DIARY: INDIE BOOKSELLER UPDATE
If you seek shelter from the storm of holiday commerce, this page is for you! Two subscribers weighed in with updates, as follows:
From Kim Ablodi, Director of Operations for SVA’s MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program: “There is a brand-new bookstore and soda foundation in my neighborhood. It's the Fountain Bookshop. 187th Street, off Fort Washington Avenue. It is small but has two floors, one floor mostly for kids and teens. It is the brainchild of the people who own Dutch Baby Bakery, another godsend to the neighborhood.|
From book designer Wendy Byrne [Aperture and Florentine Films, among others]: The Old Print Shop has moved to 49 West 24th Street, 2nd Fl (212-683-3950)
This feature originated ten years ago and has grown steadily as more and more adventurous booksellers have stood up to the big boxes and the online opportunities that continue to proliferate. I lead with a landmark that nearly slipped under the radar due to the pandemic: the opening of The Center for Fiction, in downtown Brooklyn, in 2019. And, if you have more additions for this list, or any corrections, please email peggy@ai-ap.com. Happy New Year!
The Center for Fiction (top and above)15 Lafayette Street, Brooklyn, NY. This bookstore/café, is the public face of a not-for-profit which is the transmutation of the Mercantile Library of New York into the country’s only organization dedicated to offering books for sale and to borrow; space for writers to write; educational programs for all ages; public programs and events for readers of all ages; all covering nothing but fiction. In fact, when the Merc, as it was known, reformulated its mission back in 2002, part of the work involved carefully deaccessioning all works of non-fiction from its collections. You can read the history of the city’s oldest library, which first opened in 1821 here.
Downtown
Yu & Me Books, bookstore/café/bar at 44 Mulberry Street. Here you will find fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, and works sourced from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, as well as a rotating selection of local art for sale.
The Mysterious Bookshop, 55 Warren Street, NY, NY Mystery fiction in all its genres, and British imports.
The ICP Bookstore, 79 Essex Street, NY, NY
Tenement Museum Shop, 97 Orchard Street, NY, NY. Well chosen array of books about New York and New York-themed gifts.
Bluestockings Bookstore, 172 Allen Street, NY, NY. Politics, feminism, gender-bending titles, café, and events.
The Drawing Center Bookstore, 35 Wooster Street, NY, NY. Small, highly eclectic.
Codex, 1 Bleecker Street, NY, NY. Used books bought and sold, specializing in literary fiction and art books; live music, and poetry readings.
Clic Bookstore & Gallery, 255 Centre Street, NY, NY. Photography, art, fashion, and celebrities; author events.
New Museum, 235 Bowery, opposite Prince Street, NY, NY. Books, objects, gift items.
Bungee Space, 13 Stanton Street, NY, NY (above], just around the corner from the New Museum, probably epitomizes what it is to be hybrid. With two seats for sipping an exceptional cup coffee, it’s a café. With a selection of vintage [think Comme des Garcons, Vivienne Westwood] and bespoke clothing [from the UK and elsewhere], it’s a boutique. With book bags of every possible description and price, it’s a utilitarian shop for carting away a selection of self-published books, zines and other printed matter, so it’s a bookstore. If the offerings are at first a bit overwhelming, check out the staff picks table, or ask anyone on duty.
Perrotin Store, 130 Orchard Street, NY, NY. Ed. Note: In my Pantheon of beautiful artbook stores (above). Art books, limited editions and artists multiples.
Dashwood Books, 33 Bond Street, between Bowery and Lafayette, NY, NY. Photography, including rare editions; author events, Dashwood Books imprint.
Mercer Street Books & Records, 206 Mercer Street, NY, NY. Out-of-print art books and vinyl LPs.
Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby Street, NY, NY.Used books, movies, music, special events; great coffee and sweets.
Karma Gallery Bookstore, 136 East 3rd Street, NY, NY Artists books, art periodicals and catalogues
Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, 28 East Second Street, NY, NY. Cookbooks, memoirs, and the occasional tasting.
Mast Books, 66 Avenue A, NY, NY. Bright and clean neighborhood bookstore, with affordable used paperbacks along with high-priced out-of-print art books.
Whitney Museum Bookstore, 99 Gansevoort Street, NY, NY. Modern and contemporary American art, gifts.
McNally Jackson Books (above), 52 Prince Street. Regular author events. Also in the lobby at The Shed, 545 West 30th Street.
192 Books, 192 10th Avenue at 21st Street, NY, NY. Serious reading, art and photography, author events.
Bookmarc, 400 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. “The books fight for space with branded Marc Jacobs tchotchkes: pens, tote bags, sparkly key fobs. It’s tempting to scoff at the idea of books as cool-factor design objects, but I always leave wanting to own everything in the joint.” —Michael Schulman, The New Yorker
Left Bank Books, 41 Perry Street, New York, NY. Inspired by the history of its Greenwich Village neighborhood, Left Bank Books stocks a small but mighty collection of vintage, rare, and used books on art, culture, and criticism. The space is quiet and cozy, and has the feel of a classic New York bookshop. With frequent new arrivals, you’ll find everything from anthologies by avant-garde filmmakers to first-generation punk fanzines from the ’70s and early ’80s.
Strand Books, 828 Broadway, NY, NY. The mother of them all.
David Zwirner Books, in the gallery at 537 West 20th Street, NY, NY. The powerhouse gallery is the only art gallery publisher with major worldwide distribution; the online store is here.
Harper/s Books/Harper/s Chelsea, 534 West 22nd Street, NY, NY. Rare contemporary works.
Passageway Books, 150 9th Avenue (left) is just that—a narrow slot lined with used books that invite slowing down in the hot weather. Being in Chelsea, it leans heavily towards art and design, including hard to find gallery brochures. One visitor says, “Books are passageways to lands real and imagined, to the rich internal lives of writers and their characters, so book hunters will have fun here, but leave your bulky backpacks behind!”
Printed Matter, Inc., 231 Eleventh Avenue, NY, NY. Artist books, prints, and limited editions. Artist books, prints, and limited editions; many events, workshops.
St. Marks Comics, 11 St. Marks Place, NY, NY. Flagship for current and vintage comics and toys. Locations downtown and in Brooklyn.
Three Lives & Company, 238 West 10th Street, NY, NY. “A haven for people who read,” and a “neighborhood touchstone.” Still going strong in a new location.
Bureau of General Services/Queer Division (below) 208 West 13th Street, Room 210, is a queer cultural center, bookstore, and event space that seeks to involve and educate a self-confident, sex-positive, and supportive queer community. It hosts readings, performances, film screenings, book discussion groups, and workshops to provide an open and inclusive space for dialog and socializing.
Alabaster Bookshop, 122 4th Avenue, NY, NY. Used and rare, well-chosen art, antiques, and photography.
Bookdummypress pop-up shop, 34A Cooper Square, rare and self-published photobooks. Check website for hours and info.
Carmine Street Comics, 34 Carmine Street, NY, NY. Superheroes, manga, open mic, artist-in-residence, events.
Pillow-Cat Books (above), 328 East 9th Street, New York, NY. The first animal themed bookshop in New York is located in the East Village. It is small, green, and filled with used, new, vintage and antique books of all types and in all languages. The only common denominator: an animal or animal character must be present. Special: Cool T-shirts and bags, here
The Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway and 12th Streets, NY, NY. “Eighteen miles of books” – all kinds, new, used, graphic novels, art, design, architecture, celebrities, and 1 buck items on the street; author events.
Forbidden Planet, 832 Broadway, NY, NY. Cult sci-fi, comics, collectibles.
Books of Wonder, 18 West 18th Street, and 217 West 84th Street NY, NY. Beginning readers through YA; regular schedule of author events.
Idlewild Books, 12 West 19th Street, NY, NY. Specializing in travel guides, world literature, foreign language books, and language courses. Also in Williamsburg.
Forbidden Planet, 832 Broadway, at 13th Street, NY, NY. One stop shopping for avatars and comics freaks.
Posman Books at Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue, NY, NY. Newest of 3 locations, with special children’s section, gifts. Also at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Rizzoli Bookstore (above), 1133 Broadway, NY, NY. Another mother of them all, and still one of NYCs most beautiful bookstores. (above), with regular schedule of author events.
The Old Print Shop, 49 West 24th Street, 2nd Fl, NY, NY. An art gallery and bookstore specializing in American graphic arts, antiquarian maps, atlases, and contemporary and modern artists books.
McNally Jackson at The Shed, 545.West 30th Street, NY, NY
JHU Comic Books, 32 East 32nd Street, NY, NY.
Midtown Comics Grand Central, 459 Lexington, 2nd floor, NY, NY.
Uptown
Assouline Luxury Books and Gifts at the Plaza Hotel, 768 Fifth AvenueNY, NY. Along with limited edition prints, candles, and vintage objects, the shop contains massive coffee table books on everything from Ibiza to Dior. There are also plenty of smaller books on travel, art, history, food, and design, perfect for gifting.
The Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th Street, NY, NY. New York’s longest-running source for everything on drama, now has an expresso bar to fuel creative pursuits.
Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Sixth Avenue, NY, NY. Japanese and American huge selection, all categories; superb stationery, craft, school supplies.
Bookoff, 49 West 45th Street, NY, NY. Also for Japanophiles: Used books, DVDs, records, collectibles, "for people who don't waste."
MoMA Design Store (left), 11 West 53rd Street, NY, NY [left]. Art, design, photography, furnishing, gifts; without doubt, the mother of all museum stores, with two locations inside and a third across the way.
Argosy Book Store, 116 East 59th Street, NY, NY. Rare and used books, prints, maps, and autographs.
The New York Public Library Shop, Fifth Avenue between 40-42nd Streets. "Penguin orange" kiosks featuring deluxe paperback literature with fantastic cover art. Located adjacent to the Library Shop.
The Store at Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NY, NY. Art, design, jewelry, furnishing, and books on these subjects.
Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers, 939 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY. Literary bookstore, newly renovated UES location has Expresso self-publishing service, book club and scheduled events. Textbook buy-and-sell.
Ursus Books & Prints, 699 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, NY, NY. Art books, rare items, prints.
Gagosian Shop (above), 976 Madison Avenue, NY, NY. Limited editions, multiples, contemporary artists books, printed matter, objects, gifts. Rare, refined, intriguing.
Archivia Books, 993 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY. Architecture, art, design, decorative arts, gardens, interiors.
Westsider Rare & Used Books, 2246 Broadway, near 80th Street, NY, NY. Used, rare, and contemporary fiction, crime, pulp fiction, vinyl LPs, toys, novelties.
The Corner Bookstore (above), 131 Madison Avenue, NY, NY. Neighborhood mainstay; readings; children's program
Logos Bookstore, 1575 York Ave, New York, NY
Books of Wonder, 217 West 84th Street NY, NY. Beginning readers through YA; events.
Albertine Books (right), 972 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY [left]. Books in French and English, within the French Embassy; events, children’s programs. My UES favorite, partout.
Museum of the City of New York Store, Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, NY, NY. “All things New York City.” Books, photographic prints, gifts.
Strand Books, a new branch at the former Book Culture location at 450 Columbus Avenue, 81-82 Streets, New York, NY
Book Culture, 53 West 112th Street; 2915 Broadway at 114th Street; and 2 more; please check website. Old school and forward-looking, catering to the academic community and everyone in the neighborhood.
Sisters Uptown (above), 1942 Amsterdam Avenue, is a family-owned bookstore in Washington Heights that has become a positive staple in the community which recently celebrated 15 years of community service. VP Kori N. Wilson says, “We're not just a book store; we are a community resource center for the exchange of information and ideas. Our motto is ‘knowledge is key’. We provide an educational, emotional, spiritual and loving environment for our diverse community where all are welcomed."
Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Avenue, NY, NY. A multi-language general-interest neighborhood bookshop and art space in Washington Heights; literary readings, music concerts, film screenings workshops etc. for kids and adults.
Brooklyn, Queens & Bronx
Astoria Bookshop, 31-29 31st Street, Queens, NY.
Topos Bookstore Cafe, 788 Woodward Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, NY. Used books in many languages. “We buy and trade used books for $$ or store credit.”
Artbook@ MoMA PS1 (above), 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY. Bleeding edge art and design.
powerHouse Arena, 28 Adams Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY;1111 8th Street, Park Slope; 220 36th Street, Industry City. Regular book launch events.
Spoonbill & Sugartown, 218 Bedford Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Word, 126 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Books, gifts, stationery, kids’ stuff, events—including workshops for both writers and readers.
Above: Artbook@ MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue
Archestratus, 160 Huron Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Foodies' paradise, classes, tastings, book clubs and more on the Fact and Fiction of Food. Adults only.
Above: Book Thug Nation, 100 N 3rd Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Used literary fiction, film, philosophy, graphic novels and more
Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton Street (at S. Portland), Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY.
Idlewild Books, 249 Warren Street, Brooklyn, NY. Specializing in travel guides, world literature, foreign language books, and language courses. Also in Manhattan at 617 Hudson Street.
Miriam Gallery and Bookstore, 319 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. Another hybrid that specializes in self-published artist’s books is Miriam Gallery, in Williamsburg. According to the website, “We prioritize publishing projects that demonstrate an interrogation of the book as a creative form, made by artists of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and practices. Together, these titles weave cultural narratives through the interdependence of conte
McNally Jackson Books, 76 N. 4th Street, Williamsburg; 4 Fulton Street at South Street Seaport, and 52 Prince Street. Many author events. Also in the lobby at The Shed.
, and events.
Books Are Magic, 225 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Owned and operated by former employee of BookCourt; many events, open 7 days.
Freebird Books above), 123 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY. A sign in the window reads, “open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, and on other days ‘by chance.’” Inside, you’ll find silence, a variety of used fiction and nonfiction titles, and some shelves with novelty themes, including “Bad Titles,” “Unfortunate Author Photos,” and “Great Jackets.”
Cafe Con Libros, 724 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, NY. “Explicitly feminist, with hand-pick titles for kids and adults that focus on female narratives.”
The Ripped Bodice, 218 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY is an independent brick-and-mortar bookstore devoted to the celebration of romance novels. It was the first romance bookstore opened in the Northern Hemisphere. The store is proudly woman and Queer owned. Featuring a vast and diverse selection of romance fiction, the store also offers a wide selection of gift items with a focus on supporting independent, woman owned businesses.
Community Bookstore, 143 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. Community mainstay.
Mil Mundos Books, 323 Linden Street, Brooklyn, NY celebrates the neighborhood's culture and operates entirely on a volunteer basis, with readings, language classes, workshops and book clubs, spanning topics ranging from gendered language, South and Central American culture, anti-gentrification policies, accessibility and more.
Molasses Books / Café / Bar, 770 Hart Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Terrace Books, 242 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, NY Bookend of Community Bookstore
Unnameable Books, 600 Vanderbilt Avenue between Dean & St. Mark's, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY. New, used, events.
The BookMark Shoppe, 8415 3rd Avenue, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. Events, including knit/crochet Club, customer reviews.
Galaxy Comics Inc, 6823 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY [Bay Ridge]
The Lit.Bar (above), 131 Alexander Avenue, Mott Haven, The Bronx, is the first and still the only brick and mortar bookstore serving the 1.4 million people and 10 colleges and universities of the Bronx (above). Read this feature in The New York Times
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