Soon this space will be filled with books!
Bookstores gradually disappeared from the Upper West Side in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, but the tide seems to have turned in the past few years. A new Book Culture opened on Columbus Avenue in 2014, Bank Street Bookstore debuted a new location in 2015, and Amazon just opened its first New York store in Columbus Circle.
Now, another new shop is on its way: a children’s bookstore!
Books of Wonder, a beloved downtown shop that’s been around in various locations since 1980, is getting ready to open this summer at 217 West 84th Street, the former home of Gymboree. The Times reports that owner Peter Glassman has been eyeing the neighborhood for years, and became more serious starting last year. “Glassman said he spent more than a year trying to find the right space, a challenge exacerbated by the particular needs of a store geared toward children (‘a doorway wide enough to accommodate double strollers’ is just one of the unique requirements he cited).”
The lease on Books of Wonder’s 18th Street location is up in 2019, and Glassman is worried that his rent will spike. He figures that at least the Upper West Side store will be there if he’s forced to close the downtown one.
The Times says Books of Wonder was the inspiration for You’ve Got Mail, although we always thought Eeyore’s was the inspiration.
“The original Books of Wonder was the inspiration for the bookstore owned by Meg Ryan’s character in the 1998 romantic comedy ‘You’ve Got Mail.’ The second location, at 2,600 square feet, will house the same mix of new, classic and collectible books that the original store does. It will also include a gallery of original children’s book art, as well as prints and signed posters.”
Order signed copies of Thick as Thieves and Three Dark Crowns @KendareBlake today! Meet both authors Saturday 6/3. https://t.co/qY1Clk1P1k pic.twitter.com/GQGZsPV415
— Books of Wonder (@BooksofWonder) May 30, 2017
Photo by Gus Saltonstall.
Nora Ephron said that Eeyore’s was part inspiration for You’ve Got Mail in this NYT article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/realestate/12nabe.html
Here’s two other such mentions:
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-everything-is-copy-20160321-story.html
https://medinger.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/eeyores-the-best-childrens-bookstore-ever-is-remembered/
Ephron lived at the Apthorp, across the street and-no surprise–was a regular customer.
So exciting. We love Books of Wonder! We love Book Culture too so we will be frequenting both! (Still wistfully remember Endicott Booksellers.)
That’s great BUT we also need more bookstores for Adults as well as children!
Adult Book Stores?
Sean… I meant bookstores that are not just for children but “adults”! I would think that would have been obvious when I wrote that.
I highly recommend Book Culture. The one on Columbus and 81st is one of my favorite book stores around.
Thanks Steen. I assume i knew what I meant!
I meant “you” not “I” 🙂
Re: “…‘a doorway wide enough to accommodate double strollers’….”
And also to accommodate:
1) Those European tourists who insist on strolling up the sidewalk three- and even four-abreast; and/or
2) “double-wide” American tourists from fly-over country, some of whom look like the Michelin Man…don’t these people own mirrors?
What an unnecessarily nasty comment.
Mais NON! (But NO)
It was totally necessary !
Haven’t you heard?
June 9 is Make A Nasty Comment Day !
And June 10 is Make A Sarcastic Retort Day !!
Try to keep up !
Watching “You’ve Got Mail” on TV for the millionth time as I type this. Such a great UWS movie.
How fitting that the Barnes & Noble (i.e. Fox Books) is just two blocks away from the new Books of Wonder location.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Fox Books is loosely based on the Barnes and Noble that was near Lincoln Center. Ironic that it is now closed. That is one of my very favorite movie – almost all of it was filmed within a few blocks of my apartment.
You’re right, the Fox Books in the movie was definitely based on the big B&N near Lincoln Center. Shop Around the Corner was at 69th & Columbus, so it makes sense.
I believe the exact location is just around the corner.
Books of Wonder is owned by Peter, not Philip, Glassman.