Riverow Bookshop

This is a fabulous bookshop and the fact that it is woman owned is like icing on the cake! The shop has wonderful books and so much character. The old maps and books upstairs was amazing. You can easily lose track of time. The prices were reasonable! The bookshop is right on the strip of the historic downtown area. You can stroll over after a meal! The whole town was amazing!

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Riverrow Bookstore in Owego, NY, and it was a charming experience. Located in the center of Owego's downtown, the bookstore is a massive and captivating structure on the corner of River Street and Lake Street. The charm of the place is evident from the very first moment.

Walking through the doors feels like stepping into a literary wonderland. The interior is a maze of books, each corner revealing a new literary treasure. The setup reminds one of "Flourish and Blotts," the iconic Diagon Alley bookshop where young wizards and witches find their magical textbooks. The comparison is apt, considering the abundance of books surrounding you in every direction.

It's also reminiscent of "Bay Books," from John Grisham's "Camino Winds," a bookstore that faced the fury of a hurricane. Riverrow Bookstore's resilience is equally impressive, having weathered the great flood of 2011 brought on by Tropical Storm Lee. In a remarkable tale of survival, the bookstore and the spirit of literature persevered against the odds.

The organization of the books by topic creates a sense of order amidst the abundance. However, what truly caught my attention was the ingenious digital index they have in place. With a simple search, you can locate any book and its specific location within the store. This modern touch complements the classic charm of the physical books perfectly.
Wandering through the store's three floors, I was delighted to find a diverse range of reading material. From children's books that ignite young imaginations to elaborate coffee table art books and even the weighty tomes of literary fiction, there truly is something for every reader. The availability of old leather-bound collectibles adds an air of timelessness to the place.

Jerry Seinfeld once said, 'A bookstore is one of the only pieces of physical evidence we have that people are still thinking.' This sentiment resonates deeply at Riverrow Bookstore. It's a sanctuary for thought, a refuge for curiosity, and a celebration of the written word.

In a world that often rushes past the joys of slow, thoughtful reading, Riverrow Bookstore stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature. I'm grateful for the opportunity to explore its shelves and lose myself in its stories. If you're a fellow book lover or simply seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting this haven of knowledge and imagination.

Always a wonderful time coming here! Always enjoy my time in here and will continue to come back to find books I need or want. Love the women owned business and the staff are wonderful! Just a few pictures. I left a note with the lady working she said she can look for the books I wanted. Used or new. And what kind of used I wanted. I'm pretty excited to see what she finds 🥰 books are treasures.

Update! She found almost all the books I left behind and went over the price of each one. Together we decided what I ended up order. Now I just need to find some time to go down pay and pick them up. I suggest this place to anyone. Did I mention they have a bargain basement? It's pretty interesting.

Absolutely worth the visit! 3 floors of books of every genre imaginable. Reasonable prices. Could spend the day there easily!

Great book shop with a huge selection of new and used books. They also have plenty of records and cds to dig through. Highly recommend.

Hands down, an adventure! Two floors and a basement worth exploring. Old antiques and recent titles alike, something for everyone!

An amazing assortment of books and other media to pore over for hours. And despite the vast selection, the staff are helpful and know where to find what you're looking for!

Too bad it wasn't opened, I would have loved to check it out!!

Great bookshop with an eclectic selection of old and new. Well curated collection with a very knowledgeable owner. We'll be back for sure! Highly recommend a visit.

A wonderful place for book lovers. Just browsing is fun. I found two books I had been looking for. If you're looking for a book that they don't have, Karen will search online to find it.

This place is AMAZING for a true book lover. They had SO MANY books and rare books and cool little trinkets and gifts. Three floors of books!!! And in the basement most of the books are half off! The girl working went out of her way to be friendly and helpful. I got a horde of true crime books for a stellar price. And they have some rare stuff, not just books, but paintings and other things. Amazing architecture blueprints framed on the walls that I would have bought if I were rich. It's a shame there aren't more of these places around.
Owego in general has amazing stores and a rich history. The antique store around the corner still has the NEWBERRY'S storefront!! If you want a cool place to walk around I would definitely recommend to go to Owego park your car and just walk around and look at all the cool places.

Absolutely great and amazing place. I bought so much, including a book from the early 1700s (and they have older). 3 floors of books abounding!! Will return to buy dozens more. 8 out of 5 stars of I could. Above and beyond!!

Awesome bookstore with a huge selection including books about local history and books by local authors. The workers are always very helpful and friendly. Make sure to check out the bargain basement!

Fantastic! Laura was wonderful to work with. Willing to go the extra mile to snap a few photos of a book I was interested in and get it shipped out to me safely and securely in the same day! Thanks so much for the top notch service. Highly recommended!

A great place to find new, used, and rare books. Just be careful - you might get sucked in with all the cool stuff there! My favorite section is the old postcard section divided by town and county. Lots of great finds.

One of the five best bookshops on the planet

You can get lost and spend your life in here...

Amazing book store! The amount of new used historical books is fantastic! I know when I am in the area I will be sure to come back.

My go-to place for getting books. Whether they have them in stock or they need to be ordered in always a great experience. I recommend you support your local bookshops.

It's an interesting place, could easily spend hours there, looking around. There are quality books including many encyclopedias.