Independent Bookstores - The Comeback Kid

Good afternoon readers! Many bloggers have been writing about New York City's gentrification. This can be described as the tearing down of our city's old stores and buildings and then renovating these neighborhoods into more modern ones. While neighborhoods may look better, it also results in our neighborhoods having higher rents, more banks, big chain businesses and forcing out small businesses that often can't pay the higher rents. 

Great news for so many of us who want more independent businesses to return! Book Culture, an independent bookstore, will be adding its third location on the UWS to Columbus Avenue and 81st and 82nd Streets this November. Book Culture currently has two locations in Morningside Heights and was recently voted one of the 10 Coolest Bookstores in New York by theculturetrip.com. 

A little history on the space...book culture on Columbus Avenue was once the home of the former independent Endicott Booksellers, which many believe inspired the popular 1988 film, "You've Got Mail". This movie, a romantic comedy, also shows how large chain bookstores were forcing the closing of the many independent bookstores that were then on the Upper West Side. Another interesting thing I read about is that the real estate agent who leased the bookstore to book culture was the husband of the owner of Endicott Booksellers. The agent chose this deal over many others that wanted this prime real estate space. 

Today book culture had a special event to promote the future opening of this location. It was a bagel and book brunch! 

There was a large table filled with juice, fresh fruit, bagels and many different spreads.

While eating my delicious salt bagel from Absolute Bagels, I was able to speak with Chris Doeblin, the president and co-owner of book culture. He was so kind! We spoke about my favorite books and how he picked the spot for the new book culture location. He told me that book culture will display customers' book recommendations when the store opens. Today, Chris invited visitors to start filling out recommendation cards. Some of the books I recommended were Harry Potter, The Lightning Thief series, the Yoda Origami series and for younger children, Mr. Putter and Tabby. 

 Chris also planned two childrens' storytellings for this afternoon and letter-writing to spread the word on the opening of this new location of book culture. Then, Chris let only me and my Mom tour the unfinished downstairs! This picture below shows the future section for middle school books, where I will be shopping the most. I love how Chris invited our community into his store when it didn't look "perfect" to get residents recommendations and suggestions before the official November opening day. 

Book culture is offering many different levels of memberships with various discounts, store credits and access to events and also book culture tote bags and mugs. Many of these memberships often offer a higher store credit for books then the membership costs! 

Book Culture is surprisingly huge for an indie bookstore. I read that the monthly rent is $35,000 a month. I hope that in today's world of ordering online and big chain bookstores (those that are still left), that an independent bookstore will make it on the UWS. I hope you stop by to check out this new space of book culture and buy some books here so that this time an independent bookstore will be on the UWS for a long time to come. Opening day is November 15th!

Bye for now! Andrew PS. here's the link for the comment site http://wilanyc.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/independent-bookstores-the-comeback-kid-comments/ 

Update 9/15: Thanks Bookculture!   See it on their facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/bookculturenyc