theodore's books: the best way to buy a book in Oyster bay

By: Rose Lindstrom

Oyster Bay’s avid readers were pleasantly surprised when a bookstore announced its opening late last year. Theodore’s Books is a quaint bookstore inspired by the historical legacy of the town. It is named after 26th President of the United States and hometown celebrity, Theodore Roosevelt. 

Recently, reading has been in the spotlight on social media sites. Avid readers from all over the world have interacted through social media platforms. “BookTok” is a well known community on TikTok. In it, readers post what they are currently reading, as well as recommendations for other readers based on content. This is a great way to find books and explore genres you might have never read before. Communities and environments like this make for the perfect opportunity to pick up a book at a local bookstore.

Located at 17 Audrey Avenue, Theodore’s Books caters to all readers. The front includes a full display window, featuring popular books from a variety of genres. It introduces some items for non-readers too, while simultaneously enticing the younger generation with books labeled “#BookTok.” 

When you first walk in, you can sense the academic environment. Large shelves of books are sorted into neat sections. The register is located towards the right when first walking in, and the staff welcomes all who enter with a smile and an offer to help. (They also won’t hesitate to give you a book recommendation if you need it.) Towards the front of the store are tables of books. Each table displays a certain type of book. For instance, there is a table featuring presidential biographies, which is very on-theme with the historical aesthetic of the store at large. The most notable table is probably the one exhibiting banned books. This one gave me a good laugh and showed some books I didn’t even know were banned. Every book sold comes with a free bookmark, complete with the Theodore’s Books logo and some other information. 

If you aren’t much interested in reading, they also sell other small items. These include t-shirts, posters, and small toys. If you are not able to make it to the store, they have an online website as well. On this website, you can browse books in sections and order them; there are options for both shipping and curbside pickup. In fact, as of March 20th, they offer the option to buy a children’s book and then send it to Europe, to help Ukrainian refugees. 

Not only is this store for avid readers, but it is for everyone who wants to indulge in Oyster Bay history or browse the other items they have in store. Buying a book from here is a great way to support small, local businesses. If you live in Oyster Bay or closer, and you would like to purchase a book or learn more, then I recommend Theodore’s Books.