Books Are Magic
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (books) |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Emma Straub |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn , United States |
Area served | Brooklyn, New York |
| Products | Books |
Books Are Magic operates as an independent bookstore situated in Brooklyn. Established by Emma Straub in 2017, it initially opened a physical storefront in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood. A second branch was launched in Brooklyn Heights in 2022.
History
Emma Straub gained experience working at BookCourt, where she first organized an event for her novella Fly-Over State. During her time there, she encountered prominent authors such as Jennifer Egan, Jonathan Franzen, and Don DeLillo, who frequented the store for both shopping and book events. Regular patrons also included actors like Paul Dano and Hope Davis. Straub eventually left BookCourt several months into her pregnancy while simultaneously managing a manuscript deadline.
In December 2016, the owners of BookCourt, Henry Zook and Mary Gannett, decided to close the store and sell the property. Following discussions with Zook and Gannett, Straub and her husband Mike resolved to open their own bookstore. They consulted with various booksellers and identified a location nearby in Carroll Gardens. Support for their venture came from figures such as Christine Onorati of the WORD Bookstore in Greenpoint. The lease was finalized in February 2016, and Books Are Magic officially opened its doors on May 1. The opening day featured appearances by authors including Phil Klay, Jazmine Hughes, and Kyle Lucia Wu. CNN remarked that the bookstore was ideally positioned to become a literary destination within the borough. In 2018, Jenna Bush Hager named it her preferred bookstore.
Following this success, developers from New York City and other cities like Los Angeles expressed interest in having Straub and her husband expand Books Are Magic to additional locations. However, the couple initially chose to concentrate on their original store. Later, when approached by the Brooklyn Heights Association regarding local demand for a bookstore on Montague Street—aimed at revitalizing the area amid vacancies—the owners were receptive to the idea due to their familiarity with the neighborhood and its existing venues for book events.
In 2022, Books Are Magic announced plans for a second location at 112 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. This new site would occupy former storefronts previously held by Housing Works and Fishs Eddy. In their announcement, Straub and her husband clarified that they intended to maintain only these two locations: "And yes—before you even ask—this is it. The family is complete. No more! Just these two."