St. Mark's Bookshop
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookstore |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Bob Contant and Terry McCoy |
| Defunct | 2016-02-28 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Books (cultural and critical theory, graphic design, poetry, small press publications, film studies, fiction, periodicals, literary journals) |
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St. Mark's Bookshop was a privately owned bookstore founded in 1977 within the East Village area of Manhattan, New York City. It held the distinction of being Manhattan’s longest-standing independent bookstore still managed by its original proprietors. Operated by Bob Contant and Terry McCoy, the shop concentrated on cultural and critical theory, graphic design, poetry, small press publications, and film studies—genres that the New York Times described as "literature suited to the neighborhood".[1] The inventory included a carefully selected range of fiction, periodicals, and literary journals, featuring international editions. Additionally, it offered uncommon bookstore sections dedicated to belles-lettres, anarchism, art criticism, women's studies, music, drama, and drug-related literature.[2]
The bookstore took its name from its initial address on St. Mark's Place,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content but ultimately ceased operations on February 28, 2016, due to escalating rental costsCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content combined with poor management.[2]
Description
At its Third Avenue site, the store showcased small press poetry volumes prominently at the front. Toward the rear was a table displaying high-priced art books alongside an information desk. Adjacent to this desk was an "X case," a special section housing frequently stolen titles by authors such as Charles Bukowski and William Burroughs,[2] and at one time featured a consignment area.
History
Initially situated at 13 St. Marks Place, the original location included a mezzanine level running along the shop’s right side. The proprietors were eventually enticed to relocate beneath a Cooper Union dormitory on Third Avenue near Stuyvesant Street[3] by Cooper Union’s vice president offering reduced rent. This move was connected to the development of the nearby Green Building on Third Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets.[2]
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the bookstore generated substantial revenue, especially on weekends. Former staff member Margarita Shalina noted in 2016 that during this period "the business was financially thriving," partly due to strong sales of its premium art books.[2] The store attracted notable visitors including philosopher Jacques Derrida, actor Daniel Craig, and a famously intoxicated Susan Sontag.[2] Other distinguished guests were Madonna and composer Philip Glass,[3] and when hosting speakers, figures such as Slavoj Zizek and filmmaker Michael Moore appeared.[2]
Financial difficulties
Following the retirement of the store manager, the successor prioritized managing book returns and restocking titles from wholesalers. Shalina recalls that "books were constantly rotated through the shop without sufficient time to sell, sometimes within just four weeks. The volume at which this occurred was excessive, and freight costs were largely ignored." She further noted that ordering practices became "largely unmonitored and lacking any budget constraints." Documentation was neglected, and "the manager frequently erased the sales records of certain books."
By 2011, St. Mark's Bookshop's monetary struggles became increasingly apparent, compounded by steep rental expenses. An online petition initiated by a customer urged the store’s landlord, Cooper Union, to reduce the rent; it amassed over 40,000 signatures. In August 2012, an online fundraising campaign successfully raised more than $24,000 to support the shop.
Meanwhile, Cooper Union faced its own financial challenges: traditionally tuition-free, the institution began charging tuition starting in fall 2014 to compensate for diminished endowment revenue.
In May 2014, the bookstore revealed its intention to relocate from 31 Third Avenue to a smaller venue at 126 E. Third St., with the New York City Housing Authority becoming the new landlord. Although Clouds Architectural Office was engaged to design the new premises, dwindling sales over time left the store unable to sustain rent payments at this location. To assist with relocation costs, an auction was organized to generate additional funds.
Competitive pressure
New York has a rich tradition of independent bookstores. Notable examples include The Strand, Westsider, McNally Jackson, Shakespeare & Co, WORD, Longitude, Bluestockings, and Housing Works. In Brooklyn, prominent stores such as powerHouse, BookCourt, and Greenlight Bookstore also contribute to this landscape. These smaller shops and boutique chains face increasing competition from large retail chains, online booksellers, and the rise of digital media.[4]
To better compete with digital formats, St. Mark's Bookshop collaborated with OR Books in a partnership where OR Books distributed their electronic titles through St. Mark's website.[5]
Even major chains like Borders have struggled to stay afloat amid the pressures exerted by online retailers and the growing popularity of e-books.[6]
Former employees
Among the notable individuals who once worked at St. Mark's Bookshop are playwright Annie Baker, visual artist Wade Guyton, poet Ron Kolm, writer and performer Julie Klausner,[7] [8] as well as writer and translator Margarita Shalina.[2] Prior to establishing St. Mark's Bookshop, founders Bob Contant and Terry McCoy were employed at both 8th Street Books and East Side Books.[9]
Awards
- Recipient of the 2014 design accolade awarded by the American Institute of Architects
See also
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedleland - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Shalina, Margaria, "Once Upon a Time There Was Bookshop in the Village," The Poetry Project magazine, issue 247, April/May 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedPost - ↑ "The Future of Bookstores". Eco-Libris. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ Teicher, Craig Morgan (7 December 2010). "OR Books Partners with St. Mark's Bookshop for E-Book Distribution". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ Sanburn, Josh (19 July 2011). "5 Reasons Borders Went Out of Business (and What Will Take Its Place)". Time. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ Vogel, Carol (27 September 2012). "Painting, Rebooted". New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ Ruhling, Nancy (28 January 2014). "Astoria Characters: The Man Who Has His Way With Words". Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ Ruhling, Nancy (12 August 2012). "Ten Reasons Why We Should Help St. Mark's Bookshop Survive". Karen the Small Press Librarian. Retrieved 18 May 2014.