Left Bank Books (New York City)
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (books) |
| Founded | January 1, 2005 |
| Founder | Kim Herzinger |
| Headquarters | New York City (West Village, Manhattan) , United States |
Area served | New York City, online |
Key people | Erik DuRon, Jess Kuronen |
| Products | Used books, rare and collectible editions |
Left Bank Books is an independent bookstore situated in Manhattan's West Village. Originally founded in 2005 as a rare bookshop, it came into existence when bookseller Kim Herzinger acquired Bookleaves. After encountering a dispute with the landlord, Herzinger relocated the store to a nearby location in 2010. The physical storefront closed in 2016, transitioning to an online-only model under new proprietors Erik DuRon and Jess Kuronen. In 2019, DuRon and Kuronen revived the bookstore at its current Perry Street address in the West Village. The store continues to specialize in a curated selection of used books while maintaining a focus on rare and collectible editions.
1992–2009: Bookleaves, Left Bank Books, and the West Village
According to a 2009 The New York Times article, the West Village has played a pivotal role in New York’s literary culture throughout much of the twentieth century, recognized for both its avant-garde spirit and literary heritage. Notable authors such as Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, and Theodore Dreiser once resided in this neighborhood. The area was home to several longstanding bookstores; however, the rise of online retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon presented significant challenges for independent booksellers, leading to numerous closures during the 1990s.
Bookleaves began operations in 1992 in a modest 300-square-foot space located at West Fourth Street and Bank Street within the West Village. More than ten years later, in 2005, retired literature professor Kim Herzinger discovered the shop and inquired with owner Arthur Farrier about purchasing it. Upon acquiring both the inventory and lease, Herzinger rebranded the store as Left Bank Books with an emphasis on rare books—offering signed copies, first editions, and other valuable items. Among Herzinger’s notable acquisitions were a first edition of Invisible Man inscribed by Ralph Ellison and Norman Mailer’s personal copy of The Naked and the Dead, which was priced at $10,000. Farrier remained involved with Left Bank Books for some time following the sale.
2010–2016: Left Bank Books' relocation and Herzinger’s departure
Throughout the early 2000s, bookstores across the West Village and neighboring Greenwich Village faced closures due to economic pressures and competition from online platforms. For example, Librería Lectorum shuttered in 2007, followed by the closure of the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in 2009. In late 2009, Left Bank Books’ landlord informed Herzinger that the lease would not be renewed, necessitating closure by January 2010. Subsequently, Herzinger accepted a teaching position at the University of Houston–Victoria but explored relocating Left Bank Books to a new site near 12th Street and Eighth Avenue.
In January 2010, Left Bank Books reopened at a nearby address on 17 Eighth Avenue. Soon after this move, Herzinger relocated to Austin, Texas to resume his academic career and entrusted day-to-day management of the bookstore to his staff.
2016–present: Ownership under DuRon and Kuronen
In March 2016, Left Bank Books shuttered its physical location indefinitely; an acquaintance of the proprietors remarked that maintaining an independent bookstore in the neighborhood had become financially unsustainable. Nevertheless, employees Erik DuRon and Jess Kuronen acquired the bookstore from Kerzinger and sustained its operations through an online platform, continuing to focus on rare book sales. DuRon brought decades of experience in antiquarian bookselling, having previously worked at Bauman Rare Books, while Kuronen, a graphic designer, had been employed at the bookstore during her art studies at Cooper Union.
By 2019, DuRon and Kuronen relaunched Left Bank Books as a physical store situated at 41 Perry Street in the West Village. Committed to honoring Herzinger's original concept, their goal was to offer both used paperbacks and a carefully curated assortment of rare and vintage volumes. Consequently, their inventory ranged widely in price—from modestly priced books starting around $10 to rare editions valued up to $10,000. In 2024, Vogue recognized Left Bank Books as one of the premier bookstores in New York City, featuring it in their curated guide.