Village Works — Attraction in New York

It's a cool place, theres no doubt about it. But my experience was extremely off putting. I had understood this is a "No Phone Policy" store as they were concerned about people taking pictures of their books and then finding them for cheaper online. I wanted to use my phone to write down zine artists + authors names as I am not able to afford any zines currently but would love to find the artists + authors online to seek further into their work and when I am financially ready, buy something. Not only that, but I'm someone with over a thousand followers on instagram and love to use my platform to share artists works. Before using my phone to do so, I asked if there were business cards of the artists and authors. I was told the only way to find contact information was to buy a zine. Though I found this strange as there were zines with the artists names literally on the front cover. Not to mention, you can't exactly resell LOCAL NEW ZINES. So I had my phone out to type artist names to look up + contact later until a man came up to me and told me "You can't have phones out" and I was like "I understand but I just want to look up these artists", I was told I could only do so if I bought something. I had begun to walk out because I can't afford to buy anything so I was like "What's the point?" and the same guy was FOLLOWING ME. He continued to follow me until I was out the door and while doing so kept telling me "We're an independent book store so you need to buy something to support us, I've been wearing the same shoes for two years (Yeah same buddy.)" I continued to walk out and even mentioned that I have $16 in my bank account and I literally had to turn around and say "I'm leaving" until he stopped following me. As someone who is an artist, as someone who has bought from zine authors before, it's extremely heartbreaking knowing that artists and authors name are limited to being solely a product. Unless their work is bought, they will not be known about they will not be shared they will not be contacted. They are a product and nothing more to this store which is also heartbreaking considering their business front is about supporting local artists. My tips to any future go-ers: Bring pen and paper if you want to look up anybody. Bring more than $20. Bring an extra $20 so the guy who followed me out can get a new pair of shoes. (Also don't follow your already leaving customers out. That was borderline...

I 💕 village works! Love this place!, I can't even understand how there's any negative reviews here. As an artist, we definitely appreciate the no phone policy as many of us have our creations stolen and it's so unfair. With the costs of trying to keep the real New York City stores like this open, they must do their best to thrive. I love the vibe of this store. It is true to New York and the New York I remember growing up in. And even though I've moved around I'm always back home and my home is New York City. This is the one and only place I can say still remains to be a true and real reflection of the New York that I know and remember and miss and love. I've had art work there. I've had a show there and I absolutely admire everybody there. I think everybody there is very down to earth. Very open-minded and wonderful people. I'm hurt to see that there's any reviews to the contrary. This store is amazing and I recommend anybody to not miss the experience. If you want something odd, different or something you'll never find somewhere else. This is the place to go. Some of the things are only one of a kind and you will only find it there. So it's logical not to want people to take pictures of this stuff. When art is stolen feels like an artist being raped. It's so invasive and so disrespectful and so painful when our creations are stolen. So I appreciate their policy. I can only hope that the amount of wonderful reviews outweigh the few negative reviews and does not deter anyone from experiencing this very real New York City vibe to the core of what New York City has always been throughout my lifetime And I've been around. So please know that this place is amazing....

Thank you for the masterclass in how to completely miss the point while simultaneously revealing your own biases. Your defensive ramble about your 'local artist made the magazine' is amusing, but it doesn’t distract from the fact that you’ve turned a critique into a personal vendetta, which is quite the talent.

It seems you’ve mistaken your bookstore for a sanctuary where you can hurl insults while ignoring valid concerns. Your attempt to deflect attention from your establishment's shortcomings by playing the victim only highlights your inability to engage with reality.

As for your 'authenticity,' that’s a nice buzzword, but it sounds more like a shield for your outdated practices. Your signs may be plastered everywhere, but they clearly haven’t registered with you, considering how you’ve chosen to engage with your customers. It's ironic that you claim to be preserving a cultural space while actively pushing people away with your elitist attitude.

Let’s be real: if your idea of a thriving bookstore is one that thrives on exclusion rather than inclusion, then good luck with that. Your disdain for feedback suggests you’re more interested in echoing your own views than in fostering a genuine community. It’s a shame, really, because independent bookstores should be about connection, not condescension.

So, while you pat yourself on the back for being the gatekeeper of 'OG NYC authenticity,' remember: there’s a fine line between authenticity and arrogance, and you seem to be tiptoeing right over it. Here’s hoping you find a way to balance your self-righteousness with a touch of humility—though I won’t...