The Book Tree

Love this bookstore. The owner is so helpful and will go out of his way to accommodate and advise.

My two boys and I walked by on our way to dinner when they noticed a book about Steph Curry in the window. It was about 45 mins past closing time. After a few minutes of the boys oohing, aahing and fawning over this tiny book, the door magically opens, the owner lets us in. He mentions he just got the book and that it was the only one left. We buy it, along with another book about my Golden State Warriors. The owner did not have to open the door for us after closing, but so glad he did. My boys are happy and I will most likely be going to this neighborhood, independent bookstore for future purchases.

My best friend and I stopped in today just to browse. It’s a nice little book store. The owner was very friendly and helpful.

I’m very sorry that one person had an odd experience with the owner of this store. This bookstore has been in Montclair for many years and I personally love the store. They have always been kind and friendly to me. I have ordered many books from them and they have made sure to order the rest in a series or two when I started reading one and my son started reading one, even if I did not commit to buying them. I was happy to buy them all from the Book Tree when I finished each book. David is always helpful to me and gives excellent suggestions when I tell him what I’m interested in, no matter what the subject. He listens and is friendly without being at all pushy and making you feel like you absolutely have to buy something and is quite knowledgeable on many subjects. I think the owner made a great decision when they hired him a few years ago. I will continue to patronize this business.

Great selection of a vast array of interesting titles, current and out-​of-​print. Owner is remarkably knowledgeable and helpful. Could spend hours browsing there.

As I was early for an appointment in Montclair, I decided to stroll the streets a bit and stepped accidentally is this small but wonderful bookstore. It offered a full array of books even in the kids section. I was so pleased with the store and the help I received from the charming owner, that I left with a couple of books for the kids and another for myself. i will most certainly return.

While shopping in Montclair Village this afternoon I stopped to check out the Book Tree, a bookstore which I had not noticed or been to before. I try to support local independent bookstores and went in thinking I’d found another one close to home. I was browsing the biography section and within minutes of entering the store a staff member (whom I later found out was the owner) approached me twice and asked if I needed help finding something. Both times I thanked him, replied that I was just looking and continued to browse. He approached a third time a few minutes later and asked me to put my cell phone away. Mind you, I was not talking on it, using it or otherwise being disruptive with it, I was simply holding it in my hand with my keys because i had just used it to pay for parking prior to walking into the store. He commented that many people come in from other book stores to «work on their shelf development» and pretty much accused me of being a spy for another local bookstore! I told him that I do not work for another bookstore, however, he went on about how people need to do their own work and not steal his ideas. I’m actually a social worker and work in the mental health field, so I kinda figured this guy may be a little paranoid or have some mental health issues going on, so even though i was a little irked, I obliged by putting my phone in my pocket and continued browsing. Approximately two minutes later, he approached me for the fourth time and impatiently declared that he needs to go run some errands. In other words, I should get out of his store!
This guy was not nice or apologetic. He was totally rude and controlling, very nosy and apparently knows NOTHING about customer service or how to treat people. I told him that he’s just lost a potential paying customer and still seemingly very paranoid, went on about how he’s had «hundreds» of problems with people coming into his store, stealing his ideas and copying what is on his shelf so they can sell the same books at their stores.
I will not be returning. Ever. This incident was totally unprovoked and THE most bizarre, nasty and insulting experience I’ve ever had from a customer service person at a retail establishment (that relies on customers purchasing their wares to stay in business). I recommend staying far, far away from this place!