NYC Stationery Tour
My guide to must-visit stationery shops in the Big Apple
One of my favorite things about NYC is that there are so many stationery stores. This past March I spent a quick weekend there with the goal of getting to as many shops, both old and new, as I could. I didn’t make it to every one on my list, but here are my top three.
15 Orchard Street
CW Pencil Enterprise
#1 / a new favorite
If you have only time for one stationery store visit, look no further. A storefront since 2015, CW is not only immaculately stocked with the finest pencils from all over the world, but their staff is so lovely and welcoming. They let me take pictures in the store and I have never seen so much care given to wrapping up all of my purchases in the loveliest little colored envelopes with string and stickers. I didn’t even want to open it when I got back to my hotel. They also have an amazing sticker room and lots of vintage stationery memorabilia for true ‘stationery-philes’ like myself. I spent way too much money there, but stay tuned for a video haul of all my finds. In the mean time, here are some pictures of the shop.
211 Water Street
Bowne & Co. Stationers
#2 / historic treasure
I only get around on foot when I’m in New York (even in the winter), so it was quite a trek getting to Bowne & Co., which is located in lower Manhattan. When I finally arrived, I was immediately enchanted by the towering facade of the building. The shop is tucked inside the South Street Seaport Museum and in its current incarnation evokes all the charm of a 19th century print shop. Stepping in felt like stepping back into another era, the shelves overflowing with small-batch prints and an entire century of presses lined the back of the shop. Bowne & Co. is the oldest running business in New York City, operating under the same name since 1775, so it was absolutely a treat just to be in its presence. But unfortunately, the shopkeeper was very rude to us and turned away a few other customers who had barely stepped in the shop a few minutes. I won’t go into detail about the service because I don’t want to diminish the beauty and rich history of this site. And despite the interaction with the shopkeeper, it’s still a must-visit on my list and who knows, maybe he was just having a rough day. Needless to say, he did not allow me to take any photos inside, so you’ll just have to make a trip down there and see for yourself!
234 Mulberry Street
Goods for the Study
#3 / all the goods
While there are a few locations in Manhattan, the one I went to was in Soho. This location is split into two adjoining shops: one side is for pens and pencils and the other for paper goods. I loved their collection of pens and pencils from good to bad, cheap to expensive, they literally have all the goods. They also had a lot more calligraphy supplies than I normally see in other shops. Much of the goods in this shop were things I often have to hunt down online, so I’m quite jealous that we don’t have this shop here in Chicago because I’d most definitely be there all the time.
I spent so much time testing out every single pen that I actually didn’t have enough time to go to the paper goods side (I nearly missed my flight). But I can’t wait to go back again on my next trip.
honorable mentions
While not unique to New York City, I do want to mention a few shops that I love love love: Muji (for the best pens, pencils and lots of other awesomeness) and Kinokuniya which also has a great selection of Japanese pens and pencils. And one shop I never made it to that is unique to the big apple and probably would’ve made my list is Greenwhich Letterpress. So I’ll just have to go back for another tour!