Harvard Book Store
At 1256 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, the Harvard Book Store has been a fixture of the neighborhood since its founding in 1932. This independent bookstore, unaffiliated with Harvard University, sits a short walk from Harvard Yard and remains one of the area's most-visited spots for readers.
History
Mark S. Kramer founded Harvard Book Store in 1932 with $300 borrowed from his parents, opening a small shop selling used and bargain general-interest books at 19 Boylston Street, now known as JFK Street. His wife, Pauline, joined the business in 1934, and the couple built a reputation for personal service and a broad, carefully chosen inventory that still defines the store today.
The shop moved to its current location at 1256 Massachusetts Avenue in 1950. Mark and Pauline's son, Frank Kramer, entered the family business in 1962 and expanded it further, opening a second storefront for new books in 1971. Under his direction, Harvard Book Store also briefly ran a cafe location on Newbury Street in Boston from 1980 to 1994, one of the first bookstore cafes in the country, before consolidating back into its single Cambridge location. In 2002, Publishers Weekly named Frank Kramer its "Bookseller of the Year." Five years later, in 2007, the city of Cambridge marked the store's 75th anniversary by naming the corner of Massachusetts Avenue at its entrance in honor of the Kramer family.
The store stayed in Kramer family hands for over 75 years before being sold in 2008 to Jeffrey Mayersohn and Linda Seamonson, who still own and run it today [VERIFY current ownership before publishing, in case of a more recent change]. It has continued to collect recognition since, including Boston Magazine's "Best Bookstore" (2014), "Best Literary Series" (2017 and 2018), "Best Neighborhood Shop" (2019), and "Best Old-School Bookstore" (2022). On Yelp, it holds a 4.5-star rating across more than 300 reviews, and multiple local outlets have called it the highest-rated bookstore in Cambridge.
What to See and Do
The store spreads across two floors of new fiction, nonfiction, and children's titles upstairs, with a large basement section devoted to used and remaindered books at steep discounts, restocked daily and often described by regulars as the store's real treasure hunt. It hosts author events on an almost daily basis, drawing a mix of first-time novelists and major literary names, and the staff-picks shelves are a local fixture in their own right, mixing personal handwritten recommendations in among the regular stock.
Twice a year, the store runs its Warehouse Sale, a long-running Cambridge tradition where deeply discounted overstock and remainder titles draw crowds of bargain hunters. Its best-known quirk, though, is the Espresso Book Machine, nicknamed "Paige M. Gutenberg," which can print and bind a paperback copy of an out-of-print or public-domain title in a few minutes right in the store. It briefly became a minor news story in 2019 when it ran non-stop printing copies of a government report the day it was released [VERIFY the Espresso Book Machine is still in operation before publishing, since some stores have since removed theirs].
Nearby Attractions
The store's location makes it a natural starting point for exploring the rest of Harvard Square. From here, it's a short walk to the historic Harvard University campus, the Harvard Art Museums, and the American Repertory Theater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harvard Book Store affiliated with Harvard University?
No. It's an independently owned bookstore with no institutional connection to the university, despite sitting a short walk from campus.
Is This the Same as the Harvard Coop?
No, and the mix-up is common enough to clear up directly. The Harvard Coop, a few blocks away, is the university's official cooperative store, now operated by Barnes & Noble College and selling textbooks, apparel, and Harvard-branded gear. The Harvard Book Store is a separate, independently owned general bookstore with no institutional tie to Harvard University at all, despite the name.
Is Harvard Book Store the same as the Harvard Coop?
No. The Coop is the university's official store, run by Barnes & Noble College. Harvard Book Store is a separate, independent general bookstore.
Where is Harvard Book Store located?
It's at 1256 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, in Harvard Square, a short walk from Harvard Yard.
What is the Espresso Book Machine?
It's an in-store printing machine, nicknamed Paige M. Gutenberg, that can print and bind a paperback copy of an out-of-print or public-domain book in a few minutes [VERIFY current availability before publishing].
What is the Harvard Book Store Warehouse Sale?
It's a semiannual sale where the store clears deeply discounted overstock and remainder titles, a long-running Cambridge tradition for local bargain hunters.
How do I get to Harvard Book Store?
It's about a three-minute walk from the Harvard Square MBTA Red Line station. Parking in the area is limited, so most visitors arrive on foot or by transit.
Does a Boston Sightseeing hop-on hop-off ticket stop here?
No. To visit Harvard Book Store and Harvard Square with Boston Sightseeing, book the Boston & Cambridge City Tour instead.
Visiting Harvard Book Store With Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing's hop-on hop-off double-decker routes stay within Boston and Charlestown and don't reach Harvard Square, so this stop isn't included on a standard hop-on hop-off ticket. The one Boston Sightseeing option that does reach this area is the Boston & Cambridge City Tour ($63), a guided, climate-controlled shuttle tour of about 3.5 hours covering Cambridge highlights alongside Boston's neighborhoods and waterfront.
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