Jackson Heights Life

Sounds like Starbucks is about to become a done deal.  Now for my pet peeve:  I like living in JH more or less but  am ashamed that I live in a neighborhood without a bookstore of any description.  There used to be a sort of bookstore / internet cafe on 37th a few years ago but it closed to make way for (gack!) a check cashing place.  Check cashers, 99 cent stores, trashy clothing stores, unhygenic bodegas all bespeak neighborhood blight in a big way I believe, and must be a dis-incentive to many professional people,  prospective co-op buyers, who are trying to escape the stratospheric prices in Manhattan and Park Slope.  Some of them buy in anyway in the hope that the demographic will change.  I once wrote to the real estate division of Barnes & Noble notifying them of available storefronts in this neighborhood. Although I got a nice email back that they would look into it, nothing since.  Anyone have contacts with B&N, Borders etc. who could put in a word for a bookstore? It could have a sizeable section for Spanish-speakers and host bi-lingual readings and book signings to attract the current demographic.  Any ideas folks?

Lesley,

I also wrote to B&N a couple months ago and got the some response as you did. I told them about the North Fork location on 37th Ave that would be perfect for a small store.  However this was right before the news broke that they are closing the Astor Place and 6th ave/22nd street locations in Manhattan. I guess even for the big boys, bookstores are hard to make money in the days of the internet. However, on the weekends I can suggest jumping on the E or F one stop to Forest Hills and there is a B&N there.  Its not so great for those of us who might want to go the bookstore on the way home from work. But I went yesterday, and the train ride was nothing.

D

This has been relocated from the Starbucks thread.

A book store of the B&N or Borders variety is a bit of a reach for Jackson Heights at this time. Our nabe suffers from a serious lack of quality and/or brand-name retail stores. We need to help usher in more small-box retailers to 37th ave such as Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Gap, etc. before we stand a chance to land a big-box store such as Borders.

We've got the small-box stores in Astoria, we've even got a few big-box stores (really warehouses) and our Councilperson (Peter Vallone, Jr.) has communicated our need and desire for a bookstore to B&N, and nada. Good luck. We are currently overrun with 99 cent stores, nail salons, banks (of every description) and more ethnic restaurants than there are ethnicities!

An independent would be great but, unfortunately, the reality of the book business is that it's very (very very) difficult for an independent to compete on price with the chain and online stores.

Yes, a book store. Any bookstore.
Right now the only book store seems to be the guy who sells used books in front of the met foods on 37th Ave.
(Sometimes has some good ones, too!)

The guy in front of the Met is awesome. He also sells in Astoria (my husband asked if he was the same guy). My husband once got an autographed Roth from him!

  hidden away is one of the only remaining bookstore I know about that is not a stand on the street - most of the books are in spanish - if you tend towards the "esoteric" you will find some hard to find titles - it's about a block from the new bus terminal on 74th street and Roosvelt avenue - going towards 75th street - you can't miss it as they advertise being able to photograph and analyze your aura.

can't speak to the aura but the book selection is pretty varied - check it out