Small World Books

Small World Books is an independent used, out-of-print, and rare bookstore at 425 North Street in Rochester's Northeast Downtown neighborhood. Owner Rocco Pellegrino has been in the bookselling trade for more than three decades, starting with a shop in Henrietta originally called Village Gate Bookstore before renaming the business Small World Books roughly twenty years ago. He purchased the North Street building — a large brick structure — around 2006 and has operated from that location since. The store also maintains a presence on online marketplaces, selling to customers across the country.

The shop carries an inventory of roughly 40,000 titles spanning a wide range of subjects:

• Classic and modern literature, including modern first editions
• Children's and juvenile books, both newer and collectible
• Mystery, science fiction, and fantasy
• Poetry, art, and photography
• History and regional/local history
• Philosophy, psychology, and religion
• Gardening, cooking, and mythology
• Antiquarian and rare books

Beyond books, Small World Books stocks vinyl LPs and other media. Pellegrino sources much of the inventory from estate sales and regional library sales, curating titles he finds interesting and resaleable. The store also hosts live music on a semi-regular basis, turning the shop into an intimate performance space for local and touring acts.

Small World Books is known for its deep, eclectic inventory housed across multiple rooms and floors of the old brick building, with a layout full of browsable nooks. The shop has a resident cat named Rex who greets visitors. Pellegrino's curatorial approach — emphasizing personal taste and a genuine connection with fellow readers — gives the store a character distinct from larger used-book operations. The combination of rare finds, affordable pricing on everyday titles, and occasional live shows makes it an uncommon hybrid of bookshop and community gathering spot.

The store sits on North Street in Rochester's Northeast Downtown area, a short distance from the Inner Loop North and within walking distance of the neighborhood's mix of residential blocks and small businesses. On-site private lot parking and bike parking are available. The building is partially wheelchair accessible, though some upper areas are not. Hours are Monday through Wednesday from noon to 4 PM, Thursday and Friday from noon to 6 PM, and Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM; the shop is closed Sundays.