Mast Books — Local services in New York

I always walk by this place on my expeditions through the East Village, and frequently note how I need to pop in. "I could get a sick coffee table book in there..." But yesterday, I saw a "Sofia Coppola Archive" book in the window and knew that was the good lord screaming at me to come in. Say what you will about nepotism, but Lost in Translation is a top 3 movie of all time for me. I won't go into great detail here, but I will go into minor detail:

1. I am obsessed with Japanese culture and am equally as obsessed with romantic comedies, so put those things together and I am an easy sell. I feel I need to live in Japan for a period of time before it's all said and done.
2. She wrote the script in Japan as she had an obsession with it while she was there working on another project, and would do anything to make it work. It came from her soul, and I truly believe that the best works of art come straight from one's soul.
3. It was shot in 27 days, much of this without permits. She kept a flexible schedule during filming with a small crew and minimal equipment, with a good portion of the script being unfinished. They stayed flowy. Be water.
4. First adult role for Scarlett Johansson!? Speaks for itself.

All this to say, I HAD to come in to check this book out. Whoever curates this place is on their SH*T! So many great options. A fantastic place to come and find new artists, authors, or inspirations.

Also, I serendipitously ran into my new boss in here who is rad and creative. If you catch Shiva in there you know this is THE place...

IG...

It was raining today, and I couldn’t find an umbrella stand at the entrance, so I politely asked a staff member if there was a place I could leave my umbrella out of the way. The store was nearly empty, yet she simply said “no” without any explanation or engagement, and walked away to the back. I didn’t want to make any books wet from my umbrella—that's why I asked. And she quickly walked back to the storage area without any communication. She brought out an umbrella stand, but completely avoided eye contact and didn’t acknowledge me—even when I tried to thank her.

Not having an umbrella stand in a bookstore on a rainy day feels quite unprofessional, especially considering how much damage water can do to books. I’ve always admired this bookstore, especially since my friend’s book was featured here, so this experience was particularly disappointing. With so few customers around, I would’ve expected a bit more care and communication. Bookstores are places of connection, and respectful interaction is essential. I truly hope the management takes this seriously and encourages a more...

I'm an avid photobook collector and regularly frequent Mast, Dashwood, Gucci Wooster, Alabaster, Harper's, Artbook, Argosy, Strand, and Karma. Mast has rapidly shot up to the top of my list. I have found many treasures here and their prices are highly competitive.

I disagree with other reviewers regarding the staff. I've found them to be generally normal, polite, professional, if not a bit aloof. But it's an artbook and photobook store so the aloofness isn't all that surprising.

I actually love the space although it can get crowded depending on the time of day. I also appreciate that they're open daily until 8 PM. If you know what you're looking for, I recommend visiting Mast to see if they have it. I've spent significantly more money on books purchased elsewhere and wish I had come...