tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post7591000270507777667..comments2024-03-28T16:06:42.424-04:00Comments on EV Grieve: Report: Last stand for St. Mark's BookshopUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-61329836116279347932016-01-21T07:26:10.290-05:002016-01-21T07:26:10.290-05:00Why not turn into a non-profit?
Why not turn into a non-profit?<br />Blondblueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276916263999812447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-17724134461642934092015-12-06T03:25:52.623-05:002015-12-06T03:25:52.623-05:00There's a St Marks in Brooklyn... they might h...There's a St Marks in Brooklyn... they might have better success there with hipsters and allMark Hand The Catchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04880357758792913275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-1116093116668050602015-12-05T18:28:37.061-05:002015-12-05T18:28:37.061-05:00Right on !
Sad to see it gone though...Right on !<br />Sad to see it gone though...NEW YORK IN THE 1990's PHOTO ARCHIVEShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077121250310832600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-76848039543875759262015-12-05T15:44:06.471-05:002015-12-05T15:44:06.471-05:00Fuck them. I'm a local author and asked a few ...Fuck them. I'm a local author and asked a few times (9th st and then 3rd Street) about doing readings and/or selling books on consignment (I self-publish and publish through houses). No interest. Really? All the local authors in the EV, and you cant do one monthly event? Their staff is also among the rudest, laziest and most dismissive Ive encountered. <br /><br />Fuck them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-86875371734310244242015-12-03T22:29:29.479-05:002015-12-03T22:29:29.479-05:00I'm sad to say...it's just not a very iter...I'm sad to say...it's just not a very iteresting bookstore. Even the window display with all the magazines--dullsville.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-874878042059165772015-12-03T16:48:09.843-05:002015-12-03T16:48:09.843-05:00I agree with Maria completely. This store could ha...<br />I agree with Maria completely. This store could have done much better if they'd embraced their new local community and responded to its needs.<br /><br />As another commenter said above, "It's absolutely true that Bob and Terry and mediocre business people."<br /><br />Maybe they should sell the business to a more savvy owner -- I bet it could still work -- with friendly staff, more relevant book selection, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-19931396129500499582015-12-03T10:26:47.648-05:002015-12-03T10:26:47.648-05:00I have lived a block away from the current locatio...I have lived a block away from the current location for 25 years and I'm an English professor. <br /><br />I was excited to see we'd have a new bookstore in the neighborhood, but the ownership seems to have no interest in us: what we're interested in reading, what goes on in the neighborhood, etc. They have been consistently unfriendly and seem to be curating their meager inventory on an imaginary readership they *wish* they had. <br /><br />They are right across the street from a public school with lots of parents, teachers, and kids passing every day. You'd think they'd consider expanding their repertoire to meet the needs and interest of locals. A literacy club? Partner with local schools? Get in some local authors for readings and discussion? Something?! <br /><br />Mucho arrogance, little passion, no compassion. <br /><br />I'm sorry to say that it might be time to give it up. <br />Maria Jerskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564253944645827201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-10326627645733026682015-12-03T10:20:40.331-05:002015-12-03T10:20:40.331-05:00I work in book publishing. St. Marks Bookshop can ...I work in book publishing. St. Marks Bookshop can go fck itself. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-55563544464160518772015-12-03T08:00:09.112-05:002015-12-03T08:00:09.112-05:00Because they have no business plan, they refuse to...Because they have no business plan, they refuse to hire staff who cares and won't stock mainstream books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-35280287241174059552015-12-03T01:44:49.691-05:002015-12-03T01:44:49.691-05:00Good grief. They aren't exactly begging for $1...Good grief. They aren't exactly begging for $150k, they are, in fact, offering a sweet discount going forward and, doh, it takes that much, at least, to restock a bookstore. If you buy books it's a pretty good deal. It's absolutely true that Bob and Terry and mediocre business people but . . . they do know books and even now, with no real ordering in years, it's still an amazing store, worth supporting. So what if they aren't the most happening place at this moment? Encourage them to restock and grown a new audience and they might be. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-75446674050686572122015-12-03T00:40:22.036-05:002015-12-03T00:40:22.036-05:00Actually, the payed Clouds Architecture Office ver...Actually, the payed Clouds Architecture Office very little for the design, a few thousand at most for which they got their money's worth because the design won a national award and is IMO wonderful. The bottom shelves angle up allowing one to more easily read the titles without kneeling down and the curves allow one to see more books from the entrance and also create a little office space behind them.<br /><br />But I agree with other posters that they should sell online, buy and sell select used books, stock a few more books that the neighbors would would be more interested in, and do more to market their stock, like sending out emails describing the new arrivals and posting staff recommendations along the shelves like The Strand and some others do. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10776542066808088683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-65756683920544285182015-12-02T19:35:02.610-05:002015-12-02T19:35:02.610-05:00i kinda liked the sprawling feel of the store on t...i kinda liked the sprawling feel of the store on the south side of st. marks.<br />but both were really ok.<br />and the staff were down to earth and helpful<br /><br />for me 3rd avenue was the end of st. marks books.blue glassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-35535130780116499402015-12-02T17:23:19.194-05:002015-12-02T17:23:19.194-05:00Ditto: north side, with the upstairs and downstair...Ditto: north side, with the upstairs and downstairs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-56326897241413441942015-12-02T16:19:55.188-05:002015-12-02T16:19:55.188-05:00Their staff is on par with the recently shuttered ...Their staff is on par with the recently shuttered Stuy Town post office. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-7530394032805169692015-12-02T16:18:03.668-05:002015-12-02T16:18:03.668-05:00Maybe the architecture firm they hired to design b...Maybe the architecture firm they hired to design bookshelves can donate some money back to them...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-3499105166810910072015-12-02T15:46:42.163-05:002015-12-02T15:46:42.163-05:00Anonymous 12:19, The one on the north side, with t...Anonymous 12:19, The one on the north side, with the upstairs and downstairs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-90874281457841034162015-12-02T15:35:12.609-05:002015-12-02T15:35:12.609-05:00First then came after my bakery, and I then went h...First then came after my bakery, and I then went hungry . . .<br />Next they closed the shoemakers and I became shoeless and hungry<br />Then they called the marshals on the book dealers, and I went mad<br />Now I'm a new denizen of the world, and quite ready to make my move.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-61867521528525100402015-12-02T13:26:05.116-05:002015-12-02T13:26:05.116-05:00This is embarrassing. I used to got to the origina...This is embarrassing. I used to got to the original location on St. Marks in the 80's, and it was a great bookstore then. I always thought the new location on 3rd and 9th was a waste of space, but still bought many, many books there in the 90's and early aughts.<br />They wasted alot of money on an architect for the new store instead of just putting up shelves and buying books.<br />How damned clueless can you be. I'm actually shocked the store has lasted this long if this is how clueless the owners are. Completely out of touch.<br />I visit Mast books and they seem to be doing great. It's not the neighborhood, it's the owners and staff at St. Marks that have killed it. <br /> $150,000 ??? Even they can't think they will get this. And they definitely don't deserve it. Time to call it quits guys.Caleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444665611094048421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-19942136032757080762015-12-02T12:41:35.173-05:002015-12-02T12:41:35.173-05:00I went in there a couple of weeks ago. I asked if ...I went in there a couple of weeks ago. I asked if they had the Game of Thrones series. The expression on the sales person's face was a mix of a sneer and disgust "no, we don't have those".<br /><br />I guess that store isn't meant for literary low lives like me.<br /><br />Not shedding a tear for them, get your monthly handout elsewhere. Riz Semnopithecus Entellushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758007548723795834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-77800879284198769162015-12-02T12:19:18.666-05:002015-12-02T12:19:18.666-05:00Trvia poll:
Which of the two locations on St Marks...Trvia poll:<br />Which of the two locations on St Marks place was the best location?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-60947972962049286212015-12-02T11:27:48.170-05:002015-12-02T11:27:48.170-05:00They treat their customers like crap and then they...They treat their customers like crap and then they want another hand-out. Take a real small business loan for new stock, stock the shelves, hire some nice people and try and make a go of it. Asking us for money is offensive as offensive as the staff are to those of us who have consistently tried to shop in there. I am also not buying their story as they raised more money then they asked for the first time, and where are the owners. I haven't seen them once in the new store, if they want to make a go of it shouldn't they be behind the cash register and working the floor. I am so over them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-44591555777498679932015-12-02T10:53:14.657-05:002015-12-02T10:53:14.657-05:00I love Mast Books on Ave A. They have a great coll...I love Mast Books on Ave A. They have a great collection of art books and novels and seem to be doing well. St. Marks is just a generic book store that has some art books, some political books, and some cook books. There are reasons why they cannot stay in business. The store is also over-designed with no warm welcoming bookstore feeling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-23378590246984858912015-12-02T10:01:35.093-05:002015-12-02T10:01:35.093-05:00It is time for this old animal to die. The owners...It is time for this old animal to die. The owners should have seen the writing on the wall years ago. They are probably not too great at running a business either if they have that much of a nut to crack. $150,000? Really?<br />Time to let go. Let it die a natural death. Life support needs to be pulled.<br />You can only go to the well so many times before it is dried up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-26041387606814238592015-12-02T09:45:30.950-05:002015-12-02T09:45:30.950-05:00The time to hang it up has arrived for this book s...The time to hang it up has arrived for this book store. The shrinking inventory, the at best aloof staff and the popular move away from books to digital media means lock the door and hand back the key to the landlord. The neighborhood is tired of the begging. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-30707087367029031632015-12-02T09:41:05.582-05:002015-12-02T09:41:05.582-05:00st marks is no longer the iconic store of the 60s ...st marks is no longer the iconic store of the 60s - perhaps they lost their identity when they first moved their shop. i think they left their soul in the first shop.<br />i remember a buzzing store with knowledgeable and somewhat FRIENDLY staff with only a little bit of superior hostility. it was a social event to browse there. they would gladly order any book for you - even if it did not fit into their pretentious gestalt. <br />by the time they moved to the cooper union building they couldn't have cared less about the store or the customer. it was enough to just be the st marks bookstore and have erudite and obscure stock.<br />asking the public to help them stay in business (and move to 3rd avenue) ok.<br />then asking for help to move to 3rd street, well ok, for old time preservation's sake.<br />then asking for the third time for more to stay at 3rd street, plain arrogance and entitlement. <br />they have lived on their reputation and have done nothing to sustain themselves, looking to others for help too many times. <br />blue glassnoreply@blogger.com