tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post5648556013858468997..comments2024-03-29T00:45:13.544-04:00Comments on EV Grieve: Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible evictionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-86905327580589402352016-02-03T23:37:51.919-05:002016-02-03T23:37:51.919-05:00This week's Village Voice has an article on th...This week's Village Voice has an article on this bookstore and quotes from some of the comments here. I have a couple of comments of my own:<br />1) Whatever happened to the $1 million donation this bookstore got from writer James Patterson? They sent out an email about it, after they'd moved to the 3rd Street location. Did that donation end up not happening?<br />2) I think it's sad that ever since they had to leave their previous location at 3rd Avenue and 9th Street, said location has remained vacant! Serves their former landlord right, I suppose... But I still think that was a much better location than where they are now.rchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11201427089149711923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-59270562941522079622016-01-14T12:21:15.835-05:002016-01-14T12:21:15.835-05:00nah, I prefer generalizing based on incessant obse...nah, I prefer generalizing based on incessant observation I'm forced to see repeatedly. The idiots who walk into me into their cell phones aren't reading discussion about literature. They're jockeying to make sure they don't miss out on that night's alcohol fueled event. <br /><br />I guess you should all be complaining about Lincoln center or the Opera or any other center of classical culture that live on donations. Books have become a cultural artifact like opera or mozart.<br /><br />It is only going to get worse. The booze pacification industry is working to bring in hard alcohol taps (called cocktail batching) to the east village, basically so they can automate the rather labor intensive booze industry. <br /><br />nygrumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-58115709312857893182016-01-11T15:22:29.705-05:002016-01-11T15:22:29.705-05:00nygrump: perhaps you should speak for yourself and...nygrump: perhaps you should speak for yourself and stop generalizing about the neighborhood. This is still a neighborhood where people are interested in ideas (art, theater, dance, poetry, writing). But I guess they don't meet your standards or you just don't know about what is happening in the neighborhood because you are entrenched with denouncing NYU students, young men and women who come to drink on weekends (yes they are awful). "People don't buy books"--maybe you don't but lots of us do. And many of us don't read books on Ipads. The reason for the ongoing failure of St. Marks Books is probably complex: poor management, failure to have a new vision, poorly trained staff, etc. etc. Let's let it die in peace. There are lots of things going on in the East Village. Too bad you are such a grump that you don't want to participate anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-86370586033334154922016-01-11T11:43:16.633-05:002016-01-11T11:43:16.633-05:00This was a neighborhood where people were interest...This was a neighborhood where people were interested in ideas. Those days are gone, what we have now is the alcoholic consciousness. People don't buy books, they look at tiny screens on which they send bits of dumbness back and forth. nygrumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-41669347129262118572016-01-11T11:32:03.982-05:002016-01-11T11:32:03.982-05:00Maybe if any of the people at this store were nice...Maybe if any of the people at this store were nice to their customers they wouldn't have so many ongoing problems. It also sounds like they are bad with managing their money (and repeatedly having fundraisers). I'm getting tired of this "save the bookstore!" story. At this point, it's just doing a disservice to the friendly, well-run bookstores that do actually need our money for legitimate reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-91860100218468348652016-01-10T21:44:09.615-05:002016-01-10T21:44:09.615-05:00NOTORIOUS, most impressive. Now is there any chanc...NOTORIOUS, most impressive. Now is there any chance you can program the BroDrone to also take out anyone who utters the words brah, duuude, and woooo? You'd really be doing the neighborhood a service!Gojiranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-72410519694457409362016-01-10T19:47:48.040-05:002016-01-10T19:47:48.040-05:00I agree with annon 6:41 pm. It's time that th...I agree with annon 6:41 pm. It's time that the owners of St. Marks made a public accounting of the monies they have received from public contributions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-5689037529655944392016-01-10T18:41:58.274-05:002016-01-10T18:41:58.274-05:00When these businesses ask the public to donate mon...When these businesses ask the public to donate money, they should also be required to give an accounting of where that money has gone. I don't understand how they can be behind in rent when they raised so much money from donations. Where did that cash go? What was it spent on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-57957511864955618692016-01-10T14:49:16.766-05:002016-01-10T14:49:16.766-05:00Can't believe their call for handouts continue...Can't believe their call for handouts continues with the way they have run this business into the ground; as someone pointed out Kickstarter donations should have more appropriately gone to NYorkers in need and even their city-sponsored space would have been better utilized as a place for homeless to shelter. Foot traffic IS an issue--I was in the Third AVe store at least 3x a week late nights as I live just a few blocks away and bought hundreds of books over the years as both intentional and impulse purchases while I have yet to visit their new location. Never loved the McNally Jackson vibe but pass by several dozen times a year, am in Barnes & Noble USquare probably an average of once a week and bought all my Xmas wrapping paper there this year. Still shop at Strand, also blocks from me, where much of the time it's so busy you can hardly get in the door, and Three Lives where at 7p.m. a week before Xmas there were at least 20 shoppers browsing and a line to pay. Have said this multiple times before on related threads but SMB's haughty intellectual hipster employees destroyed goodwill that could have had many longtime customers paying more to have them order books more cheaply available on Amazon, for instance, and this location was never going to work given distance from local reader base, NYU haunts and tourist path. There were--and remain--multiple available storefronts much nearer to the Third Ave space they vacated including several on side streets or Fourth Avenue empty for years now that would have worked infinitely better and might have been negotiated down to a similar rent. Was there any dialogue with NYU regarding a spot in one of their Third Avenue dorms in exchange for making this invaluable asset a school amenity in some way? Could not the city have given NYU or Cooper Union a tax break equivalent to a rent reduction in one of their real estate holdings? How anyone thought a store that failed in such a high-traffic spot was going to turn around in such an off-the-beaten-path location is beyond me but as was mentioned in an earlier thread at the very least they could have made the store a go-to for children's books and created a new base that way given the proximity of schools and families. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-16513633777324203652016-01-10T14:39:14.426-05:002016-01-10T14:39:14.426-05:00There's a very good reason that McNally Jackso...There's a very good reason that McNally Jackson isn't expanding its little empire. They know it would be suicide to do so. They have the right location of the right customers and they know their niche market. The same thing goes for The Strand, and it helps that they own the entire building. Because if they didn't own the building, they would probably be gone like everybody else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-86742665895008588852016-01-10T11:14:48.713-05:002016-01-10T11:14:48.713-05:00Explain the success of Strand, Blue Stockings, McN...Explain the success of Strand, Blue Stockings, McNally Jackson, etc. then. Wait, I will. They've adapted to the changing times while staying true to themselves, put customers first, hold events, and are passionate about what they do. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-34115211182935645542016-01-10T11:13:22.956-05:002016-01-10T11:13:22.956-05:00Its sad and wrong how people have given these clow...Its sad and wrong how people have given these clowns so much money. If you have money tongive please donate to the Bowery Mission or the NYC Rescue Mission. These guys are scamming all of you. For profit businesses getting donations and the NYC Cares people dont have enough coats. Says it all about the EV in 2016. Sorry this isnt NYUs fault or the bros doing. Pathetic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-21131524638395989052016-01-10T10:34:09.303-05:002016-01-10T10:34:09.303-05:00Stop blaming St Marks Books, they outlasted almost...Stop blaming St Marks Books, they outlasted almost every other bookstore, including Barnes & Noble which closed down on Astor Place and on 5th Ave years ago, and is barely holding onto it's remaining store in Union Square, which I predict will also close down someday soon. The issue is the East Village itself. As much as we loved Kim's Video, it's gone too. The demographics just don't support books, music, video and paid culture in general. Apparently SoHo still has enough people who buy books, but I doubt McNally-Jackson would survive selling books to a bunch of tattooed teenagers, ageing Hippies, crusties, Japanese tourists and NYU students. Even if these guys had been super nice, said hello and held your hand while you were buying their books, they would still be going out of business just like everyone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-3786987542385573362016-01-10T10:15:07.142-05:002016-01-10T10:15:07.142-05:00Gojira, awesome! All of my Kickstarters are huge s...Gojira, awesome! All of my Kickstarters are huge successes! Just ask Pope Edmund of Falun Gong about my Bro Drone Removal service! I took the laser technology from the War of the Worlds machines and applied it to drones. The result is a powerful yet stealth death ray that targets any bro who says "tallboy" indoors or out. NOTORIOUSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-81637053128891613032016-01-10T10:06:05.392-05:002016-01-10T10:06:05.392-05:00I agree. It's way past time to pull the plug. ...I agree. It's way past time to pull the plug. How can they be so smug and anti-social when you go in there to potentially buy books and then have the nerve to reach out for more money? I don't get it. I'm a reader of real books, and yet, I won't miss them. It was never fun. Try East Village Books for a better community feel (and some real second-hand bargains!). Plus, cool ephemera on the wall that speaks of the neighborhood's past and, gasp, friendly sales people. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-87781550296454509152016-01-10T07:03:22.927-05:002016-01-10T07:03:22.927-05:00I've been trying to buy books from them even t...I've been trying to buy books from them even though I have Amazon Prime account, cause I think a community need (at least) a bookstore.<br />But .. you know how arrogant those guys in the store can be, if you ever shopped in there. They have no interest in books they don't carry. They openly frown on "just-looking-around" guys. No help, no smiles.<br />And now they are asking for more "support" from the people who quietly tried to save them for more than 5 years? No way. Just let it go.<br />We'll walk over to Strand, where a lady will help elementary school kids to choose books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-65738595337580964342016-01-10T01:57:09.255-05:002016-01-10T01:57:09.255-05:00Sigh. Bob and Terry are perhaps the worst people t...Sigh. Bob and Terry are perhaps the worst people to keep St. Mark's running . . . and yet, they are St. Mark's. I'm not sure what the solution might be . . . it sure seems that someone with a bit of capital (it wouldn't take that much) and general good will in the book world could make St. Mark's successful based on that $6k rent, which is a bargain. You'd need to sell maybe $30k of books a month, minimum, and make do with basically one staff position to make a go of it but, with reasonable stock and a responsible staff selling $1k books a day should be fairly easy. You used to have to _wait in line_ to buy books at the old St. Marks . . . so 20 $50 sales a day shouldn't be a problem, even in the new location, even with reduced stock. Bob and Terry, sadly, are just not the right people to make it work but surely, say, McNally-Jackson could take over and we'd still have a sweet independent bookstore in the EV. It would wouldn't have to be run perfectly. It could still have a quirky, smart, stock and neighborhood events . . . and still make a profit. The space/store is wonderful and the rent makes it all doable. Step in, McNally-Jackson! Expand, Strand! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-35286972899265882022016-01-09T22:47:56.646-05:002016-01-09T22:47:56.646-05:00Maybe if they pared it down to a literal mom and p...Maybe if they pared it down to a literal mom and pop, two-person operation they could make it work. Sounds like this store has an excessive overhead and too many employees. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-79876773438572190942016-01-09T22:11:05.275-05:002016-01-09T22:11:05.275-05:00NOTORIOUS, the check is in the mail!
Really, it ...NOTORIOUS, the check is in the mail! <br /><br />Really, it is!Gojiranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-69444849438044063002016-01-09T18:22:14.991-05:002016-01-09T18:22:14.991-05:00You cannot blame location. Three Lives Bookstore, ...You cannot blame location. Three Lives Bookstore, Bonnie Slotnicks (old & new locale), are two examples of bookstores not on main thoroughfares, and I'm sure there are others. And yet they've managed to survive.<br /><br />And remember. .this is the THIRD call for money from St. Marks. THREE TIMES. If you can't pre order books, if you can't pay your rent, if you took this much money from true supporters...yeah, it's time. It was a long run.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-7897736158569371012016-01-09T16:55:35.763-05:002016-01-09T16:55:35.763-05:00Gojira, send it to my PO Box @ Empire Biscuit!Gojira, send it to my PO Box @ Empire Biscuit!NOTORIOUSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-85095250928292333232016-01-09T16:01:32.209-05:002016-01-09T16:01:32.209-05:00no, no NO!
They crowd funded to STAY, they crowdf...no, no NO!<br /><br />They crowd funded to STAY, they crowdfunded to MOVE and now they want to crowd fund again?<br /><br />They have not paid one dime in that space since they have been there. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-22288711726451724952016-01-09T14:51:32.623-05:002016-01-09T14:51:32.623-05:00My prediction... January 2026 St Marks bookstore ...My prediction... January 2026 St Marks bookstore is the sole surviving bookstore all of Manhattan but they need to raise another $6.6 million to stay open. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-11433908920021721282016-01-09T09:54:31.132-05:002016-01-09T09:54:31.132-05:00it's been a long time since st marks books was...it's been a long time since st marks books was on st marks place, and my memory of that store is a bit cloudy.<br />i do remember a fairly large street level space (south side) stuffed with books and interested customers; a knowledgeable staff that wanted to talk to you, and help you; along with a slew of esoteric books were some not so special regular reads.<br />you didn't go there to keep the store in business, you went there to buy books and they always had something you wanted. and if they didn't have a particular book they get it for you. <br />while they did not move at a light-speed pace you never felt like you were not wanted there.<br />another big problem for any bookstore these days (remember the 4th avenue book row?) are all these techno-devices along with internet shopping. kids today (future book readers) seem to like to do their reading on line and shop with their smart phones. <br />i am one of those people that still prefer a book.blue glassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-35916380386529411192016-01-09T09:09:28.421-05:002016-01-09T09:09:28.421-05:00I went in to see if i could buy a book on u.s coin...I went in to see if i could buy a book on u.s coins, or if they could order it for me i was told "uggghhh order it on-line". So i did. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com