Shops and restaurants are harder to come by than in other neighborhoods, but the ones who have made their home here are particular and beloved. For example, there’s Strong Rope Brewery, a local institution which brews its own beers and cider in-house, and draws huge crowds in the summer months due to its outdoor space replete with a view of the Statue of Liberty, frequent live music, pop-up vendors, and family (and dog!) friendly atmosphere. Sunny’s Bar is a legendary Red Hook spot- it’s one of the oldest bars in Brooklyn and still going strong over 120 years later, serving up drinks and live music six nights a week. Stop by Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie for their namesake treat or the more unique “swingle” (a chocolate-covered frozen mini pie on a stick), or the Red Hook Lobster Pound for a fresh lobster roll.

Shops in the neighborhood include Russell Whitmore’s Erie Basin, which is stocked with fine jewelry, antiques, and collectibles (my wedding ring is from here!). Or check out The Record Shop, Piscina, and Tiburon – three great shops that lend character to the neighborhood. And now, joining this exclusive neighborhood club is Red Hook Books.

Owning a bookstore has been a longtime dream for Red Hook couple Tanya Chernyak and Patrick Preziosi. Having both worked careers in the publishing industry (Tanya at Scholastic and Patrick at McNally Jackson), books and reading have always been central to their lives. They live in Red Hook, where Patrick grew up, and walked past the open storefront at 123 Coffey Street nearly every day before deciding to take the plunge and open their dream bookstore on July 1, 2026. On deciding the right time to actually open a store, Tanya says: “It felt like a time where following your dream is almost more practical than finding the right job, so this is kind of our way to build that “right job” for ourselves, and also give back to our community.” The bright space houses the shop’s offering of used and new books, and has ample space to accommodate the events and classes Tanya and Patrick plan to host in the future.

Red Hook Books owner Tanya and her dog Ralphie. Shoppers are encouraged to leave their mark on the store by doodling on the couch!

Upon entering Red Hook Books, you’re likely to be greeted by Ralphie, the friendly shop dog who has already made himself very comfortable in the new space. A table by the entrance includes contemporary and new releases, including Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko and Anthropomorphic Japan – The Frogs from 50 Watts Books.  Collectible rare books grace the shelf under the register, including first editions of Stephen King’s Cujo and Firestarter, among others. Used fiction and nonfiction make up the back of the store, as well as a beautiful display of children’s literature. These aren’t the usual children’s books that you’ll find at any bookstore – Tanya and Patrick are intentional about sourcing from independent and local publishers such as Archipelago Books, an independent publishing company based in Brooklyn that specializes in translated works. Having worked on children’ s education and ESL (English as a second language) materials during her time at Scholastic, owner Tanya describes the joy of seeing non-native English speakers discovering childhood favorites in the store: “We’ve had French speakers come in and say, ‘I used to read this!’. One shopper gasped when she saw My Valley (originally published in French as Ma vallée). She showed it to her American boyfriend, and was excited that he could now read it.” Spanish cartoon Mafalda was another translated work Tanya was proud to showcase.

The store features a collection of translated children’s literature from Archipelago Books

In addition to the literature available, Red Hook Books sells one-of-a-kind handmade sketch and notebooks made by Tanya. Plans are already in motion for the first book-making class that will be hosted at the store. Tanya is excited to share the bookmaking process with the community and make the practice more accessible so that students can continue to create their own unique books. Tanya also plans to host flip-book animation classes for kids, hoping to inspire the younger generation to return to more handmade practices in the digital age. Customers can look forward to book clubs, poetry readings, craft sessions, and lectures as the store becomes more settled. The store hopes to work with Books Through Bars, a volunteer organization based in New York that provides books to incarcerated people throughout the United States.

The store sells sketchbooks handmade by owner Tanya, who plans to host bookmaking classes in the coming months

When asked for the main thing the Red Hook and broader Brooklyn community should know about the store, owner Tanya said: “I hope people really want to hang out here, and feel very inspired to work here. I want people to come here and feel like they can meet other artists and writers and makers, whatever that means for them.

Red Hook Books – 123 Coffey St, Brooklyn

Before the summer winds down, hop on a ferry to Red Hook, grab a drink and a slice of key lime pie, and stop in to Red Hook Books to grab your next favorite book or feel inspired to make one yourself!

Follow the store on Instagram: @123.redhookbooks