Greenlight Bookstore, the indie book shop on Fulton Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn that opened in the middle of the mass extinction of book stores three years back, is now expanding.The Brooklyn Paper reports that the book store has collaborated with the management of The Greene Grape, purveyors of food and wine across on the other side of Fulton, to open a coffee shop as well as adding additional office and event space. Greenlight also runs a book kiosk at BAM.
The news comes just as St. Mark’s Books has begun circulating a petition to prevent Cooper Union from raising its rent, writing that “St. Mark’s is struggling to pay the market rent that Cooper Union is charging them at 31 3rd Ave. A significant rent concession by Cooper Union could save this irreplaceable neighborhood institution.” At last count more than 12,000 people had signed the petition, which aims to get 15,000 signatures. Apparently bookstores, just like the people who write books, are getting priced out of Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Publishers Weekly reports on how bookstores across the country fared this summer.
