Housing Works Bookstore in Soho

e the way in which the venue is transformed from a bookstore (established as a charity for aids sufferers ) to a wonderful atmospheric wedding venue . Use vendors with experience of the venue and you can’t go wrong , nothing is too much trouble for Tomasz and it was a memorable evening with nothing but positive feedback from the guests .

letely transforms for a venue (but is still, clearly, a bookstore). We had a great number of guests say "this is amazing!" and we completely agree.

time planners! Tomasz (the venue events director) was so friendly and helpful, always trying to guide us towards staying within our budget. Very queer friendly place too and beautiful-- we had both the ceremony and reception here.

top talking about how much they loved our venue. Tomek, the events coordinator at HWBS, is a pleasure to work with - he's friendly, professional, and efficient, and we felt like we were in good hands throughout the whole process. We also loved that Housing Works is an organization that's doing great work in New York and we were happy to support a good cause via our venue choice. I'd highly recommend HWBS to anyone looking for a slightly unconventional venue.

style dinner. Tomasz was extremely accommodating to our many requests, flexible to our needs and responsive throughout the process. The staff was amazing -- you truly can't beat the location, service or ambiance for the venue price PLUS your venue fees go to a wonderful mission and cause.

ess they were calm, helpful, and gave tons of great suggestions. We worked with Tomasz and felt completely supported throughout the whole process. And the bookstore is gorgeous on top of that!

HIV/AIDS. And I’d you choose this venue, the rental cost will be a donation to their mission. What’s better than that?! Working with Tomasz was effortless. He’s professional, kind, organized, and just a genuinely good person. All the vendors HWBS and works with are on another level. Our guests were in awe and pleasantly surprised of how beautiful and magical a wedding can be inside a bookstore. Choose HWBS! You won’t regret it!

tring lights almost no other decor is needed. Everyone we worked with at Housing Works was super communicative and friendly. They were on top of all of the details and made sure the event was executed flawlessly. Their recommended vendors list is spot on- we worked with Zoe Deleu for catering and Gillian Todd as the day of coordinator, and with Tomasz at HWBS, it was a dream team. HWBS handles the bar. We didn't pay extra for table service or a champagne toast, and honestly you don't need it. Could not speak more highly of the venue and the team. They never tried to pressure us into upgrading things. There were no surprise costs or anything like that. Plus, having your wedding here helps to support the bookstore and its mission, so what more do you need? <3

press huge thank you to Tomasz, our contact and event captain from the housing works bookstore. We met Tomasz for the first time when he showed us the venue for the tour, and we fell in love with the place and the people. The bookstore is beautiful, especially at night after being repurposed for the wedding. For ~100 people wedding, the bookstore is perfect-sized (we had 75 guests). We loved the missions of the housing works, and the bookstore fitted with our wedding theme and our goal. Tomasz is very organized, and he makes sure you have absolutely beautiful day through multiple meetings, and he is 100% present on the wedding day by making sure the day flows smoothly. We also found the housing works bookstore rate is extremely reasonable, and rather affordable given the convenient location and what the venue offers. The bookstore offers the liquor, and we found, at first, wine selection is a bit limited, but later we noticed they are quite delicious. Guests often commented how unique the venue is, and how pleased they were with the whole experience. Highly recommended, and if you are not hiring for the wedding, please visit during the day (either bookstore or thrift shops) and support Housing Works!

sness and HIV in NYC, it's one of those magical New York places that just *feels good* the moment you walk in. You know? It smells like old books, the floors creak a little, it's been the home to many a famous open mic and intimate concert - it's the real deal. History, romance, and purpose are all vibrantly present in the space. For anyone who is looking to make their wedding unique and special (and who maybe doesn't vibe with the traditional pomp and circumstance of big, formal weddings), this is your place. You get to be married surrounded but art and stories. The staff is absolutely incredible and will help you design an evening that feels authentic to you. Pro tip - they know what they're doing! Listen to their suggestions - I promise they aren't trying to upsell you, they just want you to have the best experience ever. I'm really glad that we took all their advice an worked with their perferred vendors. Everyone who was a part of our celebration was a delight and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. Our wedding was fun, no stress, joyous, and exceeded all our expectations. Can't recommend HWBS enough - I wish we could get married all over again!

(the nonprofit), the incredible book collection, the string lights... Gorgeous space all around, which also helps you save on superfluous lights, flowers (we had none, we didn't feel the need... we spent more on food!), etc. The space is the draw! We were married privately earlier in the pandemic and postponed our renewal ceremony and party at HW when we hoped things would become simpler, safer. Fast forward to our pandemic, blizzard wedding of ~90 people, navigating proof of vaccination, an extra hour of party time and late night bites so people wouldn't have to venture out after hours... Our wonderful HW people were there every step of the way. While we originally signed with Josh (who is so lovely), Josh ultimately left HW and handed us over to Tomek, who I would, honestly, follow into hell because he gets it. You want to work with someone who doesn't get rattled by spreadsheets and last-minute safety changes, pandemic or not. And that's what you get at HW: a uniquely beautiful place, an incredible list of preferred vendors who also understand and respect HW (the space and the mission), and staff who make you feel seen. Our all-start support system: our coordinator Gillian, our photographer Kelly, our bartenders, our caricature artists (we had caricature artists! Not a preferred vendor and HW completely handled this dream of ours), our caterer (Comparti) -- it was all somehow exactly as I would have hoped, and that's with a difficult pandemic with a lot of important red tape and a blizzard. HW is special. It may not be for everyone, but if it's for you, you'll cherish the experience forever.

niversalist (and occasionally funny) ceremony brought a tear to all eyes; and our cocktails and superb dinner were flawlessly accommodated. Josh and his team know what they're doing -- we'd recommend it to any/all!

g to make a total change from our original plans, Josh just made things easy. The venue is a special place in every way and a great spot for any celebration. The candles, the bookshelves, the location, the spiral staircases....I could go on and on. It was beautiful. Josh and his team at Housing Works helped make it a night we will never forget!!

is incredibly professional and invested in making sure every detail is to your liking, and all the bartenders and event staff were friendly and super capable. A couple of especially great things: 1. Your wedding can be as simple or involved as you like, since the bookstore and Tomek are really flexible; 2. No need to go crazy with decor, since the store is already one of the most beautiful interior spaces in New York; 3. The venue pricing is eminently reasonable, and you can feel great about what you do spend, since the proceeds function as a donation to Housing Works' homelessness and HIV/AIDS efforts. Top to bottom, an amazing experience.

helpful and easy to work with as we changed our date multiple times throughout the pandemic. The clear dedication and passion of the staff we worked with gave us every confidence that our wedding would be beautiful, and they worked seamlessly with our other vendors and our day-of-coordinator. The space is already beautiful and full of life during their normal business hours, so the ambience cannot be matched for a unique and beautiful celebration. We would very highly recommend Housing Works Bookstore for anyone considering that type of space for their big day.

e made in the whole planning process--Josh is a dream to work with, and has great relationships with vendors. We basically followed all of Josh's recommendations for vendors and were delighted with how easy (and fun!) the process was from there. No drama, no problems, just awesome professionals who all care about supporting Housing Works and fighting the twin crises of HIV/AIDS and Homelessness. Getting married at the Housing Works Bookstore is a way to make sure the money you spend on your wedding supports a good cause--and it is really well-priced for Manhattan! We had a cocktail-style receptions, which I would absolutely recommend. I was a bit nervous about how it would work beforehand, but it was fantastic! Everyone was drinking, eating, talking, and dancing the whole night without being interrupted for sit-down meal service. The appeal of getting married in a bookstore means having bookshelves as your backdrop, plus Housing Works provides electric candles among the books, string lights, and even has book bundles you can use for centerpieces. With all that, it really doesn't require extensive décor, we just used additional candles and small bud vases for the tables. I highly recommend attending one of their open houses so you can see how gorgeous the space looks when set up for an event. If you get married at Housing Works Bookstore, I promise you'll have a wedding your guests will never forget, all while supporting a great cause!

d of our event, we couldn’t have been happier with our experience. The space has an absolutely unique vibe that can’t be matched elsewhere, with books, string lights, and a balcony encircling the main area. There was something truly magical about being surrounded by loved ones during our ceremony. It’s hard to believe that a venue this wonderful also has such an excellent mission behind it, and we were thrilled that our venue cost was a donation to Housing Works’ mission. Josh, our event coordinator, was kind, funny, detail-oriented, and extremely professional throughout our planning process. He offered his expert recommendations whenever we had questions about the space and was extraordinarily accommodating, from bar setup to venue access to planning meetings to vendor collaboration. He was there on the night of the wedding to ensure that it was a perfect, effortless, and unforgettable evening for us. Thank you so much, Josh and Housing Works, for making our wedding such a fantastic event!

ng process was straightforward and we always knew our options and the due dates. For a ceremony and reception venue in Manhattan, we found the rates they offered really competitive, especially given what excellent service we received. Everyone at the wedding remarked what a unique and beautiful venue it was and every single person I've run into who has been to a wedding there still remembers it years later! If you want a memorable and unique wedding, do yourself a favor and book with HousingWorks!!!

es to discuss our vision, including attending an open house event that housing works offers. We felt very confident that the venue was going to look perfect the day of and it did. Thank you Tomek for all of your help. We highly recommend HWB and Tomek for your event!

his colleagues were wonderful to work with, so gracious and helpful at every turn. Thank you, Housing Works!

perience. Josh and his crew really made the process so easy and fun. Any questions or concerns I had were met with promptness and always solution oriented, which meant so much to this super nervous Bride. I also loved Josh’s enthusiasm for our out of the box ideas and worked together to find the best way to make it all work in the space, from our balloon decor, Ben and Jerry’s scooping ice cream and a barista set up, it was all done with ease! Our guests have not stopped talking about how much they loved it and how it was a day they will never forget. Thank you Josh and Housingworks employees for making our storybook wedding come true!!!

ht transforms itself into something quite magical. Dozens of votive candles, soft string lighting and warmly draped walls created a most inviting atmosphere. The staff was very accommodating and professional throughout the process—which made it all so easy to plan. And it’s a block away from an F train stop!

team were a delight. We recommend them, and this wonderful organization, to anyone thinking about getting married in New York. They are just the best, and we feel so lucky and proud to have held our wedding at Housing Works.

ry useful advice/suggestions based on how you want your wedding to go and executed everything flawlessly the night of. The venue itself is a lot of fun - we had 115 people with a cocktail-type set up with seating for 80 and it worked great with the space. It wasn't too crowded but was comfortable and had people up and mingling everywhere you looked. The layout worked great for food as well as for dancing and we got rave reviews from friends and family alike for the unique set up.

initely worth it if you're looking for something intimate, different, and philanthropic as well! Thank you!!

are ardent bookshop goers and this establishment really encapsulated our couple vibe. The books, the lighting, the decor, the food, the music - it was all so wonderful that I can't even begin to describe. Josh was so easy and accommodating to work with - thanks for dealing with my million emails adjusting the guest count! I still receive complements about our wedding from family - even my cantankerous aunt said it was her favorite wedding. I have such fond memories of that night that I wish we could relive it over and over again. Thank you Housing Works for allowing us to use your space as the backdrop to the beginning of our married life!

anization and a good cause! Highly recommended.

y and smoothly, they actually shared in our joy. Five stars feels too few!

but unobtrusive, and the food was great. Josh was such a wonderful point person, and helped us feel calm and assured that everything was taken care of. The day went off without a hitch, and the team at Housing Works was a huge part of making it happen. Thanks!

joy and blast to work with. All of our guests cannot stop raving about our venue and the food. It was such a special day and we have Housing Works to thank for that.

planning process easy and enjoyable and they took AMAZING care of us on our big day. The venue is absolutely beautiful. All of our guests were blown away by the space and the decor, as well as how friendly the staff was. And the food is SO delicious and unique. We went with the cocktail style option for the whole night, and our guests all had more than enough food and kept telling us how delicious it was. If you're looking for an intimate, personal, memorable wedding venue, look no further. Thanks you, Josh and company, for making our night so perfect!

words to express how wonderful the venue, the event planners and The Works Catering team are! The venue is magic. Honestly, it surpassed every expectation I had. With books, hanging lights, and candles everywhere, it is a very romantic and authentic New York experience. Every single guest was raving. And the food was AWESOME. Best part? The proceeds of the event go to support the fantastic Housing Works charity that supports New Yorkers battling with HIV/AIDS and homelessness. If you are considering this venue for your wedding or event, do it!! You will be so happy! Best night of my life!

seamless. The wedding day itself was gorgeous- all of our guests are still commenting on the beauty and magic of the bookstore. The food was also excellent- I really liked the buffet set up to ensure our guests were well fed and could get seconds or thirds. I've been to far too many weddings where I come home foraging for snacks. If you are looking for an intimate, nontraditional, beautiful wedding in the heart of New York City, you'd be hard pressed to find a better setting or team to work with. I would especially recommend this venue to brides like myself who wanted to do as little extra work as possible- I wasn't interested in flowers, table settings, photo booths, or other details. You can absolutely do all of that at Housing Works, but if you're a lower key bride, the venue provides essentially everything.

the reviews and pictures we found of Housing Works were amazing! When we visited we weren't disappointed, it's such a beautiful venue. Before we even got there we had the most helpful correspondence with Amanda who made us feel at ease even when we were arranging our wedding so far away. Amanda, Josh and all of the staff we met were so friendly and professional and just wanted to help us have the best day! The venue doesn't need a lot of decoration which was great for us, all we needed were a few personal touches and candles to give it more of a 'wedding' feel. Everyone at our wedding said it was the best wedding they've ever been to! The food was amazing and there were so many choices to cater to everyone's tastes. We knew our wedding was going to be great but having it at Housing Works made it perfect!

y responsive and organized with every single detail worked out and anticipated. They seriously thought of everything! The day of our wedding, everything went smoothly from start to finish thanks to the phenomenal work of Josh and The Works Catering staff. The food was delicious and the staff could not have been more helpful and fun. Most brides and grooms say they don’t get a chance to eat at their wedding, but the Works Catering staff made sure my husband and I had plates, and even made sure we ALWAYS had our favourite drinks in hand! The venue itself was stunning - our fall wedding was so magical and unique and our guests loved it! Housing Works truly exceeded our expectations and on top of it, a portion of the proceeds went to such a great cause. Would highly recommend Housing Works bookstore to anyone interested!

ere incredibly accommodating of the multiple dietary restrictions we were working with. The space itself was gorgeous and so memorable. We received so many compliments on the venue and how helpful the staff was. Highly recommend throwing any type of event here, especially an unforgettable wedding.

themselves. The event planning staff are great- they listen, work to accommodate your needs, and will work with you to get what you want. Perhaps because Housing Works is a nonprofit, they don't try to up-sell you unless they genuinely believe the more expensive option is what you're looking for. The Works, the mandatory in-house caterer, makes delicious farm-to-table seasonal fare. Try the duck. The charitable mission of the organization is a huge draw, but you can read about that elsewhere.

d it! Honestly, we could on and on about all the virtues of getting married at Housing Works Bookstore: the romantic backdrop from every angle; the awesome, professional yet personable staff and EXCEPTIONAL event planners, who actually care about how special this day is to you, your spouse and your family; the delicious food by The Works Catering (and we mean delicious and plenty of it!) that was adjusted to our tastes and our party vibe; how everything is handled out of one venue (food, linens, tables, chairs, staff, bar, schedule, etc.); how you'll only deal with a couple of people from beginning to end; and maybe most of all, the fact that you are donating to an exceptional cause. Yes, there is still more we could rave about, but you get it. If we could do it all again (we kind of want to), we would do it at this bookstore, no question. It will be a part of our hearts always!

like a customer. They instead treat you like a long-time member of the community, a relationship that they hope to grow instead of end with your special day. The space was beautiful and they did an entirely vegetarian wedding for us. They even made up an appetizer on our request! Totally gay-friendly. Highly recommend.

ed and on site made coordination a breeze. They quickly and effortlessly addressed any question that came up prior to the event. Their recommended DJ exceeded our expectations. The food and service were superlative. The wait staff was especially friendly and attentive. We received a myriad of compliments from our guest on the space and the quality of experience. Amanda and Josh are both extremely organized, efficient, friendly and attentive. We would recommend them, their staff and the entire facility without qualification. We are extremely grateful to the entire team for helping us realize our dream wedding. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

the supposedly fun aspects of wedding planning, this is the perfect venue and team for you. In choosing Housing Works, you are obliged to use their in-house caterer and planning team, and this makes choosing food, layout and linens a breeze. As far as decor goes, stringing lights, adding candles and floral arrangements are all you need; the bookstore at night is dreamy, hip and intimate. We are still getting tons of compliments on how unique and lovely our wedding was, and everyone raved about the food. If you are looking for a classy and elegant, yet quirky and casual venue that typifies NYC without the headache that comes with typical wedding planning, Housing Works fits the bill. It also certainly doesn't hurt that all proceeds go to Housing Works' larger mission of ending the dual crises f homelessness and AIDS.

hing I would have changed about the wedding. it truly was a magical night. The bookstore setting gave the wedding such a warm and welcoming feel. Our guests were raving about the food and the attentive bartenders. We had 96 guests and they were all comfortably seated. Plenty of room on the dance floor, too. It was a month ago but everyone is still raving about what a wonderful wedding it was! Bravo to this team who is doing great work and for an important cause, too! Josh and Amanda are the best!