Located in Montclair, NJ, Watchung Booksellers is a vibrant indie bookstore with beautifully curated selections of literary fiction, biography/memoir, history, travel, cooking, poetry, the arts, and more. Four doors down, they opened a separate Kids’ Room last year to expand their collection as well as their event programming. The former children’s area is now a cozy reading salon (shown below), complete with an inviting leather chair.
In 2023, the store was purchased by Maddie Ciliotta-Young, the daughter of one of the previous owners. A former educator and principal, Ciliotta-Young managed the creation of the new Kids’ Room, which offers toys and gifts as well as robust selections of books for kids, tweens, teens, and YA. Children’s events include author visits, weekly storytimes for babies and toddlers, book clubs for young readers and young adults, and special activities and celebrations. Adult events include author conversations, meet and greets, book clubs, fundraisers, and special events. The Watchung Booksellers Podcast hosts fabulous interviews for readers and writers alike.
Watchung Booksellers is the home-base bookstore for a thriving literary community, including over 80 local authors and many publishing and media professionals, all contributing to the store’s dynamic atmosphere. Watchung enthusiastically champions banned books and inclusivity.
The bookstore’s amazing staff has many decades of combined of bookselling experience. Recent staff picks include work by Ann Patchett, Amanda Peters, and Tommy Orange. Feast your eyes and your heart in this inspiring gem of a bookstore.
by Tommy Orange
by Amanda Peters
by Ann Patchett
Irresistible Comfy Chair in the Reading Salon
