Rizzoli Bookstore
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Book retailing |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | Angelo Rizzoli |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Gianfranco Monacelli (former president and CEO of Rizzoli Publications) |
| Products | Illustrated volumes, foreign language editions, specialized books |
Number of employees | 25 |
| Parent | Mondadori Electa S.p.A. |
Rizzoli Bookstore is a specialized retail bookseller situated within the St. James Building at 1133 Broadway, New York City. Established in 1964 by entrepreneur Angelo Rizzoli, the store emphasizes illustrated volumes and foreign language editions. Its former flagship, located at 31 W. 57th Street, was celebrated for its unique interior design until the lease ended in April 2014 and the building was subsequently demolished. On July 27, 2015, Rizzoli moved to its present location in the NoMad neighborhood.
The bookstore functions as part of Rizzoli International Publications (Rizzoli New York), which operates as a subsidiary of the Italian media conglomerate Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. This company acquired the division from RCS MediaGroup. Employing roughly 25 staff members, Rizzoli capitalizes on its reputable brand and carefully selected inventory to sustain a competitive edge within the niche book retail sector.
History
In 1964, Angelo Rizzoli inaugurated Rizzoli Bookstore at 712 Fifth Avenue, New York City, housed in a structure originally designed in 1907 that drew inspiration from Parisian townhouses of the 19th century. The interior, crafted by architect Ferdinand Gottlieb, showcased marble flooring, oak paneling, and chandeliers, creating an inviting atmosphere that cultivated a dedicated clientele. Gianfranco Monacelli, who later rose to president and CEO of Rizzoli Publications and founded Monacelli Press in 1994, began his career there as a night clerk.
During the 1960s, Roberto Polo—an investment professional and art collector—worked part-time at Rizzoli while attending Columbia University; he also curated the “Fashion as Fantasy” exhibition at the Rizzoli Gallery.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Rizzoli expanded across the United States with outlets in Chicago’s Water Tower Place and numerous other metropolitan areas including Boston; California cities such as Costa Mesa, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and San Francisco; Dallas; Oak Brook (Illinois); Atlanta; Washington D.C.; Minneapolis; and Philadelphia. In 1984, Rizzoli acquired Scribner’s Bookstore on Fifth Avenue and launched additional branches in SoHo and the World Financial Center. The Scribner’s flagship store remained under Rizzoli management until its closure in 1989.
In 1985, after plans to demolish their original building were halted due to landmark designation, Rizzoli shifted its flagship to West 57th Street. This new site encompassed three floors of the former Sohmer Piano Company showroom and underwent renovation by H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture.
By 2001, most of Rizzoli’s national stores had closed except for the flagship location. In 2010, a boutique outlet opened within Italian food marketplace Eataly, specializing in culinary and beverage-related publications. A similarly curated shop debuted inside Saks Fifth Avenue in 2012 featuring titles on fashion, design, interiors, and travel.
On April 11, 2014, Rizzoli shuttered its West 57th Street flagship following lease expiration amid redevelopment plans led by The LeFrak Organization and Vornado Realty Trust. Despite preservationist campaigns, demolition proceeded due to the absence of landmark protection for the interior design. This closure attracted criticism from industry experts and editorials by The New York Times.
In July 2015, Rizzoli reopened at its current Broadway address as a prominent element of the NoMad Piazza pedestrian zone under New York City’s Open Streets program.
That same year, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore purchased parent companies RCS Libri and Rizzoli International Publications from RCS MediaGroup. After restructuring in 2016, both Rizzoli International Publications and Rizzoli Bookstore became divisions within Mondadori Electa S.p.A., a subsidiary of the Mondadori Group.
In popular culture
Rizzoli Bookstore has appeared notably in movies including Falling in Love (1984), Manhattan (1979), and True Story (2015). It has also been featured in the television show Seinfeld.