Weiser Bookshop
Weiser Bookshop
Occult bookstore in the United States through most of the twentieth century, the New York equivalent of London's Watkins Book Shop or Atlantis Bookshop, patronized by occultists and students of the occult. Weiser's was located at 117 4th Ave., then in a large rambling store at 845 Broadway, and in the 1960s it moved to 740 Broadway. Founded by Samuel Weiser, it was taken over by his son Donald in the 1960s. The store has in each of its locations been known for its large antiquarian occult stock as well as a comprehensive selection of new volumes. Its regular catalogs, issued through the 1950s, of new and old occult books have since become useful bibliographical records.
In the 1980s the store moved again, this time to 132 E. 24th St. (between Park Avenue and Lexington), New York, NY 10010. It slowly adapted to New Age emphases and responded to the competition supplied by the emergence of many esoteric bookstores both in New York and around the country. It was one of the more significant retail specialty shops in North America.
In April 1984, Donald Weiser and Henry Suzuki of Samuel Weiser, Inc., became directors (with Valerie Chris, England) of the famous Watkins Book Shop in Cecil Court, Charing Cross Road, London. Samuel Weisers, Inc. is an affiliated publishing company specializing in occult titles. The bookshop is now closed.