Bay Ridge Bookmark

Bay Ridge Bookmark has been a cornerstone of Third Avenue since 1979, when Joe Campagnolo opened it with a small loan and a deep conviction that every neighborhood deserves its own bookstore. Over more than four decades the shop has become inseparable from the identity of Bay Ridge itself, a proudly working-class and multigenerational neighborhood at the southwestern tip of Brooklyn. The mystery and thriller section is legendary, with Joe's handwritten recommendation cards guiding readers through hundreds of titles from cozy whodunits to hard-boiled noir. The romance section is equally beloved, maintained by longtime employee Diane Haddad, whose picks have launched countless reading obsessions. A military history shelf near the front of the store honors the neighborhood's strong connection to the armed forces, while the cooking section reflects the area's wonderful mix of Middle Eastern, Italian, and Scandinavian culinary traditions. The store's annual block party, held each September on Third Avenue, draws hundreds of neighbors and has become one of Bay Ridge's most anticipated community events.