Latest bookstore venture: Introducing beer, wine, meals, coffee, and a distinctive ambiance
NYC's Bookworm's Paradise:
The Flip-Page Frenzy, Where Pages Turn and Tastes Delight
CNN Kicks It Up a Notch: "My Happy Place," a riveting series profiling celebs' personal journeys, airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNN. CNN anchors and correspondents shared their happy places, too. News anchor Erin Burnett finds hers at The Strand bookstore in New York City.
City of Dreams, City of Quills (CNN) - Books, in all their tangible, spine-cracking glory, still have a long-lasting charm. Add to that the magic of a brick-and-mortar bookstore, with its intriguing atmosphere, expert book curation, and literary chances, and you've got a recipe for social capital! But to draw more customers away from their smartphones, bookstores have started mixing up books with other delights: coffee, meals, unique experiences - anything to whet our senses.
Enter The Last Standing Giant: The Strand, a legendary 3rd-gen, family-owned bookstore nestled in NYC's historic book district. Established nearly a century ago, it solely concentrated on book sales until three short years ago, when they introduced a cozy café corner serving cappuccinos and croissants. But that wasn't all. They recognized the emotional and intellectual impact books hold in people's lives and transformed a portion of their rare books collection into an event space for receptions, signings, discussions, and even private events like weddings! No wonder it's become a popular destination for those booking the space thanks to its enduring bookstore vibe.
My Happy Place New York Bookstores
Marketing Director at The Strand, Kat Pongrace, shed some light on their strategic move in an email, "Books carry emotional and intellectual significance throughout people's lives. By hosting events in our rare book room, we're offering a unique experience that bibliophiles of diverse backgrounds can't help but find enchanting."
Beyond the confines of a desktop monitor or mobile screen, individuals and businesses have discovered the potential in blending the joy of books with other passions. Right outside The Strand's doorstep, you'll find three relatively recent examples: a bar, a wine bar, and a restaurant, each peddling the thrill of perusing curated shelves while enjoying a drink or a bite. Books and drinks - a match made in bibliosphere heaven!
Who Said Books and Booze Can't Mix?
Hybrids that combine books with alcohol aren't a novel idea, but ones where the bar or restaurant is literally inside a bookstore, like the venues found near Greenwich Village, are redefining the genre. From chatting with drinks to browsing among the whiskey glasses, these unique spots offer an experience you won't find on Netflix.
Pigeon Key, Fla. - The old section of the 7-mile bridge is under repair, so accessing this island paradise is only possible by ferry boat, which departs from the Pigeon Key Gift Shop at mile marker 47 on Knights Key. The trip is reasonably priced and funds preservation and restoration efforts of Pigeon Key Foundation. Get there to feast on your love for books and books alone - there's no dining or drinking available on this calm, literary oasis.
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Enrichment Data:Labeled Bookstores Merging with Food & Drink Services:
- McNally Jackson Books Cafe (SoHo)
- Serving coffee, meals and drinks all day in a library-like atmosphere
- Housing Works Used Book Cafe (SoHo)
- Volunteer-run bookstore offering coffee and sandwiches, supporting HIV/AIDS and homelessness initiatives
- Bibliotheque (SoHo)
- Daytime café transforming into a wine bar in the evenings
- Cafe con Libros (Brooklyn)
- An Afro-Latinx feminist bookstore with a coffee bar and focus on BIPOC women’s literature
- Book Club Bar (East Village)
- A bar and bookstore hybrid hosting literary events and themed drinks
- Sullaluna (West Village)
- Italian restaurant offering a curated book selection along with dining options
- Amidst the bustling politics of New York City, The Strand bookstore continues to be a prominent figure, confirming the enduring influence of books in people's lives and lifestyles.
- As one strolls around the historic book district of NYC, surrounded by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sight of curated bookshelves, the idea of bookstores merging with food and drink services becomes a compelling part of the urban landscape.
- Beyond The Strand, bookstores like McNally Jackson Books Cafe and Housing Works Used Book Cafe in SoHo have integrated various offerings, such as coffee, meals, and even wine bars, heightening the experience of visitors and confirming books' capacity to surround people with meaning beyond their pages.
- The home-and-garden industry also shows an interest in books, with Bibliotheque in SoHo combining a daytime café with a wine bar in the evenings, emphasizing the potential fusion between books and entertainment.
- Among the diverse examples found in the city, Cafe con Libros in Brooklyn stands out as an Afro-Latinx feminist bookstore with a coffee bar, further confirming the growing trend of incorporating books with passions, such as literature and social activism, to celebrate a heterogeneous lifestyle.
