and asks me if I STOLE the book that I walked in with, stating she didn't see me walk in with it. Welp, clearly ya weren't looking! I'm a reasonable person, but this just seems like a reach. Thankfully I had the McNally Jackson bookmark and coffee stain on the pages to prove it. Needless to say - I'll be doing all my purchasing at McNally Jackson moving forward. But I will be stopping by tomorrow to give this review directly to management. Only giving two stars because they have a nice selection of design books, and because the cashiers are typically (not always) pleasant. Do better. Edit: Just want to emphasize - I was holding the hardcover, which Rizzoli DOESN'T EVEN CARRY. So they accused me of stealing something they don't even HAVE lol. Changing to 1 star.

As of Sunday (October 25), Rizzoli will be open daily and their fall hours will be 11-7.

This might be my favorite bookstore in NYC. It's so calm and quiet it's a nice refuge from the busy city and more crowded bookstores like Strand. It's also organized so beautifully it's fun to just walk around and browse even for books that I wasn't particularly interested in. I went here specifically for Italian language books and was not disappointed. The section is much bigger than the one at Strand and has a variety of books at different reading levels. There are definitely more books for adults. I was looking for children's books because my Italian isn't very strong yet, but I managed to find several ones that I wanted to buy and eventually narrowed it down to two. My total was $46.70 for two Italian language hardcover books which seemed reasonable (to be fair I don't have too much experience buying books in Italian to compare). I will definitely be back on my next visit to NYC.

I had such a wonderful interaction at this Bookstore. I was warmly greeted by Issa and they helped me with all of my literary needs, I was able to get some wonderful recommendations by them, as they were very knowledgeable. They also were kind enough to give me some other recommendations on things to do in the city. While my time there was short, it left such a positive impact during my time in the city. Thank you so much for leading me in the right direction!

Great place for books (they have a pretty good variety + some Italian lit) as well as a great place to be followed by the security guard for no apparent reason at all. It's great when you're browsing books and you have the security guard following you and sticking next to you within two feet pretending to not look in your direction, but somehow ignoring every other customer and only going into sections you're going to and standing right next to you all the fucking time.

What a beautiful bookstore! Came in on a whim on a slightly rainy day in October and felt like I stepped into a different time. Good selection and nice ambiance inside!

Visited this cool bookstore during a book launch event for Num Pang. It has a nice floor space and the selection is small yet interesting. As I roamed around the place I noticed some interesting book that caught my attention and skimped through it quickly as not to appear like I was actually reading it lol. Had the opportunity to visit the restroom which are very clean and modern too. This is a cool space if you're looking to launch your book :)

I've passed by here a number of times and never stopped in until today- this is a bookstore gem near the Flatiron district full of new releases in fiction and nonfiction, special subjects including wine and fashion, and a room in the back for book signing events (looked like there was one planned for later that evening with a tart cookbook author). There are a few comfortable-looking chairs for extended browsing. The selection was a nice mix of NY Times bestsellers, classics like Moby Dick, and NYC-centric books that were more artful than touristy. If you love Strand's selection but aren't in that area, you'll enjoy popping in here I think. The bookshop staff members seemed to be genuinely engaged with their customers and patient giving directions over the phone- it's always nice to be in a bookstore where you can sense the staff truly loves literature and can help you find the perfect novel. I saw several indie books I'm eager to read that I haven't come across at other bookstores, and will have to return to purchase once I've thinned out my current to-read book pile! There are several other places of interest in the immediate area, from the Flatiron building, Washington Square Park, Eataly, and Shake Shack if you're hungry.

Overall the experience was good. There was older gentleman who asked me if I needed help. But the cashier was rude. As a customer who spent $80 in one time, I would like to ask the management of the store, please train your employees, and if they don't like their job that much, maybe it's better to work somewhere else.

What a beautiful bookstore! I stumbled in here with my friend and spent nearly an hour just perusing books. I'm a cookbook fiend and I was really impressed with how well curated the cooking and baking section was. You'll find titles here that you've never seen before and want to devour them with your eyes immediately. The price point is a little high at MSRP so you'll probably want to up buy the titles on Amazon but I definitely think this is one place I would pay full price to support a great bookstore. Highly recommend this place and I'll be back for another visit!

I have Rizzoli Bookstore since the 1970's. When I was in school I would always go with my father. Then, when working, I would go over and look for new books, classic music albums, and even art work. I have bought on all areas, The books where always the best. New, exciting and with great interest. I stayed with the art category and now have a collection of books over all these years. I also had music albums of classical music (music, operas, etc) that still sound wonderful. I remember them to remind me of what I learned and how to think. As for art, it was able to purchase original prints and sketches. What was not much at those times is now worth more. But I still have those. As time went I brought my children to the shop, and they understand what to look for. Rizzoli started on Fifth Avenue when I started. Then it moved to 57th Street (near Steinway's). Now it is on Broadway below 23rd Street. The atmosphere might have changed but the attitude and concept has not. It is still a special book store to walk into and see what is available. You can see, look and learn when you visit. It has been some time since there, but this is a new year and I will visit in April to find something new.

I'm not entirely sure why there are so many bad reviews of this place! Rizzoli is a really neat store which is pretty artfully designed and full of interesting books. My sister and I stumbled in here the last time I was in New York. This place has tons of coffee table books -- and lots of photography books, so maybe coming here looking for shelves full of novels is a misguided approach. However, this is a great place to snag a gift for a book lover, as there are many different sections from fashion to food. I didn't end up getting anything, and nobody offered me any help, but I did enjoy my experience here. I'd definitely come back to check out the new offerings when in the city.

New York Is... Standing in a near empty bookstore In the Flatiron District Reading a book by Pete Hamill or Tina Fey While it rains outside and you're stuck without an umbrella. And the timeless sound of John Coltrane's saxophone calls to you from a corner speaker. The staff tip toes around your still figure Letting you do your thing. Stay long enough? And you might buy the whole store.

Gorgeous and classy interior, well-organized books by genre, and spacious! I feel in love at this store and appreciate the helpful staff. I could browse and shop here for hours if I had the opportunity. Ended up purchasing a cute notebook&books! Will definitely return!

Rizzoli Bookstore is a wonderful place to browse a well curated and beautiful collection of volumes. The atmosphere is more like an elegant old world library than a modern retail establishment. The staff are knowledgeable and inspiring.

Love it. I used to work in the neighborhood and I know this is new. It's like a mini B&N from Union Square. Great space. Nice presentation or "talk" stage. Comfy leather chairs if you simply need to relax with a book. Nice selection of old school Moleskin notebooks for the writer in you. Just a comforting space overall with a decent selection of books.

Don't come here if you're black. My friends and I just left this establishment and we were racially profiled. We were being quiet and looking for books we had on our booklist, however, we didn't end up buying anything after noticing a security guard continuously following just us. No one else the entire time we were in the shop. No one asked if we needed help and when my one friend asked a question one of the workers ignored her and walked away. Then when we asked security a question on where something was he got scared and didn't know how to answer. Would not recommend this place at all.

Lovely time at a book reading in February. I believe the event cost $27, which was the exact same price as the hardcover book. The staff was very nice and helpful, and got me set up with my book and pointed me to the event even though I was late. There are even a couple of chairs to sit and read (unlike B&N). There are plenty of food establishments around the area to eat if you attend an evening event.

Ever since the store moved from the 57th Street location to the Flatiron district, it has completely lost everything that back in the past built its reputation as a solid, comprehensive and professional book seller of worthy literary works. You probably remember Rizzoli of the past as a warm and a well-stocked place with friendly and knowledgeable book experts... a place where you could spend long hours going through an impressive number of beautifully printed art and architecture books as well as volumes in Italian language, imported from Italy and other European countries. Not the case anymore. This place has morphed into a cold, indifferent business run by snooty, poorly trained and semi-literal model wannabe types. As to the book selection... oh my... where do I begin?... walking through the store, in the most prominent places and on most visible displays you will encounter in large numbers glossy "lifestyle" volumes showcasing sadomasochistic and bondage type of literature. The "lifestyle" theme continues through the entire store. Anything Italian is gone! I asked one of the spacey-looking members of the staff if they carried a Bible in Italian and she became thoroughly confused. Then she mumbled while looking down and shuffling some paperwork something like "maybe you should try online or, like, in a church." [verbatim] Clearly, these people are not interested in their customers. Oftentimes, I observed them chatting loudly among themselves, which is an unspoken no-no in any retail business, especially a bookstore. Good-bye, Rizzoli!

The store itself is very nice and elegant but I think they did it in a way to be more like a boutique than a bookstore, with all these fancy glossy display books more to show on a bookcase or a side table than to read. It's more like "hey come in buy and get out" than "pls come in and stay while browsing through our selection" lol . At least this is the impression I got. Although it's an historic Italian bookstore there is not much about Italy. It is worth to go and see it but I will buy books somewhere else.

A favorite bookstore in NYC (I know it's hard to beat Strand, but stick with me). It is because of the quality of the selections, the fact they are also a publisher (which is a major plus for their commitment to the PRINTED word), and then the atmosphere of the spaces they have occupied over the years, which are always beautiful and welcoming. Thank you Rizzoli!!

I love Rizzoli Bookstore! Initially I was not a fan of the place but I've become a fan over time. My first impression of Rizzoli was not great. I found it too austere & lacking in areas to sit down. But then I returned there a few more times to attend some of the lectures & I have to say they have been excellent. Usually, I tend to skip most events but I just happened to be passing by one day & decided to watch one of the lectures at Rizzoli for five minutes & ended up staying for the entire thing. The quality was excellent & the lectures/events are free & open to the public. So returned a few more times & enjoyed those too. At one lecture there were free drinks & the crowd was a lot of fun. I remember the name of the event -- it was a book release party called "Where bartenders Drink." The lecturers shared anecdotes about their industry & experiences. They mesmerized the crowd with their enthusiasm. I've paid for events not half as good. As for the one and two star reviews, I strongly disagree. Rizzoli is a very good bookstore. Their events have helped me discover books I never would have bought but I would buy them now. Definitely an asset to the neighborhood. Recommend going here for their book launches & events.

Loved this bookstore. Yes, it's primarily an art and architecture focused book store, but they did have what I was looking for--Hillbilly Elegy--presumably because it's on the NYT Best Seller list. They also were having a book show for some new picture book of drag queens in the back room. I found a number of books I wanted here.

I LOVE THIS BOOKSTORE. I rather enjoy smaller bookstores that have a more picky selection for each category it presents. One of my favorite books of the year, I found by meandering around here. A really cozy experience and nice getaway from the hubbub of a busy day, really great selection, and a really inspiring ceiling height.

Ah, Rizzoli. How we missed you. As a loyal customer of the former 57th Street store, I eagerly awaited the store's reopening in their new location in the Flatiron district. Given the reputation of the store and publisher, I had high exceptions. Sadly, those expectations were not met on my visit. Where to begin? It's nothing like the old store. A few salvaged remnants remain in an effort to invoke its former grandeur, but the space feels cold and uninviting. The warmth and intimacy of Rizzoli's 57th Street abode have been jettisoned for an interior that feels too bright, too sanitized, too uptight. The new Rizzoli strives for a weird marriage of contemporary and traditional design but succeeds at neither. The fixtures and bookcases are crudely integrated. The floors look cheap. Except for the storefront window, the displays looked sloppy and not well thought out. Now occupying only a single floor, the space feels much smaller and, indeed, the depth of books has been considerably reduced. There are more English lit books, which is nice, but the French and Italian books, a beloved staple of the old store, occupy only a tiny shelf. Spanish language books are nowhere to be found. The art, photography, music, and magazine sections are a shadow of what they once were. You'll find little on the shelves that you can't get at Strand or McNally Jackson. I might be willing to overlook many of these shortcomings if the staff exhibited some degree of courtesy and professionalism. Unfortunately, my efforts to engage several shop assistants was met with an unmistakable air of contempt and boredom. What happened to Rizzoli? Not so long ago, Rizzoli used to be the premiere publisher of widely respected art and architecture monographs. But in recent years they've shifted their focus towards glossier fashion and "lifestyle" books like the one on Kardashian's selfies. That veneer of shallow celebrity culture is deeply reflected in the design of their new store. I regret to say I will not be returning.

I like this bookstore, and when I'm the area, I try stopping in. It is definitely a fancier bookstore, with glossy floors and leather chairs to sit in, but they have a wonderful selection of books as well as events that they put on. The staff is not super accommodating the few times I've been in, but I usually like browsing anyway.

An elegant, classic gem of a store. Truly unique and just lovely. Though I miss the old 57th St. location in the townhouse (now THAT was a unique retail experience, especially for the U. S.) they've have maintained the same wonderful ambiance with this locale. So nice to walk into a store and buy something in another language with ease and no need for lengthy explanations. Perfect place to get a gift, even for that challenging gift recipient. I feel uplifted every time I exit the store, with or without a purchase.

Weird experience, but maybe just because I visited when it had just opened. It's a nice ambiance but it almost does not feel like a bookstore, nor does it incentivize to buy. The selection is small but interesting, I wish I felt less awkward in picking up a book to flip through the pages, knowing for sure I would not buy it. Rizzoli is an old Italian establishment, and this feels indeed like that: quaint and hardly practical, but still worth the visit

Such a beautiful bookstore. I've passed by it hundreds of times without walking in, but I gave myself the gift of stepping in to check things out tonight and it was definitely worth it. It made me realize how much I miss bookstores. Beautiful, peaceful, elegant, bookstores. You don't shop here to get the same deal you could get on Amazon. You shop here because you remember how important it is to treat yourself sometimes, by slowing down and giving yourself an experience.

I was standing in line to get an autograph by Shepard Fairey and I happened to notice this pretty awesome bookstore I was standing in. The books were all overpriced but hey this is New York City, what do you expect. I'll stick to Amazon for my one-stop shop. The staff was really pleasant and courteous though. By the end of the line, I wouldn't have minded sitting somewhere and reading for a bit. The interior design and decor is really clean and simple, quite spacious. It did feel a little cold. The window display brings people in through the door. I'd come back here.

Sadly, Rizzoli has gone the way of "most things" What was once an elegant shrine on 57th Street has been reduced to a shell of its former self more closely resembling something you might find at your local strip mall. The quality and variety of the Rizzoli Books have gone way down as well. I am a collector of books, particularly art monographs and I was none too pleased to note the rapid deterioration of a recently purchased rather expensive slipcased John Currin monograph which was noted to have the lettering almost completely rubbed off even with minimal shelving. When I contacted Customer Service I was told "it's an HQ problem, not the stores problem" and no remedy was offered. Gagosian, Assouline and other purveyors of fine art books would never handle things this way. From prior experience I can tell you that they would happily do a "swap out" and apologize for the inconvenience. So, good bye Rizzoli, sad to see what has become of you.

I desperately wanted to like this place, because while there are 1.6 million CO2 producing humanoids residing on this island I can count the number of bookstores with just two hands (come on, NYC!). The rarity of physical bookstores in Manhattan makes each one a gem to be cherished. I stumbled upon Rizzoli on a solo trek southward and was quite surprised to find that it is not an Italian restaurant. The name reminds me of those cylindrical shaped pastas that are doused in tomato sauce and baked with enough cheese to supply an elementary school cafeteria.* The interiors are elegant--think high ceilings, dark wood bookshelves, wide aisles. I could imagine the space being transformed into a classy after-hours event venue, but a bookstore? Nein. Rizzoli did not give me that warm feeling the way Housingworks or McNally's does every time I step inside. It does not feel like a place that is actually interested in promoting the lost art of reading. Most of the books on display are art/design/tabletop type books. In this sense Rizzoli is more of a design store that happens to carry a few novels. Seating wise, there are virtually no real options apart from the two armchairs in the back and a few stray chairs by the bookshelves, which I find awkward to be sitting in. I think Rizzoli will remain a place to visit if I pass by but not one that I return to time after time. *Oh right, that's called a cannelloni