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Independent Bookstores in the City

Tuesday, August 13th, 2013

Hello readers! I am Ryan, one of the new fall interns at Beaufort. I thought for my introductory blog post I would talk about some of the independent bookstores in the city. I just heard the good news on Shelf Awareness that Michael de Zayas, of gourmet cheese fame in Crown Heights, is creating a new bookstore on the corner of Bedford and Park Place (just one block from my apartment). De Zayas has already proven himself a capable businessman in the neighborhood: he’s the man behind Wedge, an artisan cheese and bread store, and Little Zelda, a coffeehouse next door. Given his success on Franklin Ave. with two such hipster retreats, hopes should be high for a third, especially since the nearest local bookstore is a twenty minute walk away (though some would undoubtedly claim that Unnameable Books is worth the walk).

Beaufort’s office is actually located in a particularly dense bookstore cluster, only a few blocks from the iconic Union Square triumvirate of The Strand, St. Mark’s Bookshop, and Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers.

The Strand is the biggest of the three with a huge fiction selection, three floors, great prices, and good vibes.

The Strand,

The Strand * 828 Broadway New York, NY 10003 * (212) 473-1452

St. Mark’s Bookshop is a bit more arty and spare and is located right in the heart of St. Mark’s (hence the name)—stop in for that anthology on Foucault and you will pass by the Continental bar, with its infamous 5 shots for $10 deal.

St. Mark’s * 31 3rd Ave New York, NY 10003 * (212) 260-7853

Shakespeare & Co. is part of a small NYC chain of three bookstores that form an axis on the East Side. The one I’m talking about is right next to NYU and has a definite college feel in terms of its staff and its course book offerings. It lives up to the hype of its name both in the selection for Shakespeare titles and in its smell, mahogany shelves, and comfy chairs.

Shakespeare & Co. * 716 Broadway New York, NY 10003 * (212) 529-1330

The country’s largest Barnes and Noble is also right on Union Square, and, given its huge collection, it’s a great place to find that sought after book you just can’t find anywhere else. It’s also a great place to find that sought after bathroom after drinking three cups of coffee at the Farmer’s Market.

B&N * 33 E 17th St New York, NY 10003 * (212) 253-0810

I’ve recently been working at Book Culture, an independent bookstore in Morningside Heights beloved by Columbia students. Come by our main location on 112th mid-block between Broadway and Amsterdam, or, if you are with kids or are just looking for bestselling fiction, try our newish location on 114th and Broadway.

Book Culture’s 112th location

Book Culture’s Broadway location

Since the advent of e-readers, independent booksellers have been characterized in the media as a relic of the past, but the truth is that they have actually become more important than ever. With their carefully curated selection and knowledgeable staff, they have become cultural beacons, as important as publishers in determining the trajectory of literature. Amazon may have millions of titles, but it has no way of sifting through its offerings and determining what is relevant to you, unlike the former English majors roaming the stacks and re-shelving overstock who can make recommendations, tell you what people are buying, and talk to you about your favorite authors. Apple offers great convenience with e-books, but independent bookstores offer you one-of-a-kind events in the form of author readings, lectures, and Q&As.

It’s not that Amazon and Apple are worse than independent booksellers, or vice versa—they’re just different and provide equally necessary services for the book world. So stop by and support your local store: they’ll appreciate your business and, who knows, maybe you will get to meet a really interesting person.

 

Cheerio,

BEAUseph Conrad

Little Beau Peep: Bookstore-Addicts Anonymous

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Hey there! I’m Rachel, the newest intern at Beaufort. I’m sitting now where previous interns have sat before, typing on a keyboard that previous interns have typed on before, and the burden of expectations weighs heavily on my shoulders (er…fingers?). I don’t know that anything I have to write will stand out among all these other excellent blog entries, but I’ll try my best not to be too boring.

I’ll start off with a confession: I love bookstores. I cannot walk by a bookstore without going inside – which can be a bit of a problem, considering how many bookstores are in the city. And what I love most about bookstores is that they’re sort of like people. Not because I don’t have friends, so bookstores are my friends (although…yeah), but because every single one is unique. No two bookstores have the exact same selection of books, or the exact same set-up, or the exact same vibe; even massive chains like Barnes & Noble differ a little from store to store.  Some of them don’t like it when you grab a book from their shelves and curl up in a random corner with it for hours because you’ve already spent your reading budget for the month, and some of them really don’t like it.

But, even though all bookstores are unique, some bookstores are definitely more quirky than others – like these ones, which were refurbished out of unused structures. Admittedly, turning an old manure tank into a bookstore is a little disturbing, but most of these are pretty incredible. Like The Book Barge, a boat-turned-bookstore that sails around the U.K. Or John King Books, which resides in an abandoned (read: creepy and confusing) glove factory in Detroit.

My personal favorite is the Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid (pictured on the right). Originally a 1920s movie palace, it’s now one of the most famous bookstores in Argentina – and, best of all, most of the theater boxes have been converted into reading rooms. If I walked by that bookstore, I definitely wouldn’t be able to resist going inside.

Ultimately, I think the versatility of bookstores says a lot about the inherent value of books in society. It doesn’t matter if you buy a book from Barnes & Noble, an old manure tank, or that shifty street vendor who always winks at you; a book is a book.

Sincerely,

Little Beau Peep