A Literary Oasis Beneath the Tracks
Beneath the Christopher Street subway station, between flickering fluorescents and screeching trains, lies Unnameable Books—a closet-sized shop crammed with poetry chapbooks, radical manifestos, and dog-eared Vonnegut paperbacks. It’s NYC’s only subway bookstore, surviving on sheer stubbornness and a cult following.
From Token Booth to Tome Haven
Opened in 2010 by poet Adele Bertei, the shop began as a guerrilla shelf in a disused token booth. When the MTA threatened eviction, regulars staged a “read-in” protest. Today, it’s a legal (but still secretive) haven for misfit lit.
How to Navigate the Chaos
Directions: Enter the station’s northwest corner, look for the “Book Cellar” sign.
Bargain Bin: Dig through the $1 “Rejection Pile” for self-published oddities.
Events: Every full moon, poets perform in the stairwell—BYO flashlight.
Pro Tips from a Subway Scholar
Ask for Recs: Clerk Jess specializes in “books that’ll make you quit your job.”
Hidden Gem: The “Zine Crate” under the register has punk manifestos from the ’80s.
Pair It: Grab a slice at Artichoke Basille’s and read on the Hudson piers.
Why This Hole-in-the-Wall Matters
It’s proof that stories thrive anywhere—even underfoot.
Visitor Intel
📍 Address: Christopher St Station (1 train), West Village
🕒 Hours: Mon–Fri 4–8 PM, Sat–Sun 12–6 PM
💸 Price: Most books under $10
🚇 Closest Subway: Right there!
Ready to Go Off the Rails?
Just don’t block the turnstile—commuters get very Dickensian.
Next up: A Prohibition-era bookstore with a password…
