With Focus on Literary Fiction, Indie Bookstore Troubled Sleep Debuts in Park Slope

A bookstore selling new and used books has opened at 129 6th Avenue in Park Slope.

Troubled Sleep, a name shared with a novel by Jean-Paul Sartre, opened its doors to the neighborhood Monday. Comments on social media from customers have been enthusiastic.

When Brownstoner stopped by Wednesday, the shop was full of excited browsers and people dropping off used books. (The bookstore’s business card says it will buy used books from readers.)

The store’s bookmark says it carries “A wide variety of quality books at low prices. Specializing in literary fiction both classic and contemporary.” The majority of shelf space is dedicated to fiction, drama and poetry, with smaller sections on New York City history, art, architecture and kids books.

Troubled Sleep is open seven days a week on the ground floor of a three-story brick building in the Park Slope Historic District. The shop is lined with nearly floor to ceiling wooden bookcases. Eye-catching mosaic tile comprises the floor.

According to a post on Facebook by someone who says they helped build out the space, the design for the store was inspired by Enzo Mari’s 1974 book Autoprogettazione, which roughly translates to DIY guide to the conceptual mind, the poster wrote. “Enzo has been called the communist designer and honestly has been a huge inspiration for all my work since I was introduced to him,” the commenter said. “Go check it out and buy some books!!!!”

From at least 2012 to 2015, the storefront housed Pet Boutique and Supplies, and dating back to 2006 it was home to the Pottery Cafe, old photos show.

Troubled Sleep is far from the only bookstore in Park Slope, sharing the neighborhood with the longstanding Community Bookstore, PowerHouse on 8th and a branch of Barnes & Noble.

The venture opens at a time when Brooklyn is seeing a flourishing of new bookstores. Cobble Hill’s popular Books are Magic plans to open a second store in Brooklyn Heights, Burnt Books recently launched in Greenpoint and The Word Is Change opened on Tompkins Avenue in Bed Stuy, among others.

[Photos by Susan De Vries]

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