Atlantic Book Shop Leaving the Avenue
Vanishing New York reported some sad news yesterday: The Atlantic Book Shop, at 179 Atlantic Avenue, is closing. The blog notes that the bookstore “is the second incarnation of 12th Street Books, which you may recall left Manhattan in the summer of 2008 when its lease was not renewed so that neighbor Strip House, a…
Vanishing New York reported some sad news yesterday: The Atlantic Book Shop, at 179 Atlantic Avenue, is closing. The blog notes that the bookstore “is the second incarnation of 12th Street Books, which you may recall left Manhattan in the summer of 2008 when its lease was not renewed so that neighbor Strip House, a steakhouse chain restaurant, could expand.” At present, everything in the store is 30 percent off. There is, however, some talk that Marty Markowitz may lend a hand in helping out the shop…
Atlantic Book Shop: Vanishing [Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York] GMAP
“Does anyone know what happened to the store on Smith? Did they relocate or just go out of business or transfer to online sales?”
My guess is they went out of business, because they were giving a lot of stuff away for free, towards the end.
On a related note, I could never figure out how either of these 2 shops even attempted to run a business selling $3 books, while paying what is a most-likely pretty high rent. I guess the fact that they both closed so quickly proves that it’s not a viable model (unless you signed the lease when before the boom).
I agree with you Andrew. This store’s owner and his worker were major deterrents for me as well, and I have known them since their days in the village.
Does anyone know what happened to the store on Smith? Did they relocate or just go out of business or transfer to online sales?
Those other bookstores are purveyors of new books, not used books. BookCourt has a small used book section, but this is a recent development.
However, my experience with the two people at Atlantic Books has been less than satisfactory, and now I never go in. I still buy books in the small used book section at the Housing Works Thrift Store on Montague Street.
The used book store that used to be on Montague moved to Smith Street and is now out of business. Biblo Books, the used book store at the corner of Middagh and Hicks, closed after the death of owner Jack Biblo (co-owner of the legendary Biblo & Tannen on Manhattan’s Book Row) and his wife Frances. Charlie Brown’s Book Emporium, on Middagh where Salon Van Sickel is now, closed more than a decade ago.
@ epkwy – the fact that book court recently expanded to twice its original size, while this place closes it’s doors, is a pretty good indicator. imo, book court is pretty much the old guard in this neighborhood. with barnes and noble up the block(s) catering to the more mainstream set.
slick, perhaps I am not aware of them, but what used book stores are you referring to?
There are at least 2 better bookstores within a few blocks. It was strange when they opened there in the first place.
I hope Greenlight is doing ok. I love that place whenever I make it over to Fort Greene.
Along with the recent closing of Heights Books on Smith St, sad indeed.