Business of the Month: Namaste Bookshop, 2 W. 14th St.
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In many ways, New Yorkers have welcomed the partial return to the hustle and bustle of the city. Of course, it can still bring tension and a dissonance as we try to go about our daily lives. But no matter what may be causing your stress, one shop on the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 14th for over 10 years may have the cure for what ails you. As Inhabit magazine puts it: “There is no day so stressful that a few browsing minutes in Namaste, with its healing crystals and scented candles, can’t remedy.” Namaste Bookshop, at 2 West 14th Street, is our August Business of the Month.
One meaning of Namaste is “I give reverence to the spirit in you which is also in me.” It is in this spirit that the community is invited in to this delightful indepedently-owned store. One of the first comments often heard from customers at the shop is ”Wow, the energy feels so wonderful and inviting here.”
The space is small yet the shelves and space are filled beautifully. They have a unique and large selection of Eastern & Western philosophy books, tarot cards, crystals, pendulums, calendars, wind chimes, incense, greeting cards, yoga accessories, meditation cushions, instructional & music CD’S & DVD’s, salt lamps, and 20 sections of books — including in Spanish.
The book sections include Buddhism, Western Philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, Yoga/Ayurveda, Mantra/Tantra, Meditation, Divination/Wicca, Bodywork/Reiki, and many more. They have regularly hosted a number of book signings and readings on various topics attracting people from near and far.
Their music selection is vast and unique; besides favorites like Krishna Das, Snatum Kaur, Deva Premal ,and Jai Uttal, often there are featured artists from the eastern and world music scene whose CD’s are not available anywhere else in the city.
Before the Covid pandmeic, Namaste Bookshop also hosted many special events, weekly classes, and a daily roster of readers and practitioners which include Psychic, Tarot, Astrology, & Reiki.
Devoted customer Sodalite shared: “Namaste bookshop has a wide variety of self help books and ways to connect with authors. I met Queen Afua, a holistic health practitioner that has helped me improve my health in many ways. I now keep an eye out for their insightful events!”
Stephanie from the Bronx shares:
”As soon as you walk in you are cloaked in peace and tranquility! They have an outstanding offering of crystals and a variety of incenses from everywhere. An amazing collection of spiritual books, candles and jewelry. There are days when I feel stressed and just go here to relax and recharge. My go-to place for all things spiritual.“
Namaste filled the gap left by the well known East West Books, which closed its doors in June of 2010 after over 30 years of operation by the Himalayan Institute. Just a few months later, Namaste Bookshop opened at the same intersection that had been home to East West Books for decades. Karma? You tell us.
As Diane S wrote on Yelp:
“When iconic East West books closed about a year ago, it left a void in the metaphysical community. I’m happy to say Namaste Bookshop fills the void and more with its vast selection of books, tarot/oracle cards, incense, statues, etc. Very friendly staff. Plus in-store events and readings (not just of books — divinations too). Fabulous vibe, I’m going back!“
In 2018, the bookshop expanded to a storefront two doors down, called Namaste Crystal Shop. Another distinct space, the Namaste Healing Center is around the corner on the 11th floor of 80 Fifth Avenue. Adding to the shops’ appeal, its located in an elaborately-detailed Renaissance Revival style office building constructed in 1907-1908 by the architecture firm of Buchman and Fox. The building, even richer in history than architecture, is not landmarked, and Village Preservation has been making the case to secure such protections for these and many other surrounding buildings and you can help by sending a letter here.
As a wise person once said, “We can all use a little Namaste.” So visit Namaste Bookshop at 2 West 14th Street, our August Business of the Month.
What special small business would you like to see featured next? Just click here to nominate our next one. Thank you! #shoplocalnyc
And here is a handy map of all of our Businesses of the Month: